Member Reviews
This book has a great cover. The Book was also good. The story was interesting and it was an easy read.
Finally--Owen and Evelyn's story!
I feel like I've been waiting forever for them to figure their way out to an HEA (okay, so it was just two books, but it *felt* like ages!) Friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and Ms Schroeder does a fantastic job with it here. If you've read the other series books, you know that Owen and Evelyn have been perfectly comfortable hanging out together, being each others' BFFs and eternal plus-ones, neither really feeling the pressure to do more. Then Nina issues her challenge (in One Night With the Millionaire ) and their friends in the group start to find own ways to HEAs. It seems like everyone--from series characters to the readers--knows that the two of them should be together. When would they finally get their acts together and try?
The answer, of course, is in this book. And no, it wasn't easy--at times it felt like it might be, but of course their pasts and issues and hangups are going to get in the way and make them work for it instead. As angry as I wanted to get with Owen (and yeah, he kinda deserves it) I still understood where he was coming from and realized that Evelyn had some things to smooth out too--that HEA wasn't going to happen on its own, and they both had work to do to get there.
And then they do. And it's wonderful :)
Now, let's see what Ms Schroeder can do with the rest of the group... ;)
My Forever Plus-One is the third book in the series. It can be read as a standalone, but you're going to want to get to know all of the "daring divorcees" better, so why not read them all? :)
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I have chosen not to read/review this title as I was not able to connect with it or recommend it to the readers of our blog page or those who follow my reviews on Goodreads.
I apologize for the delay in this, as sending the negative reviews is something I (clearly) avoid doing for an embarrassingly long time.
Thank you, as always, for the review title.
Laura
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was the first book of this series and from this author that I have read. This book could be read as a stand-alone but maybe starting at the beginning to fully understand the individuals of the group and their dynamic wouldn't be a bad idea.
I loved having this book written in my favorite dual POV. Seeing into the characters' minds really help me to connect with them. In this case, it was Owen. Owen and Evelyn have been best friends for years. They are each other's plus to events. Both are divorced (hence the series name Daring Divorcees). Unfortunately Owen's ex-wife cheated on him. Evelyn remains friends with her ex, Donald. After a comment is made by a group member, both Owen and Evelyn really start to see the other with different eyes.
I adored how the author established the characters relationship with each other. How the relationship progress. The little kinks thrown in here and there with Owen's trust issues, really made him seem more life-like. The book read like a movie almost.
This is a sexy read, nothing of the erotica in nature but it may offend some. That being said, I can only recommend this book to someone over the age of 18.
This was such a great book. First off, neither of the characters are twenty-somethings, but rather people a little older who have lived life and understand who they are and what they want a bit better. Owen and Evelyn have such a great relationship and I loved seeing how supportive they were with one another. And when they decided to take their friendship further it gets even better. I was really rooting for these two. I loved the idea of seeing people get another chance after their lives go in directions they weren’t expecting. Im looking forward to reading more books in this series. Highly recommended.
Friends-to-Lovers stories are my bread and butter, they are my go-to stories that always bring me such joy. My Forever Plus-One does exactly what is says on the tin and is a perfect example of an adult-contemporary romance. Complex and engaging characters are weaved together to create an interesting, romantic and downright enjoyable read. Whilst Owen and Evelyn make a gorgeous couple, I think the most beautiful aspect of this story is their friendship. Their banter and connection are just so delicious to read, it leaves the reader smiling from ear to ear. Excellent writing style and dialogue and a fantastic first read from Shannyn that has left me wanting more.
I just really enjoyed this book. It was just really easy to get lost in this book. I just couldn’t get enough of it and didn’t want it to end. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
As a huge fan of this author’s The O’Leary’s series, I get excited when she has a new release. I’m always hoping to hit that same romantic groove that had me hooked on those engaging story lines.
Having enjoyed book 1, One Night With the Millionaire, I had high hopes for book 3 of this particular series. However, I must admit my personal preferences definitely got in the way of falling head over heels for Owen and Evelyn’s story. You see, I’m just not a fan of a BFF main couple who previously had a one night stand just because the mood struck one night then shrugged it off/walked away from that aspect of their relationship and were with other people over the years. Openly dating and hooking up right under each others noses. Heck, Owen had a girl named Tara on his speed dial he called when looking for a good time. Just to now finally getting around to falling in love. For me, it is like being served a delicious bowl of soup but handed a dirty spoon to eat it with. Folks, you just have no idea where that filthy spoon has been.
Though I liked Owen, his hand wringing and excessive worrying about being afraid if things didn’t work out between them made this hard working, cares about kids, courageous firefighter an emotional wimp. Again, I liked the guy, the easy back and forth banter, and emotional connection these two knuckleheads had. It was so sweet how tuned in they both were to each other’s feelings, moods, and needs. They genuinely cared for one another, and it showed. They should have stayed together after that ONS. Unfortunately, this aspect added to the overly long feeling this short book of only 200 pages had.
Evelyn was just OK. Her character didn’t wow or particularly win me over. I just wasn’t impressed with her career or how she still interacted with her ex-husband so she could benefit from his media connections. Her so called brilliant idea for a talk show felt lame and unoriginal to me. The only time I liked her character was when she and Owen were being a couple.
The author choosing to interject a swipe at a certain political group did not go unnoticed, either. It was a fleeting second, folks, but it was there. Whether I’m of the same mindset or not, I want that left out of my romantic reads.
Other than really liking the back and forth banter and cuddle time these two had together, I just wasn’t overly impressed with the drawn out drama over Evelyn’s career choices. For only 200 pages, it seemed to take me forever plus one day to finish it, folks. Good for them for now finally choosing love over just friendship though.
Title: My Forever Plus-One, Series: Daring Divorcees (Book 3), Author: Shannyn Schroeder, Pages: 200, felt overly drawn out, some very smexy scenes, ex-husband cameos, BFF turned a couple.
Book 1 - One Night With the Millionaire
Book 2 - My Best Friend’s Ex
Book 3 - My Forever Plus-One
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)
This is a great friends to lovers story
Owen and Evelyn met one another at a divorce support group and slowly but surely they are moving from friends to so much more With the history that these two have of divorce can they trust one another Can they let down their walls and do they have a chance at a future together, Watch as these two learn to trust again and to let go of the damage that has been done to them.
I
I love best friends to lovers stories. How sweet is it that the person who knows you best is the perfect one for you! I enjoyed meeting Owen and Evelyn in the first books and was happy to now read their story. It touched my heart in the scenes where they both just knew what the other needed without any words being spoken. Their friendship is truly beautiful and wonderfully written. I did get a little frustrated with Owen at a crucial moment and wanted to knock some sense in him. I mean, I got where he was coming from, however, if he too two seconds to stop and really think about their situation, a lot of the drama would not have existed. But in the end, both Owen and Evelyn make us swoon and love them together.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.
3.5 Stars
This book follows two best friends, both having been divorced from their respective spouses for several years, as they realize their love for each other and face the struggles of taking that big step from best friends to lovers.
I really did enjoy this story, but it wasn't my favorite. There was just something about it that I couldn't connect with. I feel like I would have liked more from these characters. I feel like we didn't get to see much of their relationship building and there was too much of a focus on their sexual relationship. That's okay for some people, but it's just not what I'm interested in.
Owen and Evelyn met after their marriages ended, via a divorce support group, and have been best friends ever since. They spend all their spare time together and are each other’s dates as required. They crossed the line one time but decided their friendship was too important to jeopardize so they crossed back and have only been friends ever since.
Owen is a man who needs to help others. He has only ever wanted to be a firefighter and he volunteers at the youth center. Evelyn is a TV producer who is reaching a crossroads in her career, who at times, I wish, she would have been more assertive with her coworkers.
Their feelings for each other are changing and they believe they are ready to move past friendship, but overcoming their pasts may be the biggest challenge of all.
This is a friends to lovers story between two people who accept each other, faults and all, and balance each other out perfectly. I have read all of Shannyn’s books, and this series is one of my favorites.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
When I met the characters in this series in the second book (since I missed the first), I instantly fell in love. I wanted HEAs for everyone but I also wanted to know so much more about the friendship between Owen and Evelyn.
Owen and Evelyn are the very best of friends. They met after going through divorces and have carried each other ever since. They refuse to cross the line into more than friendship until they can't possibly deny what everyone else has seen since forever, they're perfect for each other.
There was so much to love about this book but the hands down best part is how FIERCE (!!) Evelyn is. She rolls over for no one and I actually cheered out loud for her several times during this story and if I ever got to meet her, I'd be giving her a million high fives. She's so strong even when you would think the strongest would fall apart.
I love this series and can't wait to see which one of this group gets their HEA next!!
I enjoy friends to lovers romance stories very much and this one was a good one. I had a few issues with Evelyn and how she let the men in her field treat her. In this day of workplace harassment, I would have preferred she stuck up for herself. As much as I read romance to help me separate from real- world issues, this one was too much of a hot button topic to ignore.
On the plus side, I love a firefighter hero, so Owen was a winner in that department alone! I really enjoyed the protectiveness and support he gave to Evelyn. I also liked the premise of two divorced people who met through a support group; it’s not a relationship I’ve encountered in a romance read.
The pace and dialogue were excellent and I will definitely be picking up other books by this author. 3.5 stars
This is the third book in the series and the first book that I have read from this author and I really enjoyed it. This can be read as a standalone. I love a good friends to lovers’ story and this was it. Evelyn and Owen helped each other through their respective divorces and they became closer and a relationship blossomed between them. I loved watching them fall in love with each other. It was wonderful. I can’t wait to go back and read the first 2 in this series and read more from this author.
Evelyn tossed the headset onto the console, just as the director called “Cut.” Another day, another group of young women armed with the knowledge of which man had fathered their children. As she turned to leave the control room, the new intern, Aisha came barreling through the door and said “Mr. Emundson wants you to come to his office -” Aisha added she thought he meant now. Evelyn nodded Harry- her boss- always wanted everything right now. She scanned her memory for a reason he might demand her presence. No fights broke out on camera so no legal action. Although her and Harry were friendly enough to be on a first name basis, he was still her boss and she always appeared professional. Harry told her” The Women In Media group will announce the nominees for their annual awards soon.” Harry told her nothing was official yet but he had friends who think she was getting nominated. Than Evelyn told Harry she was thinking about developing a new talk show and told him about it. Harry told her he’d think about it, get him some numbers, staffing, and show ideas and they’d talk again. She told him she would have the information by next week. She texted Owen to tell him to come over for dinner. Owen took off his helmet and set it on the seven year old who looked up at him in awe. The thought of Evelyn being with a guy Owen worked with rubbed him the wrong way. But she has a special place in his life. The only person he could count on no matter what. One of the reasons Evelyn went to Owen with good news was because he supported her, even when he didn’t fully understand. The unconditional love was hard to come by. Sometimes Evelyn forgot how well Owen knew her. He acted like he didn’t pay attention to things, but he did. Regardless of what Owen said, he was a good guy, chivalrous to the core. Owen and Evelyn had met in a divorce support group. One time they’de thrown all reason aside and slept together. Early on Owen and Evelyn had been hurting but the chemistry had been there. They'd gone for drinks after a meeting and had ended up at her place. It had been the first time for both of them since their divorces.It had been one of the hottest nights of Evelyn’s life. She had come from a divorce feeling undesirable and worthless. She couldn’t do anything as basic as keeping a man. Than worse, as soon as the ink was dry on the divorce papers her ex-Donald- found someone else. They had helped each other heal that one night years ago. Owen had been her best friend. Her rock. Every since, whenever she doubted herself he was there to cheer her up. Changing their relationship would mean changing his role in her life, and she couldn’t imagine losing that. One of the things that drew her to Owen was his sense of family, he had his own family and his work family, and he had quickly brought her into all of it. Owen didn’t manipulate, he wanted what was best for Evelyn. Evelyn was still friends with her ex Donald but Owen didn’t like him.
I loved this book it was a fun romantic book with a little drama shot in. I didn’t want to put it down and read it in one setting. I loved Evelyn and Owen and how they interacted together. I loved they were best friends for quite awhile before going further into a romantic relationship. I was a little shocked Owen would actually think evelyn would cheat on him with Donald. Especially after Evelyn told him she realized Donald had taken taken too much space in her life and that she had made him leave her condo. I know Had issues because of his ex wife cheating on him, but he really already knew evelyn and he should have had more faith and trust in her. I loved the ending. I loved the characters in this book and the ins and outs and I highly recommend it.
Owen and Evelyn met after their marriages ended and have been best friends ever since. They spend all their spare time together and are each other’s dates as required. They crossed the line one time but decided their friendship was too important to jeopardize so they crossed back and have been only friends ever since.
Owen is a man with an innate need to help others as he has only ever wanted to be a firefighter and he volunteers at the youth center as well while Evelyn is a TV producer who is reaching a crossroads in her career.
Their feelings for each other are changing and they believe they are ready to pursue a relationship between them but overcoming their pasts may be the biggest challenge of all.
This is a friends to lovers story between two people who accept each other faults and all and balance each other out perfectly.
Friends to Lovers✔️
Mature couple✔️
Hot firefighter and cute dog✔️
My Forever Plus One is my first book by Shannyn Schroeder and I was enchanted from the start! Evelyn and Owen have been best friends since they met in a divorcee group, despite having one night of steamy sex early on, but now they both start to realize that their friendship feels like more.
I loved the honesty and maturity of their relationship and their communication, even during that all important dark moment. It was clear I was jumping into the middle of the series but didn’t feel like I was missing anything, although I will be going back and reading the first two books in the series. And I’m really hoping that Gabe and Nina are next!
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
This is a classic best-friends-to-lovers story. Two people who have known each other for years and are comfortable in each other's company slowly fall in love. Evelyn and Owen met a few years ago and they've been close friends since then. They're always there for each other. And they're used to being each other's dates when needed. However, they aren't actually dating. The chemistry is there and love is there but they both feel that friendship is the only option for them.
Soon, they are going to realize that their friendship may not be the same if they didn't act upon their mutual attraction. But is it wise to even consider that? There are so many things that can go wrong. Still, they won't know unless they try.
It's a well-written story. I loved the characters and it has all the right feels for a contemporary romance. Also, I love it when best friends fall in love. It's the best. If you also enjoy that kind of stories then this is definitely for you.
This is a magnificent story. Evelyn and Owen are both divorced and have become best friends. Their relationship is comfortable and they trust each. After years of going on like this they decide to change their status and start having sex. This changes everything.
Evelyn is strong and very focused on her career. The only time she gets to be herself is with Owen. Owen has trust issues from his divorce and that is becoming a cloud in this new relationship.
The author does an excellent job of bringing out the human element. She shoes that there is hope to start over later in life. The characters are smart and witty. They have fun while living their best life and are able to face the realities of a relationship.