It’s always very difficult to review books based on other people’s distress and misery, and “enjoyable” is not a word I dare to categorically label this harrowing, deeply disturbing read.

The plot is based solely around Molly’s severely abusive childhood which is graphically described throughout this entire read. Born to a drug addicted mother, selling her child to men for her substances, this is a very hard and unsettling book.

Although I flew through this, there were times when I thought I couldn’t read on anymore, but I was desperate to find out how Molly dealt with all this, I was eager to know if she found safety, that if she was able to in some sort of way find a little bit of peace in her mind. (Although considering the horrific way she was treated, it would be completely understandable if she didn’t.)

The reason this is a five star read is because as a society we need to take note that these things are happening to children on a daily basis. We need our eyes open to the reality of what is happening behind closed doors for some. Stop brushing it under the carpet, or turning the other cheek. This maybe a difficult read but that doesn’t even begin to compare to the lives that these children are forced to live. We have the choice to read on or close the book, they don’t have any choices. We are failing our children. This all needs to stop, we as a society, need to take action on these groups of people that think this is acceptable. Changes need to be made. This has to be spoken about openly as this author does within the pages of this book. For these reasons I highly recommend this read.

Couldn't finish - I tried a few times to read this but I just couldn't get into it or keep going. It wasn't what I thought it was unfortunately. The subject matter was too sensitive for me.

Wow! Just wow! I could not put this book down. I can honestly say it’s one of the most heart-wrenching books that I’ve ever read. At times, it’s not an easy read given the seriousness of the nature of the book. Not Forever is about a mother who sells her young daughter for sex, to get money to buy her drugs. Reading the book, you soon realise that the author must have expertise of what happens to the victims of child abuse, psychologically and physically; of the multitude of emotions, fears and consequences that they suffer at the hands of diabolical perpetrators, long after the abuse has ended.

I would definitely recommend reading this book but a word of warning: get plenty of tissues ready before you start because you’ll have used them all by the end.

Molly’s childhood is a world of secrets and hiding. Her life is spent escaping from danger with her mother. This time they leave London at night with a supposed offer of a house in Devon.
Lester’s house is more of a squat. He is a truly disgusting and violent man. Molly’s mother is held by the mixture of available drugs and a need to be wanted. Molly believes their lives are in danger if they try to escape.
Outside the run-down house, Molly discovers Dartmoor. The fantastic bleak wilderness is an unbelievable space for a young girl who knows only towns and dark alleys. Molly steals her times on the moor while Lester plots.
But when things go badly wrong for her mother, Molly seeks revenge and that’s when Police, Ambulance, Fire, and Court Services arrive.
And that is just the beginning.

This is a wonderful read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

This book takes the reader into some dark places and does so in the context of a truly gripping story. Some very confronting scenes are portrayed so vividly that readers may find themselves feeling quite drained by the time they reach the final page. The characters are well developed and the dialogue credible.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this book but I am glad I did. It is quite harrowing in places but also has some lighter moments. It would be wrong to say it was “enjoyable “, rather a sad indicator of modern life.

An intense book about a horrible time for a young girl stuck in an abusive, drug ridden world. Her mother does the unthinkable and sells her for drugs. She endures terrible abuse at the hands of her mother’s “friend”. This book does contain triggers and there is no happy ending. This book is meant to open our eyes to a overwhelmed system created to help abused children but instead helps to keep the problem a continued mess.

What's the book about?
Molly is just a child but she has had to grow up really fast. Her mother’s a drug addict and is always willing to do whatever it takes to get her next fix. She meets Lester who agrees to take the mother daughter in... but it comes at a cost. Despite facing all kinds of abuse and trauma, Molly’s spirit remains unbroken. She fears that attempting to flee the squalor they’re living in will endanger their lives. But when things go from bad to worse, Molly realises the only one to save her, will have to be herself.


My thoughts:
I didn’t expect this book to be so disturbing but I couldn’t stop reading it because of the way it was written. I appreciate how Mellanby showed so much resilience from a victim who has undergone so much trauma. I continue to be haunted by how easy it is for the system to fail a child in need. At times the story felt a bit far-fetched but at other times I felt deeply for Molly and was happy to see that she had a better end than I imagine others would in her situation.

A truly terrifying story. Very dark, depressing and disturbing, a very difficult read but an eye-opener, this is what happens when a child falls between the cracks.

Too awful, too real! I had to read it as I would a violent, awful film that had parts I wanted to find out about but not really the strength of mind for everything. I had to skim read a lot of this and read carefully those parts of the story I could. I had very mixed feelings when I finished the story but re-assessed after reading about Alex’s ‘long and varied career as a hospital physician to public health’. During my past long and varied career in education I am sadly too aware that this story is not purely fiction, however, my cowardly self did not want to revisit these problems during my leisure time. However (again!) if bad things are hidden they continue to thrive, so congratulations Alex for bravely writing an all too real story to remind all of us that more should be done.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and of course Alex for the opportunity to read ( let’s hope I don’t have nightmares) this in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish unfortunately, I think it was too much of a slow burn for me. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This isn't your usual psychiatric thriller, it's far more traumatic, more terrifying than that.
Molly was born into a 'life' of drugs, prostitution and neglect. It is beyond horrendous; what chance did the 'poor girl' have? Molly wasn't allowed to run and play.. She was used, manipulated, sold and abused to suit the adults around her. But somehow, Molly grew an inner strength.
This book brought back some awful memories from my childhood; consequently, I found it difficult to read. However, it is so well written, it allowed me to read through to the end - albeit tentatively.

This book is a mass of adjectives, harrowing, upsetting, depressing - and at last redeeming, No ild should go through what Molly is, but unfortunately too many of them do. In some ways she got off easy in the end - she survived and escaped. Badly damaged, knowing too much and too litlle.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

This book is a harrowing but compelling story about a sexually abused girl. It is relentlessly bleak but gives a good insight into how someone falls through the cracks when no-one really cares about them.
There are some bits that don’t ring true as the story is narrated with her voice and her lack of proper education and socialisation would make some of her insights and observations impossible but I did find the story interesting and actually sensitively told. With a better editor I would give it a 4.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I'm unsure what I thought about this. Mellanby explores incredibly difficult themes throughout the novel, but the unremitting bleakness means it is hard to describe this book as enjoyable. I did finish it quickly (it's fairly short) but much of it was a very slow burn, even though the second half felt rushed through. The writing style was very much Molly's train of thought, and the chaos of her world was reflected through it, meaning it was sometimes hard to follow.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review Not Forever.

This was a bit of a slow burn. I am the type of person who likes a book to start off with a bang and instantly draw me in. Not Forever, is more of a slow build up that leads to a jam packed twisty ending.

Molly knows only the life her mother has chose to show her. A life of secrets and remaining hidden. Her entire life has made her feel as if danger is lurking behind every corner .

Lester is a terrible man, violent and all around terrible. Keeping Molly's mother under his thumb with the drugs and lies. Molly needs to escape this madman.

When something happens to Molly's mother, molly wants revenge.

I dont want to give away too much and fear spoiling the book! You are going to have to pick up your own copy to find out what happens to Molly and her mother!

I really wanted to lime this book but I struggled and in the end couldn't couldn't care enough to finish it..... which I hate to do!! Its all very depressing and bleak and I did find it hard to get into. It just wasn't my style of book sadly but in saying that, the writing style and the premises of the book are fine if you like that sort of thing. I just don't favour stories that are quite so dark

Thank You Matador, NetGalley and Author for this advance ebook copy!

I was so excited when I seen Not forever by Alex on my shelf!
So much thanks for the opportunity to read this book!

I thought the story was great. The characters were amazing and well drawn.
My only complaint would be the pacing..... I felt to his was more of a slow burn IMO.
Are the characters convincing? Yes. Does it hold together? Well... yes, it's readable.
I feel some may enjoy this better.... And I sure hope so.

Thank you very much for the chance to read this story!

There were some aspects of this book that I really like and some aspects of this book that I didnt like so much. I liked the fact that the reader felt like they were in the mothers thoughts etc but i just didnt gel with 100 percent of the book, i still found it enjoyable though

The story of Molly, the daughter of a drug addicted prostitute. We don't know Molly's age, somewhere between eight and twelve, when her mum flits from London with her to live in a remote cottage on Dartmoor with a very bad man.

The style is Molly's first person stream of consciousness. Engaging and very readable, but too many thoughts and words jarred with me, I couldn't fully engage and believe that this was the 'voice' of an eight to twelve year old.

The story is almost unrelentingly bleak. The plot consists of Molly in a string of bad situations so has no control over, until she finds the power to fight back or run away.

The writing style and Molly's character were my favourite things about it, but I have read lots of books about traumatic childhoods which I would recommend over this one.


Thanks to Netgalley and Matador