Everyone should have a chance at forever . . .Twenty-Five Years. That’s how long Odette Peterson called Austin Andrews her best friend. Until he let his mouth ruin it–in more ways than one.Five Minutes. That’s all it took for their friendship to fall apart, leaving her heart a little broken and her life a little emptier.One Hour. That’s the amount of time she agrees to give him to try and find … That’s the amount of time she agrees to give him to try and find his way back into her good graces. Not that she thinks for even one minute that it might work.
It won’t, because . . .
Forever. That’s what Odette’s looking for. Someone to spend her life with; someone who’ll see her as more than just one of the guys. And there’s not a thing Austin can do to stop her.
Except maybe tell her that he loves her . . .
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I’ll always believe that the very best relationships are when your partner is your best friend. I just love stories where friends come to discover that there is something more between them. That’s exactly what we get here. This book has a little of everything–it’s funny, hot, engaging, sweet, a little angst and just full of feels. I really loved it!
This is the sweetest love story of Odette and Austin. Odie and Aussie have been best friends for 25 years. They deeply love each other but never have expressed their love, especially Aussie to Odie. He’s always known. Since, I read the first one in this series, we were acquainted with Austin’s sister Ashton and Andrews story, and we got a hint of Austin and Odie’s relationship a bit. I wanted this story immediately. The author did their story justice. I love their inner dialogue of each other. Their deep connection, deep love and deep desire for their future.
The siblings relationship, banter, love and care of one another in this book, I love. These three love each other so much.
“If you’re looking for forever, why aren’t you looking at me?” This line right here…..I will always remember this one. Its quite simple but it says so much. Love this best friends to lovers book!!!
I literally picked this book up the minute I finished About Time and was so happy to finally get Austin & Odette’s story. It was so damn good.
While this story continued with the author’s amazing wit, there was also so much love in this story. Austin & Odie have been best friends for 25 years and they FINALLY realized that they belonged together. Friends to lovers is my fave!
“It’s just that you’re…only…just you.”
And while their relationship was not perfect and there were some bumps in the road, it was worth every second of sexual tension to see them happy!
Not only did we finally get Aussie’s and Odie’s forever, but we got so much more of Ashton & Andrew and Aaron & Simon. I simply need Aaron & Simon’s story NOW! And I need more of these amazing family; could they please adopt me? (5 stars)
I realize that I am going to be in the minority here but for me, Because Forever was just an average book. It was well written. It had two sweet characters in Odie and her best friend that becomes her lover Austin and that was about it for me. I understand every book doesn’t have to have angst or drama but Because Forever had a lot of sweet moments happening between two sweet people that are working on being a sweet couple. Personally, I needed more and I don’t think that that is the authors fault but my own taste in books. If this is what you enjoy reading, you should definitely read it. Because Forever is written from dual POV and is an easy, relaxing story.
Oh I love a good friends to lovers story and this one was no exception! I was first introduced to Odette “Odie” and Austin “Aussie” in About Time (The Avenue series #1), and I loved how they had such a long-standing guy/girl best friendship. Austin hinted in About Time about his true feelings for Odie, so I was sooo happy to finally get to read their story.
First off, if you haven’t read About Time – read it now! What I love the most about this series – besides the fab couples – is the sibling relationship between Austin (Tiny), Ashton (Little) and Aaron (A). These three have THE Best friendship and support system that you could ask for from your siblings. They are hilarious, fiercely loyal and protective, and they love and care for each other as if they were the last people on Earth. I absolutely love their banter, crude jokes, and open and honest relationship they have with each other. Also – the way they accept and love the significant others of each other is so touching and beautiful. They have created an amazing family for themselves all without the support of their parents.
Odie & Austin….oh I love them. Like really love them. Odie is intimidating – a little fireball. She can literally spar with the boys, make witty comebacks, rock behind the bar, and show her vulnerability all at once. Her love for Austin is so darn cute, and the fact that she has hidden her true feelings for him all these years just makes their relationship that more wonderful.
If I had to pick one of these boys in this series to fall for – it would be Austin. He is an absolute doll. He is gorgeous, funny as hell, care-free, and owns his own bar – with his sister! The fact that he forgets everything is endearing – to a point. He will always be “Tiny” to his siblings – always reminding everyone that he is the youngest, and therefore can get away with a bit more. I fell for him in About Time, and the way he spoke about Odie…..oh he was so swoon-worthy!!! He tortured himself denying his feelings for her, all the while he would go on and on about how perfect she was for him. His humor and over the top gestures to win her heart were the icing on the cake for me. He loves this girl so much – gah! Their easy friendship and exploding chemistry made this book so fun to read. Can’t wait to read what’s next in this series for these fun and flirty characters! Well done B. Cranford! XO
SOLD!! With each book B. Cranford releases, I say “This is my favorite.” Taking this journey to watch her storytelling develop, you can’t help but be charmed by this friends-to-lovers story.
Aussie and Odie dance the ‘BFF’ friend zone forever. Each one pining for the other – without the other having a clue. So what happens when a misunderstanding, leads to an apology and a kiss? True confession time. But how to go for an ‘us’ to an ‘Us’? This is their journey that Ms Cranford takes us on.
As always, she gives us real characters in real life situations that you root for the HEA they deserve. If you’ve not picked up this author, now is the time. It’s everything a romance reader loves: heart and soul of falling ‘more’ in love. 5 out of 5 because everyone deserves their forever stars.
I’ve been excited for Odie and Aussie since I met them in book one. I admit a good friends to lovers is always been a favorite. Here I get why that friendship came between them. But then their banter is oh so sweet and together they are an endearing pair. It took Odie ignoring him to make Aussie to make a move.
This book had so many winning lines, I have so many marked down. By being best friends Odie knows Aussie has his flaws and he needs to step it up to make this whole all in with each other work. I can get why Odie had reservations despite her obvious feelings for her friend. I like that conflict was real and sometimes you take for granted people who are always there.
Still relatively low angst for me and how they overcame their problems, from Aussie’s family to his own little mistakes. A feel good story I feel and you have yourself rooting for these two characters. I liked this one more than the first book honestly it came together better. I wonder who the next book will be still this setting is a good backdrop. These series has funny and amusing secondary characters that light the story up.
Absolutely loved this story!!! Austin and Odie have been friends since they were little and finally let their true feelings for each other show. I love the characters in these stories. Love seeing everyone from the 1st story again and cannot wait to read about Aaron and Simon next!!
I volunteered to read this story for an honest review and loved it. The issues in this story were real to life and made the story that much better.
Friends to lovers is my hands down favorite kind of book. Because Forever just moved into the top spot for this trope.
Aussie and Odie have been best friends for 25 years. Because of the length of their friendship and the epic fight they have at the very beginning about Odie being smarter than the guy she plans to go on a date with, I expected this book to have all the angst. I absolutely loved that the angst that was in this story had absolutely nothing to do with Aussie and Odie’s relationship. There’s a reason they have a friendship that has lasted as long as it has: they are perfection together. They’re funny, they’re connected, and they are adults. When they fight, they talk it out. The Andrews family and everyone around them are THE BEST. I want to schedule a permanent vacation to The Avenue!!!
*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*
Odie & Aussie were ridiculously cute together! You could tell they always wanted one another, and I had smile on my face seeing their romantic relationship blossom. Overall, it was a super sweet and fun friends to lovers romance that I really enjoyed.
I loved being brought back into this book world with all its fantastic characters. This time we get to learn about Austin and Odies relationship. They’ve been best friends for more than half their lives, and both have had bigger feelings for each other, but are afraid to take the plunge in fear of ruining their friendship. This story is a sweet friends to lovers story with lots of witty banter and some drama along the way. I’d recommend this book.
Charming Friends to Lovers Romance
Book 2 in The Avenue Series.
This is a charming, sweet, friends to lovers romance with great characters. You will fall in love with the main characters, Aussie and Odie because, well, they are just so ‘normal’. There is such great chemistry between them you wonder how they’ve managed to stay just friends for so long.
The secondary characters also grab your attention, they are interesting, funny and often irreverent, but in a good way. I especially loved Aussie’s brother Aaron.
As someone who is very forgetful, I related totally to Aussie’s forgetfulness and could understand how upset he felt when he let people down because of it.
Sometimes you just want to read a book that has great characters, fun dialogue and a good storyline, without death, destruction and mayhem, this book fits the bill perfectly. I loved it and can’t wait to read About Time, book 1 in the series.
Friends to lovers is my absolute favorite type of book and Author B. Cranford hit this one out of the park!
Aussie and Odie have been besties for years but a huge fight between the two of them changes everything. Aussie is not happy with Odie’s choices in men and it all finally comes to a heart stopping moment that will define how they will move forward as friends, and possibly more.
I truly enjoyed Because Forever! It was sweet, sassy, and a bit of drama and was exactly what I was looking for in a story! I cannot wait for more from the author!
This was a heart warming story about finding your soulmate – even if that person has been right in front of you the whole time. Odette and Austin have been best friends for years and have seen each other going through heartbreak as well as triumph, but it is not until an argument that almost ends their friendship that the underlying thoughts and feelings come to the surface. But can you risk a friendship just to see if the feelings are true and honest? Or do you close the door on your HEA in order to remain friends? This book was a beautiful story that took the reader on an emotional journey. The characters were strong and the plot was fabulous. I could not flip the pages fast enough. I absolutely recommend this book!!
Where does one begin on a story that is the essence of amazing best friends to lover’s story? The chemistry, banter between Odie and Austin was read in About Time, but in Because Forever it was off the charts.
What is fun about this book is that the characters are very relatable and honest at times with each other. The internal banter really added extra laughs throughout the story. Odie and Austin certainly are a couple that are destine to be together, they just keep getting road blocks. As they weave throughout the blocks you see how Austin grows more in love with Odie and sees his whole heart and soul are in this relationship. Odette thinks she is plain, but she isn’t. She is fiery, beautiful and loyal, its Austin persistence that finally gets her attention.
See more on release day on my YouTube Channel- A Day With Ethel
B. Cranford knocks it out of the park with the friends to lovers Because Forever.
Aussie and Odie are #friendshipgoals turned into #relationshipgoals. We met them in the first book of the series, but Because Forever can be read as a standalone. The first book gives you more understanding about the side characters and the relationship between the hero and heroine.
B. Cranford wrote an incredible best friend’s to lovers romance. It’s sexy, sassy and sweet. It’s a joy to read and captured me in the first few pages.
4.5 Stars from me, and recommended to the reader looking for a fabulous friends to lovers romance
“If you’re looking for forever, why aren’t you looking at me?” Yep chapter 3–Oh my gosh I was swooning!
We met Odette (Odie) and Austin (Aussie) in book 1. So the gang is all back in this one and we pick up where that one left off. If you haven’t read book 1 About Time you need to because it was good!
This book was different than I think we are all used to reading. We are used to reading guy meets girl, guy likes girl, guy does everything he can to get the girl, then guy messes something up and loses girl and then he does something spectacular to get her back.
This was guy and girl have been friends forever, guy does and says something stupid, girl is mad at guy, he goes and apologizes (after 3 weeks) and thus begins their relationship–but you see this is all done before chapter 4.
So the rest of the book is about them navigating these new waters of boyfriend and girlfriend. How do they go from friends to lovers, can they make it last, do they want to make it last?
I loved reading them try to figure out what they were to one another. I loved all the back story we got throughout the book. I loved how everyone knew they were right for each other but them. And I loved the nicknames and the stories behind them.
B Cranford has an amazing way with words, I marked many spots of swoon worthy lines or funny lines, this one is my favorite—Sweet baby Jesus on a Christmas cake, he shouldn’t look that good holding a baby. It made me laugh–as did the Avengers and Chris references!
I cannot wait for book 3–I am hoping this one will feature my next favorites Simon and Aaron! Oh and some twists in this Because Forever for Simon and Aaron–can’t wait to see how that one plays out.
I’m a wicked sucker for a friends to lovers romance. I LOVE them. When I found out that B. Cranford was writing them? I was in. When I found out it was Oddie and Aussie? DOUBLE IN.
She did NOT disappoint. In fact, she’s really like a fine wine. She’s getting better and better and better. Again, B. Cranford writes relatable, real, raw characters. Oddie is everything you could want in a female lead. She’s strong and flawed, but so damn lovable. Aussie? You just want to squeeze him and love on him, even when he’s accidentally poisoning people.
It’s a real story, watching them fall in love. Or actually, realize that they’ve been in love for years. You want to cheer for them, and yell at the book. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotion. But really? Let me say it again. My favorite part of this story is that its real. It’s so real, and it makes you feeeeeel.
Sigh. I love me some B.Cranford and I cannot wait to see whats coming next from her.
This is the second book in Cranford’s The Avenue series and although I think it helps if you’ve read the first, it does read as a standalone.
Friends to lover can be tough to pull off sometimes – it’s hard to strike that balance between showing a couple that were friends, but then suddenly “woke up” to the attraction and frankly, sometimes I just don’t find the transition believable. In this case, it turns out that Odie and Austin have been attracted to each other for a while, but never did anything about it. It takes an epic fight to spur Austin into action and tell Odie about his feelings for her. Through the course of the book, their friendship and connection is clear and it shows in how they tackle with the issues that they deal with.
There’s low drama/angst, which is nice sometimes – especially for a beach read (which this was)! I will say that with the three Andrews siblings all having names starting with “A”, sometimes I’d have to sit down and think for a second about which character was speaking, but certainly not a deal breaker.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*