well thought out plot with lovable characters. the author will have you laughing and crying. Great book. Very much enjoyed.

This is one of those brilliant books that tells a story in such a perfect, thoughtful way. It’s a story about three people, Rob, Lou, and James, who’s lives are intertwined.

It’s a love story that spans over the course of many years and through friendships. It’s the story of a fathers love for his daughter.

DNF. I struggled with the book by it was enjoyable in parts

A funny, sweet and moving story about love, friendship, and family. This book starts almost like a book version of "How I Met Your Mother," with the main character addressing an unseen child about how he met their mother - the girlfriend of his best friend. The book then tells his story from his mid-twenties through mid-forties. Written by a woman but convincingly in a man's voice, felt kind of like a Jonathan Tropper. The book started out light, but got pretty deep, and I finished the book sobbing. 4.5 stars.

A wonderfully written novel filled with humor and lovable characters! Love the family drama intertwined within the plot and how relatable it is! There were tears and laughter and it's such a refreshing book!

I really enjoyed this book, I laughed and cried, most especially at the end. I loved the characters and the character development. I was able to care about all the characters, even the ones that weren't very likeable in the early part of the book. I author took me into each characters mind so I was able to really get to know each character and understand why each did what they did and I'm glad the author wrote the ramifications of each characters actions that way that she did.

The only thing I didn't really like is when the author switched from the original POV to the book being a letter to the daughter. All the references to "you" through me off and were annoying. I wish the author had not made the last half of the book into a letter, for me it would have flowed better.

I am glad I read this book and I'm looking forward to reading her next one, whenever that is. I'm going to read her previous books.

This was my first book by this author and I loved it. I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author!

This book hit so many different aspects of daily life and struggles – the struggles of wanting to be with someone but can’t, crushing on your best friend’s significant other, facing a death of a close friend, co-parenting struggles, and more! There was an easy flow to the writing and you felt a part of the story while reading.

Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Forever is the Worst Long Time. This is my honest opinion of the book.

James Hernandez, struggling novelist, meets poet Louisa "Lou" Bell and is immediately smitten. As she is engaged to his childhood friend Rob, James tries his best to move on with his life. Often finding himself wondering what would have happened if he had met her first, James spends years sabotaging his happiness for a fantasy. When a night of comfort has life changing consequences, will James finally have the clarity he needs to find the life he deserves?

Forever is the Worst Long Time starts out like many other unrequited love stories, but in the skillful hands of author Camille Pagán, the book takes on a life of its own. As James writes the story to someone he loves, the book takes on a more realistic quality. At times, I had to remind myself that this is a work of fiction. Forever is the Worst Long Time is slow to start, but as it progresses, the characters and their story come to life. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy realistic fiction and non-traditional love stories.

Frustrated novelist James can't deny his attraction to Lou, his best friend Rob's fiancee. As the years pass, he flounders at relationships and finishing his novel. When Lou is betrayed by Rob, she turns to James for comfort, and the choice they make has huge consequences for the trio. Then life takes another crazy turn, and the three friends must come together once again.

Forever is the Worst Long Time is a love story that spans 18 years. It focuses on the love between friends, romantic love, and most significantly, a father’s love for his daughter.

In 1998, James Hernandez meets his best friend Rob’s girlfriend, Lou, and instantly falls in love. He believes Lou is the perfect woman and pines for her from afar. James’s belief that Lou is his ideal taints his future romantic relationships and eventually leads to the destruction of his friendship with Rob. As the years pass, their relationships change, but all three unite when one of their lives dramatically changes.

I wasn’t prepared for how emotional this book made me--I cried my face when I finished the last page. I thought that it was a simple love story about two friends, but it’s so much more.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. After seeing several posts on social media I moved this book to the top of my TBR pile. I started reading and literally couldn't put it down until I finished it. This is a deceptively simple novel about family, friendship, and love that leaves the reader full of emotions when the last page is turned.

The mark of a good book/great story is when the concepts and characters grip you to the point that you cant close the book or go to sleep until you finish because you are so invested that you NEED to know what happens to these characters. Another mark is that the story makes you feel all sorts of emotions- happiness, sadness, hope and fear. This is a novel that will stay with me for a long while, one that I hope becomes a staple in beach bags of my friends and family so that I can discuss it and get other perspectives. do I think at times, the story could be more developed - yes but Pagan's style of allowing the reader to make their own connections and assumptions is one that I admire and love.

Told from the perspective of James (Jim) to one person as he writes to his young daughter about the mistakes and choices he made in his life. I think It is wonderful how Pagan uses her voice to completely understand a male perspective.

Loved this novel and completely agree with all the comparisons to the heart tugging THIS IS US

fans of JoJo Moyes will fall in love with this story. Definitively Pagan's best and a strong sense of growth and maturity shows in her writing

Great book! It is told from the perspective of a male protagonist named James who falls in love with his best friend's girlfriend/wife. At turns heartbreaking, funny, poignant, and heartwarming, it follows the lives of the characters as they make mistakes, fall apart, come together, fall apart, realize dreams, give up on goals, etc. But through it all, they are real, flawed, and lovable. I would probably characterize this as a romantic drama, but because it is told from a male perspective, it doesn't feel sappy. This is my first book by Camille and I'm thrilled that I got an early copy to read. I just purchased her other book Life and Other Near Death Experiences (she has the best book titles!). I'm now looking forward to reading other books by this author!

Three stars means that I was able to finish the book, and found it readable and well written. Although I didn't enjoy it that much. I didn't like any of the characters. They are believable real people, that's for sure, but they are also some of the most stupid people I ever knew, constantly making their lives worst than it should be only by avoiding confrontations with their feelings and other people's. They don't know what they want from their lives and they're trowing away any possibility of joy (except from when destiny decides for them!).
The beginning was slow and a bit boring. I found myself reading much less pages each day then I usually do. Then it got a little better but It was difficult to continue reading page after page, when I wanted so much to enter inside the book and shout them to, please, do somenthing a little brave or clever and make things better! In the end they continued the same way, good and bad things simply happening while they struggled to go on with life. They didn't do anything so wrong, just never did anything special either! And I was left wondering why should I care about those people's lives. I wasn't moved, nor sad when awful things happened to them, and when aroung 80% I suddenly knew how things would end I wasn't even much interested on finishing te book anymore. Anyway I did, and no suprise I was right, it ended exactly in the only way it could.
The last four lines of the book was a good addition. If you got there, tell me if you loved that too. I kept calculating a few second to see if James would have known..

This is a beautifully written book of love, friendship, betrayal and forgiveness. The characters are far from perfect - which makes them totally believable. They make stupid mistakes, they make foolish decisions, and they are seemingly unable to stop themselves from hurting each other.

The descriptions are vivid with a strong sense of time and place. The plot is complex and goes in unexpected directions just as often as those that are obvious.

This is a book that tugs at heartstrings and reminds us to live each day to the fullest. A sensitive and beautiful book. I loved it.

I cannot believe that this was my first time reading Camille Pagán, but unfortunately, I have to admit that it was! What an incredible author and amazing storyteller! Forever is the Worst Long Time is a novel full of happiness, laughs, heartbreak, and a lot of tears. James meets and instantly falls in love with Lou when he visits his lifelong friend, Rob. The problem is, Lou is engaged to Rob and they seem insanely in love. James accepts that he can never have Lou and tries to carry on with his life, but he’s unsuccessful at teaching, struggles with writing his first novel, and has a horrible time with dating and relationships (because of his feelings for Lou). After Rob and Lou’s relationship falls apart, it looks like there is a chance for James and Lou – which would also destroy James’ friendship with Rob. Although not a “couple,” the author follows James, Lou, and their own definition of family over the years with a lot of twists and turns along the way.

This novel is told from James’ point of view and his character is well-developed. At times I found him too self-deprecating, but that seemed to improve over the course of the novel. James experiences many highs and many lows, but a solid theme in the novel is one that he missed on some relationships and experiences because of the way he put Lou on a pedestal. I started out liking Rob and Lou separate and as a couple, but she quickly went from being very interesting, creative and independent to terminally unhappy and Rob showed an incredibly selfish side. Rob was aware of Lou’s unhappiness but unwilling to really work at the relationship, as to where James would have ripped out one of his organs and handed to it her if she had requested that he do so. When Nora is introduced into the story, I was sort of on the fence about her, but I ended up really appreciating the dynamics between her and James, especially towards the ending.

Forever is the Worst Long Time has a completely “rip your heart out” turn of events and I will admit that I shed several tears reading it. And FYI, I will cry at the drop of the hat whether it’s a movie or just a commercial, but I rarely cry while reading. Anyway, it was a completely unexpected twist in the plot and honestly broke my heart, but I love that the author put as positive a spin on it that she could – making it more of a dedication and lesson, rather than just focusing on the sadness. I took away several things from reading this novel, but mainly that love can change or be different than what we expected, but it is still love. Also, not all families look the same. There doesn’t have to be a married couple with children in order to make a family, it’s who we choose to keep closest to us and those that mean the most. Finally, forgiveness – both wishing for it or wishing you could give it – is a prominent theme in the novel. Although often easier said than done, the author painted a wonderful picture of the joy and peace that comes along with forgiving and being forgiven.

Camille Pagán has forever touched me with this story and it is now on my list of all-time favorite novels. The development of the characters and the raw emotion that was conveyed made this a delight to read. The plot was well-developed with surprises, celebrations and disappointments, but wasn’t overdone with unnecessary events or characters. This novel left me feeling that good things happen in our lives, as well as, bad things, but what we do with our life overall and the love that we give and receive is what ultimately matters.

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I have just read the reviews and am shocked at the one and two star reviews. This is a well written touching book with real characters dealing with life. Loved it

I really wasn't expecting the way this turned out, which made it all the better. This is a wonderfully written and carefully plotted novel with fully realized characters across the board- which is increasingly rare these days. James, Lou, Rob, Nora, Javier- you could meet any of these people on the street. I read this on a windy morning when there was no cable, no wifi, and no lights, and when they all came back on, I kept reading. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This is an emotional love letter to a child about her parents and so much more. Thumbs up.