| Title | : | Forget the Stars |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 469 |
| Publication | : | First published August 26, 2019 |
"You're mine."
"I'm yours."
Guitarist Chad Wilcox's life isn't going according to plan.
At thirty, he never thought he'd still be unmarried and living with his parents. And with the added stress of his poor health, he's convinced the only thing within his control is the success he's found as a rock star.
After reconnecting with his childhood best friend, Chad sets into motion a new plan to regain control over his happiness, and things start looking up. But when he finds himself diagnosed with a potentially debilitating chronic illness, he begins to wonder...
Is this as good as it's going to get? Or is it at all possible for a guy like him to get everything he's ever wished for?
Forget the Stars Reviews
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At not quite a third in I've had it with Chad. He's a mopey coward with zero appeal and I have no idea why Molly is giving him the time of day. I mean, tattooed guitarist in a band is nice but his personality is all vapid dishrag. Three datapoints to illustrate. He's had bowel issues (all his life) he labels irritable bowel syndrome that interferes constantly in his life but he won't see a doctor because "it might be bad". He's been with a girlfriend for ten years but she doesn't want to live with him, doesn't want kids and holds him in open contempt and he's all thinking "we're on different life tracks" but doesn't do squat about it for this entire time. And finally, he dropped Molly when they entered High School because he wanted to be popular and she wasn't. People tell him that it ain't no big thang and that kids do that sometimes, and that's true. But it doesn't say good things about his character and with everything else it's apparent that he's a puling coward and Molly can do tons better.
My breaking point is when he left to go on tour (with Molly as an opening act) and is still with the girlfriend, still hasn't seen a doctor, and still thinks of Molly as (just) his best friend. And I still don't get what Molly sees in this drip! He dropped her like a rock and left her to fend for herself in a brutal high school situation where she was picked on and bullied. And she's all like "nah, man, he's a great guy and why wouldn't anybody want him?" Really? Maybe because he'd have to use forensic science to find his own backbone? Or how about because he's still with a woman who calls him stupid to his face? Or how about because he turned his back on you during the most painful experience of your life, making it exponentially more painful?!?
And now I'm aggravating myself. This guy is a spineless ratbag and I'd much prefer a story about Molly joining the tour and falling for the other single guy instead. Jon seems nice and really cares about his daughter. Plus, he's an actual vertebrate who doesn't leave scientists scratching their heads wondering how he walks upright... -
𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘈𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝟸𝟼 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝟸𝟼, 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟿, 𝟷𝟶% 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘩𝘯'𝘴 & 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
Chad and Molly.
They've been best friends since they can remember - their moms have been best friends since they were little!
But once highschool started, things changed.
And now - 30 years old - they're only seeing each other every once in a while - at family events when Chad is in town.
He still lives with his parents. He's still with his stupid girlfriend - who is not very interested in taking the next step in their relationship.
Molly is singing at a local bar a few nights a week.
Chad is the guitarist for a famous singer - he makes good money. He's dreaming of having his own house, a wife, kids. And he wants to be healthy - he's in constant pain due to a undiagnosed lifelong stomach/colon disease.
Will seeing each other again - becoming friends again - be the moment when all their wishes will finally start coming true??
What will happen to Molly & Chad?
Will we get our happily ever after?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺
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I just adore #RockstarRomances!
And this was a lot more rockstarish than other rock star books! We really go on tour and perform every night - I really love that!
But this story is also a second chance thingy. Not really, because they were never really a couple back then, but still.
They've been so close up until highschool. They made wishes upon stars. They dreamed and hoped and planned.
And now those wishes could finally come true. But there's so much in the way of their happily ever after.
Girlfriend. Work. Distance. Health. Insecurity ....
But of course the reader adores every single moment of the journey to that happy end!
I loved reading Molly & Chad's story!
And we got to see Devin & Sebastian & Ty & Jon and the girls again too!
Seb is hilarious!!! He needs his own Netflix show! All the guys do - ooooh....
Devin & The Daisies or something like that! ☺
Anyway ... I adored this book.
It's beautifully written - so full of love and hope and family and friends and some really heavy not-very-often-mentioned real life health problems! And of course:
ALL THE FEELS! ☺
The writing though - grrr - I know it's like this on purpose ... but Kelsey uses way too much informal Texas 'slang' in her writing. There's waaayyy too much WANNA GONNA THINKIN' DOIN' TRYNA - basically every other word is one of those! I would be okay if one person would talk like that - but they all do and they even think like that in the non-conversation text moments. It's just too much. And then suddenly there's a long paragraph without any of those words. So weird.
I'm usually totally for more informal language in books - I hate it when authors make their New Adult couples talk like 70 year old lawyers or professors, but this was too much!
Also ... Chad ... I loved him! He's such a kind and talented and sweet guy. But he was a tiny little bit too insecure or whiney or ...no - insecure is the better word. He's stayed with Ali for so long even though she's a total b*tch - we never see how they even fell in love. Why are they together? Because he's scared to be alone? So weird. And then he's so insecure about so many things. In high school! Jeez. How can you want to be popular so bad that you forget about your best friend so fast? Ridiculous! And now - he's a big, bad, tattooed guy and he acts like a baby in so many situations. Also with his disease. I get that it's a kind of taboo thing to talk about, you can be embarassed and a bit insecure about it if you want ... but I'd rather talk about it then be constantly afraid of dropping dead any second. GO TO A DOCTOR ... jeez! No matter how much you wish it to - it's not going away by ignoring it!
Too many things were too insecure about his character. I wished he would've been a bit stronger and more mature in some moments.
But I still loved him and his story!
Can't wait to read Greyson's book! More Seb! ☺
FORGET THE STARS was a beautiful & heartbreaking love story.
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Chaddington - he'll be sold out in no time!
♡
♡
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I just finished reading an early copy of Forget the Stars and let me say that Chad's story will not disappoint you! If you have been reading this series since Daises and Devin, you have come to know Chad Wilcox, the tatted Texan guitar player. Chad is now turning 30 and for him it's a big deal. He had a vision for his life and that included being married and possibly having a couple of kids. His girlfriend of 8 years was never on board with Chad's plan and he wonders if its just not meant to be. Chad also has a serious health issue going on that he keeps pushing under the rug. Maybe if he ignores it enough it will go away on its own. Chad is home in Texas living with his parents before heading out on the band's next tour. While he is there, he runs into his childhood best friend Molly. These two were inseparable until high school and its cliques broke them apart. They have rarely seen each other in the last 12 years even though their mothers are best friends. Molly is an amazing character. She has grown and matured and is in a very happy place in her life. She has no desire to look back and just lives in the present. Forget the Stars is a very reflective story. It's all about personal growth, finding ones happiness and choosing the path that is right for oneself. I loved these two together and enjoyed every moment of their way to rediscovering each other. Chad was great but Molly is my hero. She is a fictional character that I think every reader can connect with because I think that everyone has a bit of Molly in them. Forget The Stars is a must read. It's not a rock band story but a story about two people that just happen to perform in a rock band. Do yourself a favor and read this today!
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This is the first book I’ve ever read by Kelsey Kingsley and – holy buckets, you guys – it was such a delight! Such an emotional, feel-good, unexpected surprise.
I L-O-V-E-D it.
I don’t even know where to start with all the flaily gushing I have to do! Which awesome bit of adorableness and emotional perfection do I pick first?
The band, maybe? The guys? The adorably fun bromance that occasionally acted like a sisterhood? Those yahoos caused my heart to literally bubble over with glee at their utter adorableness. Gahhhhd, I loved that! I loved them. I loved who they were to Chad, but also who they were to Molly and just…who they were, period. The layers they added to this story, the lightness they provided, and the way I had a smile on my face every single time they popped up in the storyline. This was such good stuff. Such rich, delicious, delightful stuff.
Also? Apparently they all have their own stories and I had no idea. So suffice to say, if this is also your first Kelsey Kingsley book, it works beautifully as a stand-alone! However, judging by how much I fell in love with these bandmates, I’m going to have to circle back to get their stories so beware: this book might do some damage to your TBR!
Anyway – on top of these amazing characters, Ms. Kingsley delivered a storyline that was simply top notch. I wasn’t sure how she was going to pull off the chronic illness here. I was intrigued enough to want to find out. I mean, I love a wounded hero, and I loved that this was such a different obstacle for him to overcome, and it was so “real life”. But I still didn’t know how she was going to make something so decidedly unsexy…work in a romance novel. And then, she just did it. She just did it!! And…it wasn’t sexy. But it was emotional and honest and handled with such delicate care that I didn’t even notice how unsexy it was. She made Chad real, and then she made his struggle real and my heart hurt for him and my mind worried over him and it was interesting and authentic and – it just worked. I’m so impressed! I’m so…in awe!
And then, of course, there’s Chad and Molly themselves – adorable, easy-to-love, and sweetly sexy. Their burn was slow – though it fizzed and sparked throughout the early pages, it wasn’t until late in the book that it really caught flame. And somehow? I didn’t mind that. I didn’t feel impatient with it. It was slow and steady and just perfectly lovely. It’s a friends-to-lovers vibe with just a little bit of second-chance mixed in and it was perfectly executed. I adored them. I shipped them, hard and when they finally got together I literally felt like cheering – my heart bubbled over with happiness and, well, I still can’t wipe this smile off my face. It was just so good. So so so good!
This is one of those times I am thanking my lucky stars I took a chance on a new-to-me author. The writing was engaging, smart, and effortless to read. The storytelling was honest and sweetly addicting. I craved it when I wasn’t reading it, I wanted to sink into it for hours, lose time with these wonderful characters and their original, adorable, emotionally satisfying love story. I can’t say it enough: I loved it! I adored it! This is an absolute MUST read! ~ Shelly, 5 #Chally Stars -
Could not put this book down!!! Forget the Stars is an extremely entertaining read that pulled me in from page one, and I was addicted to every word! I loved Molly and Chad and my heart reached out to them, cheering them on from the beginning.
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4.5 Wish List Stars
I think my heart broke with the opening pages. And I’m sure it was supposed to because Kelsey Kingsley is good like that. Those feelings and emotions, happy or sad, are what I’ve come to expect from her stories and it’s what I love about them too. She writes a beautiful romance about life - the good and the bad.
Chad Wilcox is a loving son and fantastic band member but he wants more. He wants a wife and family. He wants to feel better. I wanted more for him. He deserves it.
Molly Dyer is so sweet it’s hard to imagine what she went through. But from that experience she’s grown into a strong, self-confident woman. But with that confidence she may have given up on some of her wishes. I hope she hasn’t.
We all have wants and regrets and things we would change given the opportunity. I loved how Chad & Molly’s story explored that through the past and present. It focused on true support and unconditional love and health issues we sometimes have no control over. They may be characters in a romance, but they are as real as you can get.
Kelsey��s stories are always filled with characters you want to know on a personal level. And not just the main couple, but the supporting cast as well. It’s all about love, second chances, family, friends, acceptance, and everything in between. I loved it.
P.S. Friends are the best. Sebastian is definitely one of them. Read his story in The Life We Wanted. -
I received an early copy of Forget the Stars from Kelsey Kingsley and holy smokes! I love Chad and Molly! This may be my favorite story so far! I love how real her characters are.
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AVAILABLE NOW
http://mybook.to/forgetthestars
$2.99 for a limited time & free with KU!
**From August 26 to September 26, 2019, 10% of all proceeds will be donated to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.** -
5/5 ⭐️
1.75/5 🌶
Tropes:
- small town
- best friends to strangers to lovers
- rockstar hero (guitarist)
- forced proximity (tour bus)
- slow burn
POV: first person - dual
Type: stand-alone -
I love Ms. Kingsley’s writing...like adore her! This book just enforces why I recommend her to everyone!
Do you know when you start reading a series s characters are introduced and you just hope that they get their own books? Welp.....welcome to Chad’s Book!!!! I LOVE Chad and adored Molly so much!!!
Their story was complete and pure love!!! The pain the Chad endures, I just could not imagine!! And Molly.....I just loved how she was there for Chad, wanting to help. You could tell from the written word their love for each other was timeless!!! -
I make no excuses for my love of Kelsey Kingsley's characters, and this Forget the Stars is no exception. We met our successful guitarist in previous books. Chad (Chaddington Bear, oh my gosh) is thirty and not where he thought he'd be at this age. He is living at home between tours with a over-involved parents, has a girlfriend who won't commit, and has some serious health issues that are getting worse. He also has some lingering guilt for treating his childhood friend and neighbor, Molly, poorly while chasing high school popularity.
Molly, on the other hand, has worked hard to put the bullied girl and abandoned friend of her childhood behind her as she enjoys local success as a singer. She, too, has an overbearing mom with whom she shares some trauma from her dad leaving them for a newer, shinier family. This understandably shapes Molly's self-worth. Where Molly could easily be written as a bitter, she chooses to remain as open-hearted and caring. Molly has scars with which we all can relate, but she shines in spite (and in some cases because) of them.
Chad and Molly reconnect and forge a new friendship, one where Chad and his band give Molly the chance to open for their band's tour. The proximity lends Molly a window into how serious Chad's health issues have become. She forces him to be honest about it and is his support when he is diagnosed with UC. Here, Kingsley not only shows the real symptoms and effects of Inflammatory Bowel Disease but also lends such vulnerability to both characters. In the hands of a less compassionate or capable author, this storyline could have been mocking or become preachy. The opposite that happens here. Chad cannot be separated from his chronic diagnosis, and that has repercussions. His parents don't understand, his girlfriend is horrible, and he has to take time off from the band. Molly is his steadying force, and their friendship grows.
Through the book, both Chad and Molly explore their regrets, what happens when one stops wishing, and what happens when real life doesn't align with the plan. As Molly's star rises, can she see that she is worthy of life's opportunities and permanent romantic love? Can Chad find the love and family he so badly wants while learning to live with his diagnosis? You will root for these two to embrace what they each deserve.
I wish I could explain my love of the world of the band members and their families. Through each book, they just get better. I love seeing all of my favorites again, and their support of Chad through his diagnosis is exactly what we would want for ourselves. Sebastian and Chad's friendship is so sweet and authentic to the two characters. Molly's parking lot yoga sessions, rom-coms galore, and plenty of unsolicited Sebastian advice give the book heart and laughter. I would want these characters to be my friends. They are so down-to-earth and decent.
I'll end with what I always say about Kelsey Kingsley's work. Just get it and read it. But this book is extra special. It gives us a glimpse into a painful disease that so many of us either experience or know someone who is affected. Many people with IBD suffer alone since people can be so insensitive to the disease's realties. I hope by shining a light on IBD/UC, we can all be more empathetic to those whose diseases aren't visible. There's so much goodness in this book, and I cannot wait for more people to experience it! -
Kelsey Kingsley's stories always bring emotion and poetry. Her words are powerful, and this story is no exception. Chad and Molly's story is real and beautiful. You won't want to miss this lovely story!
"If I could just stop time from carrying on, I would never, ever choose to leave this moment for as long as I lived. Just to be free and happy, with her." -
Forget the Stars...wow.
I'll be honest and say this is my first Kelsey Kingsley book, even though I have been recommended her books in the past. I'll be going back and reading the ones I've missed, because her writing style is so easy to read. For me, this book was like letting out a sigh while wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket, rocking in my favorite rocking chair on a wraparound porch under a moonlit sky.
It *feels* comfortable, but not boring in the least. As Molly, the heroine in the story says, comfortable doesn't mean bad. And in this case, comfortable means this book gripped my heart, but Kelsey Kingsley's thoughtful words and careful story telling told me I had nothing to worry about.
I won't go into a big description of the story; there are plenty of reviews that offer that. I just want to say how special this story is. How lovely the renewed friendship and slowly-blooming love between Chad and Molly was to read. I loved Molly's strength and the way she knows herself and what she wants. Chad is the ultimate tattooed, rocker, cinnamon roll book boyfriend who I sort of want to snuggle with, or maybe just let him talk to me for a while to hear his accent.
Thank you, Kelsey, for letting me read this. You've got a fan in me! -
I have absolutely loved every member of this band and Chad's book was no different.....except that it was. You see Chad is battling a health issue that he would like to ignore and will it to go away except he can't. Molly helps him not only seek the medical help he needs but helps him accept his diagnosis and shows him the true meaning of love. This book is full of life lessons and life advice.....bullying can leave life long scars... people come into our lives for a reason... everyone is fighting a battle but it's not always visible on the outside...listen to your body and seek medical advice when needed......love can heal. Forget the Stars also includes all of our favorite characters including Jon, Ty, Devin, Sebastian and Greyson.....I absolutely love Seb! In the world of Indie writers Kelsey Kingsley is one star you won't forget!
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Forget the Stars is a wonderful romantic story of two childhood friends, separated in their high school years, then finding their way back to one another many years later. Whilst I absolutely adored Molly and Chads story I feel like it's important to say the issues addressed in this book were absolutely awe inspiring. I don't think I know of one person who can't relate to at least one of the issues described. The authenticity of the words in this story is beautiful. The good and the bad. All of it.
I’ve absolutely devoured everything Kelsey Kingsley has written, ever since discovering her early this year, and I have loved them all. This book, however, is in a class of its own. Like her other works, Kelsey relates the to the journey her characters go on. In this book, Chad and Molly are on a journey of self-acceptance and self-discovery. Both characters have experienced disappointment and failure at some point and both are seeking to be the best version of themselves. What’s wonderful about this story is that while they are individually strong, it’s when they come together as one is where their journey of self-discovery by being their best selves, is when they surrender to each other. Their story is incredibly moving.
I've never read anything quite like this book before, and I am so impressed and awestruck by Kelsey's willingness and ability to do these characters justice in their flawed perfection. It's a wonderful read, one that I couldn't put down until I was finished. Kelsey Kingsley deserves full credit and acknowledgement for sharing her heart so beautifully. -
Book 4 of this authors stories about Devin and the band. This book follows the life of Chad the guitarist. The 3 previous books in this series have exceeded my expectations - this one was good and I enjoyed it......but not as much as the other 3 stories. I loved the relationship between Chad and Molly, I'm glad they got their second chance and worked through their stuff in the first half!! But it did feel a little flat and bogged down toward the latter half with all the previous friendship stuff since their wasn't much chemistry for me to support the 2nd half of the book. It was more about the history, which was OK too. Just not my favorite way to style it!!! still 4 stars!
Also - Sorry this isn't marked here at GR as a series, but it is part of one even though each book can be ready as standalones, but you will miss back story and characters if you read out of published order. -
What does it say about an author and her work when the tag line for my review heading comes from the acknowledgements and not the body of the book? With this author, I can tell you it speaks to her beautiful, compassionate heart that she pours freely into her work, every single time. With this book, I dare say, that’s even more true.
Chad Wilcox, guitarist for the insanely hot rock group, Devin O'Leary and the Blue Existence, thought by the time he turned thirty his life would look a little different than it does. Yes, the professional success is there, but his eight-year romantic relationship has stalled. When he gets reacquainted with his childhood best friend, Molly Dwyer, things come clearly into focus and Chad makes a long-needed change. He's also dealing with an illness he's ignored for far too long, until he has no choice but to face it head on, but now he has his best friend at his side.
Once again, I'm in awe of this author's talent and versatility, giving us another book that is so different from the last but no less touching and profound. Of course these characters own my heart, but there are hidden depths in their story that I'm still discovering. Chad and Molly are perfectly humanized and beautifully flawed, and with no effort at all they burrowed deep and carried me along through their poignant, heartfelt story.
This author paints a sobering, gripping picture of a devastating illness, making it real and authentic while eliciting true compassion and understanding. She then draws back the curtain on the bullies, benevolently humanizing them and casting them in a new light. She took a huge risk and, for me, it paid off in spades. We all love a romance that lets us escape, because really, that’s why we read them. But this book stopped me in my tracks, making me think, opening my eyes and changing my heart, and that, dear reader, is an invaluable gift.
This book may not be for every reader. Some may not get it, and some will simply want an escape and nothing more, and that's certainly understandable. I have no doubt those who have read the other books in the series will snatch this one up simply to catch up with the other characters, because it’s like reacquainting with old friends and, for some of us, like coming home. But if you want a book with eternally endearing and relatable characters, a heartfelt, captivating, poignant storyline, and one that has the potential to compassionately enlighten the reader, ponder it no more and get your copy of this one today.
*I read an early edition of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide feedback and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source. -
I was given an advance readers copy of this book and have decided to write a voluntary honest review. I've always hated bullying it truly rubs me the wrong way. Chad's and Molly book showed me that there are even adult Billy's till this day and its really sad, because as adults we shouid know better. And bullying someone over a medical condition that's just really ugly. With weight you can always try change your diet exercise etc. But with no cure medical condition you have to livevit with it. I was never bullied but I was teased a lot about my height I am extremely short always have been and my brother the stuff would call me smurfette at first it bothered me but now it's like whatever cause I can't change it I'm just short and cute lol. So ya bullying sucks. And I feel deeply for Chad but he's still great guy and crazy talented. Not everyone can say that about themselves but Chad can.
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Kelsey gets me with the feels every book of hers I read, and Forget the Stars is no different. It’s a friends-to-lovers story dealing with a chronic illness and insecurities. The love story isn’t easy or pretty while these two characters reconnect during a difficult time, but yet it is. The love Molly and Chad share is beautiful, deep, and touching. Kelsey created a beautiful story that shows the effects chronic illness has on everyone as well as both sides of a story involving bullies and their victims. While she shows us the grey area between the black and white, she also shows us the what love is capable of.
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Chad is a guitarist in a band, who is home to stay with his parents before the bands next tour. Chad is reflecting back on his personal life as it has not panned out the way he envisaged it would at turning 30 as well as having being diagnosed with a serious illness, and he runs into his childhood best friend, Molly. It is beautiful to read how Molly and Chad’s slowly blooming love develops. This is a well written story which has me intrigued and hooked throughout. I look forward to reading more from this talented author, whose work I recommend for all.
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This book was sooo good!
I have been looking forward to reading about Chad getting his HEA, and Molly was the most perfect heroine that could ever be written for him.
I highly recommend reading this book as soon as it’s available! It’s timely, with the subject matter, and shows compassion for something most people don’t want to talk about. -
Chally 4EVA
I'm a big Kelsey fan, so I knew I'd love this book before knowing anything about it. What I didn't know is how deep it would move me. I should have known though, because she always finds a way to break the mold and set a new standard of excellence.
Chad and Molly were bffs until the teen years and life separated them. When they meet up again they automatically fall back into sync with each other, as if those years apart didn't change anything. Their story feels like home, it feels like pure, unconditional love. It's a reminder that compassion and patience is a gift to be cherished.
This story became personal because I, like so many others, deal too often with bowl issues. They are isolating and come with so much guilt for those we love. Kelsey brought this issue to a romance book with such dignity and authenticity that many wouldn't be able to do. Keep doing you girl...you shine the brightest 😁 -
Okay. So, I read this. I'm undecided as yet if it's a 3 or 3.5. Either way, it's a hell of a lot higher than anything else I've rated lately.
The book was a mixed bag for me, but what lifts it out of 'neutral' territory for me is the writer's bravery in meeting an apparent challenge she was given. The challenge was to create a character who is diagnosed with a chronic, potentially debilitating - and many would say ugly - condition.
Kudos to her for not going the tired-ass MS route, or romanticising cancer, which seems to be the trend these days. Inflammatory bowel disease is the culprit here in the form of ulcerative colitis, and the hero is the sufferer.
I despise illness plots in romance. The writers always go for maximum-impact drama and the sick one either dies or the end of the book is bittersweet because it's understood the quality of their life will go down the shitter BEFORE they die.
This book is not like that.
It's not grim. There are some difficult moments, mostly with the sometimes unpredictable nature of the condition and the absolute asinine ignorance of some people.
My nan had Crohn's disease and because of seeing what it was like for her, I found the writer did proper research. I respect that. It pisses me off when writers don't bother getting their facts straight.
So, on the choice of a 'not tragically poignant' disease and the matter-of-fact and realistic portrayal, well-done.
The part where I wasn't so satisfied was the couple themselves. They were childhood friends who were raised next door, but drifted apart in high school. They had never been more than friends but there were some hurt feelings involved. When they reconnect at age 30, the H has been in a long-term relationship well past its expiry date. There is no hostility between them and progression of the romance is slow and relatively low in conflict - and perhaps that was the problem. It was all so...tepid. From my viewpoint, their chemistry was weak. There hadn't been any unrequited love on either side and honestly, I felt like they were just a means to an end. Like they did the whole 'if we're not married by 30' bit.
The illness of the H is more subplot, only taking center stage when he becomes seriously sick and finally receives a diagnosis, but even that part was pretty lukewarm. Molly, the heroine, was one of those 'quirky' girls that I generally find annoying - but she was too unremarkable even for that.
It's a telltale sign that I didn't connect when I can't recall names, but I think the H"s name was Cole?
Don't quote me on that.
At any rate he was the most beta rock and roll musician ever. He was as 'bad boy' as a librarian and about as effeminate. No Sex, Drugs, Rock-n-Roll here.
Look, I love a sensitive hero, but he's gotta have some edge, too. Biting the h during sex doesn't count.
I'm going with 3.5. It didn't knock my socks off, but it matters more that it didn't infuriate, offend or sicken me. -
Forget the Stars was absolutely amazing.
Chad and Molly were, at one point, inseparable. Then life happened. Forget the Stars is the emotional journey of two best friends reconnecting and exploring the second chance designed in the stars.
There is just something about a vulnerable hero that gets me every time and Chad Wilcox was no exception. His pain becomes your pain thanks to Kelsey’s descriptive writing and the ability to invoke emotional pull. And, with a nickname like Chaddington Bear, he is everything.
Molly is an amazing woman. She is exceptional in how she become ‘herself’ and still manages to care deeply for others. Her love for Chad and willingness to support him always was breathtaking.
Kelsey Kingsley not only managed to gracefully and truthfully write about a somewhat uncomfortable topic with the main character, but she also managed to fully bring to light what it’s like to hide behind a façade of “fine”. She brought light to a disease that is not that uncommon, and it not known for being pretty.
Yet, she also brought to light how someone living with chronic illness can love and be loved. This story should be the definition of friends-to-lovers done right.
This book is emotional and had just the perfect amount of humor thro0wn in from other characters to make it bearable.
Cameos from all the characters throughout the series are featured in here and leave it to Sebastian to make you laugh time and again. Plus, all the other fun times with Taylor Swift, yoga, and the rom-com movies.
This book was one of Kelsey’s best to date. Highly recommend not just this book, but the entire series.
And as always from my reviews, my top quotes of the book. (Not so easy this time, I swear I highlighted almost every chapter.)
“if it made you feel any better, I’d dim the stars if I could. If it meant you’d feel that much brighter.”
“gotta warn you Molls, …. When you come home… things aren’t going to be the same.”
“You think you’re going to make beautiful baby bears together?” <--My FAVE
“Our mothers had said we were always written in the stars, and I never knew how true that was until every wish I’d ever wished came true just by knowing her again.” -
So far not bad. But I am at an absolute loss as why Chad is still with Ali? They have no chemistry, he clearly does not love her, and she treats him like crap? How likely is it he would not have dumped her ass found someone else ages ago? Also, so far Molly and Chad have zero chemistry.
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I have never read a book like this and I can almost guarantee I never will again! This is a story in a class all by itself. I need a day to absorb all that this book is saying before I can write a review worthy of this book.
This story is about bullying, quiet turmoil, best friends, what true friendship is, lifelong friendship, hidden shame, forgiveness, hope, love and unrequited love, family love, family from outside, illness, quality of life, and lack of quality of life, self esteem, what good old hometown means, team, faceless cowardliness, acceptance and seeing the bigger picture and be willing to accept it or reject it, learning to take a chance, willing to give a second chance, showing that everyone even bullies have problems. Every single person has a story to tell.
Kudos to the author, who took a risk and wrote an honest, story about unpleasant issues. She went against the usual type and nailed it. This is a story that will definitely help others. It helped me. However, this book is so much more than just that. This is a Humane story about people, it doesn't matter rich, famous, average, poor. It’s about people. It has depth, grit and tenderness. The author has outdone herself. Yes, I am a fan of her work but there are so many reasons. She never writes the same story twice. She throws herself into every passage of the story. You can’t write like she does and not be part of the story. Yes, it is a romance book, yes it falls into the happily ever after but this is a book that follows the journey and the destination. However, in this book the journey never ends. Just like in real life we resolve and hit destinations for a time but we continue on. Life isn’t one act it has several scenes and many acts.
Chad isn’t your typical muscle man hero. He’s flawed and has severe issues but his flaws and his honesty make him so darn attractive. You feel him deep in your soul. He’s a good man.
Molly, (I love that name), has been insecure her whole life, for good reasons. She’s been betrayed, hurt, bullied and yet she has survived and come through the other side but not without battle scars.
Together, we get to witness the journey. It’s not all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows. What we get is honesty, life in all forms, hope and love.
Fortunately we get reacquainted with characters from previous books and that’s a treat. If you’ve never met Sebastian well you need to get on that train. We also have the not so nice people.
Don’t worry you’ll get the laughs, romance, and heat you’re looking for but it’s all portrayed realistically.
There’s a saying, “ good things come in small packages”. Well this is just a little book but it packs a wallop!
I would say don’t forget your dreams, don’t forget your wishes, don’t forget to love and don’t Forget the Stars. You will love every moment of this story. To Kelsey I say you’ve done it again. You never cease to amaze me. This is a book that requires ALL the Stars, an entire universe of them! -
"Forget the Stars" is an emotional and inspiring read, continuing the story of Devin O'Leary's band mates with this exploration of Chad Wilcox's (aka Chaddington Bear by Sebastian) life. Each member of the band has faced challenges in life and love, and Chad is no exception. What makes this book shine is Kelsey Kingsley's thoughtful and sensitive portrayal of an illness that is still too often shrouded in secrecy and shame because of the social taboos inherent in the disease. Kingsley doesn't shy away from describing the very real impact of Chad's illness on his daily life and function, including on his closest relationships. The emotional impact of the illness is addressed in Chad's reluctance to seek medical care because of a fear of what the diagnosis might be, his exhaustion in managing the questions and concerns of those close to him, and the very painful inner narrative of self-doubt that, at times, seems like a mild depression.
If you're thinking this doesn't sound much like fodder for a romance, it's only because you have not yet witnessed Kingsley's ability to create beauty out of ashes. As she did with the complicated grief experienced by Jon in "Tell Me Goodnight," Kingsley again takes a topic that just seems too hard and too real for a romance, and constructs a story of love that grows in the midst of those challenges. I require a HEA (or at least a HFN) of the books I read - I see too much hard reality in my work and fictional hope is my antidote! I would absolutely describe this book as one with a happy ending, despite the fact that Chad's illness is clearly described as chronic and potentially relapsing. Kingsley's ability to write a beautiful love story, without resolving every problem or making everything perfect at the end, is truly a gift and one of my favourite parts of how she writes. She inspires an authentic hopefulness that true love and beautiful relationships can flourish even in imperfect circumstances.
The heroine, Molly, has her own challenges, some of which relate directly to her past with Chad. I'm usually not a huge fan of flashbacks. However, in the hands of a skilled story-teller like Kingsley, they add much to fleshing out the background of the characters' relationship in a way that enhances the reader's understanding of how they are navigating the present day. The mothers in the story are appropriately annoying and endearing, both with the developing relationship and Chad's illness. So glad they got their lifelong wish in the end.
I think there are some readers who may interpret Chad as morose or even whiny in his inner dialogue and how he deals with his illness. Knowing people who live with the same disease, I would counter with a protective response: it is truly exhausting and demoralizing to be continuously sick and in pain, especially with an undiagnosed and untreated disease. There is a strong connection between the gut and the brain, so diseases that affect one often impact the other. In addition, depression is more common in individuals with chronic illness, especially when it is untreated or sub-optimally treated. The portrayal of this character is highly realistic and, in my opinion, he functions well and copes well despite horrible circumstances. (He tours with a band!!)
I was happy for Chad that he not only finds romantic love, but learns the depths of his friends' care for him during his darkest days. There are two love stories here, and the love of his friends is as heart-warming as the friends-to-lovers story. Amidst what could be too heavy a story in the hands of a less adept writer, Sebastian makes frequent appearances, lightening the mood with his trademark irreverent humour at both the right and wrong moments - as is his specialty! He is my favourite character in this universe and I was so glad he was so present in this story.
I was in love with this book after reading the "Note from the Author" and in tears by the end of the Prologue. This is a truly exceptional read, as I have come to expect from this author.
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
