originally thought I was going to DNF this book but I kept on and ended up loving it. Even cried at Lyra’s speech at the end. Four stars.

Even though I am not a mother, I know a lot of people who are, and I felt that she handled this subject in a very compelling way with likable characters. You felt the emotion of the main character and wanted the best for her throughout.

i requested this after seeing a glowing review from Meagan’s Book Club, but i don’t think we read the same book.. I found the dialogue to be so poorly written and the stuttering “because-because-because” was so disingenuous. the plot did not make sense (how can we be completely shocked jaws to the floor at a child asking what’s a lesbian)? the photography plot was so obvious, the storyline was repetitive. this was a no for me.

Five hundred stars, seriously. I’ve never felt so seen, so understood, so…emotional. I don’t often cry reading books, but this was an exception. June is so many of us - and to have so many aspects of motherhood put into an incredibly written book, is so special. I cannot say enough about this, and this will easily be one of my top (if not THE top read) for 2025 for me. Ashley is now one of my automatic reads / purchases without a doubt. And thank you, for remembering the moms in the back, the lost ones, and everything in between.

Unfortunately this is a DNF. This is 100% a case of it’s not you, it’s me. One of my main DNF reasons is unrealistic characters, and the way the twin’s preschool teacher spoke to the MC was wild to me. Also, the marriage in crisis trope isn’t my favorite. I’m super bummed because Every Beautiful Mile is an all time favorite of mine, and I will definitely continue to read Ashley’s books, but I had to put this one down.

I did connect with June on a lot being a mother myself, so I would still recommend this to women in the thick of raising a family.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I am so glad that I decided to read this romance. I love it so so much !!!
This was an emotional romance about motherhood, family, marriage and self-reflection.
In between heartbroken parts, you can also find cute and sweet scenes (and a nice dose of spice too 😉)
I’ve always liked to read romance about long-term couple whose relationship was falling apart because life was not always like we’d imagined it.
Being a mom, I felt great empathy towards June. No more self-care time, body insecurity after pregnancy, and above all, questioning ourselves whether I was a good mother.
And then the man, it might not be applied for everyone’s case, but some men were such laconic species ! And that didn’t help when the women were being vulnerable. Communication became harder when you were always walking a fine line between caring and fearing of bothering each other.
Reading the book description, I did not expect the storyline direction. I meant, it was better than I had thought and I was so happy of the ending.
I will definitely check out other books from Ashley Manley.

Wow. Just wow. First of all thank-you to NetGalley and Ashley Manley for the ARC. This book feels like it was written about me just set a few years in the future. I relate to June on so many levels, being a mother, the main caretaker , the one who has to do it all and totally losing herself in the process. And the "lost ones" I have 2 myself and boy did I feel that entirely. This book is such a great reminder moms don't need to be only "mom". I have never laughed and cried and felt so emotionally attached to a book on my life. It felt like one big therapy session for me and I truly cannot wait to read more of her work.

As a 39 year old mother of three, I don't think I have ever related with a character more than I do with June Cannon. Forever and Back is an absolute must read. Ashely Manley does a fabulous job illustrating how easy it is to lose yourself in a relationship or lose yourself to motherhood. I felt her pain and frustration of feeling like she's looked at as "just a mom" and that's all there is.

"People tell you about potty training and sleepless nights, but they don't tell you how f-ing hard being a mom is. About the slow drain that happens if you aren't careful. How you exchange who you are for a different version of yourself without even knowing. Somewhere between dinners and homework and carlines, you forget yourself. And, somehow, despite how hard and thankless it all feels, when you lie in bed at night, you still worry. You still wonder, did I do good enough today? Did I love these little people enough? Encourage them to be nice people and treat others fairly? Do they know how valuable they are? How much I love them?"

The above quote resonated hard with me and I feel like I could have written it myself. The depth of emotions in this book was phenomenal. Top 5 read for me so far this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

On January 29, 2025 your post/video compelled me to read 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 by indie author @ashleymanleywrites I did and LOVED it. Like- I reread my favorite bits for days after I finished it kind-of-love. Then my friend @addie.yoder told me her upcoming release 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 (Pub 04.01) was on @netgalley so I grabbed it. I ignored my family and my hygiene to read it in two sittings. I loved it even MORE. I obviously had no choice but to inhale 𝗪𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝗪𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐅𝐋𝐎𝗪𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐌 over the weekend. So here I am 3 weeks and 3 books later in an Ashley Manley induced reading coma. A good coma. I guess I’ll just reread my favorite passages until Scotty’s book is published.

Thank you-
Kari

P.S.
I’d describe these books as fiction/love stories since they don’t “follow” the traditional romance tropes. But rest assured there is certainly romance (open door) to be found.

FOREVER AND BACK by Ashley Manley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Ashley says she wrote this book for the mom's, and honestly, she NAILED it. I flew through this one! I was rooting for June and needed to know how she was going to pull through it all. It was almost hard to read at times because of the relatability to often feeling somewhat invisible in motherhood.

Pub date: 4/1

The premise: June Cannon has spent the last seventeen years of her life as a devoted mom and wife, but when her husband, Camp, doesn't come home for dinner-again— and her teenage daughter calls her simple, she's had enough. Inspired by a podcast, her way forward becomes get a divorce, get a job, and show her kids she's anything but simple. As soon as she tells Camp she wants a divorce, he becomes the husband he hasn't been for years.

I giggled at all of the parts where June is listening to podcasts to "fix her life". But what hit me hard was the bit about how often we take advice from podcasts, social media experts, etc. without first talking to the people who know and love us and have actual context for our personal situations. One recommendation isnt going to be the right one for all of us! Oof!! Great reminder.

A few cheesy moments at the end that made it not quite 5 stars and I really wanted a bit more accountability from Camp in certain instances. Overall, totally recommend this book!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Mood: 🌮🍫
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you @ashleymanleywrites and @netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Loved this one, I was fully invested in June's story from start to finish. This is the third book I've read by Ashley Manley and she hits it out of the park every time. I connect so much with her female main characters, as adult women navigating life and love. Highly recommend and cannot wait til Scotty's story!

This book. This is one of my favorite books so far this year. Ashley Manley is an absolutely amazing writer. Junes story is something I can relate to in so many ways. As a single parent, I feel her overwhelming sense of losing herself to the parenting life. But also as someone who has suffered through a miscarriage, this book shattered me. I’m not sure I have ever read a book that I’ve related to and loved so much. ABSOLUTELY 100000% worth the read!

June is a stay-at-home mom who feels stretched thin and unappreciated. While juggling the kids schedules, dinner time, and everything in between, she grows resentful toward her husband, Camp, who seems carefree and unavailable when she needs him. But after she tells him she wants a divorce, he seems to change overnight, confusing her even more.

This book was a great look into losing yourself in motherhood, unmet expectations, and realizing things aren’t always as they seem. I think Ashley gave us something new direction with this story and I loved it.

Some parts were cheesy, and June could have benefited from therapy to work through this, but overall I thought this was a solid 4 stars! There is a good bit of spice, but Ashley lists out which chapters to skip in the prologue, if you prefer that. I do think some of the scenes help further the plot.

Content Warning: Miscarriage

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my review!

4.5 stars rounded up!

I absolutely adored this story. I felt it captured motherhood perfectly; how lonely it can be, and just how much your entire personality and life shifts when children are involved. June was a great fmc and I really could relate to her worries and thoughts throughout this book. The running plot line of a marriage in trouble is also a topic that hit home for me and definitely made me emotional at times, but I felt this was approached and covered amazingly.

This was my first book from Ashley and I will definitely be checking out more books by this author!

I will be recommending this to my fellow book lovers who are mothers!

Loved this book. It was such a great story of motherhood, marriage and all the messy simple parts.

I was frustrated with June and Camp and their lack of communication. But this ended up being a huge part of their story and the silent sacrifices they made to love each other.

Ashley Manley has a way with words and her storytelling is amazing. I love all the little details along the way that lead to a great well rounded story. The characters were relatable and the ending was perfect. I cried!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wildflower Books, LLC for the early read in exchange for my honest review.

"Forever & Back" follows June Cannon, an exhausted mom who, after seventeen years of marriage, realizes that her identity and dreams have been overshadowed by her roles as a wife and mother. The novel portrays her struggles, reminding us that marriage and life can be messy and challenging, often overshadowing rewarding moments.

Although I may not have personal experiences like June’s just yet, I believe many women in similar situations will resonate with her story. I felt her pain as she wrestled with losing herself while her husband pursued his career, ultimately questioning her true desires. This emotional journey is relatable, regardless of whether you are a mother. It’s a compelling read that has deepened my appreciation for my own mom!

Be prepared to laugh, cry, and enjoy some spicy scenes, too.

This was my first book by Ashley Manley, and it definitely won’t be my last!

June Cannon has been married to her husband Camp for seventeen years and together they have three kids. One day she realizes that over the years she has put her dreams on hold. Camp has chased his dreams of playing baseball, being a revered athletic director and staple in their small town. June set aside her plan to be a photographer to be a stay at home mom. While she loves her kids, somewhere between her husband’s frequent travels, long work hours, and her young kid’s antics, she feels lost. She feels resentful. She feels like the woman she has become is a far cry from the woman she imagined she would be. There is so much noise in her head…the parenting books, expert podcasts, and the mom’s group ladies that seem to have their life in order but she seemingly has nothing in common with. She decides enough is enough and tells Camp it’s over. Camp begins to make an effort to change, while June explores the freedom & creativity that she always imagined her life would have. June finds herself opening up old wounds and discovering long ago secrets. She explores the idea that maybe women can be more than one thing- a mom…but also sexy/creative/fulfilled.
Forever & Back is a story that I think so many “middle aged” moms will easily connect with. It explores deeply relatable themes such as aging, marriage, & personal growth. Ashley Manley has done it again! She has gifted us with another beautiful story that will have you laughing out loud, teary, and ultimately pulling on your heartstrings.

4.5 stars rounded up.
Review to come and then favorite quotes from the book will be shared when the book is published in April. This book is the latest from one of my newest and most adored favorite authors. If you have not read any of her books, run to your nearest book source and pick up her previous 2 books! You will not regret it!

I was unsure how I was going to like this in the beginning. June springing a divorce on her long time spouse without at least trying to talk to him first (and him not objecting) just wasn’t for me and I couldn’t get behind the pretend happy marriage. But I moved passed it and I continued on because the motherhood aspect was very relatable and I could understand how she was feeling the more I read and got to know their story. It really portrays how communication can make or break a relationship.

Overall it was a wonderful heartfelt story of a woman finding happiness in herself, motherhood, and her marriage. I enjoyed reading it. 🫶🏼

Looking forward to reading the next book!
Thank you NetGalley and Ashley Manly for the ARC

Every mother should read this book! A very honest portrayal of an exhausted mom who one day realizes marriage and parenting has made her lose herself and her goals and she has to decide what she really wants and who she really is. Honestly Ashley Manley had me at the dedication alone. I think every mom can relate to this book in some way. It was an emotional roller coaster and the characters felt so real and authentic. By the end I was in tears and I felt like I was watching a friend find herself again. Ashley Manley has become an auto read author for me. Her writing style is smooth, her characters are in depth and her stories grab you from the start. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This should be on your buy list when it comes out April 1.