Blog Tour | Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi Review + Giveaway

Title: Always Forever Maybe

Author: Anica Mrose Rissi

Rating:  ★★★☆☆

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: June 5, 2018

Synopsis

When Betts meets Aiden at the candy store where she works, their connection is like a sugar rush to the heart. Even before they share a first kiss, Betts already knows the two of them are destined to become an us.

Betts has a bruised, cautious history with love, but she feels safe and empowered in Aiden’s arms. He trusts her with the darkness in his troubled past, and his devotion opens up a new future for Betts just as everything else in her world is changing. With graduation inching closer, Betts and her best friend, Jo, have been sliding slowly apart, and that fissure is blown wide open by Aiden.

Betts has only ever kept one secret from Jo, but suddenly there’s a long list of things she won’t tell her, things Jo wouldn’t understand. Because Jo doesn’t see how good Aiden is for Betts. She finds him needy. Possessive. Controlling.

She’s wrong. With a love like this, nothing else matters.

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Review

Always Forever Maybe is an important and honest look at abusive relationships. Betts meets Aidan at a candy shop and thinks their blossoming romance couldn’t be any sweeter. But their meet cute quickly turns to secrets and lies that Betts is quick to defend.

I like that Always Maybe Forever highlighted both domestic and emotional abuse in teen relationships. It’s an important topic that shouldn’t be ignored because it’s hard to talk about. You could clearly see the warning signs in Aidan’s behavior and how manipulative he was. I thought that the strong friendships were a real plus to the story. Jo is a fantastic friend to Betts – so supportive and never judgemental. I also liked Eric, Jos twin brother and also Betts’ friend.

I did think that the ending was a bit quick for me, I feel like there could have been more build up. It kinda felt like it undercut some character development that could have happened. And the resolution of the story happens because of an outside force; it’s not character driven which I would have preferred. While I did like that we see clear red flags in Aidan’s behavior, it also feltl like a lot of their relationship is established off page. I also did not like Betts’ parents at all. They were the worst and only existed to boss her around. While I do feel like the ending brought the story down for me, I enjoyed it overall.

Trigger warning for emotional and physical abuse.

I received a copy of the book from HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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About the Author

Anica Mrose Rissi grew up on an island off the coast of Maine. After college, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a cheesemonger and book editor. She now writes, fiddles in the electro-country band Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves, and walks with her dog, Arugula, near their home in Princeton, New Jersey. Anica is the author of several books for younger readers, and her essays have been published by The Writer and the New York Times. Always Forever Maybe is her YA debut.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr

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Giveaway

Click HERE to enter the giveaway

Prize : 1 copy of ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE

Starts : 5/29

Ends : 6/14

US Only

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Follow the Tour

A million thank yous to THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOK CLUB for organizing and hosting the tour for this emotional and important cutecontemporary! Make sure you follow along with the rest of the tour the see what these amazing bloggers have to say about this deeply honest read.

Click here to follow the tour!

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Purchase Links

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Make sure you grab your copy today!!!