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Hello Goodbye #2
Hello Forever
When they were only teenagers, Axel and Caxton were caught making out in the woods at church camp. And afterward, Cax had disappeared from all the youth group activities.
Six years later Axel is astonished to spot his first love's face in the crowd of a college basketball game he's watching on television - at a school that has just offered him a job. It's a thousand miles away, in a tiny rural town. But suddenly he can't wait to get there.
Cax can't believe his eyes when Axel appears in the same Massachusetts town where he now lives. And he's still just as drawn to him as ever. But he can't let himself go there again, because loving Axel will mean giving up everything else he holds dear.
Both men have so much to lose. But as far as their love is concerned, it's Hello Forever.
Six years later Axel is astonished to spot his first love's face in the crowd of a college basketball game he's watching on television - at a school that has just offered him a job. It's a thousand miles away, in a tiny rural town. But suddenly he can't wait to get there.
Cax can't believe his eyes when Axel appears in the same Massachusetts town where he now lives. And he's still just as drawn to him as ever. But he can't let himself go there again, because loving Axel will mean giving up everything else he holds dear.
Both men have so much to lose. But as far as their love is concerned, it's Hello Forever.
213 pages, ebook
First published July 7, 2015
411 people are currently reading
3200 people want to read
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June 19, 2016
4 Stars.
Second book in the series but can be a standalone.Not as good as book one but still a very enjoyable read.
Axel and Cax first meet at church camp when they are young and become great friends over the years.But when they are 16 a line is crossed and they are caught in a comprising position and both their parents are called for.Axel doesn't want to leave the camp,only wanting to spend whatever time he can with Cax.However he soon realizes Cax is gone from his life...
6 years later,Axel is considering taking a job at a small college.He's watching a game on TV when he sees Cax in the Audience.....decision made.
As a result of the incident when they were 16,Cax has totally surpressed his sexuality not helped by the fact his father is extremely homophobic and taunts him at every opportunity.He wants his own life but feels he has to remain firmly in the closet and look out for his 3 younger brothers.
Axel is gay and while he doesn't flaunt his sexuality he's not ashamed of it either.
The two men start a tentative friendship which eventually becomes something more but Cax is terrified of being 'outed'
Likable characters,hot sex...ok,the story line involving Cax's father was a bit unbelievable (imo) but I would recommend this one for M/M fans.
Second book in the series but can be a standalone.Not as good as book one but still a very enjoyable read.
Axel and Cax first meet at church camp when they are young and become great friends over the years.But when they are 16 a line is crossed and they are caught in a comprising position and both their parents are called for.Axel doesn't want to leave the camp,only wanting to spend whatever time he can with Cax.However he soon realizes Cax is gone from his life...
6 years later,Axel is considering taking a job at a small college.He's watching a game on TV when he sees Cax in the Audience.....decision made.
As a result of the incident when they were 16,Cax has totally surpressed his sexuality not helped by the fact his father is extremely homophobic and taunts him at every opportunity.He wants his own life but feels he has to remain firmly in the closet and look out for his 3 younger brothers.
Axel is gay and while he doesn't flaunt his sexuality he's not ashamed of it either.
The two men start a tentative friendship which eventually becomes something more but Cax is terrified of being 'outed'
Likable characters,hot sex...ok,the story line involving Cax's father was a bit unbelievable (imo) but I would recommend this one for M/M fans.
July 24, 2017
4 stars!!!
Sarina Bowen writes amazing books, no matter what the genre, but I especially love her MM romances. When I read the first book in this series (Goodbye Paradise) I was blown away. It’s one of my top reads of this year and I couldn't wait to dive in the second. Though Hello Forever was a little different than the first book, it was still fantastic. I loved Cax and Axel’s story!
Axel and Cax were friends when they were kids. More than that, they both had crushed on one another. One kiss at a church camp changes everything between them. But getting caught kissing changes even more… These two go years without any contact, then years later, they end up at the same place.
Axel and Cax couldn’t be in more different places in their lives. Cax lives close to his family so he can be close to his brothers. He’s living in the closet, for fear that if he shows who he really is, his homophobic father won’t let him have contact with the boys. Axel is openly gay. He is who he is, but his life has been different. He has a supportive mother and has always been able to just be who he is.
You can tell there is still so much between this two, but due to Cax’s situation at home, being friends is all that can ever be between these two. But friendship has never been enough…
I loved this couple so much. Axel was a fantastic guy, and Cax… he broke my heart. I felt for him. I hated the situation he was in, but I was so happy that he had Axel back in his life. I rooted for them to be able to be together and just love one another. Their relationship was sweet, sexy, tender and loving. And I couldn’t get enough. Another huge plus of this story was getting to see more of Josh and Caleb (from book one) and see where they were at in life. Seeing how things have turned out for them made my heart happy. These books are my favorite kind of reads. Emotional, sexy, and sweet. Must reads for MM fans!
Sarina Bowen writes amazing books, no matter what the genre, but I especially love her MM romances. When I read the first book in this series (Goodbye Paradise) I was blown away. It’s one of my top reads of this year and I couldn't wait to dive in the second. Though Hello Forever was a little different than the first book, it was still fantastic. I loved Cax and Axel’s story!
Axel had become everything to me. My friend. My savior. My crush.
Axel and Cax were friends when they were kids. More than that, they both had crushed on one another. One kiss at a church camp changes everything between them. But getting caught kissing changes even more… These two go years without any contact, then years later, they end up at the same place.
Axel and Cax couldn’t be in more different places in their lives. Cax lives close to his family so he can be close to his brothers. He’s living in the closet, for fear that if he shows who he really is, his homophobic father won’t let him have contact with the boys. Axel is openly gay. He is who he is, but his life has been different. He has a supportive mother and has always been able to just be who he is.
You can tell there is still so much between this two, but due to Cax’s situation at home, being friends is all that can ever be between these two. But friendship has never been enough…
Laying my hands on him felt like coming home. He felt like mine.
I loved this couple so much. Axel was a fantastic guy, and Cax… he broke my heart. I felt for him. I hated the situation he was in, but I was so happy that he had Axel back in his life. I rooted for them to be able to be together and just love one another. Their relationship was sweet, sexy, tender and loving. And I couldn’t get enough. Another huge plus of this story was getting to see more of Josh and Caleb (from book one) and see where they were at in life. Seeing how things have turned out for them made my heart happy. These books are my favorite kind of reads. Emotional, sexy, and sweet. Must reads for MM fans!
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May 1, 2023
Hello Forever is book two in the Hello Goodbye series by Sarina Bowen. I fell so in love with the first book, Goodbye Paradise and so hoped that the next book would be just as wonderful. And it was! Not only did I meet two new amazing men, Axel and Cax, I got lots of time with Caleb and Josh from the first book as well. My heart is just so happy.
Axel Armitage is twenty two years old and has just finished college. He’s been offered a job at Barmuth University in Henning, Massachusetts, a tiny college town over a thousand miles away in their sports department. For a gay man, though, living in a tiny town doesn’t hold many promises of meeting hot men. Axel loves sports, especially basketball. So while trying to decide about the job, he finds a basketball game online and spots someone in the crowd that he hasn’t seen nor heard from in over six years. The boy he never could forget from his childhood. It looks like Axel is headed for Massachusetts!
Cax Williams first met Axel when they were just kids. They became close friends whenever they met each other at church camp events. When they were sixteen, their friendship went a little further and they were caught kissing. That was the last time Cax ever attended any of the camps and it was the last time he saw Axel. Now Cax is a doctoral student at Barmuth and he can’t believe it when he sees the only man he has ever kissed sitting courtside at a basketball game. Part of him is thrilled to see him again. But he is also scared to death. Because he has kept his true self hidden from everyone. No one can ever know. Will he be strong enough to be in the same town, at the same school as Axel, and stay away?
“The world was a brighter place with Axel in it.”
What a great story this was! This is the story of true love. The kind of love that doesn’t diminish with the passing of time when the lovers are separated. All it took was for their eyes to meet and it was right there. But Cax’s life is complicated. Letting Axel back in can’t happen. With each passing day, though, this becomes more and more difficult.
I adored this book just as much as the first one. And I adore the characters in both books. This was such a fantastic little series, so perfectly told. I don’t really enjoy angsty romance and even though the subject matter was serious in both books, I didn’t feel overwhelmed. I just felt all the love the characters had for each other.
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July 11, 2017
4 stars!
Sarina Bowen writes the best MM romance! Hello Forever is a rerelease of the novel, Never Over, previously published under Bowen’s pseudonym Nealy Wagner. Hello Forever is in the same universe as the book before it, Goodbye Paradise, but features different characters.
Axel and Cax were sixteen years old when they were caught kissing in the woods at church camp, and from that day on they were separated never to see each other again. Years later, Axel is considering taking a job in the sports department at a small liberal arts college in Massachusetts, when he sees Cax on tv in the audience at that schools basketball game. That, combined with the fact that he had no other paying job offers, Axel accepts the position and moves there.
Cax is busy helping out raising his three younger brothers. After the death of his mother, his homophobic father has made it clear Cax won’t be allowed anywhere near his brothers if he’s gay, so he hides himself and pretends to be straight for the sake of his brothers. Axel is excited to reunite with his childhood friend turned crush, but Cax proves to be a bit more skittish. The two begin a tentative friendship, but it’s hindered by Cax’s fears of his father finding out about them. What was a happy reunion may not be a happy ending, but it’s up to Cax and Axel to figure out a solution.
Despite the subject matter, this book was much sweeter and less intense than the book before it. At the beginning it reminded me a bit of Bowen’s other mm romance novel The Understatement of the Year, but once it gets going the two grow apart from there. This is the romance between a graduate student and a faculty member, friends to lovers and second chance romance all wrapped up in one!
I live in a liberal bubble, and I like to believe that people are accepting of the LGBT community, but that’s not really the case. This book was a good reminder that not everyone is tolerant and can embrace love and acceptance, and my heart went out not only to Cax, but to all the other men and women like him who were shunned for who they are. I loved reading Cax’s journey to himself, and I think Axel was the perfect man to help him to it.
I do wish the relationship between Axel and Cax had been developed a bit more, we got a glimpse of their past but I felt it wasn’t enough. Without that, this book borders on the line of instalove, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I honestly hope Sarina Bowen never ever stops writing mm romance, or stops writing in general. She’s a go to author for me and has never let me down. I urge and encourage you to pick up her books if you haven’t yet, and you need to make sure you read this one.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
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Sarina Bowen writes the best MM romance! Hello Forever is a rerelease of the novel, Never Over, previously published under Bowen’s pseudonym Nealy Wagner. Hello Forever is in the same universe as the book before it, Goodbye Paradise, but features different characters.
Axel and Cax were sixteen years old when they were caught kissing in the woods at church camp, and from that day on they were separated never to see each other again. Years later, Axel is considering taking a job in the sports department at a small liberal arts college in Massachusetts, when he sees Cax on tv in the audience at that schools basketball game. That, combined with the fact that he had no other paying job offers, Axel accepts the position and moves there.
Cax is busy helping out raising his three younger brothers. After the death of his mother, his homophobic father has made it clear Cax won’t be allowed anywhere near his brothers if he’s gay, so he hides himself and pretends to be straight for the sake of his brothers. Axel is excited to reunite with his childhood friend turned crush, but Cax proves to be a bit more skittish. The two begin a tentative friendship, but it’s hindered by Cax’s fears of his father finding out about them. What was a happy reunion may not be a happy ending, but it’s up to Cax and Axel to figure out a solution.
Despite the subject matter, this book was much sweeter and less intense than the book before it. At the beginning it reminded me a bit of Bowen’s other mm romance novel The Understatement of the Year, but once it gets going the two grow apart from there. This is the romance between a graduate student and a faculty member, friends to lovers and second chance romance all wrapped up in one!
I live in a liberal bubble, and I like to believe that people are accepting of the LGBT community, but that’s not really the case. This book was a good reminder that not everyone is tolerant and can embrace love and acceptance, and my heart went out not only to Cax, but to all the other men and women like him who were shunned for who they are. I loved reading Cax’s journey to himself, and I think Axel was the perfect man to help him to it.
I do wish the relationship between Axel and Cax had been developed a bit more, we got a glimpse of their past but I felt it wasn’t enough. Without that, this book borders on the line of instalove, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I honestly hope Sarina Bowen never ever stops writing mm romance, or stops writing in general. She’s a go to author for me and has never let me down. I urge and encourage you to pick up her books if you haven’t yet, and you need to make sure you read this one.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
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February 16, 2021
3.75 stars ⭐️
In some ways, he and I had the most confusing relationship in the world. We were close friends who didn’t spend time together. We were lovers who rarely got even a kiss. We had a long history together with a big gap in the middle.
In short, we were a tangle of disasters. But there was nobody I’d ever felt so close to. Laying my hands on him felt like coming home. He felt like mine.
Book 2 in the Hello Goodbye series follows the story of Cax and Axel, childhood best friends who had been caught kissing at a church camp when they were sixteen. While Axel being gay hadn't affected his relationship with his family at all, Cax's situation was quite different. His father abused him for years after forcing him to break all ties with Axel.
Years later, the two estranged friends find themselves in the same town, working for the same university. Faced with a choice, Cax must decide if he can overcome his fear and follow his heart to finally find love.
Sweet, fluffy, and with quite a bit of angst, Hello Forever is a really enjoyable read!
“I don’t know what the future holds.”
“I do. It holds you.”
In some ways, he and I had the most confusing relationship in the world. We were close friends who didn’t spend time together. We were lovers who rarely got even a kiss. We had a long history together with a big gap in the middle.
In short, we were a tangle of disasters. But there was nobody I’d ever felt so close to. Laying my hands on him felt like coming home. He felt like mine.
Book 2 in the Hello Goodbye series follows the story of Cax and Axel, childhood best friends who had been caught kissing at a church camp when they were sixteen. While Axel being gay hadn't affected his relationship with his family at all, Cax's situation was quite different. His father abused him for years after forcing him to break all ties with Axel.
Years later, the two estranged friends find themselves in the same town, working for the same university. Faced with a choice, Cax must decide if he can overcome his fear and follow his heart to finally find love.
Sweet, fluffy, and with quite a bit of angst, Hello Forever is a really enjoyable read!
“I don’t know what the future holds.”
“I do. It holds you.”
July 15, 2017
Axel had walked into my life holding a basketball when I was eight. And without even knowing it, he’d made my life at home more bearable.
Oh le swoon. Sarina Bowen brings the swoons one more time with book two in her Pay It Forward series. Hello Forever was previously published as It's Never Over and while I never read the original, I enjoyed this one so much!
Axel and Caxton were childhood friends. Finding each other at a time when they needed the other the most, they became instant best friends. But over the years that friendship began to transform into something...more. Until a kiss at church camp gets them caught and everything changes.
Not having seen each other in over six years, they now lead very different lives. Axel is openly gay and has an amazing mother that loves him no matter what. After his recent relationship fail, he takes a chance on job at a small town, but there's more to it than that. In his research of the college, he spots a very familiar face in one of their online videos. A face that never fails to ramp up his heart rate. A face that he needs to see again because it's one he's never forgotten or gotten over.
Caxton is rocked to his very core to see Axel in his town. Deeply closeted with a mean bigot of a father, Caxton has put his life on hold to be a solid presence in his younger brothers' lives. But Axel is one person that he's never forgotten and the years did nothing to dilute his feelings.
They slowly pick up where their friendship paused all those years ago but it's not long before their feelings for one another become too strong to ignore.
Caxtastrophe and Axeldental were absolutely adorable together. They were so sweet in a tentative and romantic sort of way. There's no guessing game to how they feel about each other. The only angst come from outside factors like Cax's a-hole of a father and keeping his sexual orientation a secret.
We get to catch up with Josh and Caleb, which I loved getting more of. Hello Forever was sweet and sexy and I simply loved Axel and Cax together. It brought the feels and the swoons and a dollop of angst and I loved how everything wraps up at the end. It was such a treat to finally see Cax grow into his own and not hide from who he is. There's also a secondary character that was introduced here that I'm seriously hoping will be getting his own book.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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June 19, 2016
This one started off promising: best friends meet again after years apart and become lovers.
One is deeply in the closet, terrified his violent, vindictive father will keep his three younger brothers away from him.
The other is out and proud, if a little wary about starting a new job as a marketing coordinator covering college athletics.
Sparks fly. It's all insta love and hot kisses and secret trysts in hotel rooms ...
until the crazy train comes to town.
Hello, melodrama central. The story completely deteriorated around the 60 percent mark, and the HEA felt rushed.
The MCs have ridiculous names and aren't well developed. I found myself skimming the sex scenes, which is never a good sign.
Closer to 2.5 stars rounded up because I liked seeing Caleb and Josh from the first book again.
One is deeply in the closet, terrified his violent, vindictive father will keep his three younger brothers away from him.
The other is out and proud, if a little wary about starting a new job as a marketing coordinator covering college athletics.
Sparks fly. It's all insta love and hot kisses and secret trysts in hotel rooms ...
until the crazy train comes to town.
Hello, melodrama central. The story completely deteriorated around the 60 percent mark, and the HEA felt rushed.
The MCs have ridiculous names and aren't well developed. I found myself skimming the sex scenes, which is never a good sign.
Closer to 2.5 stars rounded up because I liked seeing Caleb and Josh from the first book again.
July 15, 2017
NOW LIVE!
Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Hello Forever is a heartbreaking, emotional read about an out and proud Axel, and his teenage crush, Cax, who is still firmly in the closet. After being caught making out at summer camp Axel and Cax didn't get to return to the camp or stay in contact. Until years later when Axel is trying to decide if a job opportunity is a good decision, and while watching the basketball team he would be working for he see's Cax in the the audience. Making his decision a much easier one. But he wasn't expecting Cax's life to be so complicated or to need to hide their feelings for each other yet again.
These character broke my heart every time they had to hide their true feelings and I was so happy when I finally got to see them get their happy ending. There was so much going against them and trying to keep them apart, but I was happy when they wouldn't let anything stop them. Even after years apart their connection was very strong and it was amazing to see two people fall together so easily. There were a lot of hurdles they had to jump over to get to their happy ending, but they jumped together and that was the biggest reason I loved them both.
Overall, this is a definitely must read for all lovers of a good M/M romance. Sarina Bowen flawlessly writes these characters' struggles and will have you cheering them on the whole entire time you're reading.
Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Hello Forever is a heartbreaking, emotional read about an out and proud Axel, and his teenage crush, Cax, who is still firmly in the closet. After being caught making out at summer camp Axel and Cax didn't get to return to the camp or stay in contact. Until years later when Axel is trying to decide if a job opportunity is a good decision, and while watching the basketball team he would be working for he see's Cax in the the audience. Making his decision a much easier one. But he wasn't expecting Cax's life to be so complicated or to need to hide their feelings for each other yet again.
These character broke my heart every time they had to hide their true feelings and I was so happy when I finally got to see them get their happy ending. There was so much going against them and trying to keep them apart, but I was happy when they wouldn't let anything stop them. Even after years apart their connection was very strong and it was amazing to see two people fall together so easily. There were a lot of hurdles they had to jump over to get to their happy ending, but they jumped together and that was the biggest reason I loved them both.
Overall, this is a definitely must read for all lovers of a good M/M romance. Sarina Bowen flawlessly writes these characters' struggles and will have you cheering them on the whole entire time you're reading.
June 13, 2016
Solid 4 Stars!
I jumped right in to this book after finishing and LOVING book 1. I knew that book was going to be hard to beat for me. And it's true I didn't like this one quite as much, but I still liked it. A lot.
I liked that it was completely different from book 1. Different setting. Different circumstances. Still had the same good message.
I liked that we got to see a bit of Caleb and Josh.
I was a little worried about Cax and his martyrdom. I got it. And luckily the author didn't take it too far. This could have been a lot more angsty then it was. But I loved the choices Cax made when they mattered the most.
We got some more dirty talk with this one. Definitely won't see me complaining about that. This one had plenty of steam.
Nealy Wagner...you've definitely got a fan in me!
I jumped right in to this book after finishing and LOVING book 1. I knew that book was going to be hard to beat for me. And it's true I didn't like this one quite as much, but I still liked it. A lot.
I liked that it was completely different from book 1. Different setting. Different circumstances. Still had the same good message.
I liked that we got to see a bit of Caleb and Josh.
I was a little worried about Cax and his martyrdom. I got it. And luckily the author didn't take it too far. This could have been a lot more angsty then it was. But I loved the choices Cax made when they mattered the most.
We got some more dirty talk with this one. Definitely won't see me complaining about that. This one had plenty of steam.
Nealy Wagner...you've definitely got a fan in me!
July 13, 2017
Hello Forever is a story of second chances, discovery, acceptance, and hope and, with a couple whose first chance to be together was torn away from them years before, no two men deserve a HEA more than Axel and Cax.
"He’d been important to me back then, even if I’d never told him so."
Open and honest with his sexuality and with the loving support of a parent, Axel has never forgotten the childhood friend who stole his heart. Neither has Cax, despite things being very different for him living with the constant fear of his homophobic father and the threat of being unable to see his three younger brothers meaning he's remained firmly in the closet. Until fate plays its hand.
"I’ve always wanted you. And this might be our only chance."
(There was a tastefully sexy gif here, but someone was offended and reported me so I've had to remove it.)
The journey Cax and Axel travel was quite lovely despite at times feeling a little insta, both are wonderful young men and, although real and painful subject matter is tackled, it's not heavy or overdone on angst, balancing sweet and sexy with heartwarming and heart wrenching.
"I love you, you know. Even if I’m not supposed to."
Hello Forever is a strong addition to the Hello Goodbye series and reinforces why I enjoy Sarina Bowen's writing—she really does knows how to give her reader a touching, romantic story. And whilst it could easily be read as a standalone, it was lovely to catch up with Caleb and Josh from Goodbye Paradise. I've loved all these characters, the friendships and bonds created have been memorable and I really hope we're treated to Jason's story one day.
ARC generously provided for an honest and unbiased opinion.
"He’d been important to me back then, even if I’d never told him so."
Open and honest with his sexuality and with the loving support of a parent, Axel has never forgotten the childhood friend who stole his heart. Neither has Cax, despite things being very different for him living with the constant fear of his homophobic father and the threat of being unable to see his three younger brothers meaning he's remained firmly in the closet. Until fate plays its hand.
"I’ve always wanted you. And this might be our only chance."
(There was a tastefully sexy gif here, but someone was offended and reported me so I've had to remove it.)
The journey Cax and Axel travel was quite lovely despite at times feeling a little insta, both are wonderful young men and, although real and painful subject matter is tackled, it's not heavy or overdone on angst, balancing sweet and sexy with heartwarming and heart wrenching.
"I love you, you know. Even if I’m not supposed to."
Hello Forever is a strong addition to the Hello Goodbye series and reinforces why I enjoy Sarina Bowen's writing—she really does knows how to give her reader a touching, romantic story. And whilst it could easily be read as a standalone, it was lovely to catch up with Caleb and Josh from Goodbye Paradise. I've loved all these characters, the friendships and bonds created have been memorable and I really hope we're treated to Jason's story one day.
ARC generously provided for an honest and unbiased opinion.
July 9, 2017
Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books
✮✮✮ 4 STARS ✮✮✮
What are the odds...
Axel loves basketball, is young, single and out-of-the-closet gay and has been offered his dream job at Barmuth University. He watches an online stream of one of their Basketball games to decide whether the job, being responsible for the sports teams' marketing, would be a good fit. The camera zooms in, his eyes fall on a familiar face, a face from his past. And just like that his decision has been made.
If it weren't for his brothers Cax would never have returned into his hometown after graduation but watching over them, while they have to live with their abusive father has taken up precedence. He works as a teaching assistant at Barmuth and loves watching the basketball games. When he realizes that the one guy he ever kissed, the one he had to cut out of his life because of his father, works and lives in the same town, he has an inkling that his life is about to become way more complicated.
Axeldental & Caxtastrophe...
Axel is out of the closet and determined to stay there when he moves to a small university town in Massachusetts. There isn't a homophobic insult he hasn't heard. He is quite comfortable in his own skin, sweet and easygoing...and terrified of meeting his first love again. Their first meeting is awkward but thankfully they quickly fall back into a grown up version of the easy friendship they had when they were kids. Axel is exceedingly patient with Cax, and it becomes even more prominent when he sees with his own eyes that Cax didn't exaggerate when he told him about his problems.
Axeldental to Caxtastrophe: I’m sorry. I’m sorry that’s how it is, and I’m sorry I made you talk about it. And I’m really sorry that there isn’t some way we can spend time together. But at least I understand now why we can’t.
Cax' fear is so tangible in this story and it is so understandable! His father terrorizes him and has been since that day all those years ago, when he kissed Axel. Cax' brothers mean everything to him, he wants them to feel comfortable to contact him when they are in trouble so he needs to make sure that he stays in their lives. Which means staying firmly in the closet because his homophobic father threatens that he will never see his family again if he ever finds out that Cax is in a gay relationship. Which also means denying himself a life and love. It is unfair and infuriating, especially when you feel the yearning they feel for each other.
Before Axel came to Henning, I’d only suspected that my life sucked. Now I knew that it truly did.
It was lovely to see how Cax gained self confidence with Axel's backup, how he leaned more and more on his childhood friend and lover. I fist-pumped when Cax took charge and went out of his comfort zone to right the wrongs. I adored him for being such an amazing brother.
The trust we had for each other was like a cocoon surrounding the bed.
If you take a closer look at the two families you see a glaring difference in both of the heroes' upbringing. Axel's mom is accepting of his sexual orientation On the other hand you have Cax' father who has already started to affect his other kids with his homophobia. The story shows nicely how tolerance and intolerance is being infused by your upbringing. Parents have power and it's up to them to use it wisely.
Sarina Bowen's books are always special. They are touching, poignant and usually come with a truckload of emotions. These two men share a tenderness and love for one another that radiates off the pages. I loved that we got to see Josh and Caleb. They hold a special place in my heart. I also love the world this author has built for us. It feels familiar the moment you open the book - it's a bit like coming home.
While this installment didn't quite reach the level of Goodbye Paradise it was still a heartwarming, sweet and important story packed in a very quick read with 200+ pages. Now I am wondering if Sarina will write Jason's book which I will definitely read.
Hello Forever is the second part in the Hello Goodbye series and can be read as a standalone.
June 2, 2024
I love Sarina Bowen's M/M books. They are just so heartwarming beautiful and emotional. Every time I read one of her M/M novels I swoon. Litterally swoon. The amount of heartfelt emotions that these books evoke in me, especially between the main characters, guts me every single time.
Axel and Caxton were both so incredibly wonderful. They were amazing human beings, that loved each other deeply and ardently. The met as children and from there on every year they connected and build a lasting friendship at a church summer camp until they finally acted on their feelings. Life can be cruel and that's exactly what happened. Axel and Caxton were caught and ripped apart. Neither forgot the other, but hurt feelings and broken hearts prevented them from finding each other until a certain basketball game.
Axel, an openly gay marketing major, took a chance after he saw Caxton on TV and accepted an offer from a small town university in hopes to cross path with Cax. As it happens, his wishes were granted.
Unfortunately Caxton was in a much more complicated time of his life. After he was caught fooling around with Axel, his father gave him an ultimatum - stop being gay or be denied access to his younger brothers. For Cax there really was no choice - his brothers came first.
It was heartachingly beautiful to read about Caxton's struggle, his selflessness and love for his brothers knew no bounds nor limits. He would have given up another 6 years of his life just to be there for them. I ached for him!!!!!
Sarina Bowen has an incredible skill to write the most moving and tenderhearted heroes. Axel as well ad Caxton were absolutely lovable and adorable together. I loved them so much!! Together, and as individuals. AND - OMG - we had a Josh and Caleb cameo. I almost screamed in delight.
I hope the author will continue writing M/M because her books are some of my favorites and continue to evoke such deep feelings in me that other books only can dream about.
ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
Axel and Caxton were both so incredibly wonderful. They were amazing human beings, that loved each other deeply and ardently. The met as children and from there on every year they connected and build a lasting friendship at a church summer camp until they finally acted on their feelings. Life can be cruel and that's exactly what happened. Axel and Caxton were caught and ripped apart. Neither forgot the other, but hurt feelings and broken hearts prevented them from finding each other until a certain basketball game.
Axel, an openly gay marketing major, took a chance after he saw Caxton on TV and accepted an offer from a small town university in hopes to cross path with Cax. As it happens, his wishes were granted.
Unfortunately Caxton was in a much more complicated time of his life. After he was caught fooling around with Axel, his father gave him an ultimatum - stop being gay or be denied access to his younger brothers. For Cax there really was no choice - his brothers came first.
It was heartachingly beautiful to read about Caxton's struggle, his selflessness and love for his brothers knew no bounds nor limits. He would have given up another 6 years of his life just to be there for them. I ached for him!!!!!
Sarina Bowen has an incredible skill to write the most moving and tenderhearted heroes. Axel as well ad Caxton were absolutely lovable and adorable together. I loved them so much!! Together, and as individuals. AND - OMG - we had a Josh and Caleb cameo. I almost screamed in delight.
I hope the author will continue writing M/M because her books are some of my favorites and continue to evoke such deep feelings in me that other books only can dream about.
ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2018
Beautiful story, I loved it! Review later...
July 13, 2017
4.5 stars!
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
(the quotes are kind of randomly placed)
I thought it would be scientifically impossible for Cax and Axel to be cuter and more adorable and sweet and in love than Josh and Caleb.
Guess what? They were just as sweet and adorable and all the aforementioned things.
I'm a big fan of the childhood-friends-to-lovers trope. And reading about Cax and Axel going on church trips and being attracted to each other in that awkward and "what the hell is going on?!" way warmed my heart.
Also, the double POV helped me understand how they'd never forgotten the other, how they'd always held on to the memories of their time together.
Cax is in a very dicey situation concerning a very strict and homophobic father, while Axel can't help but try to find ways for them to be together. I loved seeing Axel flirt with Cax, who had never even been in a real relationship, pushing him to see how far he'd be willing to take it. These two characters danced along the thin line of attraction, their feelings fueled by a passion that had never been quenched, but also dampened by a threat that would destroy something Cax holds really close to his heart.
The side characters were absolutely wonderful, from the outgoing Boz, to Josh and Caleb (YESSS, there are a couple scenes with them in it, too!) to little Scotty, who's Cax's youngest brother. I especially liked reading how Axel came out to his mother (accidentally) and to Boz. It highlighted the stark contrast with Cax's family and situation, but it also added a sprinkle of humour.
--
The only thing that didn't have me squealing in joy was how the whole issue with Cax's father was resolved without much drama. I know, I like my stories low on angst, but I don't mind a bit of externally caused drama here and there. It sure left a lot of space for our happily-ever-after, but the climax felt dull.
Now I'm really curious about Jason and I hope we'll be able to read his story, too.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
(the quotes are kind of randomly placed)
I thought it would be scientifically impossible for Cax and Axel to be cuter and more adorable and sweet and in love than Josh and Caleb.
Guess what? They were just as sweet and adorable and all the aforementioned things.
I'm a big fan of the childhood-friends-to-lovers trope. And reading about Cax and Axel going on church trips and being attracted to each other in that awkward and "what the hell is going on?!" way warmed my heart.
[Cax] What does a guy wear to a place called The Shaft? I'm picturing leather pants and a dog collar.
[...]
[Axel] I'm wearing jeans and a T-Shirt. I figure the collar is optional.
Also, the double POV helped me understand how they'd never forgotten the other, how they'd always held on to the memories of their time together.
Cax is in a very dicey situation concerning a very strict and homophobic father, while Axel can't help but try to find ways for them to be together. I loved seeing Axel flirt with Cax, who had never even been in a real relationship, pushing him to see how far he'd be willing to take it. These two characters danced along the thin line of attraction, their feelings fueled by a passion that had never been quenched, but also dampened by a threat that would destroy something Cax holds really close to his heart.
"So if I came here alone tonight, I'd probably play some pool." He tipped his head toward the tables in the corner. "But at the end of the night, I'd probably leave alone. Unless there was some super chill, charming guy who made me feel both safe and excited. And he looked like a cross between Zac Efron and Channing Tatum."
I laughed. "Good luck with that."
He leaned one of his gorgeous cheekbones onto his palm and smiled at me. "That's how I think of you, though."
The side characters were absolutely wonderful, from the outgoing Boz, to Josh and Caleb (YESSS, there are a couple scenes with them in it, too!) to little Scotty, who's Cax's youngest brother. I especially liked reading how Axel came out to his mother (accidentally) and to Boz. It highlighted the stark contrast with Cax's family and situation, but it also added a sprinkle of humour.
"Uh, Boz?"
"Yeah?"
"Women's volleyball isn't really my thing. Actually, women aren't really my thing."
His monobrow furrowed. "Seriously?"
"Seriously." I braced myself for a clarifying slur or a fit of disgust.
"You mean..."
You're a faggot, is what I thought he would say next.
"You mean I can have volleyball and maybe also cheerleading?"
--
"Who's your favorite Avanger?" Scotty asked.
It took me a second to realize that I was the target of the question, because the kid's eyes never left the screen. "Thor," I said quickly.
"Not Iron Man? Really? Why?"
"I like his, um, hammer," I said, then inwardly snickered. Thor was my favorite because I wanted to lick Christ Hemsworth's sixpack. But the kid didn't need to know that.
The only thing that didn't have me squealing in joy was how the whole issue with Cax's father was resolved without much drama. I know, I like my stories low on angst, but I don't mind a bit of externally caused drama here and there. It sure left a lot of space for our happily-ever-after, but the climax felt dull.
Now I'm really curious about Jason and I hope we'll be able to read his story, too.
September 15, 2017
3.5 Stars
When Axel is offered a graduate job at a university in a small Massachusetts town, he’s unsure whether to take the position and make the big move interstate, where he will be starting life anew. As an avid basketball fan, Axel decides to live stream one of the university games to suss out the team and his potential stomping ground. His decision is instantly made when he spots a face in the crowd that once meant the world to him.
Cax is deeply in the closet and feels the pressure to stay that way to keep his grossly bigoted and potentially violent father from prohibiting him from seeing his three younger brothers that very much need him in their lives. But Cax never could forget his childhood best friend and first love Axel, and when Axel unexpectedly shows up in his small town and starts working at the university Cax himself is working at as a teaching assistant, Cax is suddenly overwhelmed and panicked to be confronted by the boy who he was so unfairly torn away from when they were sixteen.
Axel and Cax have a lot of outside forces keeping them at a distance, but their bond is too strong to be denied. Their love for one another picks right back up where they were wretchedly separated as teenagers, and although I enjoyed their hard fought romance, I felt there was a bit of a rush in the intensity of their feelings for one another. Even though I liked these guys together very much, I could have done with a bit more relationship development.
On top of this, Cax is ridiculously repressed by his asshole father, and although I understood his fears and worries relating to losing contact with his younger brothers, I was very much angered by the situation and Cax’s willingness to cower to his father’s hateful threats time and time again. I also found the father and his actions to be so over-the-top extreme that the events in the final portion of the story seemed exaggerated and unrealistic, resulting in a slight loss of my reading enjoyment.
Also, what’s up with the name Cax? I dislike this one greatly. Eek.
Aside from these minor complaints, this was another of Bowen’s well-written, touching and heated romances, and I’m even hoping for more within this series – Jason needs a story!
When Axel is offered a graduate job at a university in a small Massachusetts town, he’s unsure whether to take the position and make the big move interstate, where he will be starting life anew. As an avid basketball fan, Axel decides to live stream one of the university games to suss out the team and his potential stomping ground. His decision is instantly made when he spots a face in the crowd that once meant the world to him.
Cax is deeply in the closet and feels the pressure to stay that way to keep his grossly bigoted and potentially violent father from prohibiting him from seeing his three younger brothers that very much need him in their lives. But Cax never could forget his childhood best friend and first love Axel, and when Axel unexpectedly shows up in his small town and starts working at the university Cax himself is working at as a teaching assistant, Cax is suddenly overwhelmed and panicked to be confronted by the boy who he was so unfairly torn away from when they were sixteen.
Axel and Cax have a lot of outside forces keeping them at a distance, but their bond is too strong to be denied. Their love for one another picks right back up where they were wretchedly separated as teenagers, and although I enjoyed their hard fought romance, I felt there was a bit of a rush in the intensity of their feelings for one another. Even though I liked these guys together very much, I could have done with a bit more relationship development.
On top of this, Cax is ridiculously repressed by his asshole father, and although I understood his fears and worries relating to losing contact with his younger brothers, I was very much angered by the situation and Cax’s willingness to cower to his father’s hateful threats time and time again. I also found the father and his actions to be so over-the-top extreme that the events in the final portion of the story seemed exaggerated and unrealistic, resulting in a slight loss of my reading enjoyment.
Also, what’s up with the name Cax? I dislike this one greatly. Eek.
Aside from these minor complaints, this was another of Bowen’s well-written, touching and heated romances, and I’m even hoping for more within this series – Jason needs a story!
November 4, 2017
3.5 Stars
I admit this is not my favorite trope - sexual repression secondary to religious bigotry and awful parents being awful, just doesn’t do it for me anymore. Though my heart may be cold and cynical, it is often too tender when it comes to these sorts of scenarios. However, Bowen does her usual magic and still makes this a lovely smexy romance.
Axel and Cax have been BFF’s since they were 8 years old. When their kiss is discovered, the teens are ripped apart, and Cax is never seen again. Years later, Axel serendipitously spots Cax and sees it as a sign to take a job where he’s at hoping for what, he doesn’t quite know, he just has to go now. So, he packs up his things, moves a few states over, and starts anew. It doesn’t take Axel too long before he runs into a surprised Cax, and his long buried attraction flares back to life and wonderfully, the feeling is mutual. There’s just one little snag. Cax is in the closet, forced there by his hateful father who’s lording his 3 motherless brothers over him - behave or you’ll never see them again.
So, as much as these two want to be together, it’s just not an easy plausible thing. They resist, they try to be friends, they savor the small special times they have. However, their precarious but blissful situation can’t last forever, and both are forced to make some tough decisions.
Like it’s predecessor Goodbye Paradise, this is full of sweetness and yearning on both the MC’s part. Despite things progressing quickly even though Axel and Cax haven’t seen each other in over 6 yrs, it is also quite smexy and one can’t really go wrong with a virgin in all things M/M. Yum. Throw in a good dose of angsty turmoil, mostly centering on external forces , this love story produces a wonderful HEA. I have found very little fault in Bowen so far, and I look forward to reading the rest of her works!
I admit this is not my favorite trope - sexual repression secondary to religious bigotry and awful parents being awful, just doesn’t do it for me anymore. Though my heart may be cold and cynical, it is often too tender when it comes to these sorts of scenarios. However, Bowen does her usual magic and still makes this a lovely smexy romance.
Axel and Cax have been BFF’s since they were 8 years old. When their kiss is discovered, the teens are ripped apart, and Cax is never seen again. Years later, Axel serendipitously spots Cax and sees it as a sign to take a job where he’s at hoping for what, he doesn’t quite know, he just has to go now. So, he packs up his things, moves a few states over, and starts anew. It doesn’t take Axel too long before he runs into a surprised Cax, and his long buried attraction flares back to life and wonderfully, the feeling is mutual. There’s just one little snag. Cax is in the closet, forced there by his hateful father who’s lording his 3 motherless brothers over him - behave or you’ll never see them again.
So, as much as these two want to be together, it’s just not an easy plausible thing. They resist, they try to be friends, they savor the small special times they have. However, their precarious but blissful situation can’t last forever, and both are forced to make some tough decisions.
Like it’s predecessor Goodbye Paradise, this is full of sweetness and yearning on both the MC’s part. Despite things progressing quickly even though Axel and Cax haven’t seen each other in over 6 yrs, it is also quite smexy and one can’t really go wrong with a virgin in all things M/M. Yum. Throw in a good dose of angsty turmoil, mostly centering on external forces , this love story produces a wonderful HEA. I have found very little fault in Bowen so far, and I look forward to reading the rest of her works!
October 10, 2019
I'm pretty sure I had read this before when it was written under Nealy Wagner (It's Never Over) but I just read the audiobook this time, cause, um Teddy Hamilton is awesome and I loved it. This is another solid book by Sarina Bowen, who as you may know is just one of my favorite authors ever! I found that this one reminded me a lot of The Understatement of the Year, also by SB. There are similarities here and there and family drama, it's also sort of a second chance romance. It was a quick listen for me and I enjoyed it a lot. Not my favorite Sarina but not my least favorite. But definitely recommend.
July 14, 2017
Hello Forever is another example of just how sweet and real Sarina Bowen’s M/M romances are. That’s not to say there’s no heat, but the focus is on the emotional connection between the main characters.
Axel is an out and proud gay man. A new job brings Axel to a small college town where the only person he knows is Cax, the man he’s loved most of his life and who suddenly cut him out of his life after they were caught in an intimate moment as teenagers. Unsure of how the new town will accept his sexual orientation, Axel hesitantly attempts to settle into his new life while dreading the pain and awkwardness he will feel when he inevitably sees Cax. Axel’s loneliness is palpable, but I really admired his strength and determination.
Cax is a deeply closeted gay man who has everything to lose if he acts on his sexual urges or is even seen in public with Axel. I respected Cax’s willingness to sacrifice his own happiness to protect those he loves. He lives in constant fear, but Axel has an amazing level of patience and understanding. The magnetism between them can’t be denied.
It is easy to sympathize with the challenges of their relationship and rejoice in their joy, regardless of your sexual orientation. That’s a true hallmark of Sarina Bowen’s writing. Axel and Cax’s relationships with the humorous supporting characters make the story more entertaining.
There is a wonderful build-up between the couple and the main antagonist. I think more could have been made of the consequences following the climax, but the story is enjoyable nonetheless. I’m counting this as a charming and sexy winner.
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
Axel is an out and proud gay man. A new job brings Axel to a small college town where the only person he knows is Cax, the man he’s loved most of his life and who suddenly cut him out of his life after they were caught in an intimate moment as teenagers. Unsure of how the new town will accept his sexual orientation, Axel hesitantly attempts to settle into his new life while dreading the pain and awkwardness he will feel when he inevitably sees Cax. Axel’s loneliness is palpable, but I really admired his strength and determination.
Cax is a deeply closeted gay man who has everything to lose if he acts on his sexual urges or is even seen in public with Axel. I respected Cax’s willingness to sacrifice his own happiness to protect those he loves. He lives in constant fear, but Axel has an amazing level of patience and understanding. The magnetism between them can’t be denied.
It is easy to sympathize with the challenges of their relationship and rejoice in their joy, regardless of your sexual orientation. That’s a true hallmark of Sarina Bowen’s writing. Axel and Cax’s relationships with the humorous supporting characters make the story more entertaining.
There is a wonderful build-up between the couple and the main antagonist. I think more could have been made of the consequences following the climax, but the story is enjoyable nonetheless. I’m counting this as a charming and sexy winner.
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
July 24, 2017
***3 Stars***
This was a quick and enjoyable read, but nothing really wowed me.
The plot had a lot of promise, but it just didn't deliver the level of emotion I was expecting.
I don't know if it was the pacing, or the lack of chemistry between Axel and Cax, or the YA sounding dialogue, or Cax's martyrdom....but something just didn't fully click with me.
The big, bad villain here felt too cartoonish for my tastes and the way Cax's dad was dealt with felt like a throwaway. Also, for Cax sacrificing so much of his life for his brothers, the author didn't really spend much time developing a relationship between them.
But it was great seeing Caleb and Josh again ♥ ♥ ♥
The book kept my attention and I was curious to see how things would play out (the dirty talk was a nice plus), but overall this was kind of forgettable.
July 7, 2017
4.5 Long Lost Stars
Hello Forever is a standalone and is part of the Hello Goodbye series. I love it when authors come back with pen names. This is a Sarina Bowen book written under Nealy Wagner.
I’ll be honest and say I’m not a huge MM fan. I have to be in the mood for it. I hadn’t found a book in awhile and I remembered how much I liked the first book so I decided to go back to MM. I forgot how much I love Sarina Bowen’s writing.
This is a second chance romance and what got me sucked into the story is the dynamics between Cax and Axel.
One is openly gay and one is a closet gay, you can only guess all the problems they will have. But to my surprise the problems weren’t with each other, but with other people and I loved that.
Cax and Axel were childhood friends and after an incident they hadn’t spoken to each other in years. Now they are young men trying to figure out their future. I really loved Axel. I found him endearing and the typical young male trying to make it. He’s a newbie at his job and he’s trying to figure the small town. It’s hard being gay in a new community.
Cax comes from a strict father who is openly against gay men and it has put Cax in a predicament. He’s never been able to be openly gay and the poor guy has never had any kind of relationship with a man.
The thing that really got me into this book is almost everything. I loved the writing style, it simply flowed and I loved the relationship between Cax and Axel. The tension between the two was off the charts awesome and I was just rooting for them to work out.
If you are a fan of the series you will not be disappointed.
An Arc was provided
AMAZON - http://amzn.to/2sxgEtK
Hello Forever is a standalone and is part of the Hello Goodbye series. I love it when authors come back with pen names. This is a Sarina Bowen book written under Nealy Wagner.
I’ll be honest and say I’m not a huge MM fan. I have to be in the mood for it. I hadn’t found a book in awhile and I remembered how much I liked the first book so I decided to go back to MM. I forgot how much I love Sarina Bowen’s writing.
This is a second chance romance and what got me sucked into the story is the dynamics between Cax and Axel.
One is openly gay and one is a closet gay, you can only guess all the problems they will have. But to my surprise the problems weren’t with each other, but with other people and I loved that.
Cax and Axel were childhood friends and after an incident they hadn’t spoken to each other in years. Now they are young men trying to figure out their future. I really loved Axel. I found him endearing and the typical young male trying to make it. He’s a newbie at his job and he’s trying to figure the small town. It’s hard being gay in a new community.
Cax comes from a strict father who is openly against gay men and it has put Cax in a predicament. He’s never been able to be openly gay and the poor guy has never had any kind of relationship with a man.
The thing that really got me into this book is almost everything. I loved the writing style, it simply flowed and I loved the relationship between Cax and Axel. The tension between the two was off the charts awesome and I was just rooting for them to work out.
If you are a fan of the series you will not be disappointed.
An Arc was provided
AMAZON - http://amzn.to/2sxgEtK
January 2, 2016
First, can I just say what a gorgeous cover? Yum.
Told in Axel and Cax's alternating POV, Wagner creates a believable plot of why Cax and Axel are apart for most of the story. The boys meet at a church camp when they're eight years old and become best friends.
I was eight when I met him at a wintertime church retreat. We made friends in that desperately fast way that kids do. Everyone needed to pick a snowshoeing buddy, and we just looked at each other and smiled.
After twenty-four hours, it was obvious to both of us that we’d done well to end up together.
When the boys are sixteen and meet again at camp their attraction for each other leads to them messing around. When they are caught making out their parents are called. Though Axel's mother is fantastic about it...
My mom’s reaction when they finally handed me the phone? She laughed.
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry. But you’re going to have to work on being subtle. Do you want me to pick you up? The director said I could choose whether or not to drive up and bring you home.”
...but Cax's father is a homophobic dirt bag who immediately picks up Cax and forces him to cut off all contact with Axel. Six years later Cax is grown up and no longer living at home, but his desire to be a real presence for his three little brothers had led him to stay completely in the closet and to hide any part of his sexuality for fear his father will use it to prevent him from being in his brother's lives.
“But if I want to have contact with my brothers, I can’t… date anyone else,” I said. “The old man lets me do a lot of his childrearing. But if I lived my life the way I want, he’d cut off contact. And I wouldn’t be able to keep my hand in to make sure they’re being treated well.”
This has worked for Cax...until Axel shows up in town and all the emotions and love he's always felt for his boyhood best friend become too hard to resist.
Threading my fingers into his hair, I rubbed his scalp. “I love you, you know. Even if I’m not supposed to.”
He was absolutely silent, so I feared that once again I’d gone too far. That’s all I was good for, apparently. I was just about to apologize for the seventy-fifth time when Cax made a strange sound. And then another one. He was crying.
“Oh, hon. No!” I crooned, my palm holding his head against my chest. “I’m sorry. You need to sleep and…”
“It’s just the pain, and…” He shook his head, his forehead rubbing against my shoulder. “No, actually. It’s just the headache talking. I ache for you. Every night I lie in this fucking bed and try to find a workaround…” He paused to swallow hard. “Never can.”
Now my eyes were hot, too. “If there was anything I could ever do for you, I’d do it.”
The hatred I felt for Cax's father was huge. At one point I wished for his horrible death because of how repulsive his behavior. Thankfully the angst in the story is mitigated by a generous sprinkling of humor, as well as delicious sexy times.
I loved the cast of supporting characters: Caleb and Josh, Amy, Jason, Boz, Axel's mom, Ruth, and Cax's brother, Scotty. Wagner created a story that drew me in and kept me captivated until the end.
RECOMMENDED!
Note: Caleb and Josh are the main characters from Wagner's In Front of God and Everyone (Pay it Forward #1).
Also - It's pretty obvious Jason will be the subject of another novel and Wagner gives a great tease for his story...I'll be sure to pick that up when it's ready!
Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Reviews by Jessewave
Told in Axel and Cax's alternating POV, Wagner creates a believable plot of why Cax and Axel are apart for most of the story. The boys meet at a church camp when they're eight years old and become best friends.
I was eight when I met him at a wintertime church retreat. We made friends in that desperately fast way that kids do. Everyone needed to pick a snowshoeing buddy, and we just looked at each other and smiled.
After twenty-four hours, it was obvious to both of us that we’d done well to end up together.
When the boys are sixteen and meet again at camp their attraction for each other leads to them messing around. When they are caught making out their parents are called. Though Axel's mother is fantastic about it...
My mom’s reaction when they finally handed me the phone? She laughed.
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry. But you’re going to have to work on being subtle. Do you want me to pick you up? The director said I could choose whether or not to drive up and bring you home.”
...but Cax's father is a homophobic dirt bag who immediately picks up Cax and forces him to cut off all contact with Axel. Six years later Cax is grown up and no longer living at home, but his desire to be a real presence for his three little brothers had led him to stay completely in the closet and to hide any part of his sexuality for fear his father will use it to prevent him from being in his brother's lives.
“But if I want to have contact with my brothers, I can’t… date anyone else,” I said. “The old man lets me do a lot of his childrearing. But if I lived my life the way I want, he’d cut off contact. And I wouldn’t be able to keep my hand in to make sure they’re being treated well.”
This has worked for Cax...until Axel shows up in town and all the emotions and love he's always felt for his boyhood best friend become too hard to resist.
Threading my fingers into his hair, I rubbed his scalp. “I love you, you know. Even if I’m not supposed to.”
He was absolutely silent, so I feared that once again I’d gone too far. That’s all I was good for, apparently. I was just about to apologize for the seventy-fifth time when Cax made a strange sound. And then another one. He was crying.
“Oh, hon. No!” I crooned, my palm holding his head against my chest. “I’m sorry. You need to sleep and…”
“It’s just the pain, and…” He shook his head, his forehead rubbing against my shoulder. “No, actually. It’s just the headache talking. I ache for you. Every night I lie in this fucking bed and try to find a workaround…” He paused to swallow hard. “Never can.”
Now my eyes were hot, too. “If there was anything I could ever do for you, I’d do it.”
The hatred I felt for Cax's father was huge. At one point I wished for his horrible death because of how repulsive his behavior. Thankfully the angst in the story is mitigated by a generous sprinkling of humor, as well as delicious sexy times.
I loved the cast of supporting characters: Caleb and Josh, Amy, Jason, Boz, Axel's mom, Ruth, and Cax's brother, Scotty. Wagner created a story that drew me in and kept me captivated until the end.
RECOMMENDED!
Note: Caleb and Josh are the main characters from Wagner's In Front of God and Everyone (Pay it Forward #1).
Also - It's pretty obvious Jason will be the subject of another novel and Wagner gives a great tease for his story...I'll be sure to pick that up when it's ready!
Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Reviews by Jessewave
July 26, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. It's sweet, passionate, and emotional.
And I have to say the thing I love about Sarina Bowen the most is that it doesn't matter what genre she's writing every book is consistently well written, has good character development, and always has an ending that makes you smile.
Honestly, if you like contemporary romance (M/M or F/M) you can't go wrong with a book by Bowen and this novel is no exception.
And I have to say the thing I love about Sarina Bowen the most is that it doesn't matter what genre she's writing every book is consistently well written, has good character development, and always has an ending that makes you smile.
Honestly, if you like contemporary romance (M/M or F/M) you can't go wrong with a book by Bowen and this novel is no exception.
July 13, 2017
3.5 Hearts
What's this? Sarina Bowen wrote a sports romance and the sport isn't hockey???? Technically it's sports adjacent but still, not hockey.
Hello Forever is a coming of age/second chance at love story. Cax and Axel grew up together, were each other's first love, went to church retreats together and shared their first kiss in the woods at one of those retreats. When the pastor caught them and called their parents their lives diverged.
Axel's mother took it in stride, her love never wavering but Cax's father being the bigot he is took drastic measures. He moved the whole family to Massachusetts immediately so Cax never had a chance to say anything to Axel.
Six years later Axel spots Cax in the stands at a college basketball game where he's been offered a job which cinched his taking the job. When they first set eyes on each other two things are clear-the attraction is still strong as ever and not much has changed.
Cax's father truly is a bastard but Cax can't abandon his younger brothers solely to his care, so he's stuck. The rules are if he wants to be a part of their lives then he has to pretend to be straight which, honestly, hasn't been that much of a hardship until Axel moves into town and stirs up all those memories of what could've been.
They try to be friends but there's so much chemistry between them that makes it difficult to sustain the ruse. They both want more. But more comes with a price and-trigger warning-there is a serious gay bashing incident but they do get a hard won and heartfelt HEA.
Both protagonists are well drawn as are the secondary characters. I felt their connection throughout the narrative. Bowen does an exceptional job with creating tension and makes the reader feel the longing between Cax and Axel. I'm hopeful for a third book featuring Scott and his lumbersexual neighbor!
Caleb and Josh are Axel's landlords so we get to catch up with them but it's not necessary to read Goodbye Paradise prior to reading this.
Recommend to NA romance fans.
An ARC was provided.
What's this? Sarina Bowen wrote a sports romance and the sport isn't hockey???? Technically it's sports adjacent but still, not hockey.
Hello Forever is a coming of age/second chance at love story. Cax and Axel grew up together, were each other's first love, went to church retreats together and shared their first kiss in the woods at one of those retreats. When the pastor caught them and called their parents their lives diverged.
Axel's mother took it in stride, her love never wavering but Cax's father being the bigot he is took drastic measures. He moved the whole family to Massachusetts immediately so Cax never had a chance to say anything to Axel.
Six years later Axel spots Cax in the stands at a college basketball game where he's been offered a job which cinched his taking the job. When they first set eyes on each other two things are clear-the attraction is still strong as ever and not much has changed.
Cax's father truly is a bastard but Cax can't abandon his younger brothers solely to his care, so he's stuck. The rules are if he wants to be a part of their lives then he has to pretend to be straight which, honestly, hasn't been that much of a hardship until Axel moves into town and stirs up all those memories of what could've been.
They try to be friends but there's so much chemistry between them that makes it difficult to sustain the ruse. They both want more. But more comes with a price and-trigger warning-there is a serious gay bashing incident but they do get a hard won and heartfelt HEA.
Both protagonists are well drawn as are the secondary characters. I felt their connection throughout the narrative. Bowen does an exceptional job with creating tension and makes the reader feel the longing between Cax and Axel. I'm hopeful for a third book featuring Scott and his lumbersexual neighbor!
Caleb and Josh are Axel's landlords so we get to catch up with them but it's not necessary to read Goodbye Paradise prior to reading this.
Recommend to NA romance fans.
An ARC was provided.
Want to read
November 22, 2018Thank you for the gift, Secret Santa!
July 20, 2017
Ahhh, what can I say...I am a sucker for anything Sarina Bowen and ITS NEVER OVER by Nealy Wagner or HELLO FOREVER by Bowen is all that I wanted it to be.
Writing from a pseudonym's perspective must be difficult for a writer. Especially when the subject matter can be considered taboo for some. BUT NOT FOR ME. I love M/M romances and Bowen is the Queen in my opinion when it comes to matters of the heart, be it male or female.
It really pains me to hear that love cannot be rejoiced just because of someone's sexual orientation. Why the heck does it matter who you love? Who you care for? Who you want to spend the rest of your life with? Falling in love when you're a teenager and just starting to get a grip on who you are is never easy. Figuring out you're gay when your deadbeat dad is a homophobic bastard, makes things a heck of a lot worse.
Cax has known for a very long time that he is gay. But he has never been able to tell anyone for fear of rejection, harassment, and judgement. Finding solace at a Church group as a teenager always made him feel better, especially when he becomes friends with the beautiful Axel. Cax always had to hide who he was, except for when Axel came into the picture. Though it was a brief reprieve, it was always welcome-Church group never lasted long enough for Cax. Axel, the emotionally stronger of the two, had a wonderful mother growing up, who fostered him and provided him with the tools necessary to accept who he was as a human being. Never having to really hide from anyone, Axel wasn't ever in the closet. He came out in high school and lived his life to the fullest. The same cannot be said for Cax, though he wished it could have been that way. Having his mother pass away from Cancer when he was young and a military maniac for a father and three brothers to look after, he never spent any time taking care of himself.
After a wonderful, yet life changing experience at Church group one summer when they were 16, Cax and Axel were torn apart. For 8 years there was no contact. Even though the feelings they had for one another never went away. Feelings for someone who you are emotionally tied to that strongly are nearly impossible to disappear, despite the years in between. Running into each other after all that time, and not much had changed for Cax, but it had for Axel and he was going to fight for what and WHO he wanted.
Axel is my hero. The awful things that happened to him, the hurt, the slander, it didn't sway him from his feelings for his love at all. He kept at it, he left space when needed, and he was there, physically and emotionally whenever he needed to be. Cax never once took Axel for granted, he was in a horrid situation caused by his heinous father and he did what he thought necessary to protect his brothers. But eventually, enough was enough, and Cax did what he had to do to fight for what he believed in, for love and for the future of his life.
BOWEN has a knack for creating the most believable and tangible characters. She tackles hard to hear subject matter with grace and class and ALWAYS delivers with her superb writing skills. I adored hearing about Josh and Caleb and I truly look forward to the next installment-hoping to have a happy ending for Jason!
I will take any opportunity there is to read anything by Bowen, she is one of the greats for me.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed by Jess for joandisalovebooks blog
Writing from a pseudonym's perspective must be difficult for a writer. Especially when the subject matter can be considered taboo for some. BUT NOT FOR ME. I love M/M romances and Bowen is the Queen in my opinion when it comes to matters of the heart, be it male or female.
It really pains me to hear that love cannot be rejoiced just because of someone's sexual orientation. Why the heck does it matter who you love? Who you care for? Who you want to spend the rest of your life with? Falling in love when you're a teenager and just starting to get a grip on who you are is never easy. Figuring out you're gay when your deadbeat dad is a homophobic bastard, makes things a heck of a lot worse.
Cax has known for a very long time that he is gay. But he has never been able to tell anyone for fear of rejection, harassment, and judgement. Finding solace at a Church group as a teenager always made him feel better, especially when he becomes friends with the beautiful Axel. Cax always had to hide who he was, except for when Axel came into the picture. Though it was a brief reprieve, it was always welcome-Church group never lasted long enough for Cax. Axel, the emotionally stronger of the two, had a wonderful mother growing up, who fostered him and provided him with the tools necessary to accept who he was as a human being. Never having to really hide from anyone, Axel wasn't ever in the closet. He came out in high school and lived his life to the fullest. The same cannot be said for Cax, though he wished it could have been that way. Having his mother pass away from Cancer when he was young and a military maniac for a father and three brothers to look after, he never spent any time taking care of himself.
After a wonderful, yet life changing experience at Church group one summer when they were 16, Cax and Axel were torn apart. For 8 years there was no contact. Even though the feelings they had for one another never went away. Feelings for someone who you are emotionally tied to that strongly are nearly impossible to disappear, despite the years in between. Running into each other after all that time, and not much had changed for Cax, but it had for Axel and he was going to fight for what and WHO he wanted.
Axel is my hero. The awful things that happened to him, the hurt, the slander, it didn't sway him from his feelings for his love at all. He kept at it, he left space when needed, and he was there, physically and emotionally whenever he needed to be. Cax never once took Axel for granted, he was in a horrid situation caused by his heinous father and he did what he thought necessary to protect his brothers. But eventually, enough was enough, and Cax did what he had to do to fight for what he believed in, for love and for the future of his life.
BOWEN has a knack for creating the most believable and tangible characters. She tackles hard to hear subject matter with grace and class and ALWAYS delivers with her superb writing skills. I adored hearing about Josh and Caleb and I truly look forward to the next installment-hoping to have a happy ending for Jason!
I will take any opportunity there is to read anything by Bowen, she is one of the greats for me.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed by Jess for joandisalovebooks blog
July 13, 2017
I like this series!
Cax and Axel were best friends once, even though they only ever saw each other at Church Camp in the summer. But that all ended when they were 16 and they were caught making out.
Six years later Axel accepts a job in a small town, and he is thrilled to have found Cax again. But Cax tells him they cannot be friends because no one can know he is gay. He has to stay in the closet.
Cax has a mean father, who used to beat Cax up. He is convinced his father will cut off all ties with Cax once he finds out he is gay. That wouldn’t be a big deal if not for Cax’s 3 younger brothers. Cax tries to take care of them as best as he can, even though he is no longer living at home.
But Cax cannot resist the pull towards Axel. Especially once he realizes he never stopped loving him.
The writing in this had a nice flow to it and I happily sat down and read this in one afternoon. Not everything goes smoothly between Cax and Axel, but I wouldn’t necessarily call this an angsty read. It’s not really fluffy either, but I think the author has a nice way of taking the middle road.
And we got some lovely hurt/comfort thrown in there!
I do have to admit that the relationship felt a little underdeveloped at times. It was pretty much based on the love they had for each other when they were 16. But it didn’t bother me too much.
And I have to say that the sex in this was hot! We even got a little bit of dirty talk!
I had a great time reading this, and I would gladly read more by this author.
Cax and Axel were best friends once, even though they only ever saw each other at Church Camp in the summer. But that all ended when they were 16 and they were caught making out.
Six years later Axel accepts a job in a small town, and he is thrilled to have found Cax again. But Cax tells him they cannot be friends because no one can know he is gay. He has to stay in the closet.
Cax has a mean father, who used to beat Cax up. He is convinced his father will cut off all ties with Cax once he finds out he is gay. That wouldn’t be a big deal if not for Cax’s 3 younger brothers. Cax tries to take care of them as best as he can, even though he is no longer living at home.
But Cax cannot resist the pull towards Axel. Especially once he realizes he never stopped loving him.
The writing in this had a nice flow to it and I happily sat down and read this in one afternoon. Not everything goes smoothly between Cax and Axel, but I wouldn’t necessarily call this an angsty read. It’s not really fluffy either, but I think the author has a nice way of taking the middle road.
And we got some lovely hurt/comfort thrown in there!
I do have to admit that the relationship felt a little underdeveloped at times. It was pretty much based on the love they had for each other when they were 16. But it didn’t bother me too much.
And I have to say that the sex in this was hot! We even got a little bit of dirty talk!
I had a great time reading this, and I would gladly read more by this author.
July 10, 2016
I really liked Axel and Caxton's story but it didn't quite measure up to In Front of God and Everyone. I'm not a fan of the old push and pull trope and whilst I get why Cax kept on pushing Axel away he really hurt him each time he did it, and that hurt me.
That said, once again the author gave me a book full of feels with characters that I really liked and eventually (in Cax's case) ended up loving once he grew a pair and decided to fight for a life.
That said, once again the author gave me a book full of feels with characters that I really liked and eventually (in Cax's case) ended up loving once he grew a pair and decided to fight for a life.
July 28, 2017
♥ ♥ ♥ 3.75 STARS ♥ ♥ ♥
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"I love you, you know. Even if I’m not supposed to."
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Cax and Axel grew up together at church camp. They always looked forward to seeing each other every summer. As they grow older, however, they begin to develop feelings that they are taught are wrong. They know they should ignore it but they can't help it and end up sharing one sweet kiss. Unfortunately, they are caught and separated that led them to have no contact for years.
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"I’ve always wanted you. And this might be our only chance."
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Over six years later, Axel has grown up to be a man who is comfortable in his skin and not at all ashamed of his sexuality. I loved that he has a mother who loved and supported him when she found out about the kiss. When Axel tries to decide about a new job he jumps at the chance when he finds out he will be working close to Cax.
Cax hasn't had the support that Axel has received from his family. He has had to hide who he really is or he will lose the ability to have contact with his little brothers. My heart broke for Cax and the struggle he was going through. His homophobic father was the absolute worse. I was extremely happy when Cax and Axel reunited. However, I was extremely upset that they had to keep things under wraps but it made sense. They had to make sacrifices for Cax's siblings or else they would have no one and suffer abuse from his father.
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'Laying my hands on him felt like coming home. He felt like mine.'
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The chemistry between Axel and Cax was all kinds of fantastic. They worked so well together. I loved them to pieces, they made my giddy with happiness. They had some awesome sexy times and were so adorably sweet. They had me rooting for them to find a way to be together in public. I just couldn't get enough of them. I was also really happy to see Josh and Caleb make appearances in this book, still love those two. Overall, I found this book to be really enjoyable. There were some angsty parts but nothing too crazy or heavy.
July 4, 2017
~*~ 4.5 STARS ~*~
In true Sarina Bowen fashion, she gives us another set of characters that are so damn easy to fall in LOVE with! She gives us a story of purpose, hope, and self-acceptance. She gives us a story of friendship, companionship, and love. Cax and Axel's story will punch you right in the gut with tons of emotions and a big helping of FEELS! I absolutely ADORED these two together and on their own. A new love falls apart at such a young age, only to be reunited years later with no change in the circumstances. It's safe to say that even though years have passed, the connection, the adoration, the endearing love that these two once shared, never truly went away. A man hiding who he really is. Another man with the patience of a saint waits for the right time for them to be together again. It's all so incredibly heartbreaking and beautiful. Just like all of Sarina's characters, these two struck a chord within me. They stole my heart, and I have no urge to take it back. And like Josh and Caleb (who make multiple appearances in this one, btw) Cax and Axel has forever embedded themselves in my soul. I don't know how she does it but, Ms. Bowen continues to astound me with her words and her beautifully complex characters. The depth of her storytelling is incredible, and she has me begging for each and every word. It was hard to say goodbye to these characters, but I definitely see a reread in the very near future! Thank you Sarina for giving us another story that makes us FEEL...that makes us HURT...that makes us SOAR. Another incredible story from one AMAZING storyteller!
In true Sarina Bowen fashion, she gives us another set of characters that are so damn easy to fall in LOVE with! She gives us a story of purpose, hope, and self-acceptance. She gives us a story of friendship, companionship, and love. Cax and Axel's story will punch you right in the gut with tons of emotions and a big helping of FEELS! I absolutely ADORED these two together and on their own. A new love falls apart at such a young age, only to be reunited years later with no change in the circumstances. It's safe to say that even though years have passed, the connection, the adoration, the endearing love that these two once shared, never truly went away. A man hiding who he really is. Another man with the patience of a saint waits for the right time for them to be together again. It's all so incredibly heartbreaking and beautiful. Just like all of Sarina's characters, these two struck a chord within me. They stole my heart, and I have no urge to take it back. And like Josh and Caleb (who make multiple appearances in this one, btw) Cax and Axel has forever embedded themselves in my soul. I don't know how she does it but, Ms. Bowen continues to astound me with her words and her beautifully complex characters. The depth of her storytelling is incredible, and she has me begging for each and every word. It was hard to say goodbye to these characters, but I definitely see a reread in the very near future! Thank you Sarina for giving us another story that makes us FEEL...that makes us HURT...that makes us SOAR. Another incredible story from one AMAZING storyteller!
July 14, 2017
4 "Overcoming Prejudice to Find Happiness" Stars!
Hello Forever is a new adult, M/M romance that explores the societal and family pressures that some LGBT couples have to overcome to finally find their true happiness. This story broke my heart at the injustice that some couples have to overcome just to explore their own nature and finally find their HEA.
Axel and Caxton have been attracted to one another since they met at a youth group church camp. Sadly the one time they tried to explore these feelings, they were caught by the pastor who reported them to their parents and their parents quickly put a stop to the further development of any sort of relationship.
Years later after no contact with Caxton, Axel is watching the basketball game of a college that has offered him a position on their athletic department in the public relations department when the camera pans over to the crowd and he sees none other than Caxton (who turns out to be a graduate student at the same college). Although its been years, Axel decides it must be destiny and accepts the offer.
When Axel finally runs into Caxton on campus, however, he discovers that Caxton is still "in the closet." Moreover, given his father's deep seated prejudice, and his need to want to be there for his 3 younger brothers (now that they only have him and his father after the death of his mother), Caxton decides that though his feelings are just as strong as they once were for Axel, there is just no way he can risk his father taking away his brothers if he finds out. So he denies himself the one and only man he has ever loved. Will destiny find a way to provide Caxton and Axel their HEA?
All in all, this was a good new adult, M/M romance. While I did enjoy Goodbye Paradise (Book 1) more, there were aspects of this novel that made it different and fresh, such as Caxton's commitment to his brothers and their relationship with one another. Moreover, I enjoyed getting to see how Joshua and Caleb, the couple of Goodbye Paradise, were faring as they are Axel's landlords.
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
Hello Forever is a new adult, M/M romance that explores the societal and family pressures that some LGBT couples have to overcome to finally find their true happiness. This story broke my heart at the injustice that some couples have to overcome just to explore their own nature and finally find their HEA.
Axel and Caxton have been attracted to one another since they met at a youth group church camp. Sadly the one time they tried to explore these feelings, they were caught by the pastor who reported them to their parents and their parents quickly put a stop to the further development of any sort of relationship.
Years later after no contact with Caxton, Axel is watching the basketball game of a college that has offered him a position on their athletic department in the public relations department when the camera pans over to the crowd and he sees none other than Caxton (who turns out to be a graduate student at the same college). Although its been years, Axel decides it must be destiny and accepts the offer.
When Axel finally runs into Caxton on campus, however, he discovers that Caxton is still "in the closet." Moreover, given his father's deep seated prejudice, and his need to want to be there for his 3 younger brothers (now that they only have him and his father after the death of his mother), Caxton decides that though his feelings are just as strong as they once were for Axel, there is just no way he can risk his father taking away his brothers if he finds out. So he denies himself the one and only man he has ever loved. Will destiny find a way to provide Caxton and Axel their HEA?
All in all, this was a good new adult, M/M romance. While I did enjoy Goodbye Paradise (Book 1) more, there were aspects of this novel that made it different and fresh, such as Caxton's commitment to his brothers and their relationship with one another. Moreover, I enjoyed getting to see how Joshua and Caleb, the couple of Goodbye Paradise, were faring as they are Axel's landlords.
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
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