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chickaboogawah's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Fatphobia
claudine2's review against another edition
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Reading this for the first time, as an adult.
I like that the main relationship in this book wasn't perfect. It had its ups and downs. Much more realistic than other teen fiction I've read over the years.
It covered a lot of important topics for teens and early twenty-somethings to think about as they experience their early romantic/sexual relationships.
I like that the main relationship in this book wasn't perfect. It had its ups and downs. Much more realistic than other teen fiction I've read over the years.
It covered a lot of important topics for teens and early twenty-somethings to think about as they experience their early romantic/sexual relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Pregnancy, Abortion, Death, Alcohol, and Vomit
jennmeadows13's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Once again, I am personally victimized by Judy Blume. This book made me feel so nostalgic for high school and brought back memories from my first few loves as a teenager. Reading this now as a 30-something, I reflected on being a teenager and how I knew everything at 17 but hardly anything as a 32-year-old. When I found out Kathleen's mother was 39 in the book, that caused me to spiral out a bit, but I had to remind myself that this was published in the mid-70s. Coming from the perspective of a librarian-in-training, I found Forever... to be such an honest book about a person's first sexual experiences. Blume doesn't shy away from how awkward and disappointing sex can be at first. As a teenager, I didn't receive comprehensive sex education in my public school, and the media I was engaging with sold sex as this glamorous thing. Blume made sure to include realistic descriptions. Kathleen doesn't always climax. There's one scene where Michael is struggling with arousal. There's talk of sexually transmitted diseases and how to get adequate birth control. Forever... has been on countless banned book lists and attempts, but Blume has dared to go where many are afraid to be honest about. Teens are possibly going to experiment with sex while they are in high school. If parents and the schools are not going to equip them with the best knowledge out there to make educated sexual decisions, I am grateful that there is a book where teens can learn more about realistic sexual experiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol and Mental illness
aseriesofmegan's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
livelifelarge's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Read for a banned book club meeting. The book belongs in the teenage section of the library. Yes, it has sexual content, but a teenage read., simple and straightforward with zero plot
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
carlyalynnsia's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I really appreciate how this book normalises sex and has parental figures that are supportive or at least realistic and relatively non-shamey about sex in relationships. They are more concerned about safety and about their daughter convincing herself she's in love when she's so young and inexperienced than they are about her having sex.
I also like that Kath's pleasure is important in this story and in the sex scenes.
I really don't like the way that Michael consistently is pressuring Kath for more. It's good that she always has the final word and that he listens to her for the most part, but I don't like that he gives her shit about it. I'm of two minds about it: on one hand, I think it's cool that young readers can see an example of someone setting boundaries and still having a really positive relationship. And to maybe see that sometimes your partner will want more from you than you want to give, and just because they're nice and you like them doesn't mean you have to do what they want. But still, it's kind of icky and I wish it was more explicitly acknowledged as such.
Finally, I don't think I liked the very ending.
Could have done without the callback to her dating Theo now at the end.
I also like that Kath's pleasure is important in this story and in the sex scenes.
I really don't like the way that Michael consistently is pressuring Kath for more. It's good that she always has the final word and that he listens to her for the most part, but I don't like that he gives her shit about it. I'm of two minds about it: on one hand, I think it's cool that young readers can see an example of someone setting boundaries and still having a really positive relationship. And to maybe see that sometimes your partner will want more from you than you want to give, and just because they're nice and you like them doesn't mean you have to do what they want. But still, it's kind of icky and I wish it was more explicitly acknowledged as such.
Finally, I don't think I liked the very ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide attempt
bookbuyingwithkatie's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Death
Minor: Fatphobia
exlibrisabigaillee's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
fluffy1st's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death
Minor: Vomit, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, and Abortion
the_bookroyal's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
To this day 18 years later, I still can't take the name Ralph seriously. All because of this book.
Also I kind of want a story about Erica and Artie...at least Artie
Also I kind of want a story about Erica and Artie...at least Artie
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
I haven't read this book since I was like 11. I forgot (or didn't recognize) how creepy/predatory Michael's behaviour was. Multiple times Kathrine says she's uncomfortable with something and he says he doesn't care and continues on, like the first few times they were getting hot and heavy. Once she asks him to leave while she changes and he talks her into letting him stay. That he'd just watch from afar. Then he ends up approaching her and gropes her chest. Would have gone farther if her sister didn't interrupt. If anything I feel like the majority of their "relationship" is coerced consent. So please be aware if that is triggering to you. I marked "homophobia" as a CW because while it wasn't spoken on page necessarily, I believe Artie may have been gay or at least queer in some way which may have led to his attempt. I think. Maybe internalized homophobia, idk. There's quite a bit to unpack with his character.