Forever and All the Afters by K. I. Lynn

Hola amigos!

As you can see from the title, this post is going to be a review of the book Forever and All the afters by K. I. Lynn.

This book's male character is probably the only reason why I'd recommend this book. I'm in love with Pike. He was so empathic, affectionate, understanding. And he was so in love with the heroine. I loved how he tried convincing her what she was doing is wrong and later being by her side, protecting her from evil. But honestly, I want to focus this review on Aubrey. I don't really like how the author portrayed her like in the first half of this book. She was shown as weak, seeking love no matter the consequences. I honestly wanted her to have a backbone since the first chapter of this book, but that's not the case. I don't think she'd have the courage to do what she did later in the book had the evil not shown. She's still be insecure, wanting to please. I felt like she'd pay whatever price, no matter the cost, just to please the evil. (Note: evil is a person, if you didn't figure it already by now.) This is a quote from the book that I thought described her perfectly until Pike opened her eyes:

"Scratch the surface, and there was nothing of substance holding us together but the strings attached to me that he was pulling. Strings he sewed into my mind without me even noticing. A puppet for him to play with and manipulate into what he wanted."

Honestly, I think there are many people out there who are led by their insecurities and being manipulated easily by using those same insecurities. I don't know the feeling, and I hope to never learn it. What I think of this book is that it gives us an insight into the world of those whose lives are led by their insecurities and how (if) they overcome those. I hope everyone eventually finds a way to overcome everything. But I also know that there are people imprisoned in their own bodies and minds, people who are manipulated by their "significant" others. I would recommend this book to everyone, just so they can see what being manipulated means and what it actually is. That under many so called compliments are hundreds of insults. I want you to read this book to see those manipulations and to think how that happens in real life. Be careful around others, think about things you say, because sometimes even little things said like a joke can hurt more that the biggest insult ever. And I want you to read it to see that everyone has people around them that will support them unconditionally and that all of us can stand up for ourselves.

"I love you. From now until forever, I love you."
His eyes shine, and he drops his forehead down against mine. "My love has no conditions. There are no strings. I love you uncoditionally."

Author's words about this book: "I wanted to explore how the loss of a first love can affect a person years later. How insecurities can grow and warp a person's internal view of themselves. And how there are people who will take advantage of those that have been beaten down, whether by their own doing or an outside factor."

Synopsis:
"He promised me forever.

Then he boarded a plane for a college a thousand miles away and never returned. A decade later there’s a ring on my finger with a new promise from a new love.

Just as my life falls into place, pretty as the pages of a magazine, my world is knocked over. The moment he touches me everything around me begins to crack, exposing all the lies I’ve told myself.

Every glance reminds me. Every touch ignites.

Things aren’t how they used to be.

Love isn’t easy."

P. S. Here's the link to my goodreads account.