Love Never Forgets by Tristen Rowen [Book Review]

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Genre: contemporary LGBT romance

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

**ARC Received For Honest Review**

How far can someone go to fight for the love that made you feel whole? For the person that helped you discover who you are and the life that will complement the love you both have? If there's a book I will recommend to answer these questions? It'll be this, Love Never Forgets by Tristen Rowen.

I went into this book blind; not knowing what to expect, I found myself reading the story of Scott Prescott. Both an athlete and an artist, Scott reserves the off chance of going reclusive, as if on a journey to finding himself in the confines of his mind. Until one summer up in Vermont where he met Terry Lachance. Terry's Father is a long-time friend of Scott's father. The two naturally would find their worlds colliding.

Unbeknownst both to Terry and Scott, the summer of 1980 will change their lives forever, fate meaning them to meet. Scott obviously finds Terry annoying at first, an impression he misconstrued when Terry couldn't keep his fingers to himself. Both were so conflicted in unmatching degree with what they feel; Scott believing what he felt was new and unbecoming, Terry feeling the attraction through and through. Before summer ended, Scott and Terry find themselves in each other's hot embrace facing the question of tomorrow.

Torn apart by fate or weird happenstance, especially after Scott and Terry were found together in a very tricky situation by their parents, the lovers had a fallout. Short-lived, both find their paths crossing once more. Only this time, they have to face real-life challenges in their love...including death.

This is my first Tristen Owen book and this book, coming from an indie author, really gave me the A-Walk-To-Remember-slash-The-Last-Song-Nicholas-Sparks-novel feels through and through! The way that Owen told his story is perfectly woven. Each word felt like a puzzle piece that fit the whole picture. Each major twist kept me on the edge. And the ending left me in pieces; the very first time I felt this way in such a long time.

There were instances I felt some subplots were not really explored well like the 1980s characters, mannerism, social behaviors, and the likes. Did gay couples really have that steamy sex in the 80s? I felt the characters were more of the late 90s and through the 20s in the way they conduct themselves. But that's just me. Other times, I felt the dialogues or monologues were rushed to pace. But it's not so tragic to fault that the story still made complete sense.

But what I really like was how real this felt to me. This book is heart-wrenching, emotional with the right taste of drama, relatable, and so beautifully written. I love how Rowen was a true author when he was able to catch my breath at some scenes that were pivotal in the book. Not a lot of books (and I read a lot) made me feel that way; like I've had a marathon by just reading that seen in the cabin or that scene where Scott and Terry have each other a good head, so on and so forth.

I really loved this book. If traditional publishers shrug this off under the rug, they are letting a masterpiece go.

Read on Wattpad.