When your life's mission is to help others in Africa your personal life gets thrown to the wayside. But when a younger man catches your attention and then keeps turning up. What's a bit older gal to do?

Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC! I really enjoyed Kendall Ryan’s writing here and I loved Hart’s character. This book started off really strong, but as the chapters went on it seemed like the same issues kept repeating themselves without development. Personally, I felt that their age gap was mentioned one too many times and turned into a larger issue than it needed to be. Alessia had the potential for a strong character arc and I wish we got to see her learn to trust herself and Hart more. While I liked that her ties to Doctors Without Borders influenced her career and that she was passionate about providing resources for underserved populations, her efforts came across as a bit of white saviorism to me.

This was a light fun and quick read. I enjoyed getting to know Alessia and Hart. They met in a cute way and kept running into each other in different parts of the world. This book defines the definition of slow burn. It was very easy to read, and I enjoyed the whole book.

Kendall Ryan’s A Beginner’s Guide to Forever is a captivating blend of contemporary romance and thriller elements that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The story features a compelling friends-to-lovers dynamic with an age gap twist, set against a globe-trotting backdrop that adds excitement and depth to the romance.

What I enjoyed most was the seamless mix of heartfelt emotion and suspense, which made the narrative both engaging and unpredictable. Ryan’s characters are well-developed and relatable, with genuine chemistry that evolves naturally throughout the story. The balance of steamy romance and thrilling plot twists kept me eagerly turning pages.

While some plot points follow familiar romance tropes, the fresh setting and strong character interactions give the story a unique flavor. The pacing is well-managed, allowing for both emotional growth and moments of tension without feeling rushed.

Overall, A Beginner’s Guide to Forever is a solid four-star read for fans of contemporary romance who appreciate a mix of passion, suspense, and heartfelt moments. Kendall Ryan delivers a memorable and entertaining story that’s definitely worth picking up.

Romance readers, you need to read this A Beginner's Guide to Forever! Alessia and Hart's story is so fun, I didn't want to put this book down once I started reading. It is an adorable reverse age gap romance. I could totally see this as a movie. I enjoyed A Beginner's Guide to Forever so much that I already have two other Kendall Ryan books on hold from the library.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC, and of course, Kendall Ryan. All views and opinions are entirely my own.

OK so this one was a real letdown for me, especially since I've been a fan of Kendall Ryan's books in the past. I was super excited about the setup, nonprofit powerhouse meets younger billionaire guy while jetting around the world doing meaningful work? Let's Fucking Go! It just didn't deliver.

The biggest problem... these two had ZERO chemistry. Like, none. Their first meeting felt so forced that I immediately couldn't buy into their connection. I kept waiting for that moment where I'd be like "OK I get it now, I see why they're into each other" but it never happened. Their attraction just wasn't believable at all, which made it impossible to root for them.

And these characters? Both Alessia and Hart were just... bland. Despite all the impressive stuff they were supposed to have going on, neither of them felt like real people with actual personalities. I couldn't connect with either of them because they felt like cardboard cutouts instead of three-dimensional characters with real emotions and motivations.

I did manage to finish the book (hence the 2 stars instead of 1), but I was basically dragging myself through it rather than being hooked by the story. Such a bummer because the concept had so much potential!

Alessia & Hart’s story shows us the power of love transcends age (age of consent, as was applicable in this case, obviously allowing). Whilst both parties live in abject wealth, it was lovely to see that they used a great deal of their resources to give back and do good, instead of for solely shallow adventures. Covering multiple countries, the vast differences between extreme poverty and incredible wealth included in that, the poverty was covered with extreme kindness and respect, Hart was a lovely green flag to read about. The book reminded me a little of some of the vibes of The Idea Of You, with a more diverse travel background. All in all I devoured it and found it both to be a mostly easy and gentle read - minus the heartbreaking situations in Africa that thankfully a lot of were rectified by the kindness of the characters - during busy Mamahood life. I also found it quite moving that the school is a real life school that you can donate to.

Clearly I got sucked into this cover and title because this was not what I was expecting. I think a lot of people will like this but the tropes and content was not what I was expecting/what I enjoy

I’ve been holding out for a new Kendal Ryan book for so long now, I think my expectations were set a little too high. This one was a cute little romance, whereas I remember loving her books for the grit and spice.

Alessia Moore is a fiercely determined woman who works extremely hard on projects to help the less fortunate. Wondering if she will ever find her happily ever after she finds herself falling for a younger man. Is this just a fling she shouldn’t waste her time on, or has she been looking in the wrong places for so long now.

Hart intrigued me from the start. He is mysterious and romantic and has his sights set on Alessia. The slow burn was working well until it started to drop on a little too much. The lack of communications between to two characters became a bit frustrating. I wanted an explosion of passion towards the ending but it just kinda wrapped up and finished.

A quick little romantic number with minimal spice. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC

This book was super cute! I really enjoyed reading it. It made both smile and giggle. I liked the storyline. Thanks NetGalley for this arc!

(3.7 Stars)
Alessia Moore is a successful nonprofit businesswoman but she only wishes her romantic life could be as successful. When the son of one of her investors, Hart Winthrop, takes an interest in not only her but her work can she finally let loose? She might be worried he is too young for her as she wants more than just love but sometimes it’s worth taking a chance. This is a reverse age gap with beautiful backdrops around the world and a humanitarian mission. A slow burn romance and if you enjoy an older woman finding love this is for you. Told in first person

Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

I don't have much to say except their relationship felt rushed, i didn't really believe in their connection and i was also really bored.

Ahh Kendall Ryan, where have you been loca?! It’s been so long since she’s released a new book and it was great reading from her again. The heroine and hero were truly meant to be. I loved every aspect of this.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

⭐ 3.5 | 🌶️ 1
Tropes: Age Gap (Older Woman), Multi-city, Millionaire, Independent FMC

This was such a refreshing and unexpected read, and very different from the Kendall Ryan books I’ve read before.

Alessia is 37, running a nonprofit in Nairobi, and she’s laser-focused on building something meaningful. Her love life? Complicated. She desperately wants a baby and is open to having one on her own if needed, but struggles to balance her life’s mission with a traditional relationship. Then she meets Hart, 25, a confident and charming son of a billionaire investor, who might potentially back her foundation.

From the beginning, there’s this spark, but also so many reasons why it shouldn’t work - the age gap, the professional complications, the question of whether someone that young could ever truly be ready for the kind of life Alessia envisions.

I really loved the reversal of the usual age gap dynamic. Hart didn’t feel immature - he was driven, grounded, and emotionally intelligent. Alessia was understandably wary of his playboy past, especially with models and superficial scenes. Still, as a reader, it was easy to see that he had just been waiting, almost unknowingly, for something real. He didn’t try to pull her into his world; he was determined to be part of hers. That shift felt both romantic and respectful.

One of my favourite parts was how her passion for her work inspired him. His hobby, something he’d just done for fun, became something much more, offering workshops in underdeveloped communities to help others get a better start. She never asked him to do that. Just being with her shifted his perspective, and I loved that.

That said, I do wish we’d gotten a little more of the emotional development between them. It sometimes felt like the love was just there, without enough of the “why.” I would’ve loved more of their conversations, their bonding, and the deeper reasons they connected, especially considering the weight of the choices Alessia was grappling with. The chemistry didn't feel as genuine as I would have hoped it would.

Still, I haven’t read anything quite like this, and in the romance space, that’s pretty special. It felt unique, emotionally grounded. The focus on Kibera and the tuition-free girls’ school added something powerful to the story - it even led me to look up SHOFCO and make a donation. That impact alone makes it stand out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC, and of course, Kendall Ryan for A Beginner’s Guide to Forever and all its glory. All views and opinions are entirely my own.

This just wasn’t for me. Both characters came across as robotic and had little chemistry. There were also so many mentions about the MC’s age gap; I completely lost sight of any other plot points. The 3rd act “breakup” was predicted very early on. Neither character seemed to have much in common with the other. Alessia wanted everything out of life. A marriage, career, kids-all while trying to save the world through philanthropy. Hart, a ‘poor unfortunate product of generational wealth’ just felt underdeveloped.

I am new to romance and typically it is not my favorite genre but I am trying to expand my palate and diving head first into reading again. What drew me to this title what the nonprofit aspect, which funnily enough is what turned me off too. I had to remove the technicalities of running an international nonprofit organization for myself personally and refocus on the plot ....which was the romance and the internal struggle that Alessia faces while being woo'ed by a younger man. As a woman in the the nonprofit space, it is rare to see the realities that women who are dedicated to service face and the sacrifices one must make in order to go the distance in this field. In Alessia's case she is finding herself doubting that she can have it all, which I see this struggle within the field day in and day out. Her internal world is relatable and rings true to the struggle that women face as they get older. Self perception and self sabotage are real and we all love a self aware queen who can get over those internal barriers that we all instill for self-protection and allow happiness to come in. Great book to read while traveling and indulge in a little escapism at the airport. A couple of words to describe this book, jet-setting, comfortable pace, and slow burn.

This was a book so fun to read! It's a reverse age gap and it was my first one.
It was so good to read about the woman older than him.
The love story was so funny and spicy.
I really really enjoy

To be honest I'm a little surprised to have rated this book 5-Stars. It wasn't the kind of book I knew would blow me away right from the beginning. There were a lot of balls in the air, and any one of them dropping a different way might have changed the outcome of everything else. Instead, this is the kind of book you get to the end of and think...where's the flaw? And for A Beginner's Guide to Forever, I couldn't tell you. I loved it all.

As I sit here, I can only think of one other age gap romance I've read, and that was also a swept-away five-star read for me (Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez). I don't think I have an age gap kink (lol), but it does come with some serious soul-searching built in that I can't deny enjoying. These kinds of romances really only work if the two characters literally can't stay away from the other. It is against their own better judgment, but the sheer fire of their chemistry and whatever it is the ties two souls together that they just can't resist.

I just sighed audibly as I wrote that. It's so good.

This has all been quite vague and generic so far, hasn't it? Well here are some specific reasons I really enjoyed this book:
1) The characters are really good people. I loved Alessia's mission and dedication to a great cause. You just can't dislike her. Her heart is always in the right place.
2) The meet-cute cannot be beat. It was giving serious It Ends With Us vibes, but I think the rooftop scene is one of the best in that entire book, and I loved this new take on it.
3) Hart's absolute unapologetic focus on Alessia. He is a man who knows what he wants (and his big speech at the end is everything).

I was so impressed with this story, and I know it'll be living in my head rent-free for a long time to come. Absolutely all romance lovers should read it, and even better if you have a hankering for some travel, because these characters are absolute globe-trotters!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Perfect for fans of the idea of you.
this book has an amazing setting with characters that have depth and chemistry. however i personally found it super similar to the idea of you, in terms of the romance, with the characters hiding their relationship and all of the travelling(often initiated by the mmc). if you love that style of book then this is perfect for you.