Between Now and Forever by Adriana Locke
This book was well-written but fell short with its characters and story development. At its heart, it’s about Gabbie and Jay, both in their late 30s to early 40s, struggling with communication and personal baggage. For their age, you’d expect more emotional maturity, but instead, there’s a frustrating push-and-pull dynamic filled with assumptions and missteps. While they eventually communicate well, it takes far too long to get there. Honestly, Jay and Gabbie could have benefitted from some serious therapy sessions before diving into a relationship—something that, unfortunately, no one seemed to prioritize.
Gabbie
At 38, Gabbie is a fantastic mom. Her calm, supportive nature and ability to bounce back from hardship were inspiring. Watching her reclaim her life and step out of survival mode was one of the book’s highlights. I truly admired her for that.
Jay
Jay, 40, talks to himself just the right amount and is wonderful with kids. His interactions with Gabbie’s boys were sweet, even if they lacked depth on the page. His backstory, particularly the betrayal by his ex, added an emotional layer to his character, but he still felt underdeveloped in some areas.
Spoiler Warning – My Issues:
- The kids’ rushed arcs: The seven-year-old lost his father just a year ago but suddenly starts calling Jay “practically my dad” after a few meetings? Meanwhile, the 14-year-old goes from outright hostility to begging Jay to marry his mom in the span of two months. There’s no real on-page relationship development between Jay and the kids, which made these transitions feel inauthentic and rushed.
- Too many side plots: For a 200-page book, there’s a lot going on—too much, in fact. The side plots felt half-cooked, and the resolutions were unsatisfying, leaving the story feeling cluttered.
- Outdated gender dynamics: The repeated mention of the boys “needing a good man in their lives” felt antiquated. Treating a 14-year-old as if he needed a “man’s guidance” and pushing adult responsibilities onto him didn’t sit right with me.
Overall, it’s a sweet read, especially if you enjoy the single-mom trope. While I appreciated the effort to give the characters meaningful arcs, the rushed pacing and lack of relationship development made it hard to fully connect with the story. That said, I enjoyed Gabbie’s resilience and Jay’s sweetness, and I absolutely loved Carter, one of the standout characters. If you’re a fan of light romance with emotional undertones, this might be worth a read—but go in with tempered expectations.
Book Stats:
Rating: 3/5
Tropes: Single Dad, Grumpy Sunshine, Small Town. Close Proximity, Neighbors
