Briefly, Forever

By: Sara Gray

A deeply moving story of love, loss and the extraordinary impact one life can have on another . . .

‘Fans of A Man Called Ove and great writing will devour this’ ANNABEL MONAGHAN

‘An absorbing, tender exploration of love’ JOSIE LLOYD

‘A refreshingly nuanced take on romance tropes’ MAURENE GOO

Life is not measured by the years we have, but by the love it holds.

Alexander Kirk writes perfect love stories, but he doesn’t believe in them.

When his favorite café is taken over by Wendy, a quirky single mother with two kids and strawberry earrings, their relationship unfolds exactly like the romances Alexander pens: enemies to lovers, laughter, longing, and a happiness that feels almost scripted. Except this isn’t one of Alexander’s stories.

Briefly, Forever begins where most love stories end – with loss. Told through three timelines, the novel traces the tender beginnings of Alexander and Wendy’s relationship while following Alexander as he learns how to parent – and love – her children without her. It is a story about grief and joy, and about loving fully even when happily ever after isn’t guaranteed.

It reminds us that the most important part of a love story is not how it ends, but how we embrace the strangeness and beauty of being alive, loving and living.

For fans who enjoyed the emotional tearjerker weight of A Man Called Ove, One Day, Remarkably Bright Creatures and Me Before You.

Critic reviews

'An absorbing, tender exploration of love and how life's worst curveballs can often result in unexpected outcomes. Full of tenderness and heart' JOSIE LLOYD, author of You & Me and You & Me and You & Me

'Like a perfect piece of music, there is not an off note in this entire book. I loved it. Elegant and wise, Briefly, Forever is brilliant. It’s a story about all the ways we’re called to love even when we’re unlovable, about how love changes you and – even in its absence – has the power to heal everything it touches. Fans of A Man Called Ove and great writing will devour this book as I did' ANNABEL MONAGHAN, New York Times bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script

'A tender and beautiful debut, Briefly, Forever is a refreshingly nuanced take on romance tropes. Enemies-to-lovers but wrapped in honesty, unravelling a love story complete with very human scars and all' MAURENE GOO, author of Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club pick One & Only

'In Briefly, Forever debut novelist Sara Gray deftly navigates a backwards romance story – starting with grief and ending with hard-fought happiness. Tender and bittersweet, this is a story about love and loss and ultimately, the joy of forgiveness and found family. Sara Gray is an author to watch!' MARY KAY ANDREWS, New York Times bestselling author of Summers at the Saint