Title: The Next Forever
Series: Pretty Amy, #1.5
Author: Lisa Burstein
Published: Entangled Publishing, January 2013
Source: received a copy from publisher
Links: [goodreads][amazon.com]
One night in college can change everything…
Away at college, Amy just wants one night alone without her high school sweetheart, Joe. So when he invites her to go to the library, she heads off on her own instead. How she ended up at a house party with the mysterious bad-boy Trevor is another story…
Joe so isn’t going to the library. He needs space from Amy, too, so he’s decided to rush a fraternity, to get back the swagger he had in high school. But it doesn’t take long for the brothers to invite him to the real rush here the beer is flowing and one particular girl has set her eyes on Joe.
Over the course of one wild night, both Amy and Joe will have to decide if their futures belong with two new people, or whether the next forever will have their first loves in it.
Before sharing my thoughts about this novella, I just want to say that I haven’t read Pretty Amy. I’d assume reading Pretty Amy would help me understand the character development of Amy better but haven’t read Pretty Amy didn’t take me away from my enjoyment. I’m happy to say that I had a great time reading The Next Forever.
The story unfolds in alternating points-of-view. I like that I got to get inside the heads of both Amy and Joe. Seeing their situation from both sides, I felt I understood the characters better. Based on the synopsis, I assumed they could be tempted to be unfaithful to one another but the story is not so much about temptations from the outside. It’s about the decisions that each of them makes and how they have to bear the consequences of their choices. Because I could feel their inner struggles and read their thoughts, it’s almost as though I were living and breathing with them. It’s seldom that I could connect so deeply with the characters in a novella but through Burstein’s writing, I felt drawn into living this one night that Amy and Joe were going through. I felt moved by the realization that dawned on Amy and I laughed with joyful tears when Joe spoke the truth from his heart.
Beautiful and amazingly written, The Next Forever shows us what responsibility could look like and how it would change and transform a person. If you love stories about choice and accountability, you’d enjoy reading The Next Forever.
I have Pretty Amy, but I haven’t read it. I am glad you enjoyed this. Great review. I think I will have to give this a try.
Jenea @ Books Live Forever
Jenea @ Books Live Forever recently posted..Cover Reveal and Giveaway for Volition (Perception #2) by Lee Strauss
I haven’t read Pretty Amy either, but I have been meaning to for so long now. I love multiple POV’s too and I think I would really like this series. You are making me want to pick it up sooner rather than later!
Jenni @ Alluring Reads recently posted..Book Girls Don’t Cry – Hype!
Henrietta, I was so excited to read your review of THE NEXT FOREVER because I just recently read it myself. I didn’t read PRETTY AMY either before diving in, and I agree the story is certainly strong enough to stand on its own. It’s a great tale about how the choices we make determine our future. It’s all about knowing what we really want and staying true to ourselves. Great lesson, great characters, great story.
Faith Sullivan recently posted..What inspired the HEARTBEAT love story
I wasn’t the biggest fan of pretty amy, but this does sound good so maybe I should give it a go!
sarah elizabeth recently posted..Cover Reveal – Volition by Lee Strauss
I haven’t read pretty amy yet either, but glad that you got an inside into the characters and enjoyed.
Happy reading,
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
I loved the raw honesty of both Amy and Joe in this book too, whereas I had read Pretty Amy before picking this book up, I loved how much they had grown up from the previous book, being inside both of their heads made me connect with both of them even more! I’m glad you were able to enjoy this book too Henrietta! Another lovely review!
Jasprit recently posted..Review: Adorkable by Sarra Manning
I haven’t read Pretty Amy, and I thought this is a sequel. It’s good to know you would be able to understand the story even without reading Pretty Amy. I’ll check it out. Thanks Henrietta!
JoAnne @ The Fairytale Nerd recently posted..Thoughtless by S.C Stephens
I want to read this one based on the cover alone. The fact that the story sounds fantastic and all the great reviews I have been seeing is just icing on the cake. I hope to get this ne soon.
*cringes at all the unread books on my kindle and bookcases*
oh this sounds awesome! Its great to know you still understood the story, without even reading Pretty Amy! Lovely review dear!
– Farah @ MajiBookshelf
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