The Summer Before Forever

Getting into a frame of mind to read New Adult/Young Adult can be difficult especially after going at very adult books that don’t hold back, well, anything.

But Melissa Chambers makes this transition easy, delivering a coming-of-age book – as the Teen/YA ones typically are – without shying away from the issues of sex, school and identity that these hormonal people live and face. I liked that we got a story that was more than simply a crush or a forbidden relationship or meaningless hook-ups, and that her lead characters do face problems that go beyond whose bikini is skimpier or whose muscles are larger. And it’s a layered interpretation of a summer that changed everything that Chamber writes about so sensitively – which makes me think this is a series to watch out for.

*Best recommended for YA/NA fans

I have a lot of feelings about this book. Contemporary is definitely not one of my favorite genres, but I loved this book to pieces. It's not even about the romance, but the surrounding topics that this book touches throughout the story.

The relationship between Chloe and Landon was adorable. Even at the beginning when there wasn't a romance. After what she went through, Landon was so gentle and caring. Of course protective too. It wasn't a toxic relationship either.

Landon wasn't an asshole at all and completely freaking adorable. He loves history and he loves to read. Every time I read from his point of view, I wanted to hug him. There were moments I had to set the book down because I wanted to die from cuteness overload.

Chloe was great and I give her an A+ for music taste. She wasn't annoying at all, which I find surprising in any YA book. I absolutely loved her growth throughout the book. After what she went through, I think I can say I'm actually proud of a character lol. Her best friend, Jenna, was also my favorite. She can be a little much at times, but she was a great best friend. I LIVE for female friendships.

Overall, I just loved this book. It was a light, but slightly heavy read when it came to certain topics. I wish Landon was real and I'm upset about it. I can't wait for the next book and I'm secretly hoping it's about Jenna...

I’ve noticed a fad in the YA market recently. This is the third book this year that I’ve read dealing with stepsiblings falling in love. In every instance, the couple (meaning the stepsiblings) meet under interesting circumstances. In Estelle Maskame’s DIMILY trilogy, they meet after their parents have been married for three months. Emily McKay’s HOW WILLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK made Finn the bad boy on the bike that Willa jumps on to get away from her father. Chloe Stone meets her soon-to-be stepbrother after not seeing her dad for months. What’s something they all have in common, you wonder? None of these girls meet the hunky heroes until they are sixteen going on seventeen! Each makes for an interesting journey, but I think THE SUMMER BEFORE FOREVER by Melissa Chambers is fighting something fierce for the spot as my favorite book that follows this trope.

Before I even discuss the romance in this book, I want to point out how much I loved Chloe and Jenna’s friendship. Jenna is introduced as a quasi-star from the get-go, and I wasn’t sure how that time in the lime light would play on the friendship that the two had. The fact that her fame didn’t effect the friendship that they had made it all the better! Don’t get me wrong, Jenna loved the attention of her devoted fans, but she would’ve given it all up for Chloe. Their bond was tight. They were nothing alike—night and day, even—but still managed to make things work between them.

Landon Jacobs…le sigh. It might be in the name (A WALK TO REMEMBER, anyone?), but he was dreamy. Football fanatic and book lover—seriously, I swooned! Even though Landon had all of these things going for him, his disability took a toll on his confidence. Chambers introduced me to a learning disability that I had never heard of through Landon, dyscalculia. It effected and influenced so many of Landon’s decisions, but I liked how he didn’t want it to define him. He didn’t want it to define his relationship with Chloe, even, so I can understand why he hid it from her. It humbled him, though there was no denying how wonderful of a guy he was, and made him a great male lead.

Music played a central role in the novel, as well. I’ve been to Nashville, and while it’s not my favorite place on earth, I got that Chloe loved it. She loved the music scene—she just loved music. It solidified her relationship with Jenna and it made her different in Landon’s eyes.

Chloe was the strong and silent type. She had to find her voice to overcome a travesty that had urged her to pack her bags and run to the father that she hadn’t seen in months. Her growth built this novel. Some might not like how Jenna pushes Chloe out of her comfort zone, but I devoured it. I’m one of those people who needs a push in the right direction sometimes, whether its clenching my fists and telling myself “I’m going to do this” or getting a nudge from someone who cares. Chloe had to find herself, and sometimes we need a summer, a friend, or even a boy we shouldn’t fall in love with to help us get there.

The only reason I gave this book five stars is because I can’t give it more! The best part is that it’s the first in a series. I can’t wait to see where Chambers goes with these characters and what the next book will be about. THE SUMMER BEFORE FOREVER has a beachy feel, a humble hero, and a tight knit friendship! If that doesn’t convince you to get a copy as soon as possible, look at that cover!

The Summer Before Forever (Before Forever #1) 
Melissa Chambers
Book Review: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ❣
I really enjoyed this book. The writing style has an innocence to it but I would say it is suitable for the 16+ age group in which it is aimed at. A lot of characters in books these days seem to have an older feel of confidence to them but this one takes you back to the awkward teen years.

Chloe's dad has decided to re-marry giving him a new family and step-son. Chloe agrees to spend the summer with her new family with the understanding that her best friend will be there to help her enjoy a sun kissed beach summer.
Unfortunately just before she heads out for the vacation she gets into a sticky situation at home which leaves her lacking in social confidence. When she meets her future step-brother he is the perfect gentleman to help her over come her new fear. He is more than she ever could have imagined and they hit it off from the start, as the lines begin to blur she realises her feelings maybe less platonic and more lustful. Can she really have it all?

Landon has a secret of his own and his hardworking summer sounds less than fun but he has a good support system to help him through it. He welcomes Chloe as a distraction and realises there is more to life than avoiding the hard stuff.

This is a sweet step romance that ticks all the right boxes. 4.5 stars out of 5. I would recommend it to ages around 16 (uk) and those who are young at heart. This book offers a diverse look at teens struggle with accepting who you are and not caring about what others think.

*I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

ebook £4.35. 274 Pages
Expected publication: August 22nd 2016

This book had a lot more depth than I originally excepted.  Chloe has been sent to spend her summer with her father and soon to be step mother after an incident she won't talk about with a boy she thought she really liked occurs. With her best friend, former contestant on a reality singing show (and a lot of personality) arrive in Florida and she meets her soon to be step brother, sparks fly.  What I liked about this story is the slow relationship between them isn't over shadowing of the issues Chloe is facing and the way that situation is revealed and resolved.  I liked this book, I wish it had a little more development in the relationship but it was a good read and had a nice lesson about speaking up for yourself and learning to trust others.

Loved this book! I loved the characters! I loved everything about it! Perfect for a nice summer read!

I received an ARC of this book and here's my honest review of it. Special thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC for sending me a copy!

God, it's been such a long time since I last read a contemporary romance novel that made my heart race and my toes tingle, I've almost forgotten how it feels like. I even went so far as to claim that romance doesn't seem to be my cup of tea anymore as my reading taste evolved, but this book reminded me of all the reasons I used to love reading chick-lits and romance novels. Good ones, not those sappy, clichéd bullshit.

I think the best way to describe this book is: Clueless (the 90's movie) meets Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson. The chemistry between the main characters gave me butterflies in my stomach and had my heart pounding in my throat as I wondered, for the second time this week, what it feels like to be so crazy in love with someone. I liked the writing style (except for the first few chapters) as it kept me reading non-stop and I found it hard to put the book down. I kept picking it up 5 minutes after I've set it aside to get my revision done. I ended up not doing any revision. (Good books are gonna be the death of me. Ugh.) 

I'd say that this book is definitely comparable to the works of Sophie Kinsella (whom is my all-time favourite chick-lit author, by the way) except the first part that was poorly written. A crisis took place in the beginning of the story, which I felt deserved way more attention than was given to it, considering that it is a controversial issue happening in our society today. I couldn't help but feel as though the crisis was just thrown in as a topic that could be used further in the story to develop the plot. Although to be fair, the author did give the crisis the attention it deserved later on in the story, and I liked how the problem was properly resolved. 

One more thing that intrigued me about the book is the part about Landon's learning disability. I learned a lot about it and I liked how the author combatted the social stigmas against learning disabilities (how it isn't real, or unimportant). It didn't hurt to get a little insight into the people with learning disabilities as well. It makes me understand their situation better. 

Overall, this was a good read that filled my ice-cold loner heart with warmth and thawed it. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

Loved, loved, loved!!  This is a fabulous YA read that had me hooked from the first page.  Chloe and Landon are such great characters and their story is so heartwarming.  Jenna is outrageous and I hope we will see her story.  You just know there is so much more to her than her big personality lets on.  The writing is great and the pace of the story is quick and easy.  I was almost to the end of the book before I ever realized.

Chloe and her friend Jenna are off to Florida for the summer to visit her Chloe's father and meet her soon to be stepmother and her son.  The trip couldn't have come at a better time for Chloe.  Getting away from her small town is exactly what she needed. When she and Jenna make a bucket list for Chloe to complete to regain her confidence they laugh about it but it turns out to be exactly what she needed to do.   What she never expected was the reaction she would have to meeting her soon to be stepbrother Landon.  These two hit it off immediately and the attraction between them is hard to miss.  But that would be weird, right??  They just seem to get each other though.  Should they continue to resist or they just what the other needs??