Member Reviews
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, this review is my personal unbiased opinion.
A suitable read for a lazy afternoon.
Still living in her home town of Hebblestone, Emily Hendrickson had dreamt of becoming a writer. Instead, she's working for the local newspaper covering weddings and committee meetings, vainly hoping for promotion into the features department. Unexpectedly she comes face to face with her childhood friend and secret love Calvin Albright who's now widowed and, with his son Isaac, has recently returned to Hebblestone. Realising that his father is unhappy and lonely, Isaac intends to find him a suitable girlfriend and creates a video for his blog, even persuading Emily for help in his scheme.
When the newspaper hears about Isaac’s video the editor gives Emily the story. Much against her will Emily now has to promote the video about Isaac’s search for a date for his father.
Losing points. The title, The Forever House, and the country cottage on the cover had absolutely no connection with the content of the book. and twelve year old Isaac's language was at times scarily weird and far above his actual age group.
Light-hearted, a bit predictable, a quick and easy read.
The Forever House is actually nothing to do with a house, which was a bit confusing, but it is a gentle, easy read about two childhood best friends who reunite back in their former hometown in Yorkshire.
It is the ideal rainy day or by-the-pool holiday read, predictable but enjoyable nonetheless, with plenty of humour and the requisite happy ending.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.
An easy read story with a happy ending for all. The title did not reflect the story as I kept waiting for the Forever House to appear......and it didn’t, which led to me feeling a bit disappointed at the end. It also reminded me of the short stories I read as a young girl in my mother’s Woman's Weekly or the slushy American films shown on afternoon tv ( yes covid also took it’s toll on my tv viewing!) sadly this isn’t my preferred reading so although feelgood with a happy ending it really wasn’t my favourite style of writing. Thank you Netgalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a truly stunning read this book is and Rachel never fails to disappoint. Heart warming and beautifully written.
I found that the title and cover of this book was a little misleading as it did not match very well with the storyline in my opinion. It was however an enjoyable heartwarming read that I really liked. It was a lovely easygoing feel good book.
I loved the characters and there were a few twists and turns and some humour too.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
Emily lives in Hebblestone, her dream is to become a writer. She works as a reporter for the local paper, writing about weddings and christenings. Working to save for her wedding to Tim, who is a bank manager, but their relationship isn’t how she expected it to be.
One day, she bumps into her childhood best friend Calvin in the coffee shop, she’s wondering why he’s back as he used to live in London
Calvin’s wife passed away two years ago, after which he decided to move back home with their son Isaac. Isaac notices that he’s father is lovely and wants to find a girlfriend for him, he makes a video for a YouTube channel he has and after meeting Emily, he asks her help in his mission.
As his story is seen by many people, including the boss of the paper Emily works for, she is now given that story and told that this is her chance to show what she can do.
But, having thus opportunity, will she pursue the story and hurt Calvin?
It was lovely to read the backstory of how Emily and Calvin were in their childhood.
Recommend this book.
Emily and Calvin were friends at school, but never admitted how they felt about each other. Now he is back in town, a widow and a single father to Isaac, and Emily is engaged to someone else. Will Isaac's meddling bring Emily and Cal together?
I was a bit confused towards the end with the letter and when Cal read it, but overall enjoyed the book.
I really enjoyed The Forever House, although don’t let the title mislead you, it isn’t about a house at all!
Still living in her small home town of Hebblestone in Yorkshire, Emily Hendrickson has always dreamt of becoming a writer.
She’s a reporter at her local newspaper covering weddings and christenings but longs to be promoted to a full features writer.
Emily works hard and saves hard for her future wedding to bank manager fiancé Tim. Their relationship does seem a little off to me from the get go.
Life is plodding along for Emily until she comes face to face with her past in the form of her childhood best friend and first love Calvin Albright who is in the coffee shop and not in London – what is he doing back home?
Calvin is a widower, losing his wife two years ago and decided to up sticks from London away from the pity and painful memories and move back to the comfort of his childhood town to raise their son Isaac.
Realising that his father is sad and lonely, Isaac is on a mission to find him a suitable girlfriend and creates a video for his YouTube channel seeking out eligible candidates!
He even manages to persuade Emily to help him on the hunt.
The editor of Emily's newspaper gives Emily the story of Isaac's video and his quest, telling Emily this is her chance to prove herself as a features writer – could that long-awaited promotion be hers?
Now Emily has the story of her life to run with but could she and Calvin get hurt in the process?
I enjoyed some of the flashback chapters to Emily and Calvin’s childhood and seeing how close they were.
The final few chapters really felt like they could be scenes from a rom com film.
Although the storyline is pretty predictable, there’s some real flashes of humour and heart-warming tender moments too.
I was really rooting for them both!
A cosy read perfect for the summer.
A really enjoyable and heartwarming read.
This story will have you reading into the wee hours with all the tea and biscuits.
Emily is fed up of writing about weddings when her own wedding seems so far in the distance it may never happen. Calvin her best friend growing up returns widowed with his son Isaac in search of a fresh start. Isaac turns to Emily for help finding his dad a new girlfriend to fill the void in his life.
A lovely written story with relatable and charming characters. I love the ending and many twists and turns throughout. A real feel good page Turner you can easily devour.
This was an enjoyable, easy read following the story of childhood best friends Emily and Calvin as they reunite back in their hometown. Emily is finding things aren’t going smoothly with her fiancé Tim and Calvin is lonely after the loss of his wife. Helped along by Calvin’s son Issac, Emily finds herself agreeing to a project that makes her question her previous and current choices.
Loved this book from page one, just shows how after everything in between you can still be with your sole mate. Way to go Cal and Em
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the read
A feel good and entertaining romance, perfect for a lazy afternoon.
It's a bit predictable but I enjoyed it and liked the characters and the plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This book was really good! I absolutely loved it! You’ll fall in love with not only the characters, but the story as well.
I enjoyed this book - it was predictable but still an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon!
Emily is a writer for the local newspaper covering weddings. She is in a relationship which she feels is going nowhere when Calvin, her best buddy, returns to the area with his 12 year old son. They link up as friends and with Issac playing Cupid, Emily is forced to face her concerns about her relationship and evaluate what she really wants.
I was a bit bemused by the title which I couldn’t connect to the plot. Otherwise it was a pleasant easy read story with lovely characters, touches of humour and a happy ending. An unusual plot which kept me engaged.
Predictable is the main thing you take from this book. Nice characters and at least the main ones knew each other rather than it being two total strangers that get together. I did think the storyline should have been a lot more funnier than it was, hence giving it a 3 rather than a 4.
An easy-reading romance. Local journalist Emily is surprised to meet her childhood sweetheart, Calvin, in her small home town. They grew up together but he married and moved away. He's now back for peace, solace and a new start, having lost his wife. Their savvy young son, Isaac, wants his dad to find happiness again, but Calvin's not sure he's ready. A lovely story with a happy ending.
I was disappointed by The Forever House. First of all the title seemed to have no relevance to the book. And the author/editor's grasp of grammar and semantics seemed a little shaky. But the plot itself was disappointing. It went nowhere and there was far too much internal and external angst. There were enough loose threads that if I had pulled them, the entire plot would have unravelled. The best of the book were the characters who came alive and lived.
Lovely feel good book, nicely written and well presented to the reader. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy
Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a lovely warm feeling this book gave me, I loved the storyline loved the characters - would recommend.