REVIEWED BY Micky Barnard
The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is my favourite JLA non PNR read. I can say that categorically. The tangibility of the characters in this book, not just the lead characters, was just right. This was a book that delved into abusive childhoods and brought together two kids from the past into the now. I sometimes feel in books where abuse is a factor, that everything is ‘worse case scenario’. Mallory and Rider’s pasts were awful but not the absolute worst and I wholly appreciated this insight into abuse.
Now that I feel I’ve said abuse too many times (last one), it really isn’t the prime focus of this book, just the foundation. Mallory might not be a strong female character lead but she was an evolving, developing young women. Rider was one of those immediately cool types, without trying to be, but not cocky. Rider believed in Mallory and didn’t want to change her. Rider could also be incredibly sweet. Their meeting again in the now is pretty amazing. These two evoked all the feelings.
A word needs to be said about the side characters that were a real strength in this book. I felt I got to know Carl, Rosa, Ainsley, Jayden and Hector. I loved Jayden and I want to read more in the future about Hector and Ainsley. I am a long standing fan of JLA but have always favoured her PNR books, The problem with forever has turned the tide and I’m hoping for more of a similar vein.
The publisher provided a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
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