Honestly, I had very low expectations for Forever and Always after the last three of Wilder's books. There just always seems to be too much sex and not enough of things that actually make a novel good like plot or character development. Unlike 99.9% of the world, I do not believe having sex with someone gives you some kind of intense undeniable connection or love. Relationships are built on more than that, which is why I continually have a problem with Ms. Wilder's books. The premises aren't bad themselves, but the smut factor needs to be 15-25% of the novel instead of the overwhelming 30%-60% it is now.

That being said, I surprisingly loved Forever & Always. Ever and Cade had an actual deep relationship built through (be still my beating heart) hand-written letters. I loved this because they could've exchanged phone numbers or something, but instead they wanted the comforts of words written on a page. No one does this anymore, and they should. Both Ever and Cade's back stories are incredibly sad, Cade's more so, but you see them lend comfort and support to each other through their letters and artwork. This book is what Jennifer E. Smith's This Is What Happy Looks Like should have been. Ms. Wilder effectively used her letters to develop her two main characters and their relationship. I never get the feel of insta-love in this novel even when they see each other again for the first time in years because they do know each other so well.

Forever and Always lost a star for a few minor quibbles I have over some of the later plot, nothing major. The marriage thing felt a bit weird and rushed, but at least Ever and Cade knew it. The loss of a star is also because I was so flipping mad at how abruptly it ended. Now I must get the next book in the series. If Ever's not okay, I'm busting heads!