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Little Forevers
Phoebe likes Gage, but there's a problem—he's her brother's best friend.
As the result of an extra-marital affair, Phoebe Bautista has had little contact with her dad, none with her step-mom, and her siblings have just recently learned of her existence. Now she goes to stay with them while her mom is on assignment in The Yukon for three months. As she tries to find her place and navigate the developing and rocky relationship with her temporary family, she begins to spend time playing music with her brother, Oliver, along with his best friend, Gage.
Gage is cute, smart, has selective mutism, and makes Phoebe’s heart skip a beat, but she knows she has to fight her feelings for him, so she doesn’t ruin her growing bond with Oliver. But the more time the three of them spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore what she feels for Gage, especially when she learns he might like her too.
And with her dad pretending everything’s fine, the fact that she might never belong anywhere, and knowing that she only has so much time with her new family, Phoebe might not make it out with her heart intact.
As the result of an extra-marital affair, Phoebe Bautista has had little contact with her dad, none with her step-mom, and her siblings have just recently learned of her existence. Now she goes to stay with them while her mom is on assignment in The Yukon for three months. As she tries to find her place and navigate the developing and rocky relationship with her temporary family, she begins to spend time playing music with her brother, Oliver, along with his best friend, Gage.
Gage is cute, smart, has selective mutism, and makes Phoebe’s heart skip a beat, but she knows she has to fight her feelings for him, so she doesn’t ruin her growing bond with Oliver. But the more time the three of them spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore what she feels for Gage, especially when she learns he might like her too.
And with her dad pretending everything’s fine, the fact that she might never belong anywhere, and knowing that she only has so much time with her new family, Phoebe might not make it out with her heart intact.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2017
15 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
Katie Kaleski
11 books109 followersKatie Kaleski has started down many career paths and held many jobs—indie craft store clerk, pizza maker, photo developer, shoe salesperson and cashier, dental assistant in the army, daycare teacher, student teacher—but her favorite one by far is being a writer.
She’s originally from Chicago, so she says things like pop, gym shoes, and front room. Her favorite food group is sugar, and she loves writing young adult and romance novels.
She’s originally from Chicago, so she says things like pop, gym shoes, and front room. Her favorite food group is sugar, and she loves writing young adult and romance novels.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 3, 2018
RATING: 4/5
*Recieved e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Oh dear, I did not expect to love this as much as I did!
In this book, we follow Phoebe Bautista. When her mother is assigned to work in Canada, Phoebe has no choice but to stay with her father (who's been absent for most of her life) and his family. While she tries to find her place and attempts to bond with her siblings, she begins to spend time with her brother, Oliver, and his best friend, Gage. And the more time she spends with Gage, the more she falls for him.
This was sooo entertaining. I absolutely adored Phoebe and Gage's relationship. The secret meetings, the sneaking around...ughh it was so perfect. I've never read about selective mutism before (didn't even know it was a thing, I'm ashamed to admit) and seeing how Gage struggled with it broke my heart. His condition can be traced back to social anxiety (which I'm very familiar with). It made me so happy to see him overcome his fears one step at a time.
The family dynamics were my favorite aspect in this book. Phoebe tries to fit in with her siblings, who are pretty much strangers but nonetheless seem to hate her (the fact that she was born out of an affair doesn't help). It's a difficult situation but it all works out in the end. Phoebe learns to understand them and support them and viceversa.
Overall, very cute and surprisingly insightful.
*Recieved e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Oh dear, I did not expect to love this as much as I did!
In this book, we follow Phoebe Bautista. When her mother is assigned to work in Canada, Phoebe has no choice but to stay with her father (who's been absent for most of her life) and his family. While she tries to find her place and attempts to bond with her siblings, she begins to spend time with her brother, Oliver, and his best friend, Gage. And the more time she spends with Gage, the more she falls for him.
This was sooo entertaining. I absolutely adored Phoebe and Gage's relationship. The secret meetings, the sneaking around...ughh it was so perfect. I've never read about selective mutism before (didn't even know it was a thing, I'm ashamed to admit) and seeing how Gage struggled with it broke my heart. His condition can be traced back to social anxiety (which I'm very familiar with). It made me so happy to see him overcome his fears one step at a time.
The family dynamics were my favorite aspect in this book. Phoebe tries to fit in with her siblings, who are pretty much strangers but nonetheless seem to hate her (the fact that she was born out of an affair doesn't help). It's a difficult situation but it all works out in the end. Phoebe learns to understand them and support them and viceversa.
Overall, very cute and surprisingly insightful.
May 6, 2017
Little Forevers, by Katie Kaleski was an indulgent read! I love stories that have elements of secret lovers and secret rendezvous. My heart would race when Pheobe and Gage would head out to their hidden spot, and the love scenes were just perfection! I couldn't wait to find out how it would all come together, and I'm so glad that they weren't forever star crossed! <3 Add to that, it was such a heartfelt, familial story that I just kept on wanting to reach into the novel and hug Pheobe and her step-mom and all her siblings <3 Great read!
June 25, 2017
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Read more of my reviews at Whoo Gives A Hoot
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I generously received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review!
Katie Kaleski's novel, Little Forevers, is set to release June 6, 2017!
Once again the extraordinarily talented author known as Katie Kaleski has taken my breath away in her next release - Little Forevers! This story was so beautifully written and managed to instantly capture my heart just like her debut novel, A Fabrication of the Truth, had. When the author first approached me about reading this story I immediately jumped at the chance!
This story was a super adorable young adult novel that followed the cutest couple that I have read in a long time. I absolutely adored Phoebe and Gage's romance and how the author slowly developed their relationship throughout the course of the story right before our (the readers) eyes. These two characters were a match made in heaven. The storyline was quite intriguing and instantly captured my attention from beginning to end! I quickly devoured this amazing story in two brief readings and I was left wanting more. Honestly, I never wanted their story to end, but you know what they say - "All good things must come to an end!"
I strongly recommend checking out this book if you are a fan of sweet young adult romances because it will certainly check off every single box on your list! Thank you Katie Kaleski for once again entrusting me with another one of your beautiful stories! I cannot wait for what ever comes next.
I generously received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review!
Katie Kaleski's novel, Little Forevers, is set to release June 6, 2017!
Once again the extraordinarily talented author known as Katie Kaleski has taken my breath away in her next release - Little Forevers! This story was so beautifully written and managed to instantly capture my heart just like her debut novel, A Fabrication of the Truth, had. When the author first approached me about reading this story I immediately jumped at the chance!
This story was a super adorable young adult novel that followed the cutest couple that I have read in a long time. I absolutely adored Phoebe and Gage's romance and how the author slowly developed their relationship throughout the course of the story right before our (the readers) eyes. These two characters were a match made in heaven. The storyline was quite intriguing and instantly captured my attention from beginning to end! I quickly devoured this amazing story in two brief readings and I was left wanting more. Honestly, I never wanted their story to end, but you know what they say - "All good things must come to an end!"
I strongly recommend checking out this book if you are a fan of sweet young adult romances because it will certainly check off every single box on your list! Thank you Katie Kaleski for once again entrusting me with another one of your beautiful stories! I cannot wait for what ever comes next.
May 8, 2017
Sweet, dramatic and insightful, Little Forevers charms from the moment one sees the cover until reading the last sentence.
A character who is selectively mute is a nice, uncommon touch that gives an almost seer quality to Gage. Like they say, one can learn a lot by being quiet.
Phoebe was so matter of fact about everything in her life, of course she would be about her first time too. It was fun, in a methodical way.
And I worried the entire time I was reading about a possible relapse from Oliver but the author did not go for the easy melodrama.
Phoebe's stepmother is a saint with a hot glue gun and the whole family was lovable, once they tore down their walls.
Music as the glue that brings them all together was really nice.
Loved this
A character who is selectively mute is a nice, uncommon touch that gives an almost seer quality to Gage. Like they say, one can learn a lot by being quiet.
Phoebe was so matter of fact about everything in her life, of course she would be about her first time too. It was fun, in a methodical way.
And I worried the entire time I was reading about a possible relapse from Oliver but the author did not go for the easy melodrama.
Phoebe's stepmother is a saint with a hot glue gun and the whole family was lovable, once they tore down their walls.
Music as the glue that brings them all together was really nice.
Loved this
May 6, 2017
Given ARC for an honest review. I wanted to give it more than 3 stars, I really did. The premise behind the book with Gage's selective mutism was extremely intriguing. That's something you don't see that often and I loved seeing him try to work on it. I also liked the fact that there was some ethnicity thrown in but I have to admit it took me some time to realize that. I may have missed the part where it was outright said, but the first time that made it obvious was when Phoebe was referred to as "Ate" by her younger brother. I was confused and had to double check that I had her name right.
What kept me from rating it higher was the telling of feelings and not showing. Sure, we would see Gage blush at times and Oliver glare angrily at people but that was the gist of it. I wanted to feel Phoebe's feelings rather than be told what they were. Did she never get embarrassed or nervous doing anything or even around Gage? Where were the butterflies, breathing erratically, fiddling with something because she was starting to like him and was nervous about it? I feel like some things could've been cut out to allow for more of that.
Overall, I enjoyed reading it and would read more from Katie.
What kept me from rating it higher was the telling of feelings and not showing. Sure, we would see Gage blush at times and Oliver glare angrily at people but that was the gist of it. I wanted to feel Phoebe's feelings rather than be told what they were. Did she never get embarrassed or nervous doing anything or even around Gage? Where were the butterflies, breathing erratically, fiddling with something because she was starting to like him and was nervous about it? I feel like some things could've been cut out to allow for more of that.
Overall, I enjoyed reading it and would read more from Katie.
August 9, 2017
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! You can find this and more reviews on my blog https://spinesinaline.wordpress.com
The “brother’s best friend” is probably a commonly used trope at this point but I’ve certainly never seen this twist before! Phoebe is the result of an affair and is now moving in with this other family, who maybe hate her because of the reminder she brings of her dad’s unfaithfulness. A heavy weight on anyone’s shoulders, I’m sure! Still, even with all this family drama, the story ultimately comes back to Phoebe and her forbidden love – a YA romance at heart.
This is a cute story but it was a little weak in its delivery. Reading it, I really thought that it was the author’s first book because it seems to not quite have the structure and flow down. Still, I really enjoyed the story despite it being a little rough around the edges.
The characters are all very likeable, despite some of them being downright rude at times (though can you blame them when they’re faced with this twist?!). Phoebe and Gage’s relationship gets a lot of the focus since this is a romance story but it’s also very much a story about family and I loved that we got to experience Phoebe forming bonds with her new siblings.
A little surprising perhaps was how this cutesy story still dealt with a lot of heavy topics. This is a dysfunctional family, especially with the father’s revelation, but we get to see this family try to work it out and be open with each other. An overarching theme seems to be about finding your place. Phoebe feels out of place with her mom and now in this new setting, she feels unwanted and in the way. We get to see her explore where she belongs and start to feel free in working towards her own goals, rather than those others might intend for her.
There’s also a lot of diversity in the book, as Phoebe and her half-siblings are Filipino – or half? This isn’t clearly explained, which brings me back to the issues I had with the book.
I saw one reviewer describe the book as often “telling and not showing” and I wholeheartedly agree. A lot of the plot felt rushed, especially Phoebe’s crush on Gage, since it was stated rather than really a progression we could follow. The dialogue as well felt too literal and not something I could picture naturally occurring.
With my comments about diversity above, while I loved that the MC and her family are Filipino and we could get glimpses of this culture, it wasn’t until maybe halfway through the story that this was actually identified. At one point, her little brother calls her “Ate” and not knowing Tagalog, I had no idea that meant sister and was just really confused. It felt like the author and the MC were on the same wavelength, but Kaleski forgot to clue the reader in.
It’s a sweet story and explores a lot of family themes (and the romance is very cute), but the structure made it all fall a little flat.
The “brother’s best friend” is probably a commonly used trope at this point but I’ve certainly never seen this twist before! Phoebe is the result of an affair and is now moving in with this other family, who maybe hate her because of the reminder she brings of her dad’s unfaithfulness. A heavy weight on anyone’s shoulders, I’m sure! Still, even with all this family drama, the story ultimately comes back to Phoebe and her forbidden love – a YA romance at heart.
This is a cute story but it was a little weak in its delivery. Reading it, I really thought that it was the author’s first book because it seems to not quite have the structure and flow down. Still, I really enjoyed the story despite it being a little rough around the edges.
The characters are all very likeable, despite some of them being downright rude at times (though can you blame them when they’re faced with this twist?!). Phoebe and Gage’s relationship gets a lot of the focus since this is a romance story but it’s also very much a story about family and I loved that we got to experience Phoebe forming bonds with her new siblings.
A little surprising perhaps was how this cutesy story still dealt with a lot of heavy topics. This is a dysfunctional family, especially with the father’s revelation, but we get to see this family try to work it out and be open with each other. An overarching theme seems to be about finding your place. Phoebe feels out of place with her mom and now in this new setting, she feels unwanted and in the way. We get to see her explore where she belongs and start to feel free in working towards her own goals, rather than those others might intend for her.
There’s also a lot of diversity in the book, as Phoebe and her half-siblings are Filipino – or half? This isn’t clearly explained, which brings me back to the issues I had with the book.
I saw one reviewer describe the book as often “telling and not showing” and I wholeheartedly agree. A lot of the plot felt rushed, especially Phoebe’s crush on Gage, since it was stated rather than really a progression we could follow. The dialogue as well felt too literal and not something I could picture naturally occurring.
With my comments about diversity above, while I loved that the MC and her family are Filipino and we could get glimpses of this culture, it wasn’t until maybe halfway through the story that this was actually identified. At one point, her little brother calls her “Ate” and not knowing Tagalog, I had no idea that meant sister and was just really confused. It felt like the author and the MC were on the same wavelength, but Kaleski forgot to clue the reader in.
It’s a sweet story and explores a lot of family themes (and the romance is very cute), but the structure made it all fall a little flat.
August 6, 2017
The writing wasn't the best and the plot was a little slow, but I absolutely loved the characters and the way the author handled addiction.
October 26, 2017
Written for YA Books Central
A Heartwarming story of the bonds between brothers and sisters and the beauty of first loves.
The story:
When Phoebe's mother gets a research grant to work for three months in the Yukon, her choices are limited. Go with her or stay with the father she barely knows and the siblings she doesn't know at all. Always feeling like the unwanted outsider, Phoebe finds a less than warm welcome. This family has problems of its own. Little does she know, they need her. Through sibling bonding, the family begins to heal as they accept her into their lives. Eventually, they don't want her to go.
Even if she does hide her relationship with her new brother's best friend. Will that jeopardize everything she never knew she wanted?
What I loved:
There's a sweetness hanging over this story even though many of the storylines are rather heavy. Everything is just so believable. The development of the romantic relationship is the kind that shows why YA romance is so popular - it leaves the reader smiling as the characters experience everything for the first time. Gage has many issues and watching Phoebe's acceptance of him and how much she cared about him was a treat. She's the kind of character that makes reading easy because you just want her to get everything she's dreamed of. She's truly special.
What was just okay:
Occasionally the melodrama with Oliver got a bit much, but at the same time, it was understandable with the issues he faced. I wish Phoebe and Gage hadn't hidden their relationship because anyone could tell that wouldn't end well.
Final Verdict:
A great addition to the YA romance genre that melts the heart and keeps you reading long into the hours of the night.
A Heartwarming story of the bonds between brothers and sisters and the beauty of first loves.
The story:
When Phoebe's mother gets a research grant to work for three months in the Yukon, her choices are limited. Go with her or stay with the father she barely knows and the siblings she doesn't know at all. Always feeling like the unwanted outsider, Phoebe finds a less than warm welcome. This family has problems of its own. Little does she know, they need her. Through sibling bonding, the family begins to heal as they accept her into their lives. Eventually, they don't want her to go.
Even if she does hide her relationship with her new brother's best friend. Will that jeopardize everything she never knew she wanted?
What I loved:
There's a sweetness hanging over this story even though many of the storylines are rather heavy. Everything is just so believable. The development of the romantic relationship is the kind that shows why YA romance is so popular - it leaves the reader smiling as the characters experience everything for the first time. Gage has many issues and watching Phoebe's acceptance of him and how much she cared about him was a treat. She's the kind of character that makes reading easy because you just want her to get everything she's dreamed of. She's truly special.
What was just okay:
Occasionally the melodrama with Oliver got a bit much, but at the same time, it was understandable with the issues he faced. I wish Phoebe and Gage hadn't hidden their relationship because anyone could tell that wouldn't end well.
Final Verdict:
A great addition to the YA romance genre that melts the heart and keeps you reading long into the hours of the night.
June 2, 2017
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Okay don't hate me. I really wanted to give this book more then 3 stars! Selective mutism, secret relationship, a love child, yes! This book was so up my alley. And there were a lot of points in its favor, I really liked all the characters and the story line was great, it didn't feel like the same book I've read 50 times with new names and a different cover like so many YA do now a days.
The issue was the writing left a little to be desired. It was ... stilted, for lack of a better word. There where a lot times I had to go back to make sure I didn't miss things because I wasn't sure what I was reading meant (like when her little brother called her Ate, I had no idea it meant big sister in Filipino and it wasn't really introduced till later in the book). There were also times things were repeated in multiple chapters (like one chapter it would say 'her siblings were mean to her and the next said 'her two older siblings were mean') and instead of describing a scene and letting the reader build it in their minds she would just say 'he was embarrassed' 'she was mad' 'they were arguing'. Honestly half way through I was wondering if this was the authors first book.
It wasn't bad by any means and I hope these are the things the author continues to work on and tweak in later books because I really did enjoy the characters and relationships in this one. So while it wasn't great I can definitely see myself picking up Kaleski's next book.
Okay don't hate me. I really wanted to give this book more then 3 stars! Selective mutism, secret relationship, a love child, yes! This book was so up my alley. And there were a lot of points in its favor, I really liked all the characters and the story line was great, it didn't feel like the same book I've read 50 times with new names and a different cover like so many YA do now a days.
The issue was the writing left a little to be desired. It was ... stilted, for lack of a better word. There where a lot times I had to go back to make sure I didn't miss things because I wasn't sure what I was reading meant (like when her little brother called her Ate, I had no idea it meant big sister in Filipino and it wasn't really introduced till later in the book). There were also times things were repeated in multiple chapters (like one chapter it would say 'her siblings were mean to her and the next said 'her two older siblings were mean') and instead of describing a scene and letting the reader build it in their minds she would just say 'he was embarrassed' 'she was mad' 'they were arguing'. Honestly half way through I was wondering if this was the authors first book.
It wasn't bad by any means and I hope these are the things the author continues to work on and tweak in later books because I really did enjoy the characters and relationships in this one. So while it wasn't great I can definitely see myself picking up Kaleski's next book.
July 19, 2017
I'm always on the hunt for a good YA contemporary (seriously, if you ever any suggestions, suggest them!) so when I caught wind of Katie Kaleski's Little Forevers, I knew I had to read it! Also, I was having serious cover love over the cover. Isn't it gorgeous? As it turns out, Little Forevers was a great YA contemporary. Containing likable characters, swoon worthy romance, and an addictive plot, Little Forevers contains so many aspects you can't help but utterly love!
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the characters.
My favorite out of the entire assortment would have to be Phoebe, the main protagonist. Phoebe is the typical teen. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her life when she graduates. She has a hobby that she loves but her mother hates. She has family drama. From the first page, I was captured by Phoebe's voice. It was honest as well as realistic. I enjoyed watching her come to peace with her new family. When the book begins she views them as just a stepping stone until she can return home, but as the book progresses, she begins to see that they may be what she's have been missing all along. Besides Phoebe, I loved Gage. Gage was such an interesting guy as well as fully lovable. He has his own big issue in being partially mute, but there's so much more to him than that. He's a great friend, an awesome bandmate, and wickedly smart. I loved the fact that Phoebe was able to get Gage out of his shell, and in turn, he also helped her find what she enjoyed and loved in life. They were an incredibly cute couple to say the least. In addition to Gage and Phoebe, I loved Phoebe's family. They were also so unique and brought a lot to the table regarding not only great one-liners but heart.
Little Forevers is at its heart a coming-of-age story. It introduces an interesting storyline - daughter from an extramarital affair moves in with her dad's family that only learned of the affair and child years after the fact. Katie Kaleski did a great of making this storyline realistic but never too overly dramatic. Over the course of the book, Phoebe goes through the motions of having a new family, one containing a two brothers and a sister who have a lot of hate as well as hurt over what she means to their family. In the beginning, the transition is somewhat rough - her older brother Oliver gives her a particularly hard time - but as the book progressed, Phoebe becomes one with the family, she becomes the girl her sister can talk to her late at night, the supporter her brother Oliver so desperately needs, and the extra daughter her stepmom can love and make embarrassing but good natured gifts for. I just loved the family dynamic here. There was so many horrible ways this could go - with them not accepting Phoebe or making her life a living hell - but instead, they work together and make the best of the situation albeit with a few hiccups. It was so wonderful to see the progress that was made by the end, and the bond between the siblings? Untouchable!
As mentioned above, the romance was swoon worthy. There was so much tension between Gage and Phoebe that made the pages almost melt at times. However, what I loved the most about their romance was that it wasn't insta-love; instead, it developed naturally as time went on. Additionally, I liked how while it did cause some drama towards the end, the drama never become Romeo and Juliet esque.
Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jennifer Echols, Little Forevers is sure to make some forever fans. Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun. :)
Grade: A-
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the characters.
My favorite out of the entire assortment would have to be Phoebe, the main protagonist. Phoebe is the typical teen. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her life when she graduates. She has a hobby that she loves but her mother hates. She has family drama. From the first page, I was captured by Phoebe's voice. It was honest as well as realistic. I enjoyed watching her come to peace with her new family. When the book begins she views them as just a stepping stone until she can return home, but as the book progresses, she begins to see that they may be what she's have been missing all along. Besides Phoebe, I loved Gage. Gage was such an interesting guy as well as fully lovable. He has his own big issue in being partially mute, but there's so much more to him than that. He's a great friend, an awesome bandmate, and wickedly smart. I loved the fact that Phoebe was able to get Gage out of his shell, and in turn, he also helped her find what she enjoyed and loved in life. They were an incredibly cute couple to say the least. In addition to Gage and Phoebe, I loved Phoebe's family. They were also so unique and brought a lot to the table regarding not only great one-liners but heart.
Little Forevers is at its heart a coming-of-age story. It introduces an interesting storyline - daughter from an extramarital affair moves in with her dad's family that only learned of the affair and child years after the fact. Katie Kaleski did a great of making this storyline realistic but never too overly dramatic. Over the course of the book, Phoebe goes through the motions of having a new family, one containing a two brothers and a sister who have a lot of hate as well as hurt over what she means to their family. In the beginning, the transition is somewhat rough - her older brother Oliver gives her a particularly hard time - but as the book progressed, Phoebe becomes one with the family, she becomes the girl her sister can talk to her late at night, the supporter her brother Oliver so desperately needs, and the extra daughter her stepmom can love and make embarrassing but good natured gifts for. I just loved the family dynamic here. There was so many horrible ways this could go - with them not accepting Phoebe or making her life a living hell - but instead, they work together and make the best of the situation albeit with a few hiccups. It was so wonderful to see the progress that was made by the end, and the bond between the siblings? Untouchable!
As mentioned above, the romance was swoon worthy. There was so much tension between Gage and Phoebe that made the pages almost melt at times. However, what I loved the most about their romance was that it wasn't insta-love; instead, it developed naturally as time went on. Additionally, I liked how while it did cause some drama towards the end, the drama never become Romeo and Juliet esque.
Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jennifer Echols, Little Forevers is sure to make some forever fans. Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun. :)
Grade: A-
August 3, 2017
(I received a copy for review - all opinions are 100% my own)
I had to read this for a review, like I mentioned above and I completely forgot about it until the end of the month so needless to say I went into this hoping I could fly through the story.
Little Forevers follows Phoebe who has recently reconnected with her married father as she's the outcome of a random one night stand. Her mother received a research opportunity and rather than living in a tent while her mother works, Phoebe goes to live with her father and step-family which includes three siblings that she didn't know about.
The entire story is just a so much fun to read as you follow Phoebe through her transitions. The bonding that occurs between her and her siblings is heartwarming and goes to show that siblings really do have the best relationships out there. I absolutely loved the diversity among her siblings as well. Her older brother Oliver is a former drug addict and you get to see how that plays into his character. Her younger sister Marlene likes girls and there's just this very warm acceptance of who she is among her family.
Of course, there's Gage who is Oliver's best friend. He's selectively mute and Phoebe falls hard for him. When their romance first blossoms, the littler moments they were able to sneak out which she called their "little forevers" was just so cute . Personally, their relationship did feel a bit fast paced, but in perspective...Phoebe was only there for three months so things had to happen relatively quickly.
This entire novel just proves how strong family loyalty is, particularly sibling loyalty. It showcases a lot of beautiful firsts for Phoebe, who has lived a very isolated life before with her workaholic mother and it's overall just a very sweet story.
More Reviews At Le Petit Photograph.
I had to read this for a review, like I mentioned above and I completely forgot about it until the end of the month so needless to say I went into this hoping I could fly through the story.
Little Forevers follows Phoebe who has recently reconnected with her married father as she's the outcome of a random one night stand. Her mother received a research opportunity and rather than living in a tent while her mother works, Phoebe goes to live with her father and step-family which includes three siblings that she didn't know about.
The entire story is just a so much fun to read as you follow Phoebe through her transitions. The bonding that occurs between her and her siblings is heartwarming and goes to show that siblings really do have the best relationships out there. I absolutely loved the diversity among her siblings as well. Her older brother Oliver is a former drug addict and you get to see how that plays into his character. Her younger sister Marlene likes girls and there's just this very warm acceptance of who she is among her family.
Of course, there's Gage who is Oliver's best friend. He's selectively mute and Phoebe falls hard for him. When their romance first blossoms, the littler moments they were able to sneak out which she called their "little forevers" was just so cute . Personally, their relationship did feel a bit fast paced, but in perspective...Phoebe was only there for three months so things had to happen relatively quickly.
This entire novel just proves how strong family loyalty is, particularly sibling loyalty. It showcases a lot of beautiful firsts for Phoebe, who has lived a very isolated life before with her workaholic mother and it's overall just a very sweet story.
More Reviews At Le Petit Photograph.
July 26, 2017
I didn’t know anything about this book before I started reading it and this is my first book by Katie. I will admit that it took me a good while to get into the story. I know it is written for young adults, but even with that I found the writing to be quite simplistic. For me, the story didn’t get any momentum until around 40% and I normally wouldn’t continue reading, however, as the story progressed I got to know the characters, the more I enjoyed the story.
I was intrigued by Gage and thought he was going to be autistic or have aspergers so to hear about his condition made me want to cheer him on and as he got used to talking more and then singing in front of other people I want to clap and hug him. Pheobe was great with him and I loved the dynamics she had with her new family.
I was happy with the ending and after finding it hard to start with, I really enjoyed this book.
I would give this book a solid three stars as I would have given up if I had bought the book. I was given this book in exchange of an honest review.
I was intrigued by Gage and thought he was going to be autistic or have aspergers so to hear about his condition made me want to cheer him on and as he got used to talking more and then singing in front of other people I want to clap and hug him. Pheobe was great with him and I loved the dynamics she had with her new family.
I was happy with the ending and after finding it hard to start with, I really enjoyed this book.
I would give this book a solid three stars as I would have given up if I had bought the book. I was given this book in exchange of an honest review.
June 29, 2017
***Thank you to YA Bound for giving me the opportunity to review this book***
First up, I love this cover. So pretty! It was the first thing to make me stop and want to take a look.
The story itself is fun and sweet, with characters that are unique, a little nerdy, and interesting. The meat of the story and characters was charming.
My problem was that I felt like I was reading a first draft. The editing was basically non-existent, and it got worse as the book progressed. Wrong words (signing instead of singing for example) missing punctuation, and errors just littered the book. It became a distraction from the story because at times I had to go back and mentally edit things just to make sense of them. This was disappointing, and I wish it wasn't an issue so I could love the raw essence of the story.
I hope the author does clean up the manuscript because this is a fun story!
First up, I love this cover. So pretty! It was the first thing to make me stop and want to take a look.
The story itself is fun and sweet, with characters that are unique, a little nerdy, and interesting. The meat of the story and characters was charming.
My problem was that I felt like I was reading a first draft. The editing was basically non-existent, and it got worse as the book progressed. Wrong words (signing instead of singing for example) missing punctuation, and errors just littered the book. It became a distraction from the story because at times I had to go back and mentally edit things just to make sense of them. This was disappointing, and I wish it wasn't an issue so I could love the raw essence of the story.
I hope the author does clean up the manuscript because this is a fun story!
October 3, 2017
This was a unique ,riveting, emotional book. This is a story of a girl, a girl that does not know where she fits in. She is dumped in the laps of her newly discovered family, two brothers, a sister, a dad, and step-mom; this strangeness only added to her loneliness. When she meets her brothers best friend Gage for the first time you could just feel the intense connection, and the confusion. What happens next will have the reader riding an emotional rollercoaster of emotion until the final sentence. What happens when something that you did not expect to happen does, will it be worth the fight or will it be pushed aside. Family may not be all it is cracked up to be, but if that family is threatened what will happen. Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC and write a honest review.
May 7, 2017
This is a great story because not only does it include one of my favorite tropes of a relationship with the sibling's best friend, but it throws in the additional complication of, at the same time, trying to build a relationship with the sibling in question who is basically a stranger. Phoebe's struggles to fit into her father's new family is poignant. Like her other books, Katie Kaleski writes passionately about young love in the face of seemingly overwhelming obstacles. She doesn't sugarcoat the real world problems that kids face every day. Recommend.
June 8, 2017
Beautifully written and perfectly refreshing ❤
Little Forevers has to be one of the best books I've read this year. I absolutely adore Oliver, Gage and Phoebe. The brother-sister relationship that forms between Phoebe and Oliver is one I envy and admire. I love the slow building of the romance between Phoebe and Gage. Katie Kaleski writes beautifully and this story was so sweet, and refreshing, and wonderfully perfect.
Little Forevers has to be one of the best books I've read this year. I absolutely adore Oliver, Gage and Phoebe. The brother-sister relationship that forms between Phoebe and Oliver is one I envy and admire. I love the slow building of the romance between Phoebe and Gage. Katie Kaleski writes beautifully and this story was so sweet, and refreshing, and wonderfully perfect.
September 13, 2017
Honest review
I received a copy for an honest review. I would very much recommend this book. Reading about the characters and their relationships changing, developing, and growing was really cool. You get feelings from each character's perspective and you really feel like you are in their shoes. Most touching is seeing Gage grow and change. Incredible watching as he mentally comes out of his shell.
I received a copy for an honest review. I would very much recommend this book. Reading about the characters and their relationships changing, developing, and growing was really cool. You get feelings from each character's perspective and you really feel like you are in their shoes. Most touching is seeing Gage grow and change. Incredible watching as he mentally comes out of his shell.
September 25, 2017
Wow this being in love with my brothers bestfriend book really hit it off!!! Gage and phobie pretty much denied it till they were blue in the face till they couldn't!!! But what happens when phobie brother does find out!!! I loved reading this book it was sweet!!!
June 5, 2017
I'm excited to see this book come out! I think it would be a perfect summer read, nice and light. Love the cover too!
September 19, 2017
Finding yourself, love, family acceptance, facing fears and humor... the book has it all. And 12 year old Luca had me laughing throughout
July 20, 2017
Well, this was a slow book for me. Still, it was a unique love story. We don’t have the alpha or the bad boy as the main hero. We have a very sweet guy that makes you smile. For me the whole book was just a simple love story between two very likable characters. It was interesting how Phoebe approached her crush. She just plain liked Gage and admitted it to herself without falling in to any drama. It was very refreshing. Nevertheless, the novel wasn’t just about the romance between those two. It was about Phoebe and her family. How they interacted, how they accepted her, slowly but unconditionally. She turned out to be very straight forward and nonsense character. Her dry sarcasm made me chuckle a couple of times. And I really liked her siblings. Each one of them was distinguished and we got to know them very well, especially the big brother, Oliver. For me this is a very difficult thing to do when you write form first POV. Mostly the secondary characters seem abstract. None of the characters were perfect and that made them seem real. In the end, it was a very nice story.
What I didn’t like about the book was that the beginning was pretty slow and not descriptive enough. I was just thrown in the middle of that family. I just needed a better introduction to the whole situation. The author writes in first POV as if the character is not telling the story to us, but just to herself. For example, as if we are supposed to know already that Ate is big sister in the Philippines. And it was never actually explained; I just understood it later when it started to make sense. The whole story is a bit…stiff in the beginning, and it started to relax somewhere in the middle. Maybe when the MC relaxed and started to find her place in the family. In a way the story did follow Phoebe’s emotion state, but generally I like a bit more dynamic books, and if I was in any other mood I would have stopped reading.
I would recommend that book to somebody who is in the mood for a simple, uncomplicated love story.
What I didn’t like about the book was that the beginning was pretty slow and not descriptive enough. I was just thrown in the middle of that family. I just needed a better introduction to the whole situation. The author writes in first POV as if the character is not telling the story to us, but just to herself. For example, as if we are supposed to know already that Ate is big sister in the Philippines. And it was never actually explained; I just understood it later when it started to make sense. The whole story is a bit…stiff in the beginning, and it started to relax somewhere in the middle. Maybe when the MC relaxed and started to find her place in the family. In a way the story did follow Phoebe’s emotion state, but generally I like a bit more dynamic books, and if I was in any other mood I would have stopped reading.
I would recommend that book to somebody who is in the mood for a simple, uncomplicated love story.
February 11, 2018
4.75 Stars
If you would like to see all my thoughts on this book, be sure to check out the review on my blog:
www.abooktropolis01.blogspot.co.za
But here is a snippet and overview of what I thought:
Overall, I couldn't have enjoyed this book more even if I tried. This book pretty much is what I think a contemporary should be like. It drew me in with the plot of a cute romance but it help me in place with its flawed characters and amazing plot. It was definitely something that I would read again. I am so, so impressed with it. Thank you so much to Xpresso Book Tours for hosting the review opportunity and for allowing me to take part in it!
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June 11, 2017I really wanted to like this book. The writing was dry, choppy and lacked voice. I couldn't really get a feel for who Phoebe was or why I should even care about her problems or any of the other characters (see I don't even remember their names). The main characters were bland, and them having "quirky" characteristics, ie recovering addict or selective mutism, doesn't really mean that they're well-written. They all felt 2dimensional and flat.
All I could focus on was the awkward writing and awkward way they spoke (teenagers don't talk like that) that I kinda didn't know what the story was about.
I felt like I was being told the story instead of seeing everything. The saying "show don't tell" could definitely be used here because the writing was all over the place.
All I could focus on was the awkward writing and awkward way they spoke (teenagers don't talk like that) that I kinda didn't know what the story was about.
I felt like I was being told the story instead of seeing everything. The saying "show don't tell" could definitely be used here because the writing was all over the place.
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