I mean, the dedication speaks for itself...🙌🏼👏🏻

‘To the moms. The ones who struggle and the ones who don’t. To the ones who nursed for years and the ones who gave bottles on day one. To the moms who birthed at home in bathtubs and the ones who screamed for the epidural from a hospital bed. To the gentle moms, the tired moms, the stressed-AF moms, and the happy moms. To the ones who feed seaweed snacks and the ones who feed fruit snacks. To the ones who have lost, wept, and somehow kept going. Through carlines, through grocery store aisles, and through endless loads of laundry. To the moms of angels and rainbows. To my mom, my mother-in-law, and the women who have mothered me in between. Most importantly, to the moms who love, in whatever color of the rainbow, to forever and back.‘

Get comfortable. This book will pin you down and keep you down until the last page.

Easiest 5-star read this year. I’d give it 10 if I could.
Do not miss it.

Huge thanks to the wildly talented Ashley Manley, my flocking favorite & also to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: 4.1.2025.

To say I love this book would be devaluing the complexity and vulnerability that Ashley Manley has crafted into her storytelling. Forever and Back focuses on June Cannon’s life as a wife and mother and the daily struggles she experiences every day. June has been married for seventeen years to her high school sweetheart, Camp, and is raising their three kids, a seventeen-year-old daughter and their four-year-old twin boys. June becomes exasperated when Camp misses dinner again, which eventually leads to her asking him for a divorce. However, when Camp begins to actively be part of the family again, June discovers there’s more to Camp and herself than she realizes.

June is every mother out there. She is fierce, loving, dependable, and devoted. But she is also vulnerable, lost, exhausted, and jaded. June is the epitome of strength, resilience, and reliability. She represents the quiet burdens and sufferings most mothers struggle with. This book is more than just motherhood and the perils of an uncertain marriage. It’s about the sacrifices made in relationships and the reclamation of who you are as a person as well as the rediscovery of passion, life, and love.

Forever and Back is poignant, heartfelt, and exquisitely written. Ashley Manley wrote a tender novel dedicated to all the mothers out there who may have lost a piece of themselves by internalizing all their obligations from their silent battles. I am genuinely in awe of this delicately crafted and magnificent book. This one definitely stayed with me even long after I had finished reading it, and I don’t doubt I’ll keep coming back to it whenever I need it the most. With that being said, I am beyond excited for Scotty’s book, along with the anticipation for all of Manley's future novels.

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This review will be posted 2/10/25 on GoodReads.

Still Absolutely Amazing!! 🥹😍 (Updating my review after rereading)

The depth of thought and emotion Ashley pours into her writing is truly remarkable. I loved this book when I first read it, but after reading it again, I have to say—it's hands down my favorite book I’ve ever read.

It reaches deep into your soul, making you see and feel every scene, every word, every emotion. The way she weaves all the small details together is pure brilliance. Ashley you are an exceptional writer!!!!

And that 🚿 shower scene… Wow 💦🤌🏻🙌🏻
I need some of that in my life 🫦😆

*Camp is my newest #1 book husband 🥰 🔥

June is such a relatable character, I just love her so much and want to be besties with her and Scotty.

I’ll forever be reading anything you write!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 🫶🏼

Add to cart!!!!

Ugh Ashley Manley has done it again! When I saw she had another novel out I immediately knew I had to read it! Thank you so much to Ashley and netgalley for the chance to read this book early! Oh June… what an amazing character. I loved the growth in the book and self discovery. This book made me feel all the feels in the best way. The characters and family banter were so relatable and I loved that. I will forever be an Ashley fan. Never stop writing 🩷

The easiest 5⭐️ review I’ve ever given. I felt June’s journey through motherhood and marriage on such a deep level—I’m not sure I’ve ever related to a book more. This story had me literally laughing and crying along the way. Thank you, Ashley Manley, for this much-needed story that made me feel truly seen.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC e-read in exchange for my honest review.

Ashley has a gift for writing real women with real struggles that readers can relate to. I appreciated this book so much because every wife/mother has felt this way at some point. Lost and frustrated and stuck. I love June so much! I pictured Rachel McAdams as June and now I can totally see it as a movie in my mind. But who plays Camp? Chris Evans do we dare????

Five hundred stars, seriously. I’ve never felt so seen, so understood, so…emotional. I don’t often cry reading books, but this was an exception. June is so many of us - and to have so many aspects of motherhood put into an incredibly written book, is so special. I cannot say enough about this, and this will easily be one of my top (if not THE top read) for 2025 for me. Ashley is now one of my automatic reads / purchases without a doubt. And thank you, for remembering the moms in the back, the lost ones, and everything in between.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I am so glad that I decided to read this romance. I love it so so much !!!
This was an emotional romance about motherhood, family, marriage and self-reflection.
In between heartbroken parts, you can also find cute and sweet scenes (and a nice dose of spice too 😉)
I’ve always liked to read romance about long-term couple whose relationship was falling apart because life was not always like we’d imagined it.
Being a mom, I felt great empathy towards June. No more self-care time, body insecurity after pregnancy, and above all, questioning ourselves whether I was a good mother.
And then the man, it might not be applied for everyone’s case, but some men were such laconic species ! And that didn’t help when the women were being vulnerable. Communication became harder when you were always walking a fine line between caring and fearing of bothering each other.
Reading the book description, I did not expect the storyline direction. I meant, it was better than I had thought and I was so happy of the ending.
I will definitely check out other books from Ashley Manley.

Wow. Just wow. First of all thank-you to NetGalley and Ashley Manley for the ARC. This book feels like it was written about me just set a few years in the future. I relate to June on so many levels, being a mother, the main caretaker , the one who has to do it all and totally losing herself in the process. And the "lost ones" I have 2 myself and boy did I feel that entirely. This book is such a great reminder moms don't need to be only "mom". I have never laughed and cried and felt so emotionally attached to a book on my life. It felt like one big therapy session for me and I truly cannot wait to read more of her work.

As a 39 year old mother of three, I don't think I have ever related with a character more than I do with June Cannon. Forever and Back is an absolute must read. Ashely Manley does a fabulous job illustrating how easy it is to lose yourself in a relationship or lose yourself to motherhood. I felt her pain and frustration of feeling like she's looked at as "just a mom" and that's all there is.

"People tell you about potty training and sleepless nights, but they don't tell you how f-ing hard being a mom is. About the slow drain that happens if you aren't careful. How you exchange who you are for a different version of yourself without even knowing. Somewhere between dinners and homework and carlines, you forget yourself. And, somehow, despite how hard and thankless it all feels, when you lie in bed at night, you still worry. You still wonder, did I do good enough today? Did I love these little people enough? Encourage them to be nice people and treat others fairly? Do they know how valuable they are? How much I love them?"

The above quote resonated hard with me and I feel like I could have written it myself. The depth of emotions in this book was phenomenal. Top 5 read for me so far this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

On January 29, 2025 your post/video compelled me to read 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 by indie author @ashleymanleywrites I did and LOVED it. Like- I reread my favorite bits for days after I finished it kind-of-love. Then my friend @addie.yoder told me her upcoming release 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 (Pub 04.01) was on @netgalley so I grabbed it. I ignored my family and my hygiene to read it in two sittings. I loved it even MORE. I obviously had no choice but to inhale 𝗪𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝗪𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐅𝐋𝐎𝗪𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐌 over the weekend. So here I am 3 weeks and 3 books later in an Ashley Manley induced reading coma. A good coma. I guess I’ll just reread my favorite passages until Scotty’s book is published.

Thank you-
Kari

P.S.
I’d describe these books as fiction/love stories since they don’t “follow” the traditional romance tropes. But rest assured there is certainly romance (open door) to be found.

FOREVER AND BACK by Ashley Manley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Ashley says she wrote this book for the mom's, and honestly, she NAILED it. I flew through this one! I was rooting for June and needed to know how she was going to pull through it all. It was almost hard to read at times because of the relatability to often feeling somewhat invisible in motherhood.

Pub date: 4/1

The premise: June Cannon has spent the last seventeen years of her life as a devoted mom and wife, but when her husband, Camp, doesn't come home for dinner-again— and her teenage daughter calls her simple, she's had enough. Inspired by a podcast, her way forward becomes get a divorce, get a job, and show her kids she's anything but simple. As soon as she tells Camp she wants a divorce, he becomes the husband he hasn't been for years.

I giggled at all of the parts where June is listening to podcasts to "fix her life". But what hit me hard was the bit about how often we take advice from podcasts, social media experts, etc. without first talking to the people who know and love us and have actual context for our personal situations. One recommendation isnt going to be the right one for all of us! Oof!! Great reminder.

A few cheesy moments at the end that made it not quite 5 stars and I really wanted a bit more accountability from Camp in certain instances. Overall, totally recommend this book!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Mood: 🌮🍫
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you @ashleymanleywrites and @netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Loved this one, I was fully invested in June's story from start to finish. This is the third book I've read by Ashley Manley and she hits it out of the park every time. I connect so much with her female main characters, as adult women navigating life and love. Highly recommend and cannot wait til Scotty's story!

This book. This is one of my favorite books so far this year. Ashley Manley is an absolutely amazing writer. Junes story is something I can relate to in so many ways. As a single parent, I feel her overwhelming sense of losing herself to the parenting life. But also as someone who has suffered through a miscarriage, this book shattered me. I’m not sure I have ever read a book that I’ve related to and loved so much. ABSOLUTELY 100000% worth the read!

Loved this book. It was such a great story of motherhood, marriage and all the messy simple parts.

I was frustrated with June and Camp and their lack of communication. But this ended up being a huge part of their story and the silent sacrifices they made to love each other.

Ashley Manley has a way with words and her storytelling is amazing. I love all the little details along the way that lead to a great well rounded story. The characters were relatable and the ending was perfect. I cried!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wildflower Books, LLC for the early read in exchange for my honest review.

"Forever & Back" follows June Cannon, an exhausted mom who, after seventeen years of marriage, realizes that her identity and dreams have been overshadowed by her roles as a wife and mother. The novel portrays her struggles, reminding us that marriage and life can be messy and challenging, often overshadowing rewarding moments.

Although I may not have personal experiences like June’s just yet, I believe many women in similar situations will resonate with her story. I felt her pain as she wrestled with losing herself while her husband pursued his career, ultimately questioning her true desires. This emotional journey is relatable, regardless of whether you are a mother. It’s a compelling read that has deepened my appreciation for my own mom!

Be prepared to laugh, cry, and enjoy some spicy scenes, too.

This was my first book by Ashley Manley, and it definitely won’t be my last!

June Cannon has been married to her husband Camp for seventeen years and together they have three kids. One day she realizes that over the years she has put her dreams on hold. Camp has chased his dreams of playing baseball, being a revered athletic director and staple in their small town. June set aside her plan to be a photographer to be a stay at home mom. While she loves her kids, somewhere between her husband’s frequent travels, long work hours, and her young kid’s antics, she feels lost. She feels resentful. She feels like the woman she has become is a far cry from the woman she imagined she would be. There is so much noise in her head…the parenting books, expert podcasts, and the mom’s group ladies that seem to have their life in order but she seemingly has nothing in common with. She decides enough is enough and tells Camp it’s over. Camp begins to make an effort to change, while June explores the freedom & creativity that she always imagined her life would have. June finds herself opening up old wounds and discovering long ago secrets. She explores the idea that maybe women can be more than one thing- a mom…but also sexy/creative/fulfilled.
Forever & Back is a story that I think so many “middle aged” moms will easily connect with. It explores deeply relatable themes such as aging, marriage, & personal growth. Ashley Manley has done it again! She has gifted us with another beautiful story that will have you laughing out loud, teary, and ultimately pulling on your heartstrings.

4.5 stars rounded up.
Review to come and then favorite quotes from the book will be shared when the book is published in April. This book is the latest from one of my newest and most adored favorite authors. If you have not read any of her books, run to your nearest book source and pick up her previous 2 books! You will not regret it!

Every mother should read this book! A very honest portrayal of an exhausted mom who one day realizes marriage and parenting has made her lose herself and her goals and she has to decide what she really wants and who she really is. Honestly Ashley Manley had me at the dedication alone. I think every mom can relate to this book in some way. It was an emotional roller coaster and the characters felt so real and authentic. By the end I was in tears and I felt like I was watching a friend find herself again. Ashley Manley has become an auto read author for me. Her writing style is smooth, her characters are in depth and her stories grab you from the start. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This should be on your buy list when it comes out April 1.

Wow! All moms should probably read this.

And grab your tissues you're probably going to need them at some point.

June is a 40-year-old mother of 3 and married to her high school sweetheart but what else is she really? This book focuses on her struggle with finding herself after being everything for everyone else and putting herself on the backburner.

I thought the characters/story were extremely relatable. I feel like at some point we've all felt like June in regard to motherhood. I loved that the book is only told in the perspective of June so we could experience every moment as she experienced it.

This was my first book from this author, and I'm beyond impressed. I will definitely be checking out her backlist and can't wait for book 2 of this duet.

Thank you Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for this ARC!

This review has been posted on Goodreads.

This book will be published on April 1, 2025

If you are a parent especially a mom I highly recommend picking this book up! This is a story that is one you will find hard to put down. It hits you on so many levels. Especially if you are struggling with where you fit in your life right now. It brings to life some of the struggles a mom goes through trying to navigate being a good wife, mother, friend and most of all finding you!! June is struggling trying to find a good balance between being there for your family and knowing where you belong. A very high five star. This story will definitely stick with you.

Ashley Manley writes with so much heart. Exceptional character development and a plot that weaves emotional depth with realism. June’s character growth and development is depicted with remarkable authenticity as she tries to build a life for herself outside of her family’s needs.

This was my first book by Ashley Manley and I absolutely loved it! I couldn't put it down!

So relatable to many moms out there. June is feeling invisible and lost as a wife and a mother and decides she needs to make some immediate changes. She wants a chance to pursue her dreams not just support her husband in reaching his. She's a little extreme in the way she plans to change things in her life but maybe that's the wakeup call her husband needs.

I was in tears at the end and loved every part of the story. I can't wait for Scotty's book!

There are no words to fully capture the journey I just experienced. One thing I’ve learned for sure: this book should be required reading for anyone navigating motherhood and marriage. From the dedication to the final word in the epilogue, every page was beautiful.

The story follows June Cannon, a 40-year-old mother of three in an unhappy marriage, as she sets out to rediscover herself.

Without giving too much away, I’ll just say this is a must-read for everyone. Ashley Manley is a gifted writer who draws you into every emotion with her words. As long as she continues to write, I’ll be there to read it all!

A huge thank you to Ashley Manley and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I will be singing Ashley’s praises for years to come. I already can’t wait for Scotty’s story, so I hope you’re writing quickly, Ashley!

I’m not a mom or a wife but daggumit this book wrecked me.

June has lost herself in motherhood and she decides it’s definitely, probably her golden boy husband’s fault. He’s busy being the high school athletic director and state champion baseball coach and oh building a new sports complex while he’s at it. June is trying to keep it together but her teenage daughter thinks her Mom is a dud and her twin four year-olds define mayhem. She’s convinced that her marriage is over, she needs a fresh start. She tells perfect Camp Cannon that once their daughter graduates it’s over but for the mean time they have to play house.

You’re just gonna have to read it y’all. You will laugh. You will fall in love. You will probably cry. You will definitely blush (marriage is spicy).

Thank you so much to Ashley Manley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the ARC. I can’t wait to read book 2! All opinions are my own.

My first read from this author has cemented her as a favourite - I already know this book will be one of my top reads of the year ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While this story seems to be a small town romance/marriage in trouble trope - it’s so much more. I cried. I laughed. Then I cried some more. The storytelling is heartfelt and covers topics that every mum and wife deals with in a painfully honest way. I loved the raw look at marriage and how easily you can lose your way.

I loved everything about this book and definitely recommend.

Best book I have read in a long time. Ashley Manley knows how to write characters that are soo relatable. I am June. Most women feel like this at some point and it was so easy to relate. LOVED the ending! Please send more of her books. I am telling everyone I know to read them!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ all the stars. I loved this book. Motherhood can be so hard at times, I really connected with June and her story. Life can be so messy but beautiful at the same time. I can’t wait for the next one. Thank you for the ARC.

This is a new author to me, and after reading Forever and Back, it definitely won’t be my last! ✨ I truly couldn’t put this book down and read it in a day!! Ashley’s writing is so beautifully written, and every chapter is filled with emotion, tension, heat, angst, humor…. Even though I’m not a mother yet, I feel this book is portrayed so realistically with all the highs and lows that come with marriage/motherhood. ❤️ Can’t wait to read Scotty’s story!! 😍

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free ARC!! 🥰

This review will be posted on Amazon and BookBub on the day of its release.

Wow just wow!!! This book was amazing but of course it was look who wrote it.

I was hooked from the very start and it made me feel like I was there in June's shoes. But, I guess we all have lived her story in some sort of way. Life is hard and this story is so relatable and heartfelt. I laughed, I cried, got mad!--wash rinse repeat. All of the feels were out with this one. My first 5 star of the year. I would rate it a kabillion stars if I could. I didn't want the book to end.

Don't pass on this one you will regret it. And if you haven't read Ashley's other books run to add those to your cart too, they won't disappoint.

I will say that I don't usually write many reviews or read e-books. BUT....for an Ashley Manley masterpiece I will do it all. I can't wait until the Fall for the next part of the duet.

Thank you NetGalley and Ashley Manley for the ARC for a honest review. I'm so happy that I didn't have to have FOMO 🤣.

Just finished Forever and Back. It was SO good. I actually wasn’t sure I liked it for the first 3/4 of the book. I mean the writing was done really well and I couldn’t stop reading, but the FMC June was kind of a brat and was self sabotaging which was hard. However, Ashley did an amazing job and she made this story relatable (at least on some degree) to all mothers. She wrapped it up beautifully at the end and I totally cried.

Manley's work is real and raw, managing to expose all the vulnerabilities that we can feel as a spouse and a mother. June Cannon is the main character that exemplifies this time in life. A time that is messy, complicated and overwhelming with life's obligations to where you feel like you have lost a piece of yourself. I've been there, and I dare say that many mothers (and most likely some fathers) have been there at least to a degree. This truly felt like reading a diary...uncensored, emotional and genuine. It's bound to resonate with many readers. BUT...let me take a moment to appreciate the character, Camp. As you turn the pages, the appreciation grows and grows. This is romance with depth, and I truly enjoyed it. (Tip: Be ready with the tissues.)

Thank you Victory Editing via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. These opinions are entirely my own. I will be quick to find more works from Ashley Manley, an author who has captured my attention!

Wow!
It’s been a while since I pulled an all-nighter to read a book.

“Forever and Back” surpassed all my expectations, and it’s definitely one of the best novels I’ve read in the past three years.

Ashley Manley’s words say it all ,“Thank
you, for showing me that not all heroes wear capes. That the real superstars don't always win awards and get name recognition. Some are just there, loving everyone around them and taking care of the little details that nobody else wants to. The sole reason that others can shine like stars is because people like you create a sky for us to shine in."

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the e-ARC of this unforgettable book.

Wowza! I just finished a great read. Fans of women’s fiction will love Forever and Back by Ashley Manley! It was wonderful.

Ahhh this book was everything and more! As a stay at home mom, this was so spot on with everything from taking care of everyone else first and all of the things, to somehow losing ourselves along the way. It made me feel all the feels. Ashley’s books are nothing short of amazing and they just get better and better. Please never ever stop writing, and I absolutely cannot wait to read Scotty’s story!

After reading Every Beautiful Mile, I knew I had to get my hands on more of Ashley Manley’s books - so I was thrilled to get my first ever ARC of Forever and Back! Ashley really has an amazing way of building characters that feel real and relatable. I found myself wanting to read just one more chapter to learn more about June.

Contemporary romance is such a hard genre for me because I don’t want a complete fluff piece, but I do want to be happy that everything is tied up well at the end. I want amazing, fun banter, a real “issue” to work through, some fun sexy scenes that are natural and not forced, but ultimately a fun, funny, read with substance. Ashley Manley keeps delivering on all of these!

I know it’s a winner when I finish a book, wishing the main character was real and that I could be friends with them!

It’s also really refreshing to read about a woman who is in her 40’s, with teenagers and young kids - I really connected with that on multiple levels!

Thank you Ashley, for this ARC!