5 Amazing-Loving Stars
Jennifer L. Armentrout has never disappointed in terms of her novels and writing style. In every single one of her books she has created worlds, social structures, and complex characters that I fall in love with every single time! I never know what to expect yet I'm always pleasantly surprised by the storyline and all the different ways drama is created and then resolved again. This remains true in The Problem with Forever and the fact that the characters and the plot line brought around definitely stuck a chord and had me crying and laughing and just enjoying the entire reading experience.
This book tells the story of a girl named Mallory and her transition and growth from a past which has taken her voice into a young women who can fight her own battles and express her opinions. Mallory personified strength yet she didn't know she possessed this strength and it almost hid from her within her memories and her "lost" voice. Nicknamed "Mouse" by her childhood protector, Mallory allows this nickname to become her life and does her best to subconsciously personify a mouse.
There were so many emotions within this novel. I truly felt like I was invested in the novel and these characters because there was such a strong writing voice within Mallory and I could picture every detail of her life and the struggles she faced to overcome her past an make peace with her life experiences. There was so much heartbreak within this novel, literally at every turn, that I constantly was crying and getting caught up in the characters.
The interesting part of this romance novel was the fact that there really was no "villain" except those in the past. Mallory definitely has the definition of a "tough childhood" and this childhood constantly interfered with her present life and it was those figures from her past which caused her constant fear and pain. Even the usual ex-girlfriend of the love interest (Rider) wasn't really a villain for even though she definitely causes some trouble for Mallory, she does it because she truly liked Rider and for me that was completely understandable and therefore redeemable.
Mallory was a character who will grab onto your heart and not let go. Her struggles will become your struggles as her journey to find her voice and her courage. I loved her as a character because as a reader you see her strength slowly overcoming her fear and her shyness. She truly had a heart of gold and some of my favorite parts involved her and Rider figuring out their past and where that past fit into their future.
Speaking of Rider...
DANG! Now I can only imagine because this is a book, but boy does Armentrout make him sound so freakin' fine. I loved his character, even with all the drama he creates, and I loved his protective nature and his determination to always be what Mallory needs. Yah, Rider is definitely my current book bf because of his absolute devotion and kindness to Mallory and all of the other characters within this novel. Rider and Mallory's relationship was truly amazing to read about because even as it added a little spice to the novel, it remained innocent and perfect and completely appropriate for the characters being in high school and the genre of the novel.
Overall, this novel was true perfection and I am so glad I was able to read and enjoy the characters and their relationship as they worked to overcome the nightmares of their pasts. The perfect way they survived their childhoods only to be reconnected again in high school was a great way for their relationship to reconnect and the characters to be a part of each other's lives again.
Goodreads
blurb
For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.
Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.
It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with the lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.
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