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Forever, Again
Lily Bennett is less than thrilled to be the new kid as she starts her junior year in high school.
But soon after classes begin, she meets a classmate, Cole Drepeau, with whom she forms an immediate and intimate bond. As Cole and Lily grow closer, Lily learns about the murder that divided the town more than thirty years before. In 1985, graduating senior Amber Greeley snapped, killing her boyfriend Ben—Cole’s uncle—and taking her own life.
Lily feels inexplicably linked to Amber, and she can’t help but think that there’s more to the girl’s story. Determined to investigate the truth about Cole’s uncle’s death, Lily and Cole are pulled into a dark mystery—one that shakes the constraints of the world they’ve always believed in.
Masterfully told by best-selling author Victoria Laurie, this novel alternates voices between Lily and Amber, a generation apart, as decades of dark family secrets and treacherous betrayals are woven into the most epic of love stories.
But soon after classes begin, she meets a classmate, Cole Drepeau, with whom she forms an immediate and intimate bond. As Cole and Lily grow closer, Lily learns about the murder that divided the town more than thirty years before. In 1985, graduating senior Amber Greeley snapped, killing her boyfriend Ben—Cole’s uncle—and taking her own life.
Lily feels inexplicably linked to Amber, and she can’t help but think that there’s more to the girl’s story. Determined to investigate the truth about Cole’s uncle’s death, Lily and Cole are pulled into a dark mystery—one that shakes the constraints of the world they’ve always believed in.
Masterfully told by best-selling author Victoria Laurie, this novel alternates voices between Lily and Amber, a generation apart, as decades of dark family secrets and treacherous betrayals are woven into the most epic of love stories.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published December 13, 2016
54 people are currently reading
1490 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Laurie
46 books3,175 followersVictoria Laurie is the New York Times bestselling author of 32 books and counting. Over the past 16 years Victoria has created several series and a few stand-alone novels. Her mystery series include: The Psychic Eye Mysteries, The Life Coach Mysteries, and The Ghost Hunter Mysteries. She's also the author of two YA books, When and Forever Again, as well as a middle-grade series called The Oracles of Delphi Keep.
Currently, Victoria is working on the 17th book in both the Psychic Eye Mysteries and the 3rd book in the Life Coach Mysteries, along with also working to produce a brand NEW series called Spellbound set for release winter/spring 2020.
Victoria loves to connect with her fans, and you can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Victo...
Currently, Victoria is working on the 17th book in both the Psychic Eye Mysteries and the 3rd book in the Life Coach Mysteries, along with also working to produce a brand NEW series called Spellbound set for release winter/spring 2020.
Victoria loves to connect with her fans, and you can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Victo...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
October 14, 2016
I was cruising along, completely ready to give this book four or five stars for sheer entertainment value, when I got to the last 10% of the book.
And that's when the book killed it for me. Want to know why?
Avoid, avoid, avoid.
And that's when the book killed it for me. Want to know why?
Avoid, avoid, avoid.
February 6, 2017
Was not expecting it to end that way. Definitely a good mystery as I did not guess correctly.
October 18, 2016
The book as a whole caught my attention. I was very intrigued by the idea and it kept getting more and more interesting as I continued to read. Although some parts could have been written better or clearer, it was still a really good book with a lot of character and an awesome twist at the end.
February 4, 2017
Victoria Laurie is probably my favorite author. I wait impatiently for new books to be released every year and get them as soon as I can. Her books just do it for me. With that being said this one did too. Maybe it's her writing style or just the fact that anything she writes completely interests me. It took me a bit to finish only because I am a busy mom. I could have easily devoured this in a day but am glad I spread it out. Now I have a less wait time for the next book she releases. Anyway this book won't be for everyone and that's ok. I enjoyed it though and think she did a great job. I was kept interested and I liked the characters.
setting-aside-for-now
December 12, 2016Wasn't really feeling this and then read a spoiler and ... I don't think so.
March 21, 2017
"Forever, Again" by Victoria Laurie is about a girl named Lily Bennett. Lily is a new kid in school to the town she just came to. She is scared to be new, but meets a boy named Cole Drepeau right away. Could that be fate or just a coincidence? Her and Cole get really close, and then she finds out that his uncle was murdered by his girlfriend, Amber Greeley, before she killed herself. Lily really wants to find out the mystery. This story is told through the point of view of Lily and Amber, which adds a twist to the story, making a secret that is extremely surprising. It went from past to present, which helped to develop characters and similarities between the two points of view. Lily, could she be somehow linked to Amber? Finding out why Lily has been having the nightmare that she does, it escalates into the shocking truth. As her and Cole try to figure out the mystery, they find out something completely unforeseen about themselves. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who loves a mystery along with love, tragedy, and a twist in plot. It is a very interesting book that keeps your attention.
July 5, 2019
I've had this book for a while, and I wish I had read it sooner. It was sooooo good! It was such an interesting premise, and I loved going back and forth between Lily and Amber's stories. I could not wait to find out what really happened with Amber, and the truth was insane. I can't wait to read this one again.
August 21, 2017
2.5 stars.
Meh.
I thought the alternating viewpoint/timeline format was clever, although the "continuity" between them caused some confusion at times.
The ending was kind of predictable - as in I predicted one part of it but not the other. Plus, it really didn't work for me as I'm not much for . *Shrugs shoulders* Other people might find it romantic, though.
The didn't really do much for me, either.
The pacing was also a little bit of a struggle as it took Amber and Cole a good two-thirds of the book to even begin investigating the mystery. The rest was Lily panicking every time she had a deja vu moment, her and Cole flirting/hanging out/not forming the "immediate and intimate bond" the book jacket blurb said they did, and set up for Amber and Spence.
On the other hand, wasn't a reveal I saw coming, and something I did like.
I do wish character development had been a little smoother, though, as it often felt jagged and sometimes incomplete, especially in the case of
Meh.
I thought the alternating viewpoint/timeline format was clever, although the "continuity" between them caused some confusion at times.
The ending was kind of predictable - as in I predicted one part of it but not the other. Plus, it really didn't work for me as I'm not much for . *Shrugs shoulders* Other people might find it romantic, though.
The didn't really do much for me, either.
The pacing was also a little bit of a struggle as it took Amber and Cole a good two-thirds of the book to even begin investigating the mystery. The rest was Lily panicking every time she had a deja vu moment, her and Cole flirting/hanging out/not forming the "immediate and intimate bond" the book jacket blurb said they did, and set up for Amber and Spence.
On the other hand, wasn't a reveal I saw coming, and something I did like.
I do wish character development had been a little smoother, though, as it often felt jagged and sometimes incomplete, especially in the case of
March 24, 2022
Forever, Again is such a good book. It is a book that goes in between two characters from different time periods, but it is all connected together. I rate this book a 5 out of 5!
March 12, 2021
Overall, pretty dreadful, unrealistic and ridiculous. The final reveal was totally lame. I have enjoyed many of Victoria Laurie's books, but this wasn't one of them. Two stars instead of one because it was interesting for a little while before falling flat on its face.
March 29, 2023
A very very clever novel. Loved it. Will read again
August 7, 2017
I loved this book. All the little twists and turns to it. This is being added to my TO BUY list because I want to reread it several times. The chemistry between the two main characters was what keep me reading. I couldn't put the book down. Lily and Cole relive the lives of Amber and Spence and help tell their story. The story flows with great writing and I loved the twists throughout it to bring me to the end result. Would recommend to adults and young adults both!
March 13, 2017
Forever, Again by Victoria Laurie was hard for me to read. There was not that much action and details happening in each chapter. I found myself struggling to finish the book and I had to keep counting the pages I have left. When I first got the book the plot interested me but when I started reading the book, it wasn't the same.
March 15, 2021
I have some BONES TO PICK. I have problems. (Maybe slight spoilers - read at your own risk).
I was so excited about the fact that this was a YA novel heavily about past lives, and written by a psychic intuitive - surely it would be accurate and realistic, right? WRONGGGGG. It was based in reality and then veered off into some kind of fantastical land. For instance, there is a scene where Lily's having a session with a psychiatrist, and he suggests hypnosis so I'm like, cool, they'll end up in a past life regression and it'll all come out. INSTEAD, it was like Lily was *possessed* by Amber - Amber was suddenly in her body, seeing through Lily's eyes, commenting on Lily's ~futuristic~ clothes, etc. THIS IS NOT HOW IT WORKS. They were consistently making it like Amber was some kind of ghost haunting her, entirely separate from Lily. Lily was always like, "what does Amber want, why won't she leave me alone." HUH??? Amber is YOU, HUN. If you're having nightmares with memories from Amber's life, that's not Amber, a separate entity, trying to contact you, that's just your own memories coming to the surface. Like??? This drove me crazy. It seemed like a choice made for the sake of making the *mystery* easier to follow, like they were solving a mystery that happened to *other people* (and not themselves in previous incarnations). To me it was such a missed opportunity - imagine what a story it could've been if it had been about Lily remembering and connecting to her past life and being able to heal and grow by seeing what she's been through and connecting all the dots. Instead of completely separating herself and seeing Amber as someone else. But O KAY. Not to mention the psychiatrist that was explaining past lives to her was saying things that just aren't factual - like vaguely based on truth and then twisted. Example: he said something about how most people are reborn into their same bloodline??? Uhh, NO??? I know what this idea was based on, and it is that most research where they feel they have enough evidence to prove reincarnation has to do with people being reborn into their same families because obviously it would be pretty easy for people to put the clues together, since family members would have known the person they had been before. If a child born in the US remembers a past life in Africa, they're going to have a hard time tracking down the person they might have been. You follow? The psychiatrist also asked if Cole had a birthmark that matched the wound that killed him in his previous life - that too is something that comes up a lot in the "proven" cases, but it's not there for every person - the psychiatrist seemed to be pretty sure it would be there.
Also, the romantic aspect was kind of lacking for me. Considering the fact that Lily and Cole had already spent another life together where they were passionately in love, I thought we'd get more of a connection between them in their current lives. Instead it wasn't much different from any other teenagers meeting and deciding they like each other.
Also there were some real issues here and there with plot and consistency... for instance, early on, Cole says how he named a pet Jamie when he was a child, and he realized it was because in his past life as Spence, his best friend had been Jamie. Then later on while they're investigating and trying to track down Spence's friends, someone mentions Spence having had a best friend named Jamie and they're like, "wHoA we've NEVER heard THAT name before." ???????? And then YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME THAT WE FIND OUT JAMIE WAS LILY'S DAD AND SHE DIDN'T MAKE THAT CONNECTION??????? REALLY?????? HOW DENSE DOES LILY HAVE TO BE????
But overall I liked it lol (upside down smiling face emoji)
Really though, it was entertaining and the mystery aspect kept me guessing until the very end!
I was so excited about the fact that this was a YA novel heavily about past lives, and written by a psychic intuitive - surely it would be accurate and realistic, right? WRONGGGGG. It was based in reality and then veered off into some kind of fantastical land. For instance, there is a scene where Lily's having a session with a psychiatrist, and he suggests hypnosis so I'm like, cool, they'll end up in a past life regression and it'll all come out. INSTEAD, it was like Lily was *possessed* by Amber - Amber was suddenly in her body, seeing through Lily's eyes, commenting on Lily's ~futuristic~ clothes, etc. THIS IS NOT HOW IT WORKS. They were consistently making it like Amber was some kind of ghost haunting her, entirely separate from Lily. Lily was always like, "what does Amber want, why won't she leave me alone." HUH??? Amber is YOU, HUN. If you're having nightmares with memories from Amber's life, that's not Amber, a separate entity, trying to contact you, that's just your own memories coming to the surface. Like??? This drove me crazy. It seemed like a choice made for the sake of making the *mystery* easier to follow, like they were solving a mystery that happened to *other people* (and not themselves in previous incarnations). To me it was such a missed opportunity - imagine what a story it could've been if it had been about Lily remembering and connecting to her past life and being able to heal and grow by seeing what she's been through and connecting all the dots. Instead of completely separating herself and seeing Amber as someone else. But O KAY. Not to mention the psychiatrist that was explaining past lives to her was saying things that just aren't factual - like vaguely based on truth and then twisted. Example: he said something about how most people are reborn into their same bloodline??? Uhh, NO??? I know what this idea was based on, and it is that most research where they feel they have enough evidence to prove reincarnation has to do with people being reborn into their same families because obviously it would be pretty easy for people to put the clues together, since family members would have known the person they had been before. If a child born in the US remembers a past life in Africa, they're going to have a hard time tracking down the person they might have been. You follow? The psychiatrist also asked if Cole had a birthmark that matched the wound that killed him in his previous life - that too is something that comes up a lot in the "proven" cases, but it's not there for every person - the psychiatrist seemed to be pretty sure it would be there.
Also, the romantic aspect was kind of lacking for me. Considering the fact that Lily and Cole had already spent another life together where they were passionately in love, I thought we'd get more of a connection between them in their current lives. Instead it wasn't much different from any other teenagers meeting and deciding they like each other.
Also there were some real issues here and there with plot and consistency... for instance, early on, Cole says how he named a pet Jamie when he was a child, and he realized it was because in his past life as Spence, his best friend had been Jamie. Then later on while they're investigating and trying to track down Spence's friends, someone mentions Spence having had a best friend named Jamie and they're like, "wHoA we've NEVER heard THAT name before." ???????? And then YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME THAT WE FIND OUT JAMIE WAS LILY'S DAD AND SHE DIDN'T MAKE THAT CONNECTION??????? REALLY?????? HOW DENSE DOES LILY HAVE TO BE????
But overall I liked it lol (upside down smiling face emoji)
Really though, it was entertaining and the mystery aspect kept me guessing until the very end!
December 11, 2019
This book is one of my favorites now. (SPOILER WARNING, I THINK THERE ARE GENERAL “SPOILERS” BUT NOTHING TO SERIOUS TO TURN THE BUTTON ON, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK).
I love the storyline of a murder of Amber and her boyfriend, Spence. When I had first read the description, it was very confusing as to the blurb was talking about Ben while the book mentioned Spence, but then I put two and two together, making Ben Spencer.
First and foremost, Lily Bennet. She is the typical new girl of the story, but she comes from such a troubled past. Her dad had moved on without her or Lily’s mother and they went to go live with the snobby grandmother who we find out is pretty kind at the end, though she had a weird way of showing it. As the story goes on, we find out that Lily Bennet is supposedly the reincarnation of Amber Greeley, who had been murdered. This reincarnation really got me into the book with Lily’s nightmare and leading to the big finish. (What hooked me).
Now, Cole Drepeau. Cole is mentioned to be Spence’s nephew, and apparently he was the reincarnation of Ben, though he isn’t affected as much as Lily is. I loved reading about Lily’s and Cole’s relationship from the get go. They weren’t the original, watch you, fall for you, cry for you, and fall for you again. They were the like you from the get go which I like for a change of cliche (though, with no regrets, I will admit that I adore cliches).
Amber was also a character I liked, but there was certainly a point where I thought that Amber had committed the murder when I was so sure she didn’t. She simply had so much evidence that points to her and she wasn’t even there to defend herself. She was like the nice popular girl that everyone admired. I just HATE that her friend was so against her. Amber didn’t deserve it at all. She simply just loved Spence (I love their relationship, just not as much as Lily and Cole). When Spence had originally met Amber, they just practically started their relationship, which I thought was pretty confusing, I’m not going to lie. However, they were both perfect for each other.
Ben Spencer was the one character I didn’t really like. He had so many secrets that he hid from Amber. It was crazy. Even though I finished the book, Spence still confuses me so much. I find Spence to be of selfish character, but I’ll give him brownie points for being so wonderful to Amber. His decision and letter at the end when everything unraveled shocked me so much. He caused Amber even more pain then breaking up with her, which I thought was utterly impossible. The murderer was so good at planning everything accordingly. They almost got away, but good thing Amber had bothered Lily to find who really did it. I would be scared out of my mind with all the nightmares.
This book had so many twists and turns, I simply could not stop reading. Lily’s ties and Cole’s ties all lead to a gigantic surprise. I was utterly shocked when I found out who the murderer came to be. I was shocked to find out how everything played out and how everything simply worked for the murderer. I practically screamed.
In my opinion and conclusion, this book most definitely deserved 5 stars. It kept me on a thrilling edge. Note to self, read this again!
I love the storyline of a murder of Amber and her boyfriend, Spence. When I had first read the description, it was very confusing as to the blurb was talking about Ben while the book mentioned Spence, but then I put two and two together, making Ben Spencer.
First and foremost, Lily Bennet. She is the typical new girl of the story, but she comes from such a troubled past. Her dad had moved on without her or Lily’s mother and they went to go live with the snobby grandmother who we find out is pretty kind at the end, though she had a weird way of showing it. As the story goes on, we find out that Lily Bennet is supposedly the reincarnation of Amber Greeley, who had been murdered. This reincarnation really got me into the book with Lily’s nightmare and leading to the big finish. (What hooked me).
Now, Cole Drepeau. Cole is mentioned to be Spence’s nephew, and apparently he was the reincarnation of Ben, though he isn’t affected as much as Lily is. I loved reading about Lily’s and Cole’s relationship from the get go. They weren’t the original, watch you, fall for you, cry for you, and fall for you again. They were the like you from the get go which I like for a change of cliche (though, with no regrets, I will admit that I adore cliches).
Amber was also a character I liked, but there was certainly a point where I thought that Amber had committed the murder when I was so sure she didn’t. She simply had so much evidence that points to her and she wasn’t even there to defend herself. She was like the nice popular girl that everyone admired. I just HATE that her friend was so against her. Amber didn’t deserve it at all. She simply just loved Spence (I love their relationship, just not as much as Lily and Cole). When Spence had originally met Amber, they just practically started their relationship, which I thought was pretty confusing, I’m not going to lie. However, they were both perfect for each other.
Ben Spencer was the one character I didn’t really like. He had so many secrets that he hid from Amber. It was crazy. Even though I finished the book, Spence still confuses me so much. I find Spence to be of selfish character, but I’ll give him brownie points for being so wonderful to Amber. His decision and letter at the end when everything unraveled shocked me so much. He caused Amber even more pain then breaking up with her, which I thought was utterly impossible. The murderer was so good at planning everything accordingly. They almost got away, but good thing Amber had bothered Lily to find who really did it. I would be scared out of my mind with all the nightmares.
This book had so many twists and turns, I simply could not stop reading. Lily’s ties and Cole’s ties all lead to a gigantic surprise. I was utterly shocked when I found out who the murderer came to be. I was shocked to find out how everything played out and how everything simply worked for the murderer. I practically screamed.
In my opinion and conclusion, this book most definitely deserved 5 stars. It kept me on a thrilling edge. Note to self, read this again!
December 26, 2016
Even though I wound up finishing this novel, I had problems with the story.
Ever since she was a young child, Lily has had a recurring dream of a murdered boy lying in the middle of a field. After she moves to the town where her father grew up, the dream becomes more common, to the point she can barely sleep, and Lily becomes more and more desperate to figure out how to stop dreaming. Eventually, Lily learns that her dreams mirror events from the 1980s, when a girl named Amber murdered her boyfriend Ben and then committed suicide—or at least that’s what the police concluded at the time, although not everyone believes that’s what occurred. When Lily meets Ben’s nephew Cole, they decide to work together to figure out just how Ben and Amber died.
The viewpoint in the novel switches between Lily and Amber, guiding the reader through the events that led up to Ben and Amber dying and Lily’s discoveries about their relationship and deaths. All in all, the narrative structure was effective in pulling me in and keeping me reading to find out what exactly happened to them. The author was also good at providing several plausible alternate possibilities for their deaths, so I couldn’t guess exactly what the ending would be.
However, I did have some major issues with this book. For one thing, the melodrama quotient is VERY high. Romeo and Juliet have nothing on Ben and Amber, and I just don’t appreciate that much angst. Also, let’s just say that I don’t really buy into the choices that led to their deaths.
The second problem I had with the book involves a spoiler, so skip the next paragraph is you really want to read the book.
I’m a fan of both straight fantasy and paranormal fantasy, so give me magic and dragons and vampires and werewolves, and I have no problem letting go of my disbelief and enjoying the story. However, Lily’s dreams are the result of reincarnation, and for some reason, that’s one fantastical element that just doesn’t work for me. If Lily had been psychic, no problem, but a reincarnated Amber—eh. I wish there had been a different reason for her dreams.
So, overall, this was just barely OK read for me. If you like paranormal mysteries, you might want to give this book a go, though.
An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ever since she was a young child, Lily has had a recurring dream of a murdered boy lying in the middle of a field. After she moves to the town where her father grew up, the dream becomes more common, to the point she can barely sleep, and Lily becomes more and more desperate to figure out how to stop dreaming. Eventually, Lily learns that her dreams mirror events from the 1980s, when a girl named Amber murdered her boyfriend Ben and then committed suicide—or at least that’s what the police concluded at the time, although not everyone believes that’s what occurred. When Lily meets Ben’s nephew Cole, they decide to work together to figure out just how Ben and Amber died.
The viewpoint in the novel switches between Lily and Amber, guiding the reader through the events that led up to Ben and Amber dying and Lily’s discoveries about their relationship and deaths. All in all, the narrative structure was effective in pulling me in and keeping me reading to find out what exactly happened to them. The author was also good at providing several plausible alternate possibilities for their deaths, so I couldn’t guess exactly what the ending would be.
However, I did have some major issues with this book. For one thing, the melodrama quotient is VERY high. Romeo and Juliet have nothing on Ben and Amber, and I just don’t appreciate that much angst. Also, let’s just say that I don’t really buy into the choices that led to their deaths.
The second problem I had with the book involves a spoiler, so skip the next paragraph is you really want to read the book.
I’m a fan of both straight fantasy and paranormal fantasy, so give me magic and dragons and vampires and werewolves, and I have no problem letting go of my disbelief and enjoying the story. However, Lily’s dreams are the result of reincarnation, and for some reason, that’s one fantastical element that just doesn’t work for me. If Lily had been psychic, no problem, but a reincarnated Amber—eh. I wish there had been a different reason for her dreams.
So, overall, this was just barely OK read for me. If you like paranormal mysteries, you might want to give this book a go, though.
An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2017
Personal Response:
The book Forever, Again. by Victoria Laurie is both suspenseful and emotional. As you read through the book, you get to experience the love and heartbreak between four people. The book contains tons of surprises and many mysteries. This book is based of off four perspectives rather than one or two, which gives you more of an in depth experience rather than an average one.
Summary:
The book begins with a cliffhanger of a teenager dying, then returns to the main character, Lily. Lily just moved to Fredericksburg and wants to put the ugly past behind her but is haunted by a recurring dream. As the story plays out we learn that Lily and her newest friend, Cole, are the reincarnated souls of two teens who were murdered in the 80's. The two go through the journey of putting Amber to rest, as she is causing Lily's dream. They uncover many secrets and realize just how involved they really are. While Cole and Lily uncover lost secrets, Amber tells her story as it occurs in real time. AS the story unfolds, many hearts are crushed and Lily and Cole become in grave danger. If you'd like you find out what really happens, read the book.
Recommendations:
I recommend this book to anyone in for a good mystery, and a suspenseful read. This book will mess with the way you perceive things and make you understand just how tragic it is to lose a loved one.
Characterization:
Lily: A 17 year old girl who only wants the past to be put behind her. As the story unfolds, she becomes braver and a lot more aware of herself and who Amber has showed her to be.
Amber: A 17 year old girl who died tragically due to the loss of a loved one only wants her story to be told the right way rather than the way the world thinks. As the story unfolds, we learn just how caring, honest, and supportive Amber really is and that shes not the cold-blooded killer everyone believes she is.
The book Forever, Again. by Victoria Laurie is both suspenseful and emotional. As you read through the book, you get to experience the love and heartbreak between four people. The book contains tons of surprises and many mysteries. This book is based of off four perspectives rather than one or two, which gives you more of an in depth experience rather than an average one.
Summary:
The book begins with a cliffhanger of a teenager dying, then returns to the main character, Lily. Lily just moved to Fredericksburg and wants to put the ugly past behind her but is haunted by a recurring dream. As the story plays out we learn that Lily and her newest friend, Cole, are the reincarnated souls of two teens who were murdered in the 80's. The two go through the journey of putting Amber to rest, as she is causing Lily's dream. They uncover many secrets and realize just how involved they really are. While Cole and Lily uncover lost secrets, Amber tells her story as it occurs in real time. AS the story unfolds, many hearts are crushed and Lily and Cole become in grave danger. If you'd like you find out what really happens, read the book.
Recommendations:
I recommend this book to anyone in for a good mystery, and a suspenseful read. This book will mess with the way you perceive things and make you understand just how tragic it is to lose a loved one.
Characterization:
Lily: A 17 year old girl who only wants the past to be put behind her. As the story unfolds, she becomes braver and a lot more aware of herself and who Amber has showed her to be.
Amber: A 17 year old girl who died tragically due to the loss of a loved one only wants her story to be told the right way rather than the way the world thinks. As the story unfolds, we learn just how caring, honest, and supportive Amber really is and that shes not the cold-blooded killer everyone believes she is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2023
It was very good. The dual POV gave insight to the story. Very good character development. Overall good book.
March 17, 2017
This was a very different type of Victoria Laurie book. It's a bit dark at times. It's about reincarnation and a murder mystery and young love. The two main characters are Amber and Lily. The book starts with Amber's death and alternates between Amber's life and Lily's life and how the two are interconnected. Lily keeps having nightmares about a young boy lying dead in a field, then she meets Cole who looks just like the boy in her dream. Cole and Lily are the reincarnation of Spence and Amber. It is through the glimpse into Spence's and Amber's past and Cole's and Lily's investigation that we learn what actually happened years ago and how sometimes love really is eternal. This book kept me guessing until the end. The love story will appeal to teens and the mystery will appeal to adults. I would recommend this book to people who like paranormal fiction.
August 18, 2024
i was actually stunned by this book. the storyline was so freaking good, and i’m just in awe of how well written it was. the two perspectives flowed so nicely together, and i loved the little details the author added in to the storyline. this is one of those books that i’m just randomly gonna think about and be like “wow” all over again. 🤩🤩
idk wth this goodreads cover is though, i swear the one i had was not this 💀
idk wth this goodreads cover is though, i swear the one i had was not this 💀
February 5, 2017
Holy crap, man. Review to come.
February 6, 2017
Such a good mystery! Review to come!
October 2, 2021
Before I start this review, let me just put it out there that I am also writing a book with reincarnation themes, and my curiosity won, so I picked it up. I read it in about 22 hours, which is pretty rare for me. It was engaging, compelling, and in some parts, almost enchanting. However, I think a lot of the negative reviews are at least partially deserved.
First of all, there are just so many characters It starts to get very confusing around the middle of the book when they're all in play. They all have their own redeeming or dislikable qualities, but a lot of the side characters got really muddled for me. I did like, though, that some of them mirrored each other, and in the conclusion some of the loose ends were tied up in direct relation to Lily's current friends, based on some of the discoveries she'd made in the past. Maybe the confusion was because I read it so fast, but that's just my take on it.
I have to confess, before I explain this part: I'm usually one of those people who, upon getting bored of a book, will skip to the end just to be able to get it over with. But I really enjoyed how much the book kept me on my toes, and I read the whole thing in chronological order, as intended. I ended up having about eight theories at different points in the book about what could have possibly happened to Amber and Ben. The answer was definitely not something I would have guessed. While it would have been satisfying to have been right, I'm glad I didn't know the answer all along; I'm a sucker for complicated plots.
I saw some people in this review section who didn't really enjoy who the characters were as people. I have to admit, some of the really really minor events and personality traits were pretty predictable. . However, those of you who were saying that, really didn't account for some of the plot twists!!!!! How these things came about, to me, was really unique and engaging. It might just be because I'm around the character's age, but the procession of events seemed pretty intense and unpredictable to me.
My penultimate point: the CHARACTERS, THOUGH. The ones I could keep straight, I really liked. God, Gina was soooo sweet and I'm really glad she was written as a supportive character. She was so kind towards Lily and Cole. Arthur, too! I mean, come on. Even though I feel like AND THE GRANDMOTHER, WHILE WE'RE AT IT. Every time she spoke, I just imagined the Baroness from Cruella. Really sold the story for me,
First of all, there are just so many characters It starts to get very confusing around the middle of the book when they're all in play. They all have their own redeeming or dislikable qualities, but a lot of the side characters got really muddled for me. I did like, though, that some of them mirrored each other, and in the conclusion some of the loose ends were tied up in direct relation to Lily's current friends, based on some of the discoveries she'd made in the past. Maybe the confusion was because I read it so fast, but that's just my take on it.
I have to confess, before I explain this part: I'm usually one of those people who, upon getting bored of a book, will skip to the end just to be able to get it over with. But I really enjoyed how much the book kept me on my toes, and I read the whole thing in chronological order, as intended. I ended up having about eight theories at different points in the book about what could have possibly happened to Amber and Ben. The answer was definitely not something I would have guessed. While it would have been satisfying to have been right, I'm glad I didn't know the answer all along; I'm a sucker for complicated plots.
I saw some people in this review section who didn't really enjoy who the characters were as people. I have to admit, some of the really really minor events and personality traits were pretty predictable. . However, those of you who were saying that, really didn't account for some of the plot twists!!!!! How these things came about, to me, was really unique and engaging. It might just be because I'm around the character's age, but the procession of events seemed pretty intense and unpredictable to me.
My penultimate point: the CHARACTERS, THOUGH. The ones I could keep straight, I really liked. God, Gina was soooo sweet and I'm really glad she was written as a supportive character. She was so kind towards Lily and Cole. Arthur, too! I mean, come on. Even though I feel like AND THE GRANDMOTHER, WHILE WE'RE AT IT. Every time she spoke, I just imagined the Baroness from Cruella. Really sold the story for me,
August 20, 2017
**I have received this audio book for free from Audiobook Jukebox and the publisher for a honest review.**
Title: Forever, Again
Author: Victoria Laurie
Narrator: Rebecca Gibel, Rachel Dulude, and Charlie Thurston
Length: 10hr and 35mins
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Date: 12-13-2016
Lily Bennett is less than thrilled to be the new kid as she starts her junior year in high school. But soon after classes begin, she meets a classmate, Cole Drepeau, with whom she forms an immediate and intimate bond. As Cole and Lily grow closer, Lily learns about the murder that divided the town more than thirty years before. In 1985, graduating senior Amber Greeley snapped, killing her boyfriend Ben-Cole's uncle-and taking her own life. Lily feels inexplicably linked to Amber, and she can't help but think that there's more to the girl's story. Determined to investigate the truth about Cole's uncle's death, Lily and Cole are pulled into a dark mystery-one that shakes the constraints of the world they've always believed in.
Victoria Laurie! I LOVE this book! Yes, I got this audio book for free for a honest review, but I have already pre-ordered the paperback from my work because I couldn't get the hardcover ordered in. I love thrillers, I love things that make me stay on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out who did it. Forever, Again is that great edge of your seat thriller for young adults. There is young love, without the focus being on sex and drugs or alcohol. It's just pure young love. Told in a back and forth style, where one chapter is Lily in the present and the next is Amber in the past, you get a full story. At first I thought this style would be jarring, but it's not at all. Similar to the style of Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, you are given each characters viewpoints and each chapter mirrors the other, so you understand why these four characters are so intertwined with each other.
The three narrators, Rebecca Gibel, Rachel Dulude and Charlie Thurston do an amazing job at bringing Lily, Cole, Amber, and Spence to life! Although, Gibel and Dulude have far longer narration, Thurston gives just as compelling a narration. You feel the fear, anxiety, and thrill of the mystery. There couldn't have been a better match with Gibel and Dulude. At times, I forgot that there were more than one person narrating. You really do lose yourself in this audio book.
Forever, Again had me guessing up until the end. Through all the twists and turns, the town of Fredericksburg, VA really does come alive. Laurie does a fantastic job at describing the surrounding areas, so that you feel immersed in the environment. Most young adult novels I've had problems with reading in the past stick to the high school or a few streets where the characters live. This one, however, goes beyond just the small town, visiting all over the surrounding areas, even to the sea side.
If you have to pick up one mystery thriller ya novel this year, you should really make Forever, Again that novel.
Title: Forever, Again
Author: Victoria Laurie
Narrator: Rebecca Gibel, Rachel Dulude, and Charlie Thurston
Length: 10hr and 35mins
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Date: 12-13-2016
Lily Bennett is less than thrilled to be the new kid as she starts her junior year in high school. But soon after classes begin, she meets a classmate, Cole Drepeau, with whom she forms an immediate and intimate bond. As Cole and Lily grow closer, Lily learns about the murder that divided the town more than thirty years before. In 1985, graduating senior Amber Greeley snapped, killing her boyfriend Ben-Cole's uncle-and taking her own life. Lily feels inexplicably linked to Amber, and she can't help but think that there's more to the girl's story. Determined to investigate the truth about Cole's uncle's death, Lily and Cole are pulled into a dark mystery-one that shakes the constraints of the world they've always believed in.
Victoria Laurie! I LOVE this book! Yes, I got this audio book for free for a honest review, but I have already pre-ordered the paperback from my work because I couldn't get the hardcover ordered in. I love thrillers, I love things that make me stay on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out who did it. Forever, Again is that great edge of your seat thriller for young adults. There is young love, without the focus being on sex and drugs or alcohol. It's just pure young love. Told in a back and forth style, where one chapter is Lily in the present and the next is Amber in the past, you get a full story. At first I thought this style would be jarring, but it's not at all. Similar to the style of Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, you are given each characters viewpoints and each chapter mirrors the other, so you understand why these four characters are so intertwined with each other.
The three narrators, Rebecca Gibel, Rachel Dulude and Charlie Thurston do an amazing job at bringing Lily, Cole, Amber, and Spence to life! Although, Gibel and Dulude have far longer narration, Thurston gives just as compelling a narration. You feel the fear, anxiety, and thrill of the mystery. There couldn't have been a better match with Gibel and Dulude. At times, I forgot that there were more than one person narrating. You really do lose yourself in this audio book.
Forever, Again had me guessing up until the end. Through all the twists and turns, the town of Fredericksburg, VA really does come alive. Laurie does a fantastic job at describing the surrounding areas, so that you feel immersed in the environment. Most young adult novels I've had problems with reading in the past stick to the high school or a few streets where the characters live. This one, however, goes beyond just the small town, visiting all over the surrounding areas, even to the sea side.
If you have to pick up one mystery thriller ya novel this year, you should really make Forever, Again that novel.
September 8, 2019
This book was... okay. I initially picked it up for two reasons:
1) The plotline was similar to one that I had flirted with myself in a story awhile ago, and may pick up and finish one day;
2) I remember thoroughly enjoying Laurie's debut novel about a pyschic PI.
I was underwhelmed. The story is convoluted as f*ck, but the actual resolution was a bit of a letdown. I won't tell you how the mystery is resolved, but I will say that Laurie plays around with perception in a way that is sweet, but feels a bit naive, and also made me hate a few of her primary characters.
Speaking of characters, the main female protagonists are that worst of high-school cliches - goody-two-shoes. I don't know how others feel about this trope, but I don't particularly care to talk to someone who is a teenager and vehemently rants to me about the dangers of drugs and alcoholism, nor do I particularly like reading someone who is that way. Life is messy, and everyone, even someone who listens to Nancy Reagan whens he tells them to "Just say no!" does something they regret. Why make it harder on yourself by turning into an unpaid member of the DEA? Like, yeah, some people have a problem. But some people also just have a problem with basic necessities, like food, that have nothing to do with a lack of money and everything to do with subconsciously enforced advertising that tell them that they're probably not good enough. In the case of one of these teenagers, she was so dependent on her boyfriend (gag), that she altered important plans that impacted her future. Like, okay, so you never smoked marijuana. Does that really make you feel better about yourself?
And Laurie's writing, which I remembered as clever and interesting, falls flat. I think this may be partially due to the fact that she is writing about teenagers, who will by nature generally be less self-assured and confident than Abby Cooper. However, there were also simply blatant, egregious errors. Like re-telling the information that we had seen characters discover to a third party, wasting an entire paragraph of my life, with this re-told information boring, to boot.
Interesting idea, but unfortunately, I do not recommend this novel.
1) The plotline was similar to one that I had flirted with myself in a story awhile ago, and may pick up and finish one day;
2) I remember thoroughly enjoying Laurie's debut novel about a pyschic PI.
I was underwhelmed. The story is convoluted as f*ck, but the actual resolution was a bit of a letdown. I won't tell you how the mystery is resolved, but I will say that Laurie plays around with perception in a way that is sweet, but feels a bit naive, and also made me hate a few of her primary characters.
Speaking of characters, the main female protagonists are that worst of high-school cliches - goody-two-shoes. I don't know how others feel about this trope, but I don't particularly care to talk to someone who is a teenager and vehemently rants to me about the dangers of drugs and alcoholism, nor do I particularly like reading someone who is that way. Life is messy, and everyone, even someone who listens to Nancy Reagan whens he tells them to "Just say no!" does something they regret. Why make it harder on yourself by turning into an unpaid member of the DEA? Like, yeah, some people have a problem. But some people also just have a problem with basic necessities, like food, that have nothing to do with a lack of money and everything to do with subconsciously enforced advertising that tell them that they're probably not good enough. In the case of one of these teenagers, she was so dependent on her boyfriend (gag), that she altered important plans that impacted her future. Like, okay, so you never smoked marijuana. Does that really make you feel better about yourself?
And Laurie's writing, which I remembered as clever and interesting, falls flat. I think this may be partially due to the fact that she is writing about teenagers, who will by nature generally be less self-assured and confident than Abby Cooper. However, there were also simply blatant, egregious errors. Like re-telling the information that we had seen characters discover to a third party, wasting an entire paragraph of my life, with this re-told information boring, to boot.
Interesting idea, but unfortunately, I do not recommend this novel.
March 3, 2017
Lily Bennett hates that she is the new kid at school. Her whole life has fallen apart after her father leaves and her best friend ends up dating her boyfriend. To make matters worse, she lives in the guesthouse of her wealthy grandmother. Her father's mother isn't exactly the stereotypical grandmother type. When she goes to school though, weird things happen. Even though she's never been to her new town, it feels familiar. Also she finds herself drawn to Cole Drepeau. Only later does she find out that his uncle was murdered tragically by a graduating senior, Amber Greeley, some thirty years ago. Lily feels linked to Amber as she has recurring dreams of that fateful night. She's determined to find out the truth even if that means disrupting the lives of those around her, including her own grandmother and father.
What worked: This is one fast-paced, intriguing mystery that had me guessing on the whys behind Lily's dreams and how they might be connected to a tragedy that happened thirty years old. I loved the twist on how Lilly might in fact be the reincarnation of Amber. That made sense with how she was able to just 'know' the town, people, and circumstances around her.
Lily at first struggles with why she seems to just know things. Her instant attraction to Cole at first seemed almost too sudden but once the reader gets into the story, the reason behind the dreams and her knowledge of the mystery clicks. Lily isn't one to just sit back and just accept her part in the mystery. Because she has to play a major part in solving the thirty year mystery in order to give Amber final peace.
There's betrayals, secrets, and twists in this story. Told though the point of view of Lily and Amber, the story comes together to reveal a secret that is totally surprising. I love when this happens!
Fast-paced paranormal tale where family secrets and betrayals are reopened.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
What worked: This is one fast-paced, intriguing mystery that had me guessing on the whys behind Lily's dreams and how they might be connected to a tragedy that happened thirty years old. I loved the twist on how Lilly might in fact be the reincarnation of Amber. That made sense with how she was able to just 'know' the town, people, and circumstances around her.
Lily at first struggles with why she seems to just know things. Her instant attraction to Cole at first seemed almost too sudden but once the reader gets into the story, the reason behind the dreams and her knowledge of the mystery clicks. Lily isn't one to just sit back and just accept her part in the mystery. Because she has to play a major part in solving the thirty year mystery in order to give Amber final peace.
There's betrayals, secrets, and twists in this story. Told though the point of view of Lily and Amber, the story comes together to reveal a secret that is totally surprising. I love when this happens!
Fast-paced paranormal tale where family secrets and betrayals are reopened.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
September 28, 2020
A young teenage girl becomes obsessed with a 1987 murder after she discovers that she is the reincarnation of one of its principals. All her life Lily Bennet has had violent nightmares, and she never understood why she had them. It is when she moves back to her dad’s hometown that she learns not only why she has her nightmares, but also learns the dark secrets of the past. She realizes through a hypnosis session with a local therapist that she is the reincarnation of Amber Greeley, a girl who supposedly murdered her boyfriend and then killed herself. At the same time, her new crush, Cole, has learned that he is the reincarnation of Amber’s boyfriend! He is also, helpfully, a future FBI agent-in-training with access to the original murder file. With the help of Cole, Lily tries to clear Amber’s name. The investigation turns deadly when the two learn that their family members may have been involved with the incident.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the imagery the author brought to the table. That made it so easy to read along. Having it all tie in nicely with the plot made it so much more fun to read. This book was unlike anything I have never read before, but with everything good thing, there is a downfall. At some parts in the book, it got slightly boring, to the point I was starting to lose interest. The author finally kicked it into high gear towards the end of the story and ended it with a unique ending. If you like young adult and mystery with a bit of romance, then this is the book for you. If you start this book, you have to finish it! You will not be disappointed in the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the imagery the author brought to the table. That made it so easy to read along. Having it all tie in nicely with the plot made it so much more fun to read. This book was unlike anything I have never read before, but with everything good thing, there is a downfall. At some parts in the book, it got slightly boring, to the point I was starting to lose interest. The author finally kicked it into high gear towards the end of the story and ended it with a unique ending. If you like young adult and mystery with a bit of romance, then this is the book for you. If you start this book, you have to finish it! You will not be disappointed in the end.
October 11, 2021
⭐️ Proper Rating: 4.4 Stars ⭐️
✨ SUMMARY ✨
I'm going to try to summarize the book without giving much away. It's a switching POV between AMBER and LILY, AMBER a girl back from the 1980s who is believed to have killed her boyfriend out of a jealous rage then commit suicide few days after. Lily is in the present time and is about to start junior high as a new kid in a new place - her parents divorced, she had to move to her grandmother's mansion (who she hates btw) and her ex cheated on her with her best friend. She gets strange dreams starring Amber, dreams where she dies from a knife, and has a weird wound shaped birthmark at the back of her chest. Lily meets this boy Cole who is the nephew of the guy Amber was believed to kill (also Amber's bf) and Lily and Cole decide to investigate the mystery.
✨THINGS I LIKED ✨
The stressed theme of reincarnation. I believe in it and even if I didn't, it was kind of cool. Just the themes in general were super interesting. That alone made the book super interesting. I really liked the characters there and their personalities, they were easy to get and relate to... The Writing Style was neat and I liked how the author switched povs between Amber back in 1980 and Lily now in parallel. It was pretty awesome to read about history repeating itself - well kinda.
✨THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE ✨
The beginning quarter was kind of confusing to follow and I had to keep rehashing my brain to figure out exactly what happened. I kind of got confused between the characters to see, wait, is this person the same person from when Amber grew up? Especially since it didn't mention the age.
✨ SUMMARY ✨
I'm going to try to summarize the book without giving much away. It's a switching POV between AMBER and LILY, AMBER a girl back from the 1980s who is believed to have killed her boyfriend out of a jealous rage then commit suicide few days after. Lily is in the present time and is about to start junior high as a new kid in a new place - her parents divorced, she had to move to her grandmother's mansion (who she hates btw) and her ex cheated on her with her best friend. She gets strange dreams starring Amber, dreams where she dies from a knife, and has a weird wound shaped birthmark at the back of her chest. Lily meets this boy Cole who is the nephew of the guy Amber was believed to kill (also Amber's bf) and Lily and Cole decide to investigate the mystery.
✨THINGS I LIKED ✨
The stressed theme of reincarnation. I believe in it and even if I didn't, it was kind of cool. Just the themes in general were super interesting. That alone made the book super interesting. I really liked the characters there and their personalities, they were easy to get and relate to... The Writing Style was neat and I liked how the author switched povs between Amber back in 1980 and Lily now in parallel. It was pretty awesome to read about history repeating itself - well kinda.
✨THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE ✨
The beginning quarter was kind of confusing to follow and I had to keep rehashing my brain to figure out exactly what happened. I kind of got confused between the characters to see, wait, is this person the same person from when Amber grew up? Especially since it didn't mention the age.
May 7, 2017
Forever, Again
By Victoria Laurie
Narrated By Rebecca Gibel, Rachel Dulude, and Charlie Thurston
Published 2016 by Dreamscape Media, LLC
10 hours and 40 minutes
I received a free audio copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read a lot of negative reviews about this book and I while I understand where the negativity is coming from, I thought Forever, Again was very entertaining. Not once did my mind wander while listening. When a book captures my attention so completely, I think the author deserves a round of applause.
The story is told from alternating points of view by two teenage girls—Amber Greeley and Lily Bennett— set thirty years apart. Amber was thought to have killed her boyfriend in 1985 and then to have committed suicide. Lily and her friend Cole are trying to discover what really happened thirty years ago. The mystery was well done and kept me guessing right up to the end.
This book was mostly narrated by Rebecca Gibel and Rachel Dulude. Rachel Dulude was Amber’s voice and Rebecca Gibel was Lily’s voice. Both Rebecca and Rachel performed very well but their voices weren’t so distinct that one narrator couldn’t have read both parts. The other narrator, Charlie Thurston, only plays a small part near the very end so there isn’t much to say about his performance.
I don’t want to share any spoilers here but just know that there are some fantastical elements to the story. Also, be aware that this story does involve teen suicide along the same lines as Romeo and Juliet.
By Victoria Laurie
Narrated By Rebecca Gibel, Rachel Dulude, and Charlie Thurston
Published 2016 by Dreamscape Media, LLC
10 hours and 40 minutes
I received a free audio copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read a lot of negative reviews about this book and I while I understand where the negativity is coming from, I thought Forever, Again was very entertaining. Not once did my mind wander while listening. When a book captures my attention so completely, I think the author deserves a round of applause.
The story is told from alternating points of view by two teenage girls—Amber Greeley and Lily Bennett— set thirty years apart. Amber was thought to have killed her boyfriend in 1985 and then to have committed suicide. Lily and her friend Cole are trying to discover what really happened thirty years ago. The mystery was well done and kept me guessing right up to the end.
This book was mostly narrated by Rebecca Gibel and Rachel Dulude. Rachel Dulude was Amber’s voice and Rebecca Gibel was Lily’s voice. Both Rebecca and Rachel performed very well but their voices weren’t so distinct that one narrator couldn’t have read both parts. The other narrator, Charlie Thurston, only plays a small part near the very end so there isn’t much to say about his performance.
I don’t want to share any spoilers here but just know that there are some fantastical elements to the story. Also, be aware that this story does involve teen suicide along the same lines as Romeo and Juliet.
November 2, 2020
Forever Again, a dark book at times, but can be very heartfelt at the same time. This books starts off with Amber's death and alternates between Amber's life and Lily's life. People believe that Amber killed her boyfriend Ben because he wanted to break up with her, and then she killed herself because she knew she was guilty for the murder of Ben. Lily is the new girl in her junior year at her new high school. A reoccurring nightmare that she has had since she was four is happening more than usual. Her nightmare is about a young boy lying dead in a field that appears to be on fire. When Lily goes to school, she meets Cole. Cole looks just like the boy in her dream. Cole's uncle was Ben, the one who died in field. Lily and Cole are determined to clear Amber's name and find out what actually happened years ago.
This book kept me guessing until the end and made me want to continue to read more and more. Overall, the author did a great jo transitioning from Amber's life to Lily's life, but at times it did become confusing. Another thing is that the end almost seemed forced. However, it overall was a great book and kept me wanting more. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romance mystery book.
This book kept me guessing until the end and made me want to continue to read more and more. Overall, the author did a great jo transitioning from Amber's life to Lily's life, but at times it did become confusing. Another thing is that the end almost seemed forced. However, it overall was a great book and kept me wanting more. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romance mystery book.
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