Thank you, NetGalley and Kafi Wise, for the advanced e-book copy of A Certified Forever. I am giving my honest opinion about the book.
Introduction
Elaine Davis has not fully recovered from her
business loss. Elaine has not been thriving since her friend and business
partner departed. Now Nikayla Anderson is flourishing without her. She spent a sizable
amount of money on her home. The house needs repair. Contractors have been lost
despite their ambitious standards.
That is why she gets help from her friend Jay. Jay indicates
he has already chosen someone. It is Andre. Andre is a friend of Nikayla. Andre
knows all too well about Elaine’s bossy ways. But he has a crush on her. He has
always liked her. Her ambition is something he loves.
He is ambitious as well. Though a construction worker, he
dreams of being an actor. But at the moment, contracting covers my financial
needs. That is a factor in his decision to work for Elaine. Plus, he wants to
get to know her.
Elaine has a Type A personality. Everything must be flawless. Her work and workers. But because her friend and former partner left, her standards have been slipping.
Representation: Black main characters, Black side characters, professional Black women, Black actors
Tropes: Forced Proximity
TW: Death of a family member in the past, physical fights, parental neglect.
Thoughts
Now, Elaine is trying to be perfect, which causes her to
lose focus. Her focus is on helping women rebuild their whole lives. To be the
best versions of themselves. That is something she thinks she is trying to do
herself. Her former friends told her she was too blunt. She discovered this to
be true after the situation with her former partner.
Currently, she is practicing vulnerability. Kafi Wise shows
this in her writing of Elaine’s interactions with Andre. She barely knows him, but is showing frustration with Andre.
Her being vulnerable worked to her advantage with Andre. He
decides to help her with the construction job. Instead of making her pay, he
accepts room and board. I thought that since she was being vulnerable about her
frustrations, he would explain why he had made that offer. I wanted him to confide in her. Since they share hidden similarities. Both have family issues that
impact their behavior.
But the author did not reveal all that information at once.
This allowed Elaine and Andre to find out more about each other’s lives.
Readers can also gradually learn about the main and side characters. This will keep
readers engaged. I know it caught my attention because I wanted to find out
what would happen next. This is particularly true after Andre’s family appears.
I also appreciate the gradual development of the
relationship between the protagonists. Since they only knew each other, it’s
logical they’d be distant. Andre is attracted to Elaine. He does not mind when
she gets close to him. Her perfume and her expression appeal to him. Elaine
finds him irritating due to his confidence. However, she is also enjoying his
work. However, she still sees him as an enigma.
Andre prefers to be mysterious. I know that he teases
Elaine, and it helps her open up. About ¼ of the way through the book, she
finally allows him to make a physical connection with her. This scene may disappoint some people, but it is a part of Elaine’s character. She needs time to make a
connection with someone.
But Elaine is working on it. Wise shows the work Elaine is
doing, which I appreciate. It shows that she is attempting to build her
character. To atone for her past mistakes and to overcome trauma. This makes
Elaine more human.
Conclusion
I liked this book because it includes romantic gestures and
love scenes. However, it also demonstrates the character’s development. Elaine
has the greatest growth. But so, Andre finally stands up to his uncle. He also discovers
the truth about his mother and his father.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves slow-burning
romance. This book is for readers who enjoy it when characters learn to love
themselves, their partners, family, and friends. I gave it 4 stars. Wise sought
to write a story about Black professional women who make tough choices. In the
end, each woman gets their happily ever after.
Where to find the book: Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, your local library, or your bookstore.
Other book posts:
The Dating Prohibition by Taj McCoy
Book Review of Lilith by Alexandria House
Book Release Date: September 15, 2025.