The Forever and the Now by KJ is an emotional story about finding and sustaining a love that lives into the forever, long after the now comes to an end.
At forty-two, Bron McIntyre is living her best life. She loves her job, loves her family, and is comfortable with being single. Sure, if the right woman came along, she’d be game, but she’s not desperate. Her family calls her Teflon because she moves through life with ease – not sweating the small stuff.
At forty-eight, Kate Agostino is definitely not Teflon. She loves her job, but she’s just coming off a nasty divorce, and her relationship with her mother is anything but healthy.
When Bron comes to her rescue after she has a nasty run-in with her own orange smoothie, they strike up a tentative friendship. Bron can’t help but be attracted to such a smart, beautiful, and vulnerable woman. Unfortunately, Kate is straight. Bron’s feelings towards her are so deep, she’d rather have Kate in her life as a friend than not in her life at all.
Kate is cautious, but she can’t deny the feelings she’s developing towards Bron. They’re more than friendly. Eventually, she accepts she’s falling in love with a woman, and she and Bron embark on a tender courtship.
As is does, time passes, and with each day, Bron and Kate love and grow together. They build a life surrounded by friends and family who bask in their bliss. When Bron begins to take Kate for granted, and Kate’s default coping mechanism stops working they decide to separate, temporarily.
After much soul searching, self-reflection, and a family intervention, Bron and Kate find their way back to each other. They discover their love is stronger than they had first imagined. Every day they cherish and tend to their love so it will grow strong and endure.
When tragedy strikes, Bron and Kate face adversity with courage, hope, and finally acceptance because their love is grand, and it will live on forever.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
This book is a winner for so many reasons. KJ has created two incredibly layered main characters. In a matter of pages, Kate and Bron feel like they’re your lifelong friends. There are so many complexities to each of them. Of course, they are attractive, witty, and sexy, but underneath all that, we get to see them at their most vulnerable and insecure. They’re a wonderful couple, yet they can be careless with each other. This story is a masterclass in character development.
The writing is delightful. It’s witty and heartfelt. We’re not told about Kate and Bron’s trials and tribulations, we get a front row seat to it all. The first three chapters are close to perfect. The tenderness infused in the writing is just, chef’s kiss. There’s all kinds of bliss in this love story, and it’s accompanied with a serious dose of angst and sadness. Bron and Kate may not get the happy-ever-after most readers want in a book, but their journey is authentic. There’s a saying I’m going to steal, that which brings us sorrow, once brought us joy. The Forever and the Now embodies that adage. So, while I was left in tears at the end of the book, my heart was truly full of joy.
Cons And Heads Up
This book is a love story, NOT a romance. That’s not a con, just a heads up.
The Conclusion
Reading The Forever and the Now was one heck of an experience. From the very first pages, I knew it was going to take up space in my head and in my heart for a long time. This review has been percolating in my noggin for over a month. Reviewing a book that touches you so deeply is no easy task. Finding the right words and stringing them together in a way that will do the book justice seems impossible. This book will make you cry – tears of joy and tears of sadness. When a book can move me so deeply, I know it’s special, and I want to share it with others. Let me know your thoughts. I love a good book discussion.
Excerpt from The Forever and the Now by KJ
Then reaching across the table, she held my hand, turned it over, and electric tingles zipped through my body.
“I wanted to give you this.” Kate moved the container to the side, then carefully placed a blue miniature origami paper crane on my palm. She sat back, exhaled loudly, then pressed her lips together and watched me intently. I stared at the crane. It was beautiful. Every fold and crease exact. Crisp. I looked up at Kate’s hopeful expression.
She jumped in before I could say a word. “It’s…um. It’s a habit?” She twisted her lips in thought. “No. Not a habit. More a skill that I wanted to take away as a souvenir instead of a keyring and t-shirt. I worked in Tokyo for a couple of months about a year before I was married.” She pointed to the crane that I was gently cradling, protecting it in case the fragility of the gift might see it fly away. “You probably know this already, but the crane is a symbol of hope. Of peace, love, and healing during challenging times.” She laughed humourlessly. “This afternoon might qualify as a challenging time.” Kate suddenly stopped talking, and gazed at me.
“Kate, this is art,” I breathed.
Her body finally relaxed, slumping into the back of the chair. “No, it’s not.” A vague wave of her hand.
“Yes, it is.” I glanced down at the crane, then up at Kate. Her beauty, those stunning classical features, took my breath away. The gift. The thought behind it—she’d thought of me—warmed my heart, and in the now muted lighting, I wanted to ease the crane on to the table, stand up, walk around and kiss Kate senseless. “It’s beautiful art. Really.”
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9798406729281
Publisher: Indie Author
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