Forever Ago: A Dark College Romance

This book was a beautiful and heart-wrenching 5 stars. 10 out of 10 experience! Even with a good long cry! It has taken me a long long while to write a review for this book. I needed to take the time to ruminate on all the thoughts and feelings this book has imprinted on me. J. Rose writes with such an intimacy when she’s giving you the perspectives of her main characters. It’s as if every chapter is a love letter to all those struggling with mental health. And I so very much appreciate it. There were times when Hallie’s grief felt like my own. That Zeke’s dark thoughts feeding his addictions felt like my own. And also that their love, as mercurial and deep as any love can be, was like my own. As an FMC, I enjoyed Hallie’s perspective and the way her sensitive and stubborn nature allowed for a lot of growth. I think what I did not expect was to enjoy Zeke’s POV, just as much. Because he really showcased the stark differences between him and Hallie. That also there were times where his mind was beyond even his control. There were so many things I learned from this short and lovely story. As someone who doesn’t have severe anxiety or addictions, I feel that I have just been given the gift of insight to further aid in my quest to have empathy for all those in this life journey. Here we see that life is ephemeral and precious and hideous and beautiful and sad and happy. And I think that’s such a great reading experience. 🌶️🌶️.5 for spice level, for those looking for it. Please check your trigger warnings!

I highly advise having Kleenex ready and some Earl Grey Tea to help with the influx of emotions that literally take you on a roller coaster. Highs and extremely Lows, the life of an addict who struggles to stay sober. Zeke was a great man with terrible demons, he deserved to see himself so much better because he was definitely loved. This book was brutally honest in the sense of grief and living with it. If you’re not ready to contemplate your own feelings on grief then I don’t suggest this book; However, if you’re on a path to healing then this book is for you because grief is messy, hard and above all means you experienced Love. My favorite quote from the book: “If it hurts than it means it was real.” That hit me in the feels, I wasn’t ready for this book, let alone that plot twist of an ending. Truly greatly written and I look forward to ready more of this authors works.

"If it hurts then its real." I went into this book blind, and that was a blessing and a curse. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a very long time. If you are looking for happy and smiles, this isn't the book. Please take the triggers in the beginning of the book serious because this book is very heavy. I'm at a loss of words on how I even review this book, because let's face it this book is so raw and will leave an impression on you that will probably never go away. J Rose never fails to amaze me with her writing, and I can say that this book was done in such a relatable way that I FELT every ounce of emotion in the pages. Hallie meets Zeke in a therapy group for loss. She immediately can't stand him, but he grows on her. Zeke just wants to know more about her. Hallie is probably one of the most loving and strongest characters I've read and the way she loved Zeke and kept fighting for him NO MATTER what is inspiring in so many ways. She was the rock that Zeke needed. Zeke, oh my heart. So broken, the depression and guilt that he was consumed with daily killed me. He loved Hallie though and wanted to change and be better for her. "My North Star" Zeke and Hallie had an all-consuming love that was complicated and messy. Thir relationship was an emotional rollercoaster that brough tears to my eyes. It is the epitome of unconditional love and support. "Keep the light on for me." The Dual POV in this book is amazingly well done and getting to see both the characters react to the same scenes but from A diff POV was fantastic. This book is real and raw and if you are looking for a HEA then this isn't it. J rose please NEVER stop writing! This book resonates with me because it is something my family has suffered with, and I thank you for not making it all sunshine and roses, because in real life it isn't that way. As always, I aim to keep my reviews as spoiler free as possible. I've said it before, and I'll say it again PLEASE CHECK THE TRIGGERS!

I really wanted more depth from this one. The characters weren't fully rounded with significant depth/history so I felt that left the story lacking. Otherwise, okay quick read.

Forever Ago is a standalone with no guaranteed HEA. Please look at trigger warnings before reading (also grab a box of tissues). And if you feel like the characters in the book,please know that you’re loved and not alone. I read this book in one sitting. This is such a beautifully written, tragic love story. I can tell that this is going to be a story that sticks with you forever. I felt the heartbreak coming as I was reading, but what I didn’t expect was the healing that came with the little quotes or pages about overcoming grief and forgiving yourself. There were times in the story (and in life) when I felt like Hallie, grieving, sad, and wanting to save someone she loves. Not wanting to lose another person close to her. And others, I felt like Zeke, struggling with depression and the feelings that come with it. I think this shows both sides of the story and how both Hallie and Zeke just wanted to do what was best for the other person, no matter what the cost was. I started crying when he said that she was his reason for being better, his "North Star,” and I didn’t stop until after the epilogue. The letters, the voicemail, the arguments. All the pain flowing off the pages helps you to be immersed in the story, feeling like this is something that you are watching in real time happening to people you care about. I’m crying as I type this, thinking about the story. Lastly, I want to say that if you are going through something like this, please lean on others, find your north star, and find the person who will always leave the light on. If you know someone who is struggling, tell them how you feel, be a north star for them, and always leave the light on. “My therapist says everyone needs a North Star. That's what you are, baby. My North f-ing Star.” “Keep counting down those days, it won't be long. Keep the light on for me." "I will keep the light on."

I do not have the words to describe how purely wonderful this book was. “Forever Ago” by J Rose is the ugly story of love found in the midst of intense guilt and grief. It isn’t pretty, and it isn’t easy, and it isn’t fair, and it can break you. Rose warns the reader in the beginning, “This isn’t a fairy tale. In the real world, not all endings are happy. But it isn’t the destination that matters – it’s the journey,” and she was NOT wrong. The story of Ezekiel Rhodes and Hallie Burns is certainly not a fairytale and if that is what you’re looking for, I’d move on because “Forever Ago” will challenge you to think deep, love hard, be hopelessly hopeful, and emotionally vulnerable. Just my kind of book! 🖤🖤 This book is full of heartache… like my literal heart aches after finishing this book. Zeke tried EVERYTHING to be the man Hallie needed and wanted and let her down at every turn. But this girl, man she’s strong, she NEVER walked away from him or gave up on him. Rose did a wonderful job of portraying a love story during the worst points in someone’s life. She uses the term “North Star” when referring to what Zeke and Hallie are to each other and that’s the perfect way to understand what they mean to each other. But the reality is, Rose could have ended the story in a nice little bow where they each get the HEA they are searching for and deserve, but real life isn’t like that and I think she did the characters and the story justice by staying true to their journey and the journey of so many struggling with grief and addiction. My heart beat and burst from cover to cover. I have nothing but complimentary words to describe this book, Rose’s character development and storyline, and overall feeling once finishing the book. It’s a dark type of story, taking a deep dive into a person’s darkest space, but it’s beautiful — a beautiful masterpiece. I will be thinking of Zeke and Hallie for a while, still cheering them on. 💔 Rating: 5/5 ⭐️ Spice: 3.5/5 🌶️ Triggers: 💥 Scenes of addiction 💥 Intense grief 💥 Bereavement 💥 Sui@ide 💥 Toxic relationships 💥 Mental health issues.

I went into this blind, but after reading it a bit I predicted the entire thing. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that it shed light into the harsh reality of both sides of addiction. Hallie deserved so much, and she had so much to give. Zeke was a troubled soul who was drowning in guilt. Together, they were an endless cycle of heartache.

Forever Ago was my first ever J Rose book. I absolutely loved it. Could not put it down. I was so invested in Zeke and Hallie's story. Be warned though with this one, it's not always happy. It's dark, raw, gritty and heartbreaking. Like the tw says in the book ' This book isn't a fairy tale. In the real world, not all endings are happy. But it isn't the destination that matters- it's the journey.' A million times over that is exactly what this book is. It's a hard read. But I seriously was so invested and hooked on these two. I knew thier story would break me. And it did. I felt absolutely gutted and broken. When a book can do that to me it means it's one I loved and will stick with me for a very long time. Live for that feeling while I read. Zeke and Hallie have very hard lives and stuff no one should have to deal with. But such is life. And those sadly were the cards they got dealt. You just have so many feels with these two characters. Seriously this one deals a lot around mental health issues, drug addiction, and grief. It's a tough read. But if you are up for it I HIGHLY recommend you checking this one out. It touched my heart forever these two! ❤❤ I know my photo is pretty plain. But for me this was enough. This cover is all you need. Its a very powerful cover. Especially when you read what's inside. To me it all made sense to let it show for itself. In my brain this is what I wanted. I hope it comes across as I see it. Now to read all J Rose books! That's on my to do soon. I'm hooked!!!

This has got to be one of the most emotional books I’ve ever read, it was raw, gritty, absolutely full of angst and grief. It poured off the pages splintering my heart with each word. I felt it all, I’ve never cried so much reading a book, it was heartbreaking but so good. Zeke and Hallie meet at a bereavement counselling group. Hallie has lost both her parents (10 years apart), has one friend Robin (such a great side character) and feels completely alone, suffocating under the weight of her grief. Zeke is consumed with guilt over the death of his brother and struggles with substance abuse on the daily. He is instantly attracted to Hallie especially when she tells him to shut up in group and the next time they meet she punches him for talking trash about said group. Zeke soon wins Hallie round with his bad boy persona, mixed with his softer side that is just for her. Their love isn’t all sunshine and rainbows but it’s real and messy and intense. Zeke struggles with addiction trying to keep his demons away but they’re always there chomping at his heels. Hallie is such a brilliant FMC is she literally the definition of strength, some of which I believe comes from having Zeke in her life. This story doesn’t have your conventional HEA but I did shed a few happy tears. J Rose has written something that deals with grief in such an honest and deeply moving way. A powerful message that it’s ok that it hurts because it means it was real, the love you had was real. I cannot express the full extent of emotions I went through with this book but I will say highly I recommend it.

5 stars BUT This ain't romance and this isn't an "unconventional" HEA. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It was really freaking good though. Not my normal kind of read, but this author could make me read anything apparently.

I was hooked from the get go. Addicted. Couldn’t put it down. Zekes and Hallie’s story is breathtaking and heartbreaking. Trauma bonded, grief, addict, challenges. This was packed with heavy tropes and triggers. I can’t say too much without revealing the plot. But I can say that this is 100% worth a read. It will have its hold on you by your heart strings, from start to finish. This story is about two broken people, who will always gravitate towards each other, no matter what.

A devastating roller coaster of a tragic love story

I both love and hate this book. I do not hate because of the book, the writing, this is a first for me from this author. I was actually going to read another book and saw her suggested reading order so decided to go all in and start here as per her suggestion online. My angst is from how infuriating and sad this book is! Our FMC Hallie is swallowed by grief and doing all she can to pull herself from it. At counselling she meets the MMC Zeke. He’s on a spiral of self destruction he can’t get off. No matter how much he knows he doesn’t deserve her, Hallie calls to him and gives him hope that things could be better. This is a very difficult book to read. Zeke is struggling with grief, mental illness and major drug addiction to numb the pain. This is a very honest read, the cycle of constantly trying to help someone who doesn’t want to help themselves but hurts you in the process. I think for anyone that’s been in that situation it’s hard to read or like myself who hasn’t been but just feels like shaking Zeke and saying stop thinking you’re better leaving when you’re being told it’s better you’re around. That is the crux of mental health and addiction is it not. People who are suffering think their loved ones are better off alone and can’t see through the fog. This is a very good book but it is a hard read, it’s infuriating and gripping, real and honest and not everyone gets their HEA 4⭐️3🌶️