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Blurb

Ben Miller met the love of his life the day he crossed paths with Elle James in their high school cafeteria. New to Beaumont, he took a chance when he approached her. Their first encounter was everything his mother ever read to him about fairy tales. He saw the girl who would be his forever.

From the moment Elle James met Ben Miller they’ve been best friends. Everything they did, they did it together, from late night study sessions, family vacations, throwing bottles off the water tower, going to prom and finally moving to California for college.

However, after the almost tragic accident where she nearly lost her twin sister, Elle’s life hasn’t been the same, and neither has her relationship with Ben.

One fateful decision changes the scope of Ben and Elle’s relationship. For one, it means a new beginning. For the other, it means change.

 

 

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Review

3.5 stars

This is the second book of the Beaumont – Next Generation series, giving us the story of Elle Powell-James (daughter Harrison & Katelyn from My Unexpected Forever), and a slightly angsty but ultimately sweet friends-to-lovers story.

This book follows on from Holding Onto Forever, and there are spoilers for that book in this one, as well as some already-established build-up, so be aware that though this could be read as a standalone, it’s best read as part of the series.

Elle has lived a charmed life. She is close with her family, has great friends, is happy, popular and fortunate, and wants for nothing. Until a tragedy shook her completely, leaving her altered and struggling to cope with the influx of emotions. Even now, months later, she is finding hard to move forward and she is losing herself in parties and alcohol as she fights to find herself again.

Ben has been best friends with Elle since they met in high school. For him, it was love at first sight, even though she hasn’t seen him as anything more than friends, but he has become a part of her family, openly accepted and loved by her parents and siblings, and a pivotal part of Elle’s life. He was her rock through the hardest part of her life, and though he has wanted to tell her for years how he feels, he’s wary of rocking the boat and has kept his feelings a secret.

She’s my lifeline, my best friend. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her, and if she knew how I felt, she’d crumble.

Everything changes for Elle and Ben one uncontrolled night, forcing them both to look closely at their relationship, and their lives, but as Elle finally starts to wake up to what has been in front of her all along, Ben handles things differently, presenting the lifelong friends with a challenge they’ve never faced before and truly putting their feelings to the test.

 

 

I enjoyed this book. I admit that I did get a bit annoyed with Elle’s behaviour, and her complete obliviousness about Ben’s feelings towards her, but as the story continued I could see that it was a part of her journey, and her spiral down created a good start for the character development that was so desperately needed.

I shouldn’t be embarrassed for liking someone, but it’s Ben, and Ben is different. Ben is…well he’s my Ben and always has been … I want my best friend back, but I want so much more with him.

And Ben just melted my heart. He’s such a great guy – his huge heart and his unwavering support for his girl was beautiful to see, and though his love for her was unrequited for so long, he never came off looking like a doormat. I loved the direction of his story throughout this book, and I was so proud of him for the decisions he made and the way he handled it all.

Of course we all know how the book is going to end, but I was particularly happy with how this one all came about. After the angst of their story, it was so satisfying to see them both be so open, putting their hearts on the line and finally embracing all of those feelings.

“It’s taken me a long time to realize this, but now that I have, there’s no stopping it. You’re my unexpected love, one I never thought I’d find, at least not in my best friend.”

I loved the glimpses we got into Elle’s family life, the continued story progression for Peyton & Noah from Holding Onto Forever, and I’m so intrigued by the girls’ brother Quinn, and I’m excited for what I suspect is his story up next.

3.5 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

The Beaumont Series – Next Generation

 

This series is a spin-off to the Beaumont series

 

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Giveaway

To celebrate the release of My Unexpected Love, the author is giving away a $100 Amazon Gift Card!

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

The Escapist Book Blog is not responsible for this giveaway

 

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Author Bio

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.

Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.

When she’s isn’t writing one of the many stories planned for release, you’ll find her sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Roth, in theaters January 19, 2018.

 

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