Adriana Locke writes stories that feel real-about real problems, real people. I absolutely love the single parent trope! I love how parenting as a "step" parent is also seen in this story. I don't really like to call them step parents because even if they didn't make you physically, they are shaping you as a person and that is a parent!!

One of my favorite lines from this story that I will take forward with me- "Grab whatever it is that makes you happy and run while you can." What a profound statement! I definitely needed to hear that.

Gabby and Jay's story had me laughing right off the start and it then had me shedding some tears on their behalf. I like that the characters are older (late 30s/early 40s). Gabby is a single mom with two boys and Jay has sworn off single moms.

I appreciate that Gabby puts her boys first, but I will admit that counseling for all three of them would have done wonders for them (Jay too, because he has some stuff to unpack). Overall, I loved the outcome, but would have liked a little more development for all the characters. Having said that, Adriana's books are always such a comfort read for me. I fall in love with every story she writes and this was no different.

Dual POV, mild spice, great story!

My gosh my heart! Jay & Gabrielle are amazing.
Jay is the grumpy hot neighbor who likes to stick to himself! Gabrielle is moving home to her small town with her 2 boys following the passing of their father. She moves in next door to Jay and meet in one of the best ways possible! Hahah! The chemistry these 2 have right from the start is amazing! They have to work through so much together and my gosh their story made me smile and tear up! Such a great book!

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Tropes:
🧡small town
🩶grumpy x Sunshine
🧡single mom
🩶love after healing
🧡neighbors to lovers
🩶second chance at love
🧡 dual pov

Between Now & Forever by Adriana Locke is a heartwarming and story that delivers the story of second chances at love, with characters that are age appropriate for this story and one that not only has in depth characters, but ones that will pull at your heart. This is the story of Jay and Gabrielle.

Our FMC, Gabrielle, has just moved back to town from Boston, after her ex husband's sudden death. She is a single mom to fourteen year old Dylan and Seven year old, Carter. The reason behind her divorce is one for the books, and makes me smile because you can divorce and still love and be friends.
Upon moving in, she has a sorta meet-cute with her new neighbor. She falls off her deck in nothing but a towel... that is definitely one for the books and made me laugh.

Jay, is far from the welcoming neighbor type. He is a bit of a grump, and honestly not really living at all. Ever since his heartbreak he hasn't really done relationships and has become more of a recluse concentrating on his work as a carpenter and less with people. He slowly starts to open up to Gabby and her kids and it was wonderful to see the shift in him as his perspective changed on love and you couldn't help but root for them.

One of the best parts of this story of the story were Gabby's two sons, Carter and Dylan. Carter, really made me smirk at times because of his young mind and such a character at his age Dylan, is the older son, and struggling with life challenges not only his teenage self, but a new town, school, loss of his dad and thoughts about Jay. Jay sees a lot of himself in Dylan. And I love how both Dylan and Jay both learn to heal.

Jay and Gabrielle’s story was just wow! These two both have past baggage that keeps lurking around the corner at every step. Jay thinks he should stay away, keep his distance, but it keeps getting harder to stand on the sidelines and watch. He feels he doesn’t deserve love and happiness. Gabrielle and her boys have been through a lot. Divorce and then the loss of her ex has changed her family in ways you can’t imagine. Enter the handsome grumpy neighbor who she can’t seem to stop thinking about and all she wants is to feel alive again. This is such a great story full of emotions, hurt and torment. A family dealing with the loss of a loved one and trying to move on. Will Gabrielle and her boys be just what Jay needs or will he cut and run like he always does?

I have read so many Adriana Locke books over the years and she never disappoints when it comes to emotional angsty contemporary romance. Having said that, this one has a bit of angst but there’s a ton of romantic comedy as well and I thought it was nicely balanced. I really liked Gabby’s character–I felt for her and connected with her right away. My first impression of Jay was that he was a bit of a grump, which I’m sure Ms. Locke wanted us to think! These two are what would appear as opposites attract but they have more in common than one might think and their journey through this read was quite enjoyable. More than once I wondered if Gabby’s young sons were modeled after Ms. Locke’s own children, most especially her youngest Carter and all his questions. He was an adorable kid and certainly added to the storyline. I would definitely recommend this read if you’re looking for a single mother/grumpy neighbor contemporary rom-com with some emotional moments thrown in for good measure. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

Great romance, especially if you love a disaster meet cute. Single mom falls in love with hot neighbor, yes please! This story is funny and steamy. There was a good balance between the rom and the com.

The romance is very romantic and steamy. I was pleasantly surprised by how spicy this book was. I thought Gabby and Jay had great chemistry. I also liked that the MCs were older (38 & 40). We don't normally see that in romance so it was refreshing.

An enjoyable read!

I have to say that Adriana Locke is an AMAZING writer! I love every single book she has written! Between Now and Forever is a beautiful, well written story of love, loss, learning to navigate a world without letting your past dictate your future and maybe getting another chance at love! Gabrielle is a divorced mother of two boys, Dylan and Carter, who moves back to her small town after her ex passes away. Jay is the resident "grumpy" carpenter and when Gabby and her boys move in next door to him, he does everything in his power to stay away from them (Jay has a heartbreaking past relationship that makes him leery of single Moms)! But when Gabby accidently falls off her back deck in nothing but a towel, Jay "rescues" her, which is one of the funniest scenes I've ever read!

I loved a lot of things about this fast-paced, quick read that had me laughing out loud at times (Carter absolutely stole the show!), while also getting emotional at some of the scenes between Jay and Dylan, especially! I also loved the chemistry between Gabby and Jay and the "nosy neighbors" all putting in their "two cents"! The only thing I was a little disappointed with was I thought the last half of the book was a little rushed, that it seemed like Dylan went from hating Jay (because he sensed the attraction between his Mom and Jay) to suddenly being very okay with the situation. I also think that Gabby and Jay's relationship needed a little fleshing out as well! But overall, I loved this storyline and these characters and would recommend this one to anyone who loves the single Mom, grumpy/sunshine, low-angst but high chemistry quick read! I look forward to Ms. Locke's next book, like I do all of her books!

Between Now and Forever is a single mom, neighbor, grumpy/sunshine story about Jay and Gabrielle and is told from both of their points of view.

Gabrielle and Jay meet when she stumbles off her porch in nothing but a towel, and it accidently comes loose. She is a struggling single mother to two boys. One teenager who is having a hard time and taking it out on everyone else, and a younger one that always wants Jay to help him out whether it be to fill his basketball, or play ball with him.

Jay has been hurt in the past by a single mother. He instantly has feelings for Gabrielle and wants to help her fix up her house, but the more time they spend together feelings start to develop.

What happens when things from the past come back to him? Can he get past who he was treated by the other single mother? How can Gabrielle handle her kids with a new guy in their life?

I enjoyed this book and devoured it. I would love to see some stories from some of the side characters because they are always a good time!

“Grab whatever it is that makes you happy and run while you can.”

Between Now and Forever was a sweetly emotional and heartfelt romance with wonderful characters. The sparks fly between Gabrielle and Jay from their first encounter, but this single mom and her next door neighbor have a lot of issues to work through in order to pursue a relationship.

“She says she wants to live again. But I didn’t even realize I wasn’t living until I met her.”

I felt for Gabrielle and her sons as they dealt with the trauma of losing a loved one while also trying to move forward with their lives. Jay had also dealt with loss in a different way but that had also had a profound effect on how he lived his life. I loved watching all of them bond and navigate the challenges of letting go of their fears and learning to move on. Add in the snarky, flirty banter and spicy chemistry between Gabrielle and Jay and this is a quick, easy read that will touch your heart.

Adriana is one of my favorite authors and this book was no different. I downloaded it on a whim and I am so glad I did! It gave me all the emotions and feels and I can't wait for the rest of the world to read it!

I am a big fan of Adriana Locke and really enjoy her books. Between Now and Forever is no exception. It is well written and well paced and I like both Jay and Gabrielle. Why only 4 stars then? Because I didn't feel there was nearly enough time in the book spent with Jay and Gabrielle together, so it made it much harder to buy into their love. Much of the book is spent with Gabrielle and her friends or with her kids, and I wouldn't want less of that, those scenes are great, but I would have preferred being there for more of the nights they spent together talking, not just being told they did a lot of talking. Still a very enjoyable read that I can recommend. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Oh, my goodness. What a great read, I enjoyed it from start to finish, and laughed at your accidents. The two main characters are funny, but also with a lot of passion between them, and the romance is amazing.

I want a Jay in my life to save me from myself. I really liked that he gave himself a chance again in love and put his ghosts behind him. I loved Gabrielle and the love for her beautiful children. I love the books with the trope of single dads or moms.

Read if you like: neighbours to lovers, single mum, grumpy x sunshine, small town, returning to hometown

1.5-2 ⭐️ because this book made me mad lol

Gabrielle is a single mum to two boys. She’s just moved back home to a small town and meets her hot new neighbour Jay under unfortunate circumstances. Jay is jaded, he doesn’t want to date after his last failed relationship but can’t stop helping Gabrielle.

Now usually I like a protective MMC but he didn’t know Gabrielle at all besides that she was a single mum. He wasn’t making any moves and he was trying to avoid her, but he was talking about he wanted to protect her and her kids and couldn’t imagine anyone else in their life. I just wasn’t convinced that he liked her at all. He was constantly running away from her.

There was no chemistry or connection and I just thought they were meant to be with other people. The yelling mid sex? Uhhh okay each to their own I guess 😬😂

Dylan (her son) was going through a lot and while I understand his situation, I wanted to shake Gabrielle because she was not handling his attitude problem well at all. She was a doormat and continued to let him disrespect her and it drove me insane. PARENT YOUR KID!!! 😤🤬

It made me SO mad for her to say “I won’t fight for a man that won’t bother to fight for me” because all I’ve been seeing is that he’s been trying, and helping and opening his heart after his rough past, but all I see is Dylan hating him and Gabrielle saying shit all about it.
The only characters who didn’t piss me off were Carter and Gabrielle’s girl friends 🥲

Everyone needed therapy but nobody saw a therapist 😡 to top it off, the book had such an unsatisfying/quick ending that felt unresolved 😭

A clear miss for me, but if you’re keen on the tropes maybe give this book a go (there’s lots of positive reviews so I’m definitely in the minority here ahh)

I loved this story! The story was different from what I've read but felt so realistic. It was funny and fun to read. The story was easy to follow, and had you falling in love with the MMC, even when he struggled. It also had great friendships for the women in the town. I often find myself wanting to skip ahead to the main character interactions, but in this book they felt like less filler and were just as entertaining!

The ability that Adriana Locke possesses to bring raw and real emotions to life through her words is, well, there are no words for it. This book, with its cast of wonderful characters (Carter is my favorite), will bring you joy, heartbreak, and will inspire you to live and love.

Between Now and Forever
Pub Date: Dec 17
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"You're the first woman that's made my heart race in a long time. That's why you're so dangerous."

Gabrielle: 38 years old divorced mom of 2 boys Carter (7) and Dylan (14), they recently lost their father so she decided to move back to their home town for a fresh and new start All her life she has felt like she is on survival mode but now she's yearning to feel alive again.

Jay: is her neighbour, the man next door. He's a carpenter, super handsome, 🤩 and cute. However, he's grumpy and has swore off women. Its has been 3 years since he's been in a relationship and he was content that way until he met Gabrielle and from the first moment he met her she stole his breath away.
He's gonna help her fix her house but maybe they're gonna help each other and fix their hearts instead 😉.

Ohhh what an amazing book! Adriana just writes the best romances. It's romantic, emotional, heartwarming, and full of hope.
The book disccues themes of grief, parenthood, adolescens, and loss.
I loved Gabby& Jay they were so sweet and tender to each other.
The book is fast-paced with short chapters which was perfect.
I cannot recommend this book enough, you all have to read it.

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher (Montlake) for granting me an ARC of #BetweenNowandForever in exchange for my honest review.

Xoxo😘

I unfortunately couldn’t really relate to the story and the characters. It did not “click” for me. I can’t really put my thumb on it, but I guess partially the pacing was off for me.

Between Now and Forever by Adriana Locke is a sweet and lighthearted neighbors-to-lovers romance with plenty of fun and swoon-worthy moments. The way Gabrielle and Jay meet—her tumbling off a porch in nothing but a towel—is hilarious and sets the tone for their quirky, charming relationship.

Gabrielle, a single mom of two, is fierce and lovable, while Jay, the grumpy-but-goodhearted neighbor, has an irresistible mix of gruffness and vulnerability. I enjoyed watching them navigate the ups and downs of their growing connection. Jay’s internal struggle with his past adds some emotional depth, though the story mostly stays light and breezy.

While the romance was fun and entertaining, I found myself wanting something more to really make it stand out. It’s a solid, feel-good read, but I was missing that extra spark or emotional depth to take it to the next level.

Overall, it’s a cute, easy read for anyone who loves a feel-good romance with a bit of humor.

Adriana Locke used to be one of my auto-read authors but I've started to find her stories fluffy and predictable. I got excited when I saw this on NetGalley and snagged it up, hoping for the best. It was cute but had that same fluffy, overly sweet kind of feel to it. I didn't hate it but it wasn't my favorite.