What a fun and hilarious meet cute! Jay and Gabrielle both have tragic pasts and with her sons they have a lot to work through. It takes a lot to get to their happily ever after. There were a couple of points where if felt like my chest was caving in, but that epilogue made the pain worth it.

Gabrielle: FMC, divorced, single mom, a do-it-yourselfer. Comes back home to Alden, Ohio with her two sons, Dylan and Carter. Chaotic & klutzy.

Jay: grumpy, hot carpenter next door neighbor, OCD about organization, the very opposite of Gabrielle.

Both MCs overcome traumatic past experiences to become a sweet blended family. Such a great HEA! Loved this one by Adriana Locke!

Many thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest review.

What a great book! I loved that both of the MC’s were older and I’m a sucker for a single parent book. I was a single mom with younger kids years ago and I still remember feeling some of the same things as Gabrielle. I also had a son that acted out like Dylan as I started dating again….those were some difficult times and Adriana Locke portrayed them perfect. With all that said however, Carter was the star of this book! Gah I love that kid!!

I absolutely loved this book! I devoured it in almost one night. Adriana Locke perfectly balances humor, heart and angst in this new stand alone.

Gabby is a divorced mother of two whose ex just passed away. She moves back to her hometown for a fresh start. Her oldest is struggling with grief, teen angst and anger. Jay is her neighbor who is closed off and grumpy. Jay is dealing with his own grief which keeps him distant from most people until he meets Gabby and her boys.

Gabby and Jay have the funniest meet cute. And their witty banter will keep you laughing and wanting more. Gabby’s sass keeps Jay on his toes and wanting more. Their push/pull is desire and angst at its best. Gabby is absolutely adorable with her desire to DIY home projects but badly. And Jay with his attempt to keep his distance but inability to watch Gabby harm herself with such projects. It makes for such fun reading.

Jay is so swoony with his inability to stay away from Gabby. His vulnerability is just another layer of his attractiveness. And the way in which his relates to Gabby’s boys will melt your heart. If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh while melting your heart go ahead and pick this up.

Thanks to Adriana Locke, NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC opportunity.

this was such a cute read. i love reading neighbors to lovers books. i met my husband when he bought the house next door to my parents. i loved seeing jay and gabrielle work through things and how great jay was with his two boys, carter and dylan. especially dylan who was having a hard time with things. i’d really like to see the side characters with books too!

Between Now and Forever is a modest yet sweet and endearing single mother romance. This book had tons of swoony and amusing moments, while also interlacing a smidge of drama throughout to balance the plotline and add some depth.

Gabrielle meets her grumpy neighbor Jay by falling off the porch after shamelessly checking him out, but who can blame her. It was an adorable meet cute and set a good beginning to the story. Gabrielle is a fiercely protective and caring mother who’s trying to start a new life after her ex-husband passes away. Her boys are endeavoring to navigate a new world without their dad in it and it causes some tension and irate moments with her son. While his anger is expected and warranted it still hurt to witness this boy break.

Jay is the grumpy guy next door that keeps literally everyone at a distance. His past and struggles with coming to terms with his attraction to his neighbor adds some much-needed angst to the story. Watching his internal struggles throughout the story really sheds light on just how hurt he was and everything he’s trying to overcome. He keeps a fierce wall up but slowly Gabrielle and her boys break it down.

Whereas the story was overall a light and diverting romance, it fell flat at times and was a little boring at others. I needed more build up between them to really feel their connection and to add more fire, more passion, just more to the overall story. There was next to no expanse of time for their relationship to grow, Jay denied his attraction for a minute and then bam they were together, it happens in what feels like a single day. I love Adriana’s writing, and her books will always be recommended by me, and while I didn’t get what I needed from the story it was still a simple easy to read book that will leave you feeling good by the end.

I wanted to love this more than I did, as I've read/listened to Adriana's books in the past and have loved them.
Jay and Gabrielle's story felt a little superficial to me, particularly as a book featuring a widow and single mom. The fact that Gabrielle's younger son accepted Jay as a father figure so readily seemed unrealistic, even though he was only 6 when his father passed. I anticipated more push-back and drama like what came from her teenaged son.

The meet-cute was funny, and it was clear that there was chemistry there from the beginning. I appreciated that this book had humor, was low-angst, and an easy read, but I feel as though it could have had a little more character depth and polishing.

Between Now and Forever by Adriana Locke 🧡
Standalone (but I’m hoping for more in this world 😁)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance
ARC Reader
253 pages
🗓️ December 17

🧡small town
🧡single mom
🧡neighbors to lovers
🧡grumpy x sunshine
🧡found family

📍 “I could never hate you, Gabrielle. Not when I think I love you.”

📍”They are mine—all three of them.”

Just call me Santa because this is my gift to you! The gift of a recommendation that will hit all the marks. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Wholesome, incredibly well paced and with all the right elements to capture one’s attention, Between Now and Forever was a bag of chips; one can’t just read a chapter at a time… the same way we can’t eat just the one chip; the whole bag is gone by the time you look.

Gabrielle’s interactions with Jay made my heart burst with joy, but it was the found family in this group of girl friends that made this book insanely good. That and her kids… Jay and her kids… Gabrielle and her kids. I can’t express the way my heart is trying to break free of my chest. 🥹

I’ve been a fan of Adriana Locke for a while. Her books are always what I need, when I need them. But this one? This one is special 🫶🏼

What would you do if you basically fell off your porch in nothing but a flimsy towel right in front of your hot neighbor? I would simply pass away. However, Gabby takes it like a champ, just like all the other unfortunate things life has recently thrown her way. That said hot neighbor is your typical grumpy guy who ends up with a soft spot, but for only one girl in particular. I really enjoyed this story and the fun, quirky friends we met along the way. This was a quick, to-the-point romance read, and I’m glad there wasn’t too much fluff thrown in there. It was the perfect amount.

Release day: 12.17.24

🖤Grumpy/Sunshine
🖤Small town romance
🖤Single mom
🖤Dual POV
🖤Neighbors

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A grump who wants nothing to do with anyone and a single mom trying to put herself out there.

A laugh out loud meet cute that leads to both Gabrielle and Jay constantly thinking about each other.

I enjoy reading this author because while she is witty in her stories, she also writes stories with heart. This one was one of those with heart. I couldn't help but feel for both these characters backgrounds. I loved how the children were written into the story and wasn't just a mention here and there, they were a part of the story and somewhat of a matchmaker.

A book with banter, laughs, friendship, starting over and allowing oneself to move on from the past is what you'll find.

I gave Gabrielle and Jay 4 🦋

Oh My Heart!!

I’ve just started reading Ms. Locke, and I’m finding the depth of emotion, and development of characters is absolutely superb - every time. Gabrielle was divorced, but remained friends with her ex in raising their two boys. His death in a car accident toppled her world, and her sons.

She moves to Ohio for a fresh start and to be near her cousin Cricket. Seven-year-old Carter is adaptable, fourteen-year-old Dylan shows his adolescent attitude. Neighbor Jay is a carpenter, and tries not to watch her hurt herself attempting home improvement projects. But she is a bit accident prone.

Jay helped raise his girlfriend's daughter, until in a snit she left, and allowed no further contact with what he considered his “daughter”. He has built high walls around his heart.

Small town wonderfulness, therapeutic kitchen painting, wine drinking and crying. A great cast of characters, and a journey of healing, growing up and finding love. Wow - stellar!

This was my first Adriana Locke book - and I was instantly captivated by her humorous yet poignant writing style.

I loved that this was focused on "elder millennials" - it was refreshing to read a book about a woman my own age. I loved how the complexity of motherhood was addressed throughout the book, and the concept of sacrificing oneself for others. I loved how both Jay and Gabrielle acknowledged their own issues - and listened to others. I'm happy that Gabrielle was given a "found family", as it made the story more feasible and lighthearted

Overall, I found the book to be well written, humorous and with a nice level of depth - although it was a bit rushed. Though the end was a little far-fetched (the timeline of when Gabrielle and Jay met to the conclusion was about 3-4 months), I liked the way the author tied everything up.

Many thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Recently one of my favorite things in a book is an explosive first kiss, especially when the tension has been mounting. Gabrielle and Jay’s story had exactly that type of first kiss and their chemistry had been building from the beginning. The story could have shown more of their journey, but it still brought the feelings of these complicated characters out in a realistic way. I enjoyed Gabrielle’s new friend group. They brought much needed humor to the story and a couple of them could easily have stories of their own. Also if this were a movie, Carter would have been stealing all the scenes.

OH MY GOSH!! I don't know where to start! I loved this one so much! Like so much. This one had me so dang giddy and then had me so emotional I was crying! Miss Adriana! You killed it!

Gabrielle and her two boys move back to her hometown after her ex-husband passes away. They move across the street from Jay, the grumpy carpenter. Between helping Gabrielle with things around the house and her youngest son that won't leave him alone, Jay can't seem to stay away from his gorgeous new neighbor.

The meet cute for this one was absolutely hilarious and adorable all at the same time! Jay was prickly at first, but once he let his walls down, he was incredible! The way he was with both of Gabrielle's boys was my favorite thing about him! He was so patient and understanding! Gah!! He was so hot! Gabrielle was so relatable as a mom. She was trying to do it all herself, but sometimes, as moms, we need help and companionship, and that was what Jay was for her. He was someone to lean on, and I just adored their relationship! The banter was fun, and the chemistry was immediate between them! This was a quick, easy read full of sweet and funny moments but also an emotional aspect that brought me to tears.

Thank you, Adriana and Netgalley, for this ARC.

Jay and Gabby's story is one about healing after loss. While they are grieving different types of loss, they are still learning to move forward and understand that it’s okay to keep living. Carter and Dylan add an extra layer of depth to Gabby and her healing because she has to be there for them and while it’s not easy, show them it’s okay to move forward with life. This book is a beautiful story and Adriana Locke will forever be an auto buy author. Thanks to Montlake Publishing, NetGalley, and Adriana Locke for the ARC!!

DNF’ed this book at 30%. I tried to push through but I just couldn’t keep my focus on the book and I didn’t want to skip paragraphs or full pages to do say I read it.

However, I do give a 3 star because it’s not a bad book. It’s just wasn’t for me.

I usually enjoy the single mom trope, so Gabrielle being a mom wasn’t the issue. The issue is that there was 0 chemistry between her and Jay, at least in my opinion. They were grown up adults around my age and it didn’t feel like I was reading a 38 year-old and a 40 year-old talk normal. It was… weird. I don’t know how to explain it other than maybe Adriana Locke’s writing style is simply not for me.

Thank you Montlake, NetGalley and VPR for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gabrielle returned to her hometown with her sons, Dylan and Carter, seeking a fresh start after the loss of her ex, who had been her best friend. Despite her grief and her boys struggling to adjust, she remained a devoted mother, doing everything she could to ease their transition. Though witty, funny, and full of charm, Gabrielle was still grappling with her pain, and when she moved next door to Jay, the light in her soul had yet to fully return.

Jay, scarred by a past relationship with a single mother who cut him off after their breakup, had withdrawn into a solitary life of work, occasional meetups with a friend, and meaningless flings. Helping the single mom next door wasn’t something he intended to get involved with, but his undeniable attraction to Gabrielle pulled him in.

Gabrielle, longing for love and connection, found herself drawn to Jay’s protective, bossy, yet unexpectedly charming nature. He made her feel alive again. But Jay’s unresolved demons made it difficult for him to commit, and he ran when things got tough. However, he quickly realized his mistake.

Their journey from unlikely friends to lovers was filled with banter, sass, and healing. Gabrielle helped Jay confront his fears, while Jay brought love and joy back into her life. Together, they broke down walls and found the love they both deserved.

Adriana is an auto read author for me and I just love her writing. She never fails to deliver a sweet, witty and heartwarming romance that hits me in the feels.

Gabrielle is a single mama who’s returned to her hometown with her two sons. A little accident prone, she ends up falling and being rescued by her neighbour Jay. Due to past hurt, he’s sworn off love but he never expected Gabrielle and he can’t deny the pull between them.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: small town romance, neighbours to lovers, single mama, grumpy neighbour.

Gabrielle was the typical boy mum I could relate a lot to. She was strong and determined and I really admired her. Her home improvement attempts had me giggling at times and I loved the way Jay stepped up to help her and her boys. While this dealt with navigating loss, grief and second chances it was balanced beautifully with witty moments that had me giggling.

I love a man who steps up for children who aren’t his and Jay was the perfect fit for this little family. The bond he builds with Gabby’s sons, especially Dylan, was a highlight for me and I really loved their moments. He understood Dylan in a way others didn’t, knowing the way he acted was out of fear due to his grief and helped him to navigate it.

I loved the friendship group in this, the found family vibes and warm and fuzzy feelings they bought. Looking forward to what’s next from Adriana!

Gabrielle is a single mom to two sons, one teen and one in grade school. She moves back to her hometown and has a meet-cute disaster with her hot but surly neighbor, Jay.
He ends up spending time helping her with some projects at her house, and they give in to their attraction for a bit. Jay has baggage, too. It was interesting to see if they could work things out and how, especially with her kids and some other factors.
The book was a quick read, almost too quick. I wanted a bit more development of their relationship, but overall it was a good story with likeable characters I rooted for.

Adriana Locke delivers a heartfelt, emotional journey in Between Now and Forever. This grumpy-sunshine, single-mom, neighbors-to-lovers romance beautifully balances humor, heartache, and the irresistible charm of small-town life.
Jay and Gabrielle are compelling opposites. Jay, with his guarded heart and reluctance to let anyone in, is a classic grump who you can’t help but root for. Gabrielle, on the other hand, is a ray of sunshine—a strong, determined mom trying to piece her life back together for herself and her two sons. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their slow-burn romance feels authentic and deeply satisfying.
Speaking of her sons, they steal the show in the best way. The older boy’s teenage angst adds depth and tension, while the younger son’s hilarious and surprisingly wise remarks bring much-needed levity to the story.
The small-town vibe is another highlight, with quirky neighbors and a setting that feels like home. Locke’s writing captures both the humor and the struggles of everyday life, creating a story that’s as heartwarming as it is poignant.
If you love grumpy-sunshine romances with strong family themes and plenty of laughs, Between Now and Forever is a must-read. Adriana Locke has once again crafted a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.