Waiting for Forever by Mari Carr

I adore Mari Carr. Truly. Her books usually take me out at the knees and leave me emotionally compromised in the best possible way. But this one? I liked it… I just didn’t feel it the way I normally do—and that surprised me.

Paige and Hudson have all the makings of a delicious enemies-to-lovers romance.

Childhood tormentor returns? Tattoos? Redemption arc? Yes, please. But the conflict never really boils over. Everything stays warm and pleasant, and I wanted that extra punch of angst to keep me glued to the page.

Paige is fantastic. She’s smart, steady, and absolutely doesn’t allow her family decide her life. I kept waiting for a big, cathartic blowout with her father… and it never came. No confrontation, no emotional payoff. Just a gentle fade-through of what should’ve been a main-course moment.

Hudson? Oh, he’s a soft, reformed bully, and I liked him. He owns his past mistakes.

He apologizes. Shows real growth. But even his journey felt a little too smooth. I wanted a bump or two—something that made me believe Paige taking a chance on him came with real emotional stakes.

The romance is sweet, the story is solid, and the small-town aspect is great—but Mari Carr usually hits me in the feels like a runaway brisket smoker, and this time the emotions stayed surprisingly mild. Still enjoyable… just not the intense, heart-grabbing ride I expect from her.

If you’re craving a low-conflict, soft-and-steady second-chance enemies-to-lovers story, this one might hit your mood perfectly. I just wanted a little more.

Want more Mari Carr?

Check out this Quick Shot of Romance
Check out this Review of Waiting for Midnight