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.

~Standalone~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  What Comes Next
Series:  Standalone
Author:  Caitlin Forbes
Published:  October 14, 2025
Publisher:  Lake Union Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

What Comes Next is one of those stories that will have you thinking about it long after the final page is closed.  It’s a story of decisions, neither right nor wrong, but correct for each individual.  A story of “What if” and how to move forward through the tough times and celebrate life itself, in all of its messy, wonderful aspects.  It’s a story that will touch your heart, make you think, and perhaps change your worldview as you evaluate your own choices and decisions in your life.

Alex and Meredith are as opposite personalities as possible, yet as sisters, they are tight as thieves and cannot imagine a life without the other in it.  When their mother dies of a genetic condition neither knew about, their lives are about to change forever.  They agree to go for testing in three months time, but until that date they’ll live life to the fullest, take on challenges they never thought they’d face, and experience all the emotions possible.  Basically, their goal is to pack an entire lifetime into three months… before they can have any regrets when they do face testing to see if they have inherited the same disease that took their mother’s life.

What Comes Next by Caitlin Forbes is compelling.  It’s messy, wonderful, sad, happy, emotional in all the ways that will grab hold of your imagination and your emotions.  It’s also full of adorable dogs who play a big part in this story.  Relationships, worthwhile risks, facing challenges, and most importantly, I think, becoming comfortable with who you are enough to face the unthinkable as a future that cannot be denied, these aspects of life and more are found within this story that will linger in your mind.  I think it’s fair to say that you won’t close this book without being moved in some way.  No spoilers, just an appreciation for a well-written, emotional story that touched my heart and made me think… what if.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust.  It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)