As someone who works in the animal industry, I was immediately drawn to the dog training aspect of this book, but it turned out to be so much more than that. The story was raw and real, filled with emotion that pulled me in from the very beginning. It kept me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, waiting to see what came next. This is not just a story about dogs—it’s a truly beautiful and moving story that will stay with you long after the last page.

As someone who deals with genetic conditions and chronic illness, who also recently lost family to disease and also absolutely loves dogs, this story was overwhelmingly powerful! It was beautiful, moving me to tears, but also completely heartwarming.
This is a story that really shows how family and love can help us through our hardest moments. And the compassion shown for dogs just brought it up another level in my opinion! Definitely recommend!

A heartfelt and heart wrenching story about sisterhood, love, abandonment, second chances and responses to the unknown.

Forbes does a wonderful job of portraying a family that is forced to confront an incurable disease, shining a light on the actions and inactions of the characters. As a reader, you can't help but try to identify how you would react if you were facing the same issues. I really do not want to say more, as I feel readers need to go along on the journey with the characters. On the constructive side (keeping in mind that this was an advanced copy and changes may be made), I did think the pacing was slow at times.

There is another component to this story in addition to the medical piece. The main character, Alex, has a special connection to dogs that have behavioral difficulties. She is their last hope, before the law requires them to be put down. Can they be cured/rehabilitated? While I felt that this story addition felt disjointed at times, overall the psychological parallels between the dogs and Alex were not lost on me.

Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing an advanced digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are entirely my own.

(3.5 stars)

What a beautiful story about love, loss and dogs! This is a story about the power of sisterhood and the strength of love to get us through the hardest times in our life. The author’s compassion for dogs shone through the novel and made for a truly heartwarming story of sister’s navigating their mother’s abandonment, the possibility of carrying the gene for Huntington’s Disease and the story of lost loves. A beautiful read!

What Comes Next is about a young woman who is confronted with the terrifying possibility that she (and her sister) may have Huntington’s disease, a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder.

I had heard about Huntington's before and was surprised to learn that many people who are at risk of having the disorder choose not to get tested and find out. It is a deeply personal choice with so many considerations, many of which are explored in the novel. Alex does not want to know, but her sister Meredith does. Alex doesn’t want her identity or her relationships to be defined by her (possible) condition- the story delves into the complexities of relationships and why we stand by the people we love even if it is painful, or not the way we imagined our future. The characters had depth and their relationships were well developed- nothing about this novel felt flat or one dimensional.

Another thing I liked about the novel is that it captures the unsettling limbo that often defines being in your twenties. It’s a period of life filled with potential, but also the fear of making the wrong choice, and feeling a sense of disorientation at having true independence and being a “real” adult. Before the bombshell possibility of Huntington's, Alex is already grappling with these broader uncertainties about her career, her relationships, and the path forward. It made the novel extremely relatable. I highly recommend What Comes Next. it will give you a lot to think about. Plus it has a dog storyline 🙂.

Some quotes that resonated with me:

“Four years ago. The length of high school, or of college, but without the predetermined milestones. the signposts that tell you how and why everything is about to change.”

“I’m not sure how to explain that between work and all the daily stuff in my life that is really not that hard, that I don’t know how to become period. Have the being takes up all the energy that should go toward the be becoming.”

“It’s all harder than I expected. I had the same ideas as everyone. You get the job, the cute apartment, the cute girl, but the thing is, even with all that, it’s still hard. It’s all still really fucking hard.” “But you keep doing it,” I point out. “you keep showing up.” “Showing up. Not showing up. I can’t say for sure which one is better.” “Showing up” says Bean, her voice firmer than I’ve ever heard it. She gives me a small smile. “It took me a long time to figure that one out” she says, “but choosing nothing won’t keep you where you are. You’ll still end up somewhere else.”

Thanks to Lake Union for the ARC!

What Comes Next is a heartfelt, hopeful debut about rebuilding life after everything changes. Emily’s move to the small town of Port Harris—still reeling from loss and uncertainty—felt authentic and quietly powerful. The friendships she forms, the tentative romance, and the healing pull of the coastal setting all worked together to create a warm, uplifting read.

Caitlin Forbes writes with tenderness and a keen eye for emotional nuance, showing that starting over is rarely neat, but it can be beautiful. A comforting, inspiring story for fans of small-town women’s fiction with a romantic thread.

The reason I wanted to read this book is that it’s quite different from what I usually read. I’m always looking forward to trying new genres or exploring genres I’m not as familiar with. It makes reading fun because reading the same sort of book all the time only leads to burn out. And this novel was exactly what I needed it to be. So let’s chat about it.

First of all, I want to mention that I appreciate that the author has professional knowledge about healthcare. She could have still written this book without it by doing a lot of research. It could still be a respectful depiction of a very serious illness. But knowing her professional background made me less worried about seeing another author using a big health issue as just a plot device. Obviously, the threat of Alex and Meredith having HD is a huge part of the story. But it’s not the whole story. The story is how two young women, mostly Alex since she’s the protagonist, face what could be a life changing situation. The story is about what to do when your future changes so drastically all of a sudden. And it’s about relationships but not just in a romantic sense. It’s about Alex’s relationship with Nathan, sure. But also about her relationship with her roommate/best friend, with her sister and her husband, with her dad, with her mum, with her friends, with her job, …
This is a character focused story. And I usually prefer a much more clear plot where we go from A to C and walk past B on the way to the destination. So even if I’m not 100% the target audience for the book, I enjoyed it a lot. And I can only imagine how people who love these types of stories would enjoy it even more. It’s a pretty easy book to recommend as well, in my opinion.

I have to say the writing was so beautiful. Nowadays it seems so many authors try to add a few cute quotes to their books, so people share them on social media and promote their books that way. As much as I love pretty quotes (to the point of wanting to tattoo some of them on my own skin), I need more than that. And I don’t enjoy it when it is so obvious that the writing is way too flowery, even if it doesn’t fit the story, just to have those quotes highlighted on TikTok. However, that wasn’t the case in this book. This writing flowed so naturally. It was beautiful because that’s how the author writes and it made sense for this story. I highlighted so many quotes. Many of them were quite simple sentences but the way they were written, and the context, made them stunning. Anyone who loves beautiful writing will have a great time reading this book. I adored reading some sentences out loud because that way they sounded even better than when I heard them in my mind.

Alex as a main character is incredibly interesting to follow. Her life hasn’t always been easy and so a lot of her choices are a result of that. Sometimes her reactions are frustrating and I felt like yelling at the book but…it also made sense. Put in the same situation, I might make the same choices. It’s not so black or white and the book is trying to explain that. The nuances and the multiple options we have in our lives when facing tough realities. While there were many sad moments, the book is hopeful.
The rest of the characters played an important part in Alex’s life and her decisions. It wasn’t a big cast but everyone served a purpose. Plus they all felt like fully fleshed characters, even if they didn’t have a lot of pagetime.

I’m personally not a dog person and dogs are a big part of the plot. But I’m an animal person. I sometimes find it easier to empathise with an animal than with a human. And so it was easy for me to empathise with Remy and with Alex’s feelings of wanting to help dogs. It’s not just me who feels such a connection to animals and I find that anyone who’s similar will really enjoy that part of the book. Because it’s about more than a dog, it’s about humanity. About how we treat those more vulnerable.

I’m genuinely so happy I decided to pick this book as my “out of my comfort zone” pick because it was a fantastic read, which I would recommend often.

What Comes Next by Caitlin Forbess is an emotional journey of a novel that really made me think.

Alex and her sister Meredith find out that their mother whom they haven't heard from in years has passed away from Huntington's disease. Now they must decide if they should be tested or just carry on not knowing.

The characters are well written, complex, flawed and well fleshed out.

The story is emotional and really makes you think.

A wonderful debut novel that I enjoyed.

Thanks NetGalley for an arc. When a mother leaves her children it leaves so many unanswered questions. Two sisters discover a secret which can have dire consequences. Overall a good story. Slow at some parts but enjoyed the book.

What Comes Next is a beautiful, quietly powerful story about the relationships that shape us—especially the ones we fight for. It’s about sisters, love, loss, and that fragile space between fear and hope when we’re forced to figure out what really matters.

After the sudden loss of their mother, Alex and Meredith are left reeling—not just from grief, but from the possibility of inheriting a life-changing medical condition. Instead of facing the results right away, they make a promise: three months of not knowing. Three months of just living. And in those three months, something remarkable begins to unfold.

This isn’t a book about running from fear—it’s about choosing hope anyway. Watching Alex begin to believe in herself again, and slowly let others back in (especially Nathan), felt like such a tender reward. Her reconnection with him was full of care and trust, and the way they navigated their shared past was incredibly moving. It wasn’t dramatic or over-the-top—it was honest and full of quiet longing.

The relationship between Alex and Meredith is the heart of this book and their bond is one we all yearn for. The characters' relationships were what drove the book.

What stood out to me most was the sense of hope threaded throughout the story. Even in their hardest moments, there’s a feeling that better days could be ahead—and that’s what kept me turning the pages. This is a book that reminds you healing is possible, even when the future is uncertain.

If you love books that explore deep relationships and emotional growth—with just the right touch of romance—you’ll want to read this.

Recommended for fans of:

Uplifting stories with emotional depth
Books about sisters and family bonds
Slow, hopeful romances
Characters learning to choose life again

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the ARC. This one really stayed with me.

A heartfelt journey of growth

What Comes Next by Caitlin Forbes is a beautifully written novel that explores the uncertainties and quiet triumphs of moving forward after life’s unexpected turns. Forbes has a talent for capturing raw emotion in simple, elegant prose, and her characters feel authentic and relatable.

The story unfolds at a gentle pace (beginning felt a little slow, but did pick up at appropriate pace), focusing more on inner transformation than dramatic plot twists—which may not be for everyone, but worked well for me. I appreciated the honesty in the main character’s journey: messy, reflective, and ultimately hopeful. Some moments felt a bit slow, and I wished for more development in a couple of side characters, but overall, the message of resilience and self-discovery landed powerfully.

If you’re looking for a character-driven story that lingers after the last page, What Comes Next is a worthy read. Grew to love all the main characters.

Alex has grown up in a broken home with a lot of baggage. When she finds out her estranged mother died from a degenerative disease, she has a lot of decisions to make.
This was a very deep book with lots of inner monologue. As with most main characters, you can immediately spot the toxic behaviors. The resolution that comes from that character growing is what is so satisfying. Alex goes through this journey. If you look carefully, you can see the really creative way the author ties Alex’s journey through fear with the ways dogs deal with fear.
All in all, this was a deeply emotional book with a satisfying ending and lots of character growth.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC.
This book was a so-so read for me, it had way too much soul searching for me. I got tired of being constantly in the protagonist's (Alex)
head and ended up skipping a lot. But the parts of Dave the dog were lovely, I enjoyed those a lot. Huntington's Disease was something I knew nothing about and was horrified and intrigued at the same time to learn about it.
So even though I skipped some parts, I enjoyed others.

This story broke me open in the quietest, most unexpected ways. The writing was graceful and warm, never trying too hard. It let emotions simmer. It gave space for grief and love and fear and joy to coexist, often in the same scene. I closed this book feeling full and a little bit braver. It reminded me that happiness isn’t always loud or perfect. Sometimes it’s just choosing to risk a little more than you did yesterday. And that choice, in itself, is everything.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book before its release on October 14, 2025.

The premise of this book intrigued me. It follows the story of two sisters struggling to cope with the loss of their estranged mother, who succumbed to Huntington’s Disease. Neither sister understood the reasons behind their mother’s departure at a young age so this is the missing link for them.

While the book may not be heavily plot-driven, it delves into a character study of the protagonist, Alex. Although I initially found Alex somewhat unlikable, the storyline kept me engaged throughout.

The author’s ability to captivate my attention was evident through the well-developed cast of characters, including a rescue dog with behavioral issues.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. If you’re seeking a unique storyline with intriguing characters, I highly recommend “What Comes Next.”

WHAT COMES NEXT is a story about sisterhood, grief, illness, and discovering what truly matters in life. And there's dogs! :) This is a highly emotional and satisfying story that leaves the reader pondering about choices we make in our lives. In this day and age of genetic testing, it opens a can of worms: how much do we want to know? Perhaps the key takeaway is to live your life now as if your time was precious, because truly, it is.

"What Comes Next" is a poignant and emotionally rich novel that explores the journey of self-discovery within the context of familial relationships. This story centers on Alex and her sister Meredith as they navigate the intricate dynamics of their bond while dealing with the death of their estranged mother, who succumbed to Huntington's Disease. This pivotal event compels them to confront the daunting uncertainty of their own genetic inheritance, as they grapple with the potential of facing the same illness.

Caitlin Forbes intricately interlaces the personal struggles of her characters, revealing their deep emotional landscapes and the complexities of their familial connections. The themes of love, grief, and resilience are examined in depth, allowing you to engage empathetically with the characters' dilemmas and aspirations. Alex's journey stands out as she seeks to rekindle her first love while contending with the anxiety of an uncertain future.
The novel was paced appropriately and I couldn’t put it down due to the emotional stakes that are presented. This is a beautifully crafted novel that resonated deeply with me. The themes of family, love, and hope are deeply explored. I highly recommend this novel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

This is the story of Alex, who finds out her mother has died from Hodgkinson's disease. Her sister Meredith is also going through the struggle. An old boyfriend turns up which complicates the plot and Alex has great difficulty in deciding what to do about all of her life, rand coming to terms with her past. There is a lot of soul-searching.

When Alex learns that her estranged mother has passed away from Huntington's Disease, she and her sister Meredith are suddenly faced with the possibilty that they might one day become victims of the same fate. Should they take a genetic test that would provide definitive answers or go on with their lives without ever knowing the future? Either way, now that Alex's first love has unexpectedly re-entered her life, she'll have to decide if she can trust him enough to let him walk this journey alongside her.

Caitlin Forbes has written a captivating debut that will leave readers with plenty to think about. Emotionally gripping and poetic, What Comes Next is a story of loyalty, grief, and resilience in the face of tragedy, proving that love in spite of fear is the bravest decision one can make.

An emotionally-charged, vulnerable read that left me wanting to read it again. What Comes Next covers a heavy subject - Huntington's Disease - but at its core, it's a story about hope. A coming-of-age narrative, it wrestles with questions that so many of us can relate to: How do you go after what you want, when what you have is arguably good enough? What, in life, is worth the bigger risks and how do you find the courage to take them? The story explores the complex relationships between parents and children, sisters, friendship and romance, and how so much depends on learning how to give yourself the benefit of the doubt. I was rooting for Alex (and her sweet dog-friend, Remy) at every step. As another reviewer mentioned, it is character-driven fiction, and it's done in a masterful way. And it's a debut!