Forever My Girl

By: Heidi McLaughlin

Narrated by: Stephanie Rose, Nelson Hobbs

Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I've poured my soul into my music, but I've never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I'm going back.

After 10 years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.

©2012 Heidi McLaughlin (P)2017 Tantor

different from the movie but still great read

there are some differences though still many similarities with the movie. I picked up the book because the movie was so sweet and funny. The book had much more plot with more side characters and a son instead of a daughter. The story really gets into more of their lives and the struggle to forgive. The situation with his parents in the movie is sort of reversed as well. Both are alive but he hates his father's (not a preacher in the books) condemning ways and struggles to forgive his mother's allowance of what his father has done. there are many of the bits of the movie where they took it from the book like the voicemail, his friend Mason's death, parts of their date etc though the simplified much of the book to make a sweet romantic movie. The way the brother was in the movie had sort of creeped me out because he was so over bearing and possessive of Josie- it's cause the part in the book was written as her current boyfriend so made much more sense. All in all I adore the movie and yet still find myself intrigued but the muchly different plot of the book. I plan on picking up the rest of the series now.

6 people found this helpful

The Wrong Guy Got The Girl

Liam is a jerk. He treats women like tissues then throws them away. We're supposed to feel sorry for him, because he chose to stay away ftom his hometown for 10 years?

Then there's Nick, the guy who dated Josie and treated her son like his own for 6 years. As soon as Liam shows up, Josie pulls away from him. He responded poorly, but with good intentions. If Josie would have talked to him more often and honestly, their relationship would have survived.

I can't believe she chose the worldclass jerk over the nice guy.

13 people found this helpful

Good Lord this book was awful.

Absolutely awful! I only purchased this book because of the movie trailer, which I’m considering not wasting my money.. if it’s ANYTHING like the book. Starting at the characters, Liam is a complete tool. JoJo is just.. completely unrealistic. The story is predictable and slow. I usually adore these cheesy love stories but this is horrible. I had to literally FORCE myself to finish even though I found myself throwing up in my mouth at the end.

12 people found this helpful

Just not right for me...

3 stars — Yup, that confirms it, I think this author just isn’t for me. I just have a problem connecting with her characters, and I inevitably find little things that bug me and take away from my enjoyment.

Before I go further, let’s talk narrators. I thought both Nelson Hobbs and Stephanie Rose did great with their narrations. Their pacing was solid, the emotions were varied, the voices were consistent and none of them bugged me. In fact, I thought they both did a good job with Noah. All in all, solid.

And now onto the story/characters. I think part of my problem with the story is that, for a romance, Josie spends most of the book in a relationship with another man…which is just not as exciting for me. It’s hard to be invested in Josie and Liam’s romance. I enjoyed the flashbacks, though they weren’t the kinds of teenagers I would have wanted to be friends with. This was definitely a book about the popular types of people.

As for adult Josie and Liam? Well, hmmm… Josie was wishy washy and quick to judge (what the hell was with that Kaitlyn jealousy shiznit?). It’s not that I didn’t understand her hurts and all…but I just don’t get her relationship with Nick, how she felt about all that, how *I* was supposed to feel about that… I don’t know. As for Liam…Liam *away* from Josie was a total douchebag. I still don’t know if I get why he left in the first place. However, I actually really loved the way he loved Josie. In general he was patient and respectful. His side of their romance I was okay with.

Now BOTH of them were solid on the parenting front. That was honestly the strong point of the book for me. It’s not that they didn’t have missteps, but I truly believed that they wanted only the best for Noah, and were trying to navigate the sticky situation with the least harmful impact. And for a kid, Noah was pretty cool…but also realistically a child still.

As for secondary characters…well…we’ve got a few villains that didn’t need to be so over the top. Heck, I’d call Nick a villain, but I’m not sure he was supposed to be. Kaitlyn was pretty cool…she deserved a better friend than Josie. And the twins added some fun.

The one little thing that really bugged me in the book was the subtle slut-shaming/female bashing here and there. I can’t tell you how many times Liam looked at women who came onto him in disgust, and made snide comments in his head about their choice of makeup and clothing. I’m SO OVER this crap. Now, this book is older, and I think even in 7 years time the world has grown up and gotten better, but it’s hard to go back to that and not notice it. It’s unnecessary to put down all other female characters in order to make the heroine look somehow more amazing.

So yeah. Again, just not for me. I think every reader has different tolerances, and enjoys different things about books, and this just didn’t hit the right things for me.

2 people found this helpful

Beaumont Series Again

I had already purchased this book in 2013 same name different cover. I think Audible should show all of our purchases on authors page & advise that we have the same book.

11 people found this helpful

Amazing story

Now someone get rid of Stephanie Rose. She sounded like an airhead twit and made it hard to listen to the book. Can’t stand her

1 person found this helpful

Not great

This is the one instance where I have to say the movie was significantly better. I’m sure they adapted the movie to be more “appropriate” there were parts of the book that were honestly so raunchy and awkward that I skipped ahead. I think what ruined it most for me was honestly the narrators. The guy wasn’t too bad but still not my favorite. However, the girl drove me absolutely crazy the way everything she said sounded like a whine or like she was running out of breath. She made Josie sound so weak and desperate and I don’t think that really matches the character. Overall, not a fan. I’ll stick to the movie.

1 person found this helpful

enjoyable

very enjoyable, I could put it down and look forward to the movie when it comes out

1 person found this helpful

Soft porn

Wow wasn’t expecting it to be soft porn but I did however enjoy the love story

6 people found this helpful

loved the story but not the sexy fluff

This was a great story like a steamier hallmark movie. I could have done without all of the fluffy sexy stuff towards the end but i am not much of a romance reader. Quick and easy read