Evie Jones has just landed an exciting new film role and a new product endorsement, and it seems like her acting career is going to skyrocket. Then one day her best friend Simone betrays her, and Evie's career seems to be ruined and her trust in people is broken. Soon Evie is on her way to New York to stay with her famous grandma, Evelyn Conaway, to present her with a lifetime achievement award for acting. Just days before the ceremony, her grandma disappears, leaving Evie frantic with worry. She has no choice but to enlist the help of Milo, the irritating and good looking musician who has been helping her grandma. It is a race against time as they try to find Grandma Evelyn before the ceremony.

I enjoyed this story very much. At first I thought it was going to be full of elitist scandals and drama. While there was some drama, the relationship between Evie and her grandma, as well as Milo, was very heartwarming and full of valuable life lessons. I laughed and teared up more than once, especially at the end. The story is very well written, and the characters are realistic and dynamic. I didn't care for the occasional profanity used, certain views and lifestyles presented, and the emphasis on race. Other than that, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult fiction and books about various types of relationships.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the NetGalley Bookish First program. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

3.5 stars
This was the perfect YA contemporary for any Hollywood-in-Books fan! I flew through it and enjoyed it so much. Evie is a great main character to follow; I loved her development throughout the story and had so much fun following along on her search for her grandmother (among other things). Milo was also an incredible love interest and I fell for him just like Evie. I particularly loved the scenes where Milo and his bandmates interacted; they were the perfect group that offered humor and friendship throughout the book. The Hollywood scene in the novel was also done really well; the actors and movies mentioned seemed so real and I wish I could go to a theater and watch them on screen! My only complaint is that some of the dialogue seemed unnatural and didn’t flow as well as I’d have liked, so some of the situations and conversations between characters felt almost stilted. That being said, this is such a fun book and I’d totally recommend it for a fast, light-hearted contemporary.

God sent me "Now That I've Found You", because he was afraid I would overthrow him if I didn't have a good book to rave over. Kristina Forest is already a favorite of mine and she doesn't disappoint. I loved the interactions Evie had between both her Grandma Gigi and Milo. It was really wonderful to read and god, I loved the little surprise she gives us about 3/4 of the way of the book.

Thank you to @hearourvoicestours and @macmillanusa for the gifted e-galley of 𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘺 𝘒𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵!! ⁣
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Evie Jones has landed the role of a lifetime, following in her grandmother’s footsteps and in the blink of an eye, thanks to her conniving frenemy, the opportunity is GONE! Evie knows what can get her career back on track but there’s of course one problem...Evelyn Conaway (her grandmother) disappears before her plan is complete! On a quest to gain it all back we see Evie embark on an adventure enlisting the help of the last person on earth she thinks she can trust! ⁣
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𝘔𝘺 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: ⁣
I enjoyed Now That I Found You! It was the perfect palate cleanser. A little teen romance, self discovery and perseverance. While I thought Evie was a bit selfish, often rude and naive, I recognize this is a part of her coming into her own. I absolutely loved the relationship she had with her grandmother. Evie has a “GiGi” and I’ve got a GG too, whom I love dearly and ALWAYS has my back/best interests at heart. There is a certain level of wisdom, love and guidance that I find most Grandmas possess and this novel is such an amazing representation of it! ⁣
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Now that I’ve Found You is a feel good, solid YA read that should be added to your list! Be sure to pick up a copy!!! ⁣
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𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒: ⁣

“All you need is to believe in yourself.⁣⁣
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“Maybe I don’t need everyone to love me. Just the ones who matter”. ⁣⁣
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“She doesn’t need an award to prove that she’s worthy”⁣⁣
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“If you’re meant to be the biggest star the world has seen, then that is what the future holds for you, and nobody will be able to change that”. ⁣

Now That I've Found You is so much fun from beginning to end! It's an adventure in New York City, a story about a girl and her grandma, and an ode to romantic comedies.

Eighteen-year old Evie is an actress on the cusp of being a star. To save her reputation after a friend's betrayal, she visits her grandma Gigi, a famous actress who now lives a secluded life in New York City. When Gigi disappears, Evie's search for her missing grandma takes her throughout New York, accompanied by Gigi's young musician friend, Milo. Evie's predicament is all too understandable in this age of social media, and she's an easy character to root for. Gigi is delightful, and I wish she had been in the book more, but her absence helps Evie realize how little she actually knows about Gigi's life. As for Milo, he's a really sweet love interest who is also trying to prove to his parents that pursuing music isn't a waste of time. I loved his band and their heartwarming, supportive friendship.

I am absolutely keeping an eye out for future books by Kristina Forest!

This book was a freaking delight! I absolutely adored every single part of this book. It was the perfect YA book. The character development was great, the story was unique, fresh, and interesting. The chemistry between the leads was also top notch. I especially liked that there was sort of a mystery to the plot and that made me want to keep reading. The only negative of this book is that maybe it was too short! I loved the Hollywood glam aspect, I also think that fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo would also enjoy this book.

“Hurting the people I care about scares me. That’s why I don’t like to Lie”
Now that I’ve Found You is the first book I’ve had the privilege to read by Kristina Forest. This was a charming YA story that showed the complexity of emotions that come with entering adulthood and how that is amplified when it happens in the spotlight.

Our leading lady Evie is a legacy in Hollywood following the iconic acting career of her grandmother and successful filmmaker parents. After winning the role of a lifetime under an esteemed director she is met with the ultimate betrayal when her closest friend shares a private video to the press that immediately gets her blacklisted in Hollywood. In an attempt to salvage her new and now dying career she decides that a public appearance with her famously beloved grandmother may be just what she needs. The only problem is that as soon as she arrives her grandmother disappears and Evie is left to go on a scavenger hunt around New York with a young musician named Milo who has mysteriously entered her grandmother’s life as a friend and roommate. Over the next few days Evie learns a lot about her grandmother, Milo and herself which leads to some important and life-changing realizations about how she can move forward from her past mistakes.

Now That I’ve Found You was modern and relatable as it explores the swift backlash that can come from social media as well as the delicate balance of stardom and humility. I was surprised at how quickly I became invested in the characters, and though I was able to see the betrayal coming it didn’t make it any less of a punch to the gut when it was revealed. Evie’s actions afterward were desperate and at times a bit selfish, but it felt like exactly the right reaction for a young woman who had taken the final step towards realizing her dream and had it ripped away, regardless of the circumstances.

Kristina Forest’s storytelling ability could, should and will no doubt make her a household name. She is able to develop characters that feel like family almost instantly and take you on a journey that feels real because she shows you the beautiful and ugly that is found in each experience. I cannot wait to see what more she has in store for us. Congratulations on an amazing new release!

This was a delightful YA romance that was relatively low-stakes (insofar as everyone was wealthy or friends with the wealthy, and eventual success was almost guaranteed from the tone). I loved the relationship between Evie and her grandmother, though I wish her grandmother had been able to get more 'page time' and had been more fleshed out. Overall, though, this was a great read, and I did appreciate how it discussed forgiveness apart from compulsory reconciliation. It was, in some ways, an emotionally mature book as well as a fun one.

Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest is an enjoyable read! This story will resonate with teens and the sense of the importance of finding and valuing yourself is part of the appeal. The drama – film industry, acting, Hollywood and fame – plays a role in the story too which adds to the excitement. The family connections and dynamics between grandmother and granddaughter provides another avenue that adds to the reader’s interest in the story. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one! I love the themes of family and trying to find your identity, I also loved the romance.

This was a really sweet novel set in NYC. There is a romance but the character has other issues to overcome - a career setback, family issues, a little mystery to solve. I personally would have liked the chemistry between the main character and romance lead to be a little deeper. There were cute moments but not a lot of relationship depth. I would recommend to fans of YA romance and fans of Kasie West.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.

In her sophomore novel, Kristina Forest crafts a timeless romance that keeps the reader feeling the rush of enjoying early adulthood in New York City while also loathing the growing pains of gaining full autonomy of a life without clear cut instructions for how to live it.

Now That I’ve Found You is a story ostensibly about the main character, Evie Marie, tracking down her grandmother Gigi after a major argument between the two. This argument takes place after the long-abandoned Evie Marie loses a major opportunity to star in a blockbuster movie due to betrayal. She’s left L.A. to stay out of the public eye by hunkering down at Gigi’s Upper West Side townhouse, but before Evie Marie can even get there she’s surprised to learn that Gigi has become involved with people that she’s never actually met before. Reeling from these abrupt changes, including 19-year-old Milo Williams occasionally taking residence in her grandma’s home, Evie Marie says some things to Gigi that leaves the latter demanding some space. Little does Evie Marie know that when Gigi needs space, she really means it. Leaving a note for Evie Marie the next morning and some departing instructions for Milo, Gigi goes missing for days – in a week that she’s supposed to be honored at a major ceremony that would aid Evie Marie’s public perception. Gigi’s disappearance leads Evie Marie and Milo on a chase throughout NYC following clues and leading Evie Marie to learn more about just how lonely her reclusive grandmother has become in the years since she’s stopped visiting so frequently.

I enjoyed that the book showed the parallels of Gigi and Evie Marie’s lives. Evie Marie has spent her entire life feeling lonely and without close personal relationships except for two people in the past eight years. In those years, one person left to move to the other side of the country and the other person caused her deepest betrayal. On the other hand, Gigi has had a handful of great relationships in her life, but it is in her later years that people leave her in order to live their own lives without being of service to her. Evie Marie spends much of the book wanting to be like her esteemed grandmother, lauding her ability to not care about what others think about her, and it is in her journey to find her grandmother that she finds out much more about herself. The relationships in this novel remind me so much of the awakening of my peers and I when we were in college and given the space and time to pursue who we really are and how to get what we want – or if we truly wanted those things. Milo’s inclusion of Evie Marie in his band’s struggle to get signed opens her eyes to what it looks like to share successes with people that you’re close to and what friendship can be. While this often smarts her pent up feelings about a recent betrayal, you can see that joining Milo and his bandmates on their adventures around NYC provides her with perspective about the city itself and the value of chosen family.

I recommend this book not only for the romance, which is a pretty sweet and realistic portrayal of early and off and on again romances, but also for the character journeys of Evie Marie and her Gigi. Each character, from Gigi’s former beau James Jenkins, to Adrien, the bouncer for Milo’s band, feels well-realized and alive in the story. I could see this book being invaluable to people who want to feel less alone in finding their place in life or those who’d like to reflect for a bit on their own growth. Life comes without a guidebook, and while you could model yours after someone you admire, you’ll be more fulfilled letting your heart and mind take the lead.

*Special thanks to Hear Our Voices Book Tours and Macmilan’s Roaring Brook Press for giving us access to the advance review copy of this book.*

Now That I’ve Found You #OwnVoices Reflection
Having read Isabel Wilkerson’s Warmth of Other Suns and Mildred D. Taylor’s All the Days Past, All the Days to Come, Now That I’ve Found You feels like the young adult romance destined to come from the legacy of Black folks’ Great Migration. This book sets the main character, Evie Marie, in Los Angeles — a city of dreams that her grandparents built lives in after leaving New York City — another major destination for Black people fleeing the South in the Jim Crow era. Evie Marie’s grandmother, the indomitable Evelyn Conaway, had her breakout role starring in a movie as a New Yorker who falls in love with a Southern Black man, a man that ends up being a crucial love throughout her real life. These characters’ relationships with each other and the communities they surround themselves with are deep while mirroring Black history – achieving greatness in cities their ancestors claimed while also having long-lasting affinity for a region they may no longer have personal ties with.

As Evie Marie tries to escape the ire and pressure of her collapsed career, she finds herself journeying through some of the most beloved and historically Black parts of New York City, a place she’s never explored. Because her parents have always traveled, most recently throughout Botswana, exploration itself is not an issue for her. However, the fact that her parents have never really settled, despite owning a large home in L.A., means that she’s never built strong relationships with many people or places at all. The lasting legacy for many Black Americans is never truly feeling in your place, nor having assurance that your place will be secure once found. In Now That I’ve Found You, Evie Marie’s primary focus is securing her space within her family’s showbiz legacy and as she is diverted from the path she believes she must follow, she must reckon with the idea of what places and pathways mean for her. In many ways her journey to self discovery matches that of the real people we follow in Warmth of Other Suns and the Logan children in All the Days Past, All the Days to Come. We are not our ancestors, yet they are not very far away.

Actual Rating 4.5/ 5 stars

“Now That I’ve Found You” was my first read by Kristina Forest and I was truly blown away. I finished this book in about a day and a half. The story started almost immediately which I really liked. The characters in this book were so realistic. I found myself rooting for Evie Marie from the very beginning. I didn’t expect to have so many feelings going into this book. I was infuriated for Evie. I was happy. I even teared up quite a bit. This is easily one of my favorite YA reads of the year so far.

“Now That I’ve Found You’ had so many elements. It was a little contemporary, a little mystery, and a whole lot of adventure. The romance aspect was swoon worthy but not overly done. Beyond all of this was a tale of self-discovery. Finding oneself and being true to who you are were the focal points of this story and I could not get enough of that. This was my first read by Kristina Forest, but it will definitely not be my last. I am so excited to see what she brings in the future. And I would love a little update into the lives of these characters! I cannot let them go! ❤ I am looking forward to reading her debut soon.

A totally cute and fun read! The characters were excellently authentic and their voices really resonated as teenagers.

I finished this book in one sitting. It was such a fast and cute read. I also really enjoyed the culture that was woven through the story. This book has a wide range of appeal for all ages. I think it could be read by younger teens and adults as well.

The main character really has to learn a lot about opening herself up and learning to trust. Just because something bad happens does not mean we shut ourselves off from the world. I knew the moment I read that her friend was recording that things would go down hill from there. But the story had such a great flow to it. I am excited to read more from Kristina Forest.

4/5 stars

This was such a cute story! I adored this tale of Milo and Evie Marie — it made me crack up laughing aloud several times, and was just punch-you-in-the-gut cute the rest of the time.

Kristina Forest did an amazing job describing New York City and truly made the metropolis come alive and Evie and Milo traipsed across Manhattan and Brooklyn, from using car services to riding the subway to walking in the wrong shoes and feeling your feet absolutely kill you. It was so well-done!

I loved the slow-burn nature of Milo and Evie's friendship, too. They weren't immediately drawn to each other, and it took a lot of chance on both of their characters' parts to become well-suited to each other. Also, Gigi? Love her to death.

All-in-all a story I would definitely recommend!

4.5 stars

I really loved this! I reviewed Kristina Forest's debut, I Wanna Be Where You Are, last year. Forest's sophomore effort was even stronger. She has a great way with intertwining art and adventure in such a fun way.  This new story had everything that I love: New York City, music, movies, Old Hollywood, and the sweet blossoming of a potential romance. 

I loved learning about Evie's family and her own beginning trajectory through the entertainment industry. The reader gets to spend the week with Evie and Milo as they chase Evie's grandmother around New York in time to present her with a lifetime achievement award. The author did an excellent job of pacing the week-long scavenger hunt, as well as slowly letting Evie discover more and more about her role model, her grandmother. 

This was a sweet and fun story that gave readers a cute romance with a couple that has instant chemistry.  It will leave you with a smile.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a heart-warming, romantic book that will brighten up your shelves and your heart. Kristina Forest is such a ray of light in YA, crafting such adorable stories that just are the book equivalent of a warm hug.

The romance at the centre of the book is just amazing as it has great chemistry and flirty, witty banter flying throughout. This is no insta-love, rather a gradual build-up of feelings and overflowing with such sweetness that you can’t help but ship them. It’s such a heart-warming, swoon-worthy romance. Of course it helps that Evie and Milo are brilliant characters that are so easy to connect to. Evie is on a journey of self-discovery after a betrayal and the process of her smashing down her protective walls that have only served to isolate her is an extremely cathartic and amazing thing to witness. Learning to trust and find your place is such an important message for young people to hear. Milo is so kind and constantly thinking of others, making him the perfect match for Evie. His friendship with Gigi was amazing and delving into her history was fascinating and saddening at the same time. The search for her leads to a lot of hijinks and a touch of mystery surrounding her past, helping to keep the plot moving along as they sped through the city. Also, the fact that the romance is secondary to Evie’s journey of self-discovery is just awesome to see and will be impactful for many young people reading.

Forest really delves into the film industry, both the pitfalls and highlights of fame and what that brings with it. She sets the scene with plenty of film references, bringing that old-school Hollywood nostalgia through classic romance films, but she also reminds us of how perilous those times were for any marginalised groups. Here, the two big film stars are the centre are both Black and this is highlighted as the unfortunately revolutionary move that it is. The industry is still predominantly populated by the same people as it was years before, though this is changing and it was really special to see that the cast of characters was entirely made up of people of colour.

The competitive nature of the industry is also explored, with a fair amount of backstabbing and betrayal. Forest explores how social media and public perceptions are the greatest currency in the industry and Evie focuses a lot on how to best present herself, rather than being her true self. There’s multi-media used, which added to the cinematic feel and reminded you how there are constantly eyes on celebrities. It’s blended in seamlessly, adding to that mix of past and present which defines this book. The scandalous gossip doesn’t stop there, as you quickly dive into Gigi’s history and her animosity towards her ex James Jenkins. That intrigue kept me hooked, though the fabulous writing did most of that by itself. The story flows so well and you just get swept up on this search through New York and the past.

This also has one of the most perfect endings, with a brilliant culmination of all the plot threads and a certain film motif that runs throughout. It left me with a smile on my face and a glow in my heart.

Now That I’ve Found You is a joyous, spectacular celebration of love and film, reminding us all of the romantic adventures we can discover, but also that the most important journey we can make is to find ourselves.

This was such a fun and cute book, and everything that I needed at the moment!

Evie, an up-coming actress, is betrayed by her best friend Simone when she leaks a private video. Evie believes her only way of getting out of this scandal is by reaching out to her grandmother, a well known Hollywood actress Evelyn Conway aka Gigi. When she finds her way to NYC she meets Milo, her grandmother’s helper. She already has trust issues and thinks Milo has ulterior motives. Their growing relationship was so sweet even though Evie was playing very hard to get.

I really loved Milo’s character and was swooning the entire time. I mean, who wouldn’t want someone tall, dark, with dreads AND musically talented. I’m going to need someone to write and sing me a song ASAP.

I loved Gigi’s character so much and reminded me a little of my own grandmother. My grandmother use to call me Tina- Marie and also live in NYC. I would take the train to see her because she, like Gigi, never left the house. I loved reading about Evie and Milo’s adventures all throughout NYC. It made me miss taking the smelly subways, and eating the finest dollar pizza’s or even going to the lounges and Broadway shows.

If you’re looking for a heart-warming, light contemporary this is the one. I want to thank NetGalley, Hear Our Voices and Macmillan for an early copy for an honest review.

This story is part “Where'd You Go, Bernadette”, part “You've Got Mail” and part “She's All That”, which I absolutely loved. There's a romance in the story, but I felt like Evie's personal growth was the highlight, as it should be. I love Evelyn's character because she is so strong and sure of herself. She's got enough money to live any kind of lifestyle she wants, but she lives in a comfortable home and appears to be nice to everyone that she comes in contact with.

I also appreciated that some of the issues Evie struggled with weren't just chalked up to teen angst. Her parents really weren't as present in her life as she needed them to be, but eventually she tells them that and they make an effort to do better.