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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Jill Shalvis is able to write the light and heartwarming romance as well as the deeper, more emotional women’s fiction. This was the latter, with intense characters, the joys and drama of friends and family, romance, and the many faces of love. I found myself frustrated with their behaviors at times and wanted to shake some sense into one or another of them, much like real life! I was hooked from the beginning – an excellent read!
Another lost night of sleep because I couldn’t put this book down (thanks Jill Shalvis). Having raised someone else’s child, I always knew the complicated relationships of someone who builds walls for protection. It is heart wrenching to be powerless to shelter a child from the pain of rejection or lack of love from a biological parent. Feelings are compartmentalized and suppressed to a point where it snuffs the beautiful soul of the person for self-preservation. Ms. Shalvis has a gifted ability to describe those feelings and situations so well that the reader becomes the character in the story. I appreciate the “other” perspective that sometimes all you got to give is enough. I felt this book long after I quit reading it.
I received an ARC from William Morrow and Custom House through NetGalley for an honest review. Caitlin, Maze, Walker, and Heather were friends as children until a tragedy happened. Now they are all grown up and getting back together for Cat’s wedding. Maze and Walker have some secrets, problems communicating, and each is waiting for the other one to speak first.
Cat is getting married and not sure if it will happen. There is thinking to be done and decisions to be made before the wedding takes place. At times there seemed to be a lot of awkwardness because no one knew what anyone else was thinking.
Like life, it will take time and understanding to move on and be open and honest with each other which they start to do. We learn so much once they start opening up to each other that it was hard to put the book down, which I didn’t do. It kept me reading and guessing what would happen. Jill wrote this story so you could feel the emotions that they were feeling. There was a wide range of emotions and it just added to the story. The book shows us what it takes to rebuild a friendship, rebuild trust, and not knowing what will happen but it is something they all wanted to find out.
We take another trip to Wildstone with “The Forever Girl” by Jill Shalvis.
It’s Caitlin’s wedding and it’s her goal to bring her family of foster siblings back together after a tragedy sent them in different directions.
You’re going to love meeting Maze, Walker, and Heather and learn the secrets they hold. They are strong people, though they don’t see themselves that way. It takes a week before the wedding for them to discover how much they love each other and what makes a family is more than blood.
As with all books written by Ms. Shalvis, you’re going to laugh out loud and just possibly shed a tear or two.
“The Forever Girl” is another fabulous read I highly recommend.
This is such a fantastic story about love, friendship, family of choice, life and trust. It is emotional, sweet, messy and so heartwarming! I absolutely loved it!! These amazing characters make it really easy to become totally immersed and invested in their lives. This whole series from Jill Shalvis has been absolutely wonderful to read and this book is no exception!! While the main romance is between Maze and Walker, who I love btw, there is a lot going on with the other characters around Caitlyn’s (Cat) wedding as well. I don’t want to say anything else about it because I don’t want to give anything away but it is a must read in my opinion and a very entertaining story.
SO GOOD!!!
I have got to stop reading teasers for the next book before I write my review for the book I just finished. I’m emotionally wrung out from a couple of pages and DESPERATE for more information about Love for Beginners.
The Forever Girl was bloody good but it was also pretty sad. Maze, the troublemaker, Caitlin, the bossy boots, Heather, the terrible secret keeper, and Walker, the Bond … a wee bit James Bond and a lot, bonding agent keeping them all connected. These guys are not blood-related, but they are still family. They have survived a terrible accident and are connected because of the loss of someone they loved. Unfortunately, their survival is also a weighty burden and sometimes they need space to deal with their grief. With Caitlin’s wedding in the town where some of their fondest memories are, they must come together again. Maybe this time they can get past their hurt and learn to forgive each other and themselves for surviving.
Sometimes, I find it hard to connect with emotionally unavailable heroines. In this case, though, I completely understood Maze, connected with her, and found myself agreeing with some of her choices. I understood her frustration when the wrong decisions of her youth seemed to taint her future. I felt the burden of her guilt and wished I could lighten her load. I think protecting her heart was the right decision to make until Maze learnt to love herself and accept help from those who love her. It’s time for Maze to stop being emotionally unavailable and accept and give love to her family … especially the one man who has always held her heart.
Walker has had a lot of people walk away from him. Sometimes, he keeps following just to make sure they don’t need him. Other times he lets them walk away and hopes they will come back. Honestly, for Walker, he can count on one hand the people he wants in his life. Two, are the only parents who matter to him. Two, are the sisters of his heart, and he will always have their backs. One, is the woman who broke his heart … but, “the heart wants what it wants”. Walker has kept an eye on his woman but he also let her walk away hoping she’d come back. Now, it’s time for both Walker and Maze to stop running away from love.
Geez, I love the way Jill Shalvis makes me cry. Crazy, I know. She just manages to pull my heartstrings enough to get my emotions up but not too much that a kind word or loving gesture can’t fix it. It has been a long time since I’ve sat down and read a book for a couple of hours straight. I could have finished The Forever Girl last night but I knew that I’d be up until the cows come home trying to write my review. So, I kept an hour’s worth of reading left so I could write my review after a good night’s sleep. It was bloody hard to put it down though but, I was determined to not write gobbledygook. Not sure I accomplished it, but I gave it my best shot.
Wildstone is the kind of series where you don’t have to read each instalment one straight after the other. They are not interconnected except for where they are set. So, if you haven’t tried a Jill Shalvis yet, The Forever Girl could be a good place to start … or, you could start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. I’m a huge fan of this author and I highly recommend all of Jill Shalvis’ books.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
I loved this book and it was simply wonderful.
I definitely recommend this book, series, and author.
Maze Porter and Walker Scott grew up in an unenviable world until they landed in the home of the Walshes. They were both foster children who were tossed about from home to home and landed as teens in a home where they were welcomed by two birth children. A third foster child who was younger joined them and they were so fortunate to believe they were safe for the year they were all together.
Unfortunately, a fire destroyed their world yet again and they ended up loosely floundering, but coming together each year to celebrate the child who died in the fire that tore apart their world. Unbeknownst to the others, Maze and Walker had a secret that they had never shared and had never spoken of to each other. When Caitlin, the daughter of the home that brought them together, decides to marry, she brings them all together for a week and Maze and Walker have time to sort out their lives. The twists and turns and memories and traumas that take place during the week will have you laughing and crying and simply sympathizing with each player in this story. Enjoy.
The Forever Girl is a detailed dramatic tale of a surrogate family separated by tragedy and their road to forever. Caitlen and her family took in foster kids. The final three were Heather, Maze and Walker. They were together a year but a year was long enough to make them family, something the three definitely needed. And then it was gone.
Years have past. There were times they were sort of together. There were times of avoidance. Caitlen wants her “family” back and she has no problem guilting them into staying for a week before her wedding.
The Forever Girl might be fiction but it is fiction riddled with lessons. This is a story of discovery. This is a story of acceptance. This is a story maturity. This is a story confession and growth. All of a sudden I’m sorry is enough to bring them together as a family. This is a story of a relationship, a romance finally coming to fruition.
This was one of the best books from Ms Shalvis that I have read and I’ve read all of her books. This was filled with characters that tugged at your heart and were very relatable even if their circumstances weren’t. Who wouldn’t love Walker? So competent and self aware but still very vulnerable underneath. And Maze, sometimes you wanted to slap her upside the head and say, “wake up!” Then she would do something so unlike her and done out of “love”. The rest of the characters were just as interesting as the main ones. As usual, I’m in awe of Jill’s writing and am kind of bummed that I finished the book as I didn’t want it to end.
The Forever Girl is a phenomenal contemporary romance by Jill Shalvis. Ms. Shalvis has provided readers with a well-written book populated with an outstanding cast of characters. Maze went into foster care when she was a teen and was placed with Caitlin’s family. Walker joined the family and then Heather. Until the night of the fire, when Caitlin’s brother died. Every year they’d meet at the cemetery for Michael’s birthday until the year things went bad. Maze hasn’t seen the family of her heart since then. Now Caitlin has called them all home for her wedding. This is a story of tragedy, love, healing and trust. You’ll find plenty of drama, laugh out loud humor, sizzle, angst and suspense between the pages of this book. I loved this story and look forward to reading more from Jill Shalvis in the future. The Forever Girl is book 6 in the Wildstone Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In “The Forever Girl” by Jill Shalvis we meet Maze and her “family”. As teenagers they were put together through the foster care system and as adults the glue that has held them together all these years, Cat, is getting married. But the reunion is weighted down by guilt, secrets, and painful memories.
As they prepare for the wedding Maze, Cat, Heather and Walker begin to realize that the tragedies of their past have kept them from the people that are most important to them but is it too late to get back to where they were.
A fun read with a lot of great characters. I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies
Maze Porter works as a bartender while taking night classes. She returns to Wildestone, California, for her foster sister/ best friend’s wedding. Being home brings back unwanted feelings and memories. It also forces Maze to be around Walker Scott, the man she foolishly let go. Will Maze finally put her emotional and mental demons to rest? Or will she once again wreck a good thing?
Walker “Walk” Scott is a federal agent. He comes back to Wildestone to attend his foster sister’s wedding. Walker never really forgot what happened between him and Maze four years ago. Many heartbreaking revelations finally come to light. Will the wedding continue as planned? Can Walker and Maze overcome their emotional shortcomings? Will he convince her to be his forever girl?
Maze is the embodiment of dysfunctional. Her childhood before and after The Walsh’s, the family who briefly took her in, left a deep scar on her emotional state. I admire how Maze acknowledges her many issues and faults. She has no aspirations on being perfect; she is just content in being herself. What I adore the most about Maze are the sacrifices she makes for Caitlin. Maze understands that she cannot change the past, but she grapples with her inner demons to be there for Cat.
Walker is definitely a keeper! I like how he refused to allow his crappy childhood stop him from making something out of his life. He could have easily fell into drugs or become a delinquent. I adore how Walker looks after the few people in his sphere. There is nothing he would not do for them. What I love the most about Walker is his ability to understand Maze. They are kindred spirits, so he can anticipate her reactions and responses better than anyone.
THE FOREVER GIRL is book six in Jill Shalvis’ contemporary romance series, WILDSTONE. This story can stand apart from the prior five books and one novella, the only common thread being the setting. The formula of this series is more women’s lit than straight up romance. There is romance, but the storyline also focuses on the values of family and friendship.
THE FOREVER GIRL is an emotional tale of two troubled people overcoming their shortcomings for a second chance. I could not help but get personally connected with all the characters in this story. I cannot wait to see what Jill Shalvis has in store for the next installment.
Forever and a day….
Jill Shalvis once again tugs at your heart strings and takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. In The Forever Girl we meet Caitlin, Heather, Maze and Walker who were all thrown together by Caitlin’s family taking them in through the foster system. Many know that system alone is not the best for many children and Jill does a great job at exploring the emotions, situations, hope and love that can come from creating your own family. This book is part of the Wildstone Series but since they’re all stand alone books, you aren’t left with a cliffhanger. I love Jill Shalvis books and despite receiving this as an ARC from the publisher, I would have bought this book anyway! I highly recommend this book!
This was an enjoyable read about a group of once-family, now-barely-friends. Heather, Cat, and Walker all appeared to have remained in touch while Maze disappeared to make everyone else breathe easier. Except, no one really breathed easier. They all have secrets and pain and worries just begging to be set free. So when one thing after another pushes them all closer to either a breaking point or true reconciliation, it feels like half victory, half misery until Walker gets himself together, Maze can face her fears, Heather can be a little more honest, and Cat finds her voice at her very last minute.
Overall, I liked this read. It didn’t take much for me to feel the pain and awkwardness of Maze, and it certainly held my attention. I wanted to cry for all of them at one point, so I’m glad there was realistic happiness to be found here.
This is (what I imagine) may be the start of a new series for Shalvis. I have to admit, the beginning prologue was confusing for me because all the main characters were introduced at one time and a big back story was known by them all but not the reader. It took me a while to “get” what was going on.
The main thrust of the story is one of the characters CAITLIN is getting married and she wants all her foster sisters and brother there for the wedding, but they’ve all been disconnected since a big fight occurred in the prologue. She tricks them into coming to her wedding and then the story really starts.
The two characters most written about are Maze and Walker. This is their love story.
There are a great many twists and turns and a few really big secrets each of the siblings are holding onto in this book and they are effectively dealt with along the way.
WHile Shalvis has moved to writing more woman’s fiction than straight romance, love is still alive and well in this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for a sneak peek. The title is perfect for the story that’s told here.
Touching story of relationships, past and present, that has many layers, each waiting to be exposed for good or bad.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.