REVIEW: The Forgotten One by Catherine Bybee

In The Forgotten One by Catherine Bybee, As a reporter, Sarah McNeilly is always keeping an eye out for breaking news. Especially if it’s something uplifting that will help pad her resume so she can quit working for the tabloid-type magazine where she’s currently employed. So, when Sarah crosses paths with Maximillian “Max” Smith and they somehow make an agreement that she’ll get exclusive rights to his rags to riches story, she can’t believe her luck. Then reality hits. Her jerk of a boss wants a sensationalized piece, not a heartwarming tale. Something Sarah refuses to do, particularly once she realizes not only is the remaining Stone family some of the best people on the planet, but that she’s falling for Max.

“We’re not done talking,” she called after him.
“You’re right about that.”
His words sounded like a promise. And for reasons that were beyond her, Sarah was certain that Max Smith kept his promises.

To say Max is untrusting is a complete understatement. But if people knew the hell he went through as a kid, they’d realize it’s warranted. That’s why when Alex and Chase Stone show up at his door explaining that he’s their long-lost half-brother, inviting them into his tiny (rental) house wasn’t in the cards. But somehow the duo convinces him they’re not lying. And just like that, Max is an instant millionaire–with a family–the thing that, way more than money, he’s wanted his whole life. His luck just keeps improving when he meets Sarah. For a reporter she is honest, and he can tell she has a moral code above reproach. But the chemistry that flares up between them. Now that is the one thing that scares Max considering the lack of love and care he’s had in his life so far. Although even he knows that a connection like he has with Sarah is as rare as it is precious.

Alex smiled and added, “You come across as a man who knows when he’s being fed bullshit.” She stopped, rolled her eyes. “Except when three strangers knock on your door and tell you you’re the son of a dead billionaire.”
Max started to laugh. Chase tossed his head back and slapped his knee.

THE FORGOTTEN ONE packed a huge emotional punch. Not that I would expect anything less from Catherine Bybee’s novels. She brought me to tears several times (both happy and sad) with the family moments that tugged on my heartstrings tucked in between the laughs and sigh-worthy romance.

‘He’d spent thirty years of his life convinced that parents didn’t matter. Family didn’t matter. And then strangers knocked on his door and changed all that.’

CW: View Spoiler »Childhood abandonment & mention of foster homes, group homes (all historical), end-stage terminal illness. « Hide Spoiler

I feel like I say this about every Catherine Bybee book, but I think THE FORGOTTEN ONE is my favorite yet. There was something just so perfectly endearing about Max Smith. Finding out after a truly tough upbringing and an adult life filled with bills and hard work that he not only inherited millions of dollars, but he also had two half-siblings, Chase and Alex, who wanted to get to know him was a lot to take in. A family was one of the biggest parts Max missed out on as a child who grew up in group homes and foster homes. And I adored that, yes, he had some rough edges. But somehow the man he grew up to be was kind, thoughtful, plain-spoken, and fair.

That’s not to say that Max was a pushover. Nope. He showed Alex and Chase just how untrusting he could be when they met (that was a fun scene!) and how hard it would be to prove they had no ulterior motive in sharing their inheritance. The same traits could be said about Sarah. She and Max were equally stubborn. And right from the start they both kept each other in line when needed. But their attraction was too strong to ignore, even though it complicated Sarah’s job reporting about Max’s launch into the world of the rich and famous. I really thought they both grew a lot personally with every new situation they faced down together, and it was amazing to see how things solidified between them by the end.

If you’ve read book one, All Our Tomorrows, which I highly recommend, you’ll love getting more time with Alex, Chase, Piper, and Nick as well as an Easter egg from another series. It warmed my heart with their sometimes funny, oftentimes poignant interactions that showed off the best parts of what family and friendship mean. Talk about a feel-good story. *sigh*

QOTD: If you won the lottery or inherited a bunch of money, would you keep your job or change things up?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: November 12th, 2024 | Montlake | The Heirs #2

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee spins a dazzling tale of long-lost relatives, overnight riches, and unexpected romance in the dramatic second book of The Heirs series.

Sarah McNeilly is a rare find in the tabloid industry. She won’t ignite gossip. She finds the truth. And for once, that’s what her boss wants. With her job on the line, Sarah’s latest assignment is to identify the elusive “Maximillian Smith,” unearth his connection to the billionaire Stone family, and dig up some dirt.

Yesterday Max was an ordinary workingman, concerned with little more than the price of gas. Now he suddenly has a family, jaw-dropping wealth, and an avid (if clumsy) reporter on his trail. With the press threatening to destroy his new life, he needs to release his real story strategically, and Sarah is the key—not to mention an adorable yet invaluable resource for finding his mother.

As Max and Sarah team up to peel back the ugly layers of Max’s past, they stumble heart-first into their fiery attraction. But when their research threatens their newly built trust, it’s their future that is on the line.