I'm excited to announce our reader review event for What Comes Next by Caitlin Forbes. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy adult coming-of-age stories that deal with complex, emotional subjects.
We'll be celebrating the launch of the event by sharing reviews from our community and giving you a chance to win one of three copies of the book and an Amazon gift card!
But before we get into what our readers thought, here's more about the book:
An empowering and heartfelt novel about the complexities of family, the power of sisterhood, and the bravery it takes to choose happiness when all seems lost.
"My life is perfectly fine."
Alex has pretended this for years―despite an emotionally absent father, a best friend drifting away, and a floundering dog-training business. At least Alex has her sister, Meredith, a driven polar opposite. But both their lives are upended when their estranged mother dies of a genetic condition that the sisters have a fifty-fifty chance of inheriting. For Alex, a world without her mother is uncomfortable. But a world without Meredith is unthinkable.
Alex suggests a pact to which Meredith tentatively agrees: In three months they’ll get tested. Until then they go after everything they’ve ever wanted. Alex is finally stepping out of her comfort zone and opening herself up to new relationships. Or maybe reconnecting with an old one. Nathan, a boy who once broke her heart, needs a trainer for his mixed-breed rescue. Alex can’t resist.
As sparks rekindle, and time passes much too quickly, Alex discovers more about herself, her sister, and her mother than she ever imagined. And that everything in life―especially happiness―comes with a risk worth taking.
About the Author, Caitlin Forbes
Caitlin Forbes is a Maine-based author who writes stories that explore the messiness of relationships—from sisterhood to romance to the tricky relationship we have with ourselves. When not writing, you can find her chasing after her toddler (or her dog) and exploring small-town New England life.
Find her online at:
"What Comes Next by Caitlin Forbes had a synopsis that hooked me. I love family-and life-oriented plots. It was immersive right from the start to the end. I liked the fact that Alex and Meredith are sisters but complete opposites. I was very sad about their mother. I felt they had already been through so much.
"The writing is captivating, raw and heartfelt. This is my first novel by Caitlin Forbes, and I would like to review more from her in the future.
"What Comes Next is an amazing, unforgettable book that I highly recommend." ~ Katherine Hayward Perez
"The book was good. I really enjoyed reading it. And it made me think about a couple of things. First, would I want to know if I had the potential to have a life-threatening genetic illness. Would I live my life differently if I knew?
"But on the other hand, what about my daughters?
"My mother passed due to breast cancer. I take after my dad's side of the family, not that it would stop me from being able to have breast cancer. I worried about them.
"Then there is Remy. Do we give up on an animal because of some trauma in their life which affects their lives? Do we give up on a person because of some trauma in their life?
"While the book may seem a bit bleak, it is actually very 'hopeful'. And who can't use 'hope' in their lives." ~ Judy Hudgins
"What if you knew that you and your sister might have inherited a debilitating disease from your deceased mother who disappeared from your life years earlier? What if she sent this news in a note to be mailed after she died? What if that made you afraid to get back into a loving relationship for fear of the hurt that might be headed your way? What if you were safest when you were training dogs that seemed incorrigible? These are only a few of the conflicts that Caitlin Forbes explores in What Comes Next a book that is well worth your time.
"With multi-faceted characters and increasing complications this is a story that will grab you. The narrator asks excellent questions of herself, and you may find yourself asking some of them about your own life. What are you afraid of? Why does commitment scare you? What are the costs of sharing a truth that cannot be changed?
"What does Alex, the narrator discover about herself, her sister, and her mother? And who turns out to be “perfectly fine” in the end? What Comes Next will answer these questions and many more." ~ B. Lynn Goodwin
"There are so many coming-of-age books with teenaged characters awkwardly teetering between childhood and adulthood. I think of What Comes Next as Coming-of-Age 2.0. It is a story of that time when you're paying your own electric bill but don't feel like a "grown-up" in the same way that your parents are "grown-ups."
"This novel is a touching journey through that time with excellent lines drawn between Alex, a struggling 20-something, and the dogs she trains. One of the things I most admired was the intimate portrayal of the different couples in the book. You could feel their love and connection through tiny clues left in the text, much more powerful than any bedroom scene.
"I think we will all recognize ourselves in the characters and struggles of What Comes Next, either something we're going through now or something from our past. this is a great book for all adults, no matter what their age. Because aren't we all wondering, What Comes Next?" ~ Jodi Webb
"I just finished What Comes Next by Caitlin Forbes, and I’m still sitting with the weight of it, because the story moves with a steady pull that kept me hooked from the first chapter to the last. The writing is direct, clear, and purposeful, which made it easy to slip into the narrator’s world and stay there without feeling pushed or nudged.
"I felt connected to the main characters almost right away, since their fear, hope, and slow steps toward change felt honest in a way that made me think about my own choices and the moments that shaped me. The pacing helped with that, because the chapters are tight and focused, yet they open up just enough space to let each moment land before the next one arrives.
"The themes stayed with me too. The book explores change, trust, and the uneasy process of letting go, and it does it with a kind of quiet clarity that made the emotional shifts feel earned rather than forced. I found myself pausing more than once to think about how people grow when the world around them refuses to stay still.
"I also appreciated how the small details gave the story depth. Tiny gestures, brief conversations, and subtle turning points all added layers that made the bigger moments feel richer and more grounded.
"If you want a story that feels human, steady, and reflective without becoming heavy, What Comes Next delivers, and I’m glad I picked it up because it stayed with me long after I closed the book." ~ Ellen Christian
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
THREE WINNERS! Our grand prize winner (first random draw) will win a print copy of What Comes Next by Caitlin Forbes and a $25 Amazon Gift Card. The next two winners will win a copy of the book. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends December 14th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw the winners the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!
