Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Disclaimer: While Forever Perfect is a standalone in a series, I do think reading the earlier books in Alison G. Bailey’s The Perfect Series would lend depth to this book. I did not read the earlier books, so I found myself guessing over the relationships between the female and male protagonists and their parents. To understand Halle and Brandon, I recommend starting with book 1, Present Perfect, and reading through to this newest book in the series.
That being said, Alison G. Bailey’s Forever Perfect is textbook soulmates, best friend’s brother romance. In this story, Halle and Brandon have loved each other from childhood, but Brandon continually denies his interest in Halle. In their youth, it has more to do with her proximity to his sister, but later he chooses to avoid her because his best friend asks her out. Much of this story is Brandon’s denial of his love for Halle, and Bailey puts her reader through the paces with these two. Like Brandon, Halle also denies her attraction to Brandon, and she hides in her relationship with Ryan. It isn’t until catastrophe strikes and their reality rushes in to wake them up that they acknowledge their love for each other. After that, Forever Perfect rushes on as an insta-love story until its breathtaking, forever-type of a happy ending.
Everything in Forever Perfect is expected for the tropes that Bailey has chosen for Halle and Brandon. You can’t help but like them. Their denial of love is frustrating, and I’m not certain that I care for the way that Bailey removes Ryan from the situation. It’s my biggest criticism of the book. I also think that Halle and Brandon’s story is similar to their parents which makes it feel like an addendum instead of a new space for them. But again, I didn’t read the earlier books, and I’m uncertain about it.
Did I enjoy reading Forever Perfect? Absolutely! Would I recommend it? Yes. Did it bowl me over? Not really. However, if you’ve read the earlier stories, I imagine this book packs a bigger emotional punch. In the end, it’s another opportunity to spend some time with Alison G. Bailey as she invites you into her world of storytelling.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 