ALL GROWN UP by VI KEELAND

‘Age shouldn’t be counted by the time we’ve been alive. It should be counted by the years we have left. Look forward, not back.’

If you’re in search for the perfect summer read, look no further than All Grown Up by Vi Keeland, a  sweet and sexy forbidden age gap romance that will fill those summer days and make you swoon. The setting of Montauk adds to the ambiance by providing those lazy hazy summer feelings. Not to mention, you’re about to fall in love with Ford Donovan!

“I’m afraid you might be a little crazy.”
“We’re all a little crazy, Val. What fun would it be if we only filled our life with normal things.”

Vi Keeland takes the age gap theme and draws attention to the stigma placed upon the older woman and the younger man scenario. Whilst the reverse age gap is readily accepted, many women still battle with perception and acceptance, and Val’s conflicting emotions were perfectly highlighted in a story that’s as much about love as it is self-discovery, about believing in yourself and trusting your heart.

“When someone is already inside of you, you can’t just let go of their heart. The only way to disconnect is to break it.”

Valentina Davis (nee Di Giovanni) is thirty-seven, the mother of a college-aged son, and divorced for nearly two years. Left to reflect on her marriage, and her life going forward Val knows she needs to dip her toe back into the dating scene but has reservations. Wouldn’t we all!

It’s a daunting task and Val doesn’t have the experience to draw on, seeing as her husband was her first and only. However, thanks to her hilarious bestie of twenty years, Eve – Val has been signed up to Match.com a dating app and soon finds herself conversing with a guy named Donovan.

They have common threads and an instant rapport, and after much persuasion, Val agrees to meet him for dinner – however…….the fun begins when Donovan turns out to be Ford Donovan, a twenty-five-year-old who used to summer next door to her in Montauk. Awkward! Ford may be everything Val could dream of but he’s off limits, being as he is, quite literally, the boy next door!

“The truth is, you can never have the right feelings at the wrong time because there is never a wrong time for the right person.” 

Try as they might, Val and Ford can’t deny the connection and the electrifying chemistry they share, and through their neighbouring Montauk properties, they decide to have a hot summer fling, casting care and responsibility to the wind for a few weeks, what can go wrong? As summer draws to a close, our hearts ached for Ford and Val as their relationship was approaching its expiration date.

‘You’re so incredibly beautiful, Valentina. I’ll remember this summer forever.’

Ford Donovan! What can we say? We loved this guy! Yes, he may be twenty-five, but this man had taken on the responsibility of raising his teenage sister, not to mention dealing with heartache and issues many twice his age would balk at. Ford was wise and mature beyond his years, and his feelings for Val made us swoon like crazy – the confidence he gave Val made us positively giddy!

‘I was never so lost in a moment. I heard nothing else, saw nothing else, felt only him.’

Vi Keeland entertained us and left us swooning with big smiles on our faces. Not only is Val and Fords story sweet and sexy, it told us to ignore the prejudices, reminding us we have one life and we need to get out there and enjoy it!  So if you’re single and happen to meet a young Ford…our advice? You go for it girls!!! More acceptance, less judgment! Life’s too short – enjoy!