USA Today Bestseller
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis does it once again with a heartfelt story of family, forgiveness, and secrets that have the power to change the course of more than one life.
When Maze returns to Wildstone for the wedding of her estranged bff and the sister of her heart, it’s also a reunion of a once ragtag team of teenagers who had only each other until a … of a once ragtag team of teenagers who had only each other until a tragedy tore them apart and scattered them wide.
Now as adults together again in the lake house, there are secrets and resentments mixed up in all the amazing childhood memories. Unexpectedly, they instantly fall back into their roles: Maze their reckless leader, Cat the den mother, Heather the beloved baby sister, and Walker, a man of mystery.
Life has changed all four of them in immeasurable ways. Maze and Cat must decide if they can rebuild their friendship, and Maze discovers her long-held attraction to Walker hasn’t faded with the years but has only grown stronger.
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The Forever Girl, by Jill Shalvis, is the story of four siblings by chance, and then by choice. Caitlin is the natural daughter of Shelly and Jim as is her younger brother Michael. But the family feels called to help others and takes in a ragtag group of foster children. Walker (16) was a foundling. Maze entered the foster system at 9 when she was removed from an unsafe situation. Heather’s (9) story wasn’t any better, she was just younger. As the summer drew on the family melded into a unit. Until the fateful night when a fire swept through the house, killing Michael and injuring Walker as he tried to save the boy. At this time family services removed the fosters for the family to recover, never to bring them together again.
But Caitlin was determined to keep this group together, celebrating birthdays with them, phone calls and texts, until a celebration of Michael at his gravesite ended in splitting the group once again. Now Caitlin has gotten the group back together to be part of her wedding, but it just may be that it is the reunion she is more excited about than the wedding.
This is such a multilayered story with the main characters dovetailing their stories one into the other. Secrets are revealed, relationships begun, dissolved, and renewed. Ms. Shalvis has quite a knack for developing characters with great depth and revealing them layer by layer. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
#FirstLine – PROLOGUE: Maze Porter was good at pretending to be fine, but since no one could see her, she dropped all pretense and stopped twenty-five yards short of her goal, unable to so much as swallow past the lump stuck in her throat.
I loved this book so much. It had such great character development. You got to really know each character; where they came from, what their struggles were, and what was holding them all back from being together. It was beautifully paced and you really get drawn into the story. There are some great side stories and some big surprises. I will definitely be checking out other books in this series. A must read for those who want to get lost in a great story!!!
This is one of those stories that stays with you long after you’ve read the last page. It definitely pulls at your heart strings as 4 friends try to find their way back to each other after tragedy tears them apart. Each character really pulls at your heart as the try to find their way through life battling with being enough to be loved by someone. Sammie is hilarious and you can’t help falling for that little girl. Jill did an outstanding job with this one.
I really enjoyed “The Forever Girl” by Jill Shalvis. I’ve really enjoyed the Wildstone series. This series has a different feel to it compared to her other series. It seems “heavier” with emotions and emotional storylines – but it really works for me. Each book is a pure stand-alone – but they tie back with the undercurrent of this town weaving through them.
This author is a magician with writing stories and characters in such a way that I doubt I will ever tire of reading them.
This author is a must-have for any book collection.
Happy reading…enjoy!
I’ve had this story read and ready to review for a while now, but I couldn’t quite figure out how to say what I wanted to say without 1) going into details that would give away the plot and 2) sounding like I didn’t like/enjoy the book. But time is up and it is release day so …
I’m not to sure this story even comes close to romance fiction, even tho there is a romantic element, because it is overshadowed by everything else that is happening in the book. If you’re a Shalvis fan and have read this series in particular in the past, then you should know there is going to be at least two main focus journeys with maybe a few other secondary ones floating by in the background. I am one of those fans LOL I don’t think this woman has a published book I haven’t read. The problem I had with this book’s storylines is that in order to be told in depth enough, a novel the size of Moby Dick is needed. If you don’t get the reference, I can’t help you LOL In other words, for me, it felt like too much was happening and not enough was being focused on so everything just seemed to be skimmed.
I really loved this story and what it could have been, but what it was, was very disappointing to a super fan like myself. See, it sounds like I didn’t enjoy the read, but I did! It just had the potential to be so much more and quite frankly, Shalvis has the ability for far better.
The forever girl
Jill shalvis
I love everything this woman writes !! And this book sits high on my favorites list !!
I loved everything about it !
From the characters names to the best sometimes saddest words in the book The End !!
Jill shalvis never ever lets me down !!!
Love this book!! Lots of surprises.
Four friends/family of the heart are brought together for a wedding. Trying to get over a tragedy from the past they all work through issues brought about by it.
I love all aspects and could not put it down.
Jill Shalvis cannot write a bad book. This book was extraordinary! Great writing, great plot, fantastic characters, and an exceptional ending. I highly recommend this book if you love a good romance. Make sure you have Puffs close by because you may shed a few tears while reading.
I received an ebook ARC from NetGalley and this is my voluntary, honest review.
Thank you so much to William Morrow for advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is book six in the Wildstone series and each one can be read as a standalone with new characters. I love each and every one of the stories, but this was just excellent as far as women’s fiction/romance goes. Jill Shalvis has a perfect way of creating a story and characters that you are invested in and care about. She is also great with the humor and banter. You can be tearing up on one page and laughing on the next.
Heather, Maze and Walker were foster children taken in by Caitlin’s parents. These four bonded along with Caitlin’s younger brother, Michael. A tragedy happened when they were younger which left a lasting effect on each and every one of them for the rest of their lives. They went their separate ways, but none so more than Maze.
Now, Caitlin is getting married and wants her “family” back together. She brings them all back to help plan the week before the wedding. She hopes to heal the hurt and guilt that has separated them for too long. In the process, Maze realizes her feelings for Walker never went away.
This touching story is about friendship, family, and love. There are all kinds of family and some may be unconventional. It’s who has your back. I enjoyed everything about this story and would definitely recommend!
The feels! Jill Shalvis always delivers a fabulous story! This is #6 in the Wildstone series and just as wonderful as the rest.
We get to follow four friends journey to love …..all the ups, downs, backtracks, running and finally staying!
A MUST read!
I am not going to lie, I did struggle with the first, say, 40% of this story (I hate saying that about a Jill Shalvis book).
The main struggle I had was with our main lady Maze, her sister’s fiance and her sister.
They frustrated the heck out of me and I had to put the book aside a few times.
However , from there, to me things took a turn for the better, and I loved the rest of the book.
This is a tale about family, forgiveness and falling in love.
I adore the connections between all the siblings, and the way they eventually open up to each other.
I knew Ms Shalvis wouldn’t disappoint me, and redeemed all the things I had found frustrating.
Jill Shalvis brings us back to Wildstone. Jill Shalvis is an amazing author. When Jill Shalvis puts words on paper magic begins. Her characters are realistic and relatable. Her stories have the right amount of romance, friendship, family, heat and angst.
In The Forever Girl we get a phenomenal story of friendship, family and love. The Forever Girl is so much more than just romance. Jill Shalvis proves family isn’t always blood. There were so many heartwarming moments and moments of frustration and angst. The chemistry that the characters ha bc e for each other was phenomenal. As I began to read The Forever Girl I felt as if I was in Wildstone and not reading a story. My heart and soul were captivated. I couldn’t stop reading. The Forever Girl has all the elements that make a great book. I laughed, cried, had heartswooning moments and felt my heart break a bit. Perfection at it’s finest. Don’t just take my word see for yourself. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this return to Wildstone. It’s the story of Caitlin, Maze, Heather and Walker…as foster children, Maze, Heather and Walker were brought together by Caitlin’s parents and found a home and the love of family. Tragedy tears this family apart (no spoilers!) and they are placed in other families and drift apart. Some more than others.
Caitlin’s upcoming wedding brings them all back to town together and they all have to work to overcome their pasts, their histories, their guilt from the past, the baggage they still carry, etc Their interactions with each other bring up tremendous emotions in all of them – good, not-so-good, sad, happy. But their love for each other despite their issues shines through.
You will laugh, you will cry, groan, gush, sigh and have all the feels from this GREAT story.
Bring out the tissues for the sad and happy tears! These characters were amazing! All of them. (Well, except for Dillon.) The parents were wonderful and caring. Maze was damaged but was the best friend you could ask for. Caitlin was the ultimate big sister. Heather was such a doll and a good mom. And Walker? Dark alpha hero with a heart of gold. I wish I was a part of this group of friends/family.
Jill Shalvis has once again delivered an emotional read that features family, friendship, and love, and the interwoven bonds that tie them all together.
This was such a great read. It was deeply emotional and featured a character set that all seemed to have parts that needed to heal, but it really drove home the fact that family goes deeper than a blood bond. This group of friends were all unique yet somehow complimented and completed each other. There has been a tragedy that has driven them apart, but when forced back together they all have to face up to their pasts and begin to rebuild their relationships with each other. And watching this happen as Maze and Walker had to face their fears and their past to hopefully define their future – together – added another dimension to this story that I just loved.
I have only read one other book in this series, but have quickly become a fan! This is part of a series but can easily be read as a standalone. This book will warm your heart and take you on an emotional ride, but as always, Jill Shalvis finds a way to leave your heart whole and a smile on your face.
This book belongs on everyone’s TBR List!
This book has it all, family, drama, secrets, forgiveness and plenty of laughs. Maze and her other foster siblings have returned to Wildstone for a wedding of her best friend forever. This is a reunion of the clan after a tragedy struck them in their teenage years. As the reunion takes place, many memories and secrets come out so they can move forward in their friendships and love.
There is so much love about this book. So many friendships that are being rebuilt. They all come together for the wedding of Cat and Dillon, and the rekindled love of Maze and Walker. There will be tears, sad and happy! So full of emotion!! ” You’re my home” sums it all up. I highly recommend this book.
I love my visits to Wildstone!! I look forward to each one, they are my happy place!!
Maze, Walker and Heather have returned to Wildstone for Caitlin’s wedding. Maze, Walker and Heather grew up in foster care and lived with Caitlin’s and Michael’s family. When Michael tragically died in a fire at the family’s home Maze, Walker and Heather were back in the foster care system. It was never the same between them after that and Maze felt like the fire was her fault and so she had so much guilt that she caused Michael’s death. They grew apart but all of them came to attend Cat’s wedding. Cat brought them in a week early, so they could work out their problems with each other.
Although they all had problems to work through this story was about Maze and Walker mending their broken hearts and realizing that they were in love with each other! Maze also needed to realize the fire wasn’t her fault and patch things up with Cat’s parents.
As always with Jill Shalvis, this was quite the journey!! I love all the characters in this book! Jill Shalvis always makes me feel like the characters are my friends! I know when I pick up one of her books, that I need to clear my schedule because I’ll be reading for a while!!
A deep emotional story that will have several characters finding their way into our hearts.
A family with a lot of love to give opens their home to three foster children. With the help of their own children, they show 3 lost souls what a loving family is and that didn’t have to be of their blood. One year together changed their lives. Then a tragedy struck which separated them. A family they were but their strings were getting thin. They have lived life, stayed in touch yet years later when their rock calls them home for her wedding, they come, some reluctantly. Opening old wounds and a new chapter for four somewhat lost and a bit broken people.
Cat- the rock and mother hen is about to get married and wants her family, all of her family with her. Maze- the one with a trail of chaos following behind. Walker- always has and will always be their mystery man. Heather- the youngest and their beloved has a few secrets in tow. Maybe they all have a few or more secrets or self hurting guilt they are carrying. They are bonded in ways few will understand. Yet are at times a mystery to each other.
Jill Shalvis delivers the emotions like a punch in the gut. The Forever Girl is a story of friendship, love and loss. A story of challenging oneself, learning to forgive yourself and learning to trust your heart in love. A family that made themselves a family. Through the course of this complex and emotional story four people found a piece of themselves that was missing. Learned it was ok to break down and asking for help is not a burden. Love is worth fighting for, worth working for. Grab some tissues and your drink of choice, settle in for an amazing, hit you in the heart story within the pages of The Forever Girl.
Shalvis shines in her latest release! If ever we needed a group of characters to wrap us up in their world and immerse us in their emotional journey it is now, and Jill Shalvis does not disappoint with THE FOREVER GIRL. The drama is high, the emotions are deep and the journey towards forgiveness is bittersweet. I could not have loved it more!
The characters had me hooked in the very first scene, and as day after day passed we learned more and more of the past no one wanted to talk about, and the love still in their hearts for each other.
I highly recommend this book as well as all of the books in the Wildstone series to anyone looking for an emotional rediscovery of life, friendships and love. I always look forward to my next trip to this cozy California town!
The Forever Girl is a feel-good-romance of epic proportions! There are characters that are bent but not broken, relationships that need to be mended, and a family that need to find their way back together.
I loved the complicated relationship all of the characters shared, and these relationships needed to be mended. Of course, the romantic relationship was hot as ever, even if Maze was doing her best to not only ignore Walker, but make him forget about her all together.
Shalvis always manages to make my heart so invested in her stories, and that was definitely the case with this one!