Alessia is a 37 yrs old at the helm of a nonprofit in Nairobi. Her love life is nonexistent until she meets Hart, the 25 yrs old son of a billionaire investor. Getting involved with him will jeopardize her career....

Love the characters. Hart is charming and Alessia is sassy and strong. Love their relationship a lot. I love a reversed age gap romance. Hart is just terrific. What a swoony sweetie!

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! This is a billionaire romance with a reverse age gap. This is majorly swoon worthy but also sweet. Think billionaire with a golden heart and a woman who is trying to make a difference in the world. I have never read a Kendall Ryan book before, but it will definitely not be my last!

In this book, Alessia is a 37 year old philanthropist who is trying to make a difference in the world through her charity Renewed Promise. Hartford "Hart" is a 25 year old billionaire who meets Alessia in a chance encounter in Italy- only to meet her again during her pitch to his family for a donation for her organization. Alessia is not convinced that being with Hart is a long term reality but decides to have fun with him while it lasts. Their relationship turns into so much more and it's beautiful to watch it unfold.

I loved the way that Kendall wrote characters with such genuine flaws and how love sometimes is worth the sacrifice. Not many romance novels today have their female leads praying and this was something I really appreciated. You can be a strong driven female leader and have faith. It was very refreshing!

I highly recommend if you love a romance with a MMC who is to die for and an FMC that you can look up to! This also has jet setting and luxury mixed in with good old fashioned hard work and trying to make the world a better place.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A fluffy and light romance with an age-gap trope.
The first encounter pulled me in right away, I couldn’t stop reading after that. Hart gave me butterflies. The way he cares for Alessia and carries himself with such confidence around her was just adorable.

I could really feel Alessia’s hesitation too. It’s so relatable. As women, we all have our own insecurities. Even when we say we don’t care about what people think, those rude comments can still sting.

I love how strong and capable she is in her career, but when it comes to love, she’s so unsure. It felt real and honest. The plot flows nicely, and their story is actually pretty inspiring. I finished this in one sitting.

If you like “the idea of you”, then read this book!

A Beginner's Guide to Forever by Kendall Ryan....

I enjoyed this book. It was a little slow, but I think Kendall nailed it with the pace of the story. I enjoyed how the main couple met and the depth the author put into their backstories. Kendall created a journey of a meet-cute and falling in love, even with everything both characters had going on, both personal and professional. You are given a taste of both the couple's family and friends. I felt that it captured the reality of what it means to be a couple, the true sense of being partners. A Beginner's Guide to Forever was a book you could take your time with in a warm, cozy environment, savoring it with a cup of coffee or tea. The only reason I gave it four stars was that there wasn't a lot of the sexual aspect of the relationship, other than touching and kissing. However, when she did use it, you felt a sense of intimacy with the characters.

A Sophisticated Romance That Defies Expectations

In "A Beginner's Guide to Forever," Kendall Ryan ventures into more complex territory, delivering a mature romance that challenges societal norms while whisking readers across the globe. This isn't your typical billionaire romance - it's something far more nuanced.

The story centers on Alessia Moore, a 37-year-old nonprofit executive building schools for girls in Nairobi, and Hart Winthrop, a 25-year-old whose family fortune could make or break her foundation. Ryan handles their age gap with refreshing maturity, never falling into tired cougars-and-cubs tropes. Instead, she creates a compelling dynamic between two equals who happen to be at different life stages.

The international settings shine as more than just exotic backdrops. From Nairobi's vibrant energy to hidden corners of the world, Ryan paints vivid pictures that serve the story rather than distract from it. The author clearly did her homework, weaving in authentic details that make each location feel lived-in rather than tourist-brochure perfect.

What really elevates this book is how Ryan balances the romance with real-world stakes. Alessia's internal struggle between her heart and her mission creates genuine tension - one wrong move could cost hundreds of girls their chance at education. The professional dynamics add layers of complexity that keep you guessing until the end.

Where the book falls slightly short is in the pacing of the third act. Some conflicts resolve a bit too neatly, and a few promising subplots about nonprofit politics get sidelined in favor of the romance. Also, while Hart is well-developed, a few of the secondary characters feel more like sketches than fully realized people.

Despite these minor flaws, "A Beginner's Guide to Forever" proves Ryan can handle weightier themes while still delivering the emotional satisfaction romance readers crave. It's a story about finding love when you least expect it, yes, but also about staying true to your mission while opening your heart to new possibilities.

This is perfect for readers who enjoy their romance with a side of substance and don't mind questioning their own preconceptions about age, love, and what really matters in a relationship.

I really enjoyed this read! I do wish it included more about them getting married as I feel that was randomly just thrown in there quickly. And more context about her pregnancy as that was a huge point in the book.

Not sure if it’s a typo but I did notice she is “wearing camel sandals” not sure if it’s supposed to be camel or caramel.

I recently had the pleasure of reading A Beginner's Guide to Forever by Kendall Ryan, a heartfelt romance that navigates the complexities of love, personal growth, and the courage to embrace the unknown. Ryan's writing style is engaging, effortlessly pulling the reader into the emotional journeys of the characters.

The storyline is well-paced, with relatable protagonists whose chemistry feels authentic and deeply moving. Ryan excels in crafting moments of vulnerability and tenderness, making the characters' experiences resonate on a personal level.

While the novel shines with its emotional depth, some aspects may feel predictable to seasoned romance readers. However, the sincere character development and heartfelt dialogue more than compensate for this.

Overall, A Beginner's Guide to Forever is a touching read that will appeal to fans of contemporary romance looking for a blend of warmth, introspection, and genuine

Just when I thought Kendall Ryan's writing couldn't get any better, she writes this beautiful story. Alessia breaks up with her long-term boyfriend and escapes to Italy to get over him when she runs into a man, Hart, and ends up having an evening of drinks and conversation with him. Imagine her surprise when later on, he shows up as the son of billionaire couple she is trying to get to fund her school for girls in Kenya . He takes an interest in her, but she is hesitant to date him due to the age difference, with him being 25 and her being 38 and ready to settle down and have a child. Allesia is drawn into Harts orbit and they face many challenges along the way. "You were scared, and that's fine because I'm brave enough for the both of us"

I should preface this to say that I'm a big fan of Kendall Ryan's and have read almost all of her backlist throughout the years, so I came into this knowing I would probably enjoy this book. I was right, I loved it!

When in her late thirties Alessia meets mid-twenties Hart, she has everything she could want except a personal relationship and despite not wanting to feel it, she's very attracted to him. Not only is he younger, he's the son of a billionaire she is hoping will help with her passion project.

We watch Alessia deal with the age differences that mean a lot more to her than anyone else, especially Hart, and the conflict of what people will think and the dream of her non-profit school and how she is getting the funding.

I enjoyed the main characters - Hart was a total sweetheart and I loved reading Alessia's growth - in letting go of what everyone else thinks and their expectations and going for what makes her happy, even if it's not conventional.

This was an enjoyable book that was a pleasure to read. A bit different from Ms. Ryan's usual books, but that's not a bad thing either.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

It was a very heartfelt short read. I would have appreciated some chapters from Hart's POV.
I liked it overall, however the many times it was mentioned on Less' insecurities when it came to their age difference seemed to be a bit too much for my liking if I'm being honest. Hart was absolute sweetheart, being very understanding and fighting for their love and having faith enough for the both of them.

Taking this as an ARC I'll ignore the many mispelling and some areas where names were misplaced. I would totally recommend to the readers who enjoy a light, sweet romance where two people in different chapters of their lives come together for a happily ever after.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC!

5 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all I’m a huge Kendall Ryan fan I’ve read basically read all her books and she’s an auto dad’s author for me. So I was so excited when she announced she had a new book coming and even more excited to read it early! To say I loved this book is an understatement…I’m obsessed. This one was different than her “normal” books and I am so here for it. It was simply beautiful and had me hooked from the first page. Alessia is a 38 year old woman who’s a serious girl boss but then 27 year old Hart comes along and turns her world upside down. I highly recommend this and will tell everyone!