“You’re my best friend.”“You’re mine.”“I’m yours.”Guitarist Chad Wilcox’s life isn’t going according to plan. At thirty, he never thought he’d still be unmarried and living with his parents. And with the added stress of his poor health, he’s convinced the only thing within his control is the success he’s found as a rock star.After reconnecting with his childhood best friend, Chad sets into motion … childhood best friend, Chad sets into motion a new plan to regain control over his happiness, and things start looking up. But when he finds himself diagnosed with a potentially debilitating chronic illness, he begins to wonder…
Is this as good as it’s going to get? Or is it at all possible for a guy like him to get everything he’s ever wished for?
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Honestly I am not sure where to start with this review, the book was amazing and I would give it more stars if I could! The fact it went into depth about a real medical condition was fantastic. There was just so much I loved about this book!
Molly and Chad had been raised as best friends since birth, he protected her and they promised to be best friends forever! But, promises aren’t always kept, feelings get hurt and hearts get broken!
Devin’s band needs an opening act and after hearing Molly sing at the Locust Lounge, Chad sends a video to Devin and the rest of the band, they love her and all Chad has to do is talk her into going on tour with them!
The problem is, they still have feeling for each other, but Chad has a long term girlfriend who despite treating him badly he wants to marry!!!!
Being on tour together the two get close, and Chad talks to her about his illness, but little do they know how bad he is, until he collapses, and the woman there by his side to support him is Molly!
What follows is a story of true love, friendship and an in-depth look into the illness IBD, and it’s done in such a way that makes you want to take a closer look to those around you! Kelsey Kingsley has written about a real illness that people don’t talk about as they are embarrassed about it, when in reality there is no need to be.
I can’t forget the stars when I have to give this book all the stars! Seriously. All the stars in the universe. I can’t even begin to tell you how special Forget The Stars is. I just want to go around to everyone I know yelling “READ THIS BOOK!” First things first, Forget the stars is the first book I have ever read that has been so open, honest and real about IBD. Actually it’s the first book I have ever encountered with any character that has an IBD. And let me tell you, that means something. That hit me right in the heart.
As someone who has struggled for years before finally being diagnosed with an IBD, and only recently at that, god I FELT all Chad was going through. The pain, the fear, the embarrassment. There were times when he was describing how he felt and it was like Kelsey Kingsley pulled the words from my very soul with how accurate they were to how I felt before I was diagnosed and immediately after. I just cannot express in words how much it meant to me to read a book that really and truly understood. The way she perfectly captured how it’s so much more than just an “upset stomach” and how it hurts when people dismiss the pain and fatigue you feel because they simply do not understand. I felt that in my soul.
Ok, so I know anyone reading this probably does not care about my soul being filled and wants to know about the good stuff so I’ll stop rambling and move on. Chad and Molly are magnificent. From childhood their bond is so beautiful even through the heartbreak. I loved getting glimpses of their past as they found each other again. I also adored how real they were. Their personalities and the details making them characters that felt more real like people I knew. Their love was so big it was like you could feel it even when they were only friends. I haven’t read a couple in quite some time that has such a deep connection like these two do.
Oh Chaddington Bear. He is adorable and extremely lovable and I was so happy to finally read his story! And it’s a second chance/friends to lovers romance, which makes it even better.
Chad and Molly’s mothers are best friends who had dreams of their children growing up and getting married. And once upon a time, Chad and Molly were on that path, but then they grew apart and went on to live very separate lives. Chad might be a famous rockstar, but he’s a homebody at heart. When he’s not on the road he stays at his parent’s house and has no problem being just normal guy. When he crosses paths with Molly, the two of them start to hang out again and before Molly knows it, she is the opening act for Chad’s band. The two of them are on the road together and find themselves closer than ever.
Kelsey has once again hit it out of the park. She has this way of making want to be best friends with her characters. And as much as I love Chad, my love for Sebastian only grew while reading this book. He is the source for the majority of the laughs and I laughed out loud more than once. But along with the sweetness of Chad & Molly and Sebastian’s humor, is a serious topic that Kelsey handles with great care. She took a subject that people don’t like to talk about and made it seem so real.
While this isn’t part of a series, there are characters in that have been in some of Kelsey’s previous books. So if you haven’t read Daisies & Devin, The Life We Wanted or Tell Me Goodnight, you should definitely check them out.
I really enjoy the friends-to-lovers and the rockstar tropes, and we have both in this story. It’s poetry in motion with powerful lyrics and strong characters. I may not have been able to forgive like Molly did, but I loved that she was able to find herself and love herself as she was. Chad’s struggles were painful to read about, but I believe Molly coming back into his life saved his life in many ways. I love the love all these characters have for each other, and even the more sassy characters are redeemed. Can’t wait to read more!
Putting words to this book doesnt seem fair. Chad and Molly’s story is absolutely beautiful. In this story the author touch on an illness that people wont talk about. They are afraid of what everyone will say. Chad stands up for this illness. Read this book. Let it motivate you to stand up for everything you can.
This is the first book I’ve ever read by Kelsey Kingsley and – holy buckets, you guys – it was such a delight! Such an emotional, feel-good, unexpected surprise.
I L-O-V-E-D it.
I don’t even know where to start with all the flaily gushing I have to do! Which awesome bit of adorableness and emotional perfection do I pick first?
The band, maybe? The guys? The adorably fun bromance that occasionally acted like a sisterhood? Those yahoos caused my heart to literally bubble over with glee at their utter adorableness. Gahhhhd, I loved that! I loved them. I loved who they were to Chad, but also who they were to Molly and just…who they were, period. The layers they added to this story, the lightness they provided, and the way I had a smile on my face every single time they popped up in the storyline. This was such good stuff. Such rich, delicious, delightful stuff.
Also? Apparently they all have their own stories and I had no idea. So suffice to say, if this is also your first Kelsey Kingsley book, it works beautifully as a stand-alone! However, judging by how much I fell in love with these bandmates, I’m going to have to circle back to get their stories so beware: this book might do some damage to your TBR!
Anyway – on top of these amazing characters, Ms. Kingsley delivered a storyline that was simply top notch. I wasn’t sure how she was going to pull off the chronic illness here. I was intrigued enough to want to find out. I mean, I love a wounded hero, and I loved that this was such a different obstacle for him to overcome, and it was so “real life”. But I still didn’t know how she was going to make something so decidedly unsexy…work in a romance novel. And then, she just did it. She just did it!! And…it wasn’t sexy. But it was emotional and honest and handled with such delicate care that I didn’t even notice how unsexy it was. She made Chad real, and then she made his struggle real and my heart hurt for him and my mind worried over him and it was interesting and authentic and – it just worked. I’m so impressed! I’m so…in awe!
And then, of course, there’s Chad and Molly themselves – adorable, easy-to-love, and sweetly sexy. Their burn was slow – though it fizzed and sparked throughout the early pages, it wasn’t until late in the book that it really caught flame. And somehow? I didn’t mind that. I didn’t feel impatient with it. It was slow and steady and just perfectly lovely. It’s a friends-to-lovers vibe with just a little bit of second-chance mixed in and it was perfectly executed. I adored them. I shipped them, hard and when they finally got together I literally felt like cheering – my heart bubbled over with happiness and, well, I still can’t wipe this smile off my face. It was just so good. So so so good!
This is one of those times I am thanking my lucky stars I took a chance on a new-to-me author. The writing was engaging, smart, and effortless to read. The storytelling was honest and sweetly addicting. I craved it when I wasn’t reading it, I wanted to sink into it for hours, lose time with these wonderful characters and their original, adorable, emotionally satisfying love story. I can’t say it enough: I loved it! I adored it! This is an absolute MUST read! ~ 5 #Chally Stars
#Chally – never stop wishing and dreaming
There are no words to describe how perfectly beautiful this story is. Writing is flawless and characters are perfect. It’s refreshing, it’s different, it’s moving. There were parts of the book that I read through hazy eyes because of tears coming of them in streams and not because it was sad but because it touched a chord with me, it was emotional.
I have people around me that are going through a lot and that’s true that you never know what the person next to you in school, at work, in bus or tram is going through so we really shouldn’t jump to conclusions and judge them by the way they sometimes behave toward us. And this story is so down to earth that I could easily correlate Molly’s and Chad’s troubles with everyday life issues of the people closest to me. I can’t recommend this book enough.
Oh, I almost forgot – I love Sebastian!
I L-O-V-E-D every minute of Chad and Molly’s story. Chad and Molly were best friends growing up and as they got older, they went there separate ways. Now, at 30, Chad finds himself re-evaluating some of his choices and not necessarily on the path he wants. Molly walks back into his life and they begin to rekindle old feelings. While Chad faces a difficult medical diagnosis, he kind of finds out who his true friends are.
This story really gripped me. It was well written. I was sucked in immediately, and I could feel Chad’s pain as he addressed his illness. The boys in the band just made this story better. This is a win, for sure.
I loved this book every bit as much as the other 3 in the series! It’s another fantastic novel by Kelsey. I highly recommend this to everyone!
Forget The Stars is pure enjoyment from the very first line till the last. I couldn’t put it down and found myself completely lost in the heartfelt emotion in this book. Chad and Molly are so wonderful together and their journey getting there is full of warmth and strength. Chads life is not what he imagined it to be at his age as well as his putting his own health issues aside didn’t help his situation. Molly is happy in her current place in life and lives for every moment. When they come together again, long time childhood friends, it’s a different friendship. One that is mature and honest. Molly is so good to Chad and gives him support and strength. These two made me smile deep in my heart. Well done Ms. Kingsley!!!!
This book shines so bright! Kelsey never disappoints. Her way with words is a joy to read. I love the way she brings awareness and sheds light on a disease that no one talks about.
Chad and Molly are the sweetest and loving, and the way their friendship blossoms into more, just flowed and made my heart swoon. Also, the way she handles Molly and her insecurities is so well written. These characters have to deal with public scrutiny and ugliness that people aim towards them. They stay strong and although words can hurt, they don’t let it effect them and come out stronger because of it.
There is also laughs in the form of Chad’s band mates, especially Sebastian. Got to love his sense of humor! This book has strong friendships and family. Chad and Molly’s moms rooting for them since the beginning is the absolute sweetest.
A great love story! This story brings attention to a disease, a persons insecurities, and a love that doesn’t let anything tear them apart! A 5 star, must read!
*****Forget the Stars (ARC) by Kelsey Kingsley: Loved it!
This is a story both sweet and crass with engaging friends and family. The relationship between Chad and Molly has all the feels, and includes a history with friendship and regrets, touches on sensitive issues, and grows into the sweetest love story. (So glad to be done with Ali!) Wonderful character development, a good storyline, and a sensitive bold writing style all combine to make this story a joy to read. Loved it!
Each time I read a new one, I think that Kelsey Kingsley’s novels can’t get better. Then she releases another book, and I’m proven wrong. This is an exquisite story of compassion, bravery, understanding and self-doubt. The characters are flawlessly flawed, utterly relatable, intriguingly normal and outstandingly extraordinary. The writing is superlative, and draws the reader into a vortex from which one emerges a little shaken but with newfound hope. Thank you, Kelsey Kingsley. Thank you.
Beautifully written! Once again I am so over the moon with Kelsey and her writing! I love that she takes on tough subjects and breathes a beautiful story into them! Chad and Molly are amazing I love how they got their 2nd chance. This story has so much heart and soul! We in life are never prepared for a life changing illness so many don’t talk about it. For those who have had their lives flipped upside down by illnesses this book was a bright star in the night that your not alone!
Love how you have done it again! Goodness can I just say I love Sebastian he is the best!
Wow. Just…wow.
I’m writing this as a long time fan of Kelsey’s work. I’ve absolutely devoured everything she has written to date, and I hand loved them all. This book, however, is in a class by itself.
Like her other works, Kelsey relates the Journey her characters take. Each journey is as unique as the character, and each journey, at least for me, is relatable to me on some level. In this book, our hero, Chad, and our heroine, Molly, are on a journey of self-acceptance. Both have experienced disappointment and failure, and both are seeking to be the best version of themselves. What’s wonderful about this story is that, while strong individually, it’s when they come together that they discover their full potential. Their journey of being their best selves is only complete when the surrender to each other.
Kudos to Kelsey for talking some difficult subjects (ulcerative colitis, bullying) with a beauty and honesty that took my breath away.
Of course, I can’t leave without thanking Kelsey did giving us plenty of time with our favorite band members, Devin, Sebastian (God I love him!), Ty and Jon, plus the lovely ladies in their lives. If you haven’t read Kelsey’s previous works about the band, you’re in for a treat!
In short, pick up this book and enjoy. You won’t regret it!
Forget the Stars by Kelsey Kingsley
5 Stars
OMG! This is so amazing! This is so well written! Fell in love with the characters and their wonderful story!
“H***, forget the stars. She’s the sun, the moon– the entire universe. And this guy? He’s a comet, orbiting around the sun. Leading himself to an eventual fate of evaporation and dust.”
Very highly recommend!
I love Ms. Kingsley’s writing…like adore her! This book just enforces why I recommend her to everyone!
Do you know when you start reading a series s characters are introduced and you just hope that they get their own books? Welp…..welcome to Chad’s Book!!!! I LOVE Chad and adored Molly so much!!!
Their story was complete and pure love!!! The pain the Chad endures, I just could not imagine!! And Molly…..I just loved how she was there for Chad, wanting to help. You could tell from the written word their love for each other was timeless!!!
I Completely and utterly LOVED this book.
Kelsey Kingsley has really out done herself on this one..
It struck such a chord with me,because I could relate to Chad and what he was going through with the uncertainty with his health.
I am so very Thankful to Kelsey for writing this book and putting the debilitating reality of having a chronic illness into the spotlight,by creating a character that was not perfect and talking about an illness that is not normally talked about .It humanised Chad for me and made him real and also his best friend Molly who also had issues with trust ,abandonment and self esteem(,because of bullies).I loved her she was so forgiving and I loved the way she was now much more comfortable in her own skin.The slow burn between these two was agonising..lol..it was perfect and so worth it.
This was such a beautiful Love story and I was cast under its spell from the start..Kelsey is a wonderful storyteller and you easily become swept away within the whole whirlwind of the romance, the words and the characters..I adore each and every member of the band Chad plays for and their partners,I love the playfullness and the banter and the way they look out for one another.
This is just an AMAZING read,I honestly guarantee you will love it too Chad and Molly will capture your heart with their Love story and you will feel so much better once you have read it knowing that you have actually learned something about the struggles of chronic illness and the effects it can have one someones life.
5 glorious stars is not enough.
I highly recommend it.
I’m admittedly a Kelsey Kingsley fangirl and I love everything she’s written. This book is no exception! Chad’s chronic illness is one that isn’t talked about often, but one from which thousands of people suffer silently. I love that Kelsey has brought light to it in this book, and I love the relationship between Chad and Molly. Another five star read for sure!!
This book was so, so good! I loved Chad and Molly’s story. Childhood best friends, they were inseparable from birth. That is, until high school begins, and the two drift apart. Many years later, the two reconnect, and when a chance comes to being Molly on tour with him, both Chad and Molly realize how much was missing in their life without the other one. But when Chads health drastically declines, they have to figure out how to navigate life with his new diagnosis.
You need to one click this book ASAP, you will not be disappointed!