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    Forever My Girl
    Forever My Girl
    Forever My Girl
    Audiobook6 hours

    Forever My Girl

    Written by Heidi McLaughlin

    Narrated by Nelson Hobbs and Stephanie Rose

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

    I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I've poured my soul into my music, but I've never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

    And now I'm going back.

    After ten years.

    I hope I can explain that after all this time.

    I still want her to be my forever girl.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateOct 10, 2017
    ISBN9781541483743
    Forever My Girl
    Author

    Heidi McLaughlin

    Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Beaumont, the Boys of Summer, and the Archer Brothers series. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs. In 2012, McLaughlin turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career and has since written over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl. When writing isn’t occupying her time, you can find her sitting courtside at either of her daughters’ basketball games. McLaughlin’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe. It opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.

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    Reviews for Forever My Girl

    4/5

    172 ratings14 reviews

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    • 2/5
      The movie was way better. Only two stars from me. But the narration was good.
    • 4/5
      ⭐⭐⭐⭐
      Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin, an audiobook narrated by Nelson Hobbs and Stephanie Rose is a sweet high school romance story that once broke down and now has the potential to be fixed.
      This probably is one of the rare books that I would say I liked the film better than the book. I love the film and watched it at least 3 times so was interesting to see how things are in the book.
      Some important details in the book and film are different. The first part of the story better is in the film, more gentle and you can connect better with the main characters. The second part is probably busier in the book while the film went smoothly.
      In general, I liked it but I can't say I loved it.
    • 5/5
      Loved this. I can't wait to see the movie. I wish it would be more like the book but I guess it will be more of a surprise. Great series. I'm almost done with book 2 and it's also good. The audiobooks are great too.
    • 3/5
      3 STARS

      I’m in that time of the month were I crave certain things, usually women crave food I on the other hand crave certain stories and plotlines and this month it’s single parents reuniting with their kids ! yaay and I found it!

      My craving was satisfied however I can’t say I 100% enjoyed this book. It started off strong I can’t express my emotional distress at the beginning and then my sympathizing with the characters however there are some things that I cannot tolerate no matter how much it’s justified but cheating no matter the reasons or anything is inacceptable!

      Also, I do not agree with how acceptable the child was of his new father and how he quickly dismissed the man who raised him for 9 YEARS, NINE FREAKING YEARS you guys! And then the man is gone and he does not even ask about him? Not even ‘hey mom where’s the guy that raised, supported, stood by me and took me for the freaking doctor when I was suffering fever when I was little?????!!’ NOT A SINGLE INQUIRY!

      Uughhh I’m raging at the moment, that period of the month also have down sides which is thin patience and harsh criticizing and more emotional involvement.

    • 1/5
      DNF at 17%The love of Josie's life was her high school sweetheart, Liam. Was. Up until he left her at the altar to pursue his music career and left her behind. A tragedy brings Liam back into town but can it bring back their love?Ok, I'll admit. I went on a hunt for this book because I saw the trailer for the movie release. Conveniently releasing right around Valentine's Day, the trailer looked like it teeters on the edge of a great love story and a hokey attempt at romance. The book falls over on the latter. I tried a few chapters and once I audibly groaned "OH MY GODDDD!", it was over for me. It tries to mix in grief, friendship, and the-one-that-got-away romance but it just wasn't blending well together. It felt very contrived and rushed with the dialogue between characters unbelievably cheesy. It felt more like a generic outline or brainstorm of a book rather than a well-developed plot.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. The only thing I didn't like was that the ending felt pretty rushed. I'm excited to see the movie but also worried since there are obviously some pretty big changes.
    • 4/5
      Forever My Girl has been on my TBR for too long a time. Now after having finished it, I can see what others have enjoyed from it and I’m a bit eager to continue the series.

      What I enjoyed most with this book was the slow build. The pacing wasn’t slow, but the romance was allowed time to build, trust was allowed to build. It wasn’t a romance of impulse. With the past all these characters had, this was the way it needed to be and reading a book like this was a welcomed experience.

      I think McLaughlin created some great characters, as well. The main characters were well developed. I feel like I really got to know them. The secondary characters were a little bit in the background for my taste, but I’m sure they’ll get their own spotlight in future books. And because they weren’t too up front in this book, they didn’t get in the way, either.

      Beaumont seems like a town I’d like to stay in again soon. And it looks like there many more books to add to my TBR now. I don’t think I’ll be leaving any time soon.
    • 2/5
      Story idea I liked, writing not so much. Grammatical errors drove me crazy. "Between ___ and I" irritated me the most and was used multiple times. How did no one catch these before the book was published?
    • 5/5
      Fantastic! After leaving his hometown 10 years ago Liam Paige returns returns to find the only woman he has ever loved engaged to another man, raising a son he never knew he had. Wonderfully written with flashes back in time to give you the whole story of the past while telling us the story of the future for these two. Can't wait to read the next in the series. I highly recommend!
    • 5/5
      4.5 stars. I really wanted to not like Liam, but I couldn't help but love him. He was surprisingly understanding of the fact that he didn't know about Noah, and even though it was mostly his own fault for leaving and changing his phone #, he still could have been angry and been an ass to Josie. I was pleasantly surprised that he wasn't. And Noah was just such a great kid... figuring out that Liam was his father, but not saying anything to the adults so as to not pressure anyone, but wanting to get to know Liam anyway and not being a jerk because his father had kind of abandoned him. Cannot wait for Harrison and Katelyn's story!
    • 5/5
      I was about 4% in to this book when I shed my first tear, Josie talking to Mr. Powell and asking if he was still Katelyn’s Father in law. I knew I was in for it with this book .

      We start off with a Tragedy , The Death of Liam’s Best friend back in his hometown. Although We never Meet Mason Powell, we meet him through Liam, Josie, Katelyn, and his two Amazing daughters, Elle & Peyton . I LOVED Peyton, she was so funny, she had me laughing everytime she opened her cute mouth to say something. Peyton Made me feel her heartache for her daddy being gone.

      “I've missed so much. Like the day you opened your flower shop or how you came up with the name Whimsicality. I missed the day you brought Noah into this world and saw him for the first time. I missed your late-night cravings and his midnight feedings. I'll never forgive myself for not being there, Josie.”

      Liam left town 10 years ago without ever explaining anything to anyone. To fulfill his dreams with music. We know that he still loves his forever girl 100% but we don’t know his reasons for packing up and leaving her and everyone else behind. When Liam Learns of Mason’s Death he gets on his motorcycle and heads back to his hometown to face the death of his friend and the Music for leaving all them years before. I loved how he did not just jump into the picture like nothing had happened, he understood that it had been 10 years and he knew that Josie had a new life.

      “I only have eyes for one woman, period … When I saw you, I knew I had made a mistake. I should have never left or at least come back for you. My life is better with you in it, Josie. I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize that.”

      I loved how Josie was reserved and knew what she had with Nick. I also understand how she felt when Liam walked back into her life and all of her old feelings for him came screaming to the front of her mind, after all he was her first everything and they had promised to love each other forever . Feelings like that can’t be turned off like a switch and Josie knew it . Add to all this She is faced everyday with a son who looks just like his dad .

      “I’m standing in front of you, Josie. You just have to turn around.”

      This story was a romance of love, heartbreak , loss, an emotional second chance at love . Heidi did an amazing job with this story and had me pulled in right from the start . We saw how two people who once loved each other with everything they had , have the chance to find that love again and build a life with it . Mason was definitely a BIG part of this story even though we never met him . We had him through memories, story telling , and His death is what ultimately brought Liam and Josie back together . Has heart wrenching as that is, it was a truly amazing story .

      “When you love someone, you just know.”

      Book Blurb:
      I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

      I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

      And now I’m going back.

      After ten years.

      I hope I can explain that after all this time.

      I still want her to be my forever girl.

      “Josie Preston, I have loved you since I was sixteen. I know I've screwed up a whole lot, but I promise to make it up to you every day. Would you do me the immense honor of wearing my ring, taking my name and becoming not only my partner in life, but most importantly, my wife?”
    • 5/5
      My anticapation for this book to come out was off the charts and
      let me tell you the book certainly delivered!
      I couldn't help but be pissed off at Liam at the begining and actually throughout the book but in the same token I fell in love with him. Josie on the other hand I loved her throughout the book.
      The beginning of the book is so sad and heart wrenching. There are a few twists and turns in the book and another love is blossoming which is what the second book will be about. Gosh I can't wait for that one and I know I will get glimpses of Liam & Josie in that book since at the end of Forever My Girl is a teaser to the next book!! Not to many hot sex scenes but a few- Nothing raunchy.
      Fantastic ending!

      Quote:

      "I'm on a forever kind of date so no thanks."

      Read more on my blog iloveladyporn.com
    • 3/5
      How do I feel about this book? Well, first I want to say that I've read it before. Not just once, many times. I already knew everything that will happen. This story is the bane of my book existence because it's so predictable. I keep waiting for authors to do something different with the secret baby plot, but I still haven't seen it done (if anyone knows of any different book - recommend away.)

      But hey, I'll try and review it like it's not something we've seen before.

      I loved Liam. He may have made bad decisions, but honestly, he chose himself and his happiness and I always appreciate that in a character. He obviously didn't know what he was doing and the consequences both he and Josie will face because of it, but he chose his own happiness. I can't fault him for that.
      What I didn't like is how he suddenly realizes he can't live without her. I kept wondering why didn't he come back sooner? Yeah, makes no sense. He comes back, realizes he does want her and the life she can give him, all of a sudden she doesn't cramp his style anymore, so he goes for it. That's selfish.

      Josie...I can't say I was much of a fan. The way she treated Nick when all he did was stood by her was just despicable. I feel like the author tried to villain-ize Nick in order to make Josie's behavior okay and it was out of character after she paints him as the nice guy he was in the beginning. I get that she's in love with Liam, but show some respect.
      And she could have been a little more unforgiving towards Liam. Yeah, he didn't know what he was doing, but it does not excuse that he left her without a word, without anything even remotely close to an explanation. He ignored her after he left. So not only does she not respect someone who stood by her for 10 years, but she doesn't have any self respect, either.

      If I were to judge by the quality of writing, I'd say it's pretty awesome. I loved the writing style and it's what kept me reading despite the predictable plot. It's the reason I'm being generous with the rating. There's good chemistry between Josie and Liam, but that's not what got to me. It's the easy relationship he has with Katelyn. And how I hated Sam at the first mention of her. And it's the fact that I was absolutely devastated by the death of a certain character even though we never get to meet him outside of a couple of flashbacks. So I have to say it's a testament to Heidi McLaughlin's writing.
      I did notice a few spelling mistakes, most notably "too" instead of "to" a couple of times. But someone did a good job editing it considering it's a self-published book.

      The quality of writing is the reason I'll be reading the second book, because I'm guessing she can't use the same plotline again. Don't worry people, this book has an ending, the next one is a companion book.

      Like I said, this is nothing new. But yeah, I'd still recommend it. I can think of a few other books that are maybe a better read with this exact same plot - Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Rachel Gibson come to mind right away, but this isn't far behind.
    • 2/5
      This book can be translated as heaps of eyeroll. I do not get the hype. I do not get it at all.

      Over 200 pages - and the most exciting thing to happen is Josie breaking up with her fiance to run into Liam's arms

      Characters - Y U B so dumb? The entire book could be two paragraphs if the characters had practiced something called communication. You know, opening your mouth and talking to each other.

      2 Stars.