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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
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
lysseliddell's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Death
Minor: Abortion
quesara's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Body shaming
Minor: Suicide attempt
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
brittinyh3711's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
Still my favorite book that got me into reading as a teenager. Third or fourth time reading it
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Suicide attempt
thegazillionthreader's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
My thoughts… (mainly for myself to look back on)
I had been wanting to read this for a very long time ever since it was mentioned in another book I read as a tween or teen, I can’t remember what book though. But anyway, years and years have gone by and now here I finally read it as an adult. I have changed so much since I was a teen. Teenaged me would’ve been SHOCKED and immediately put the book back 😂
It is definitely more explicit than I expected for a YA book, especially considering the time it was written and published. Kudos to Judy Blume for taking that leap during that time. Even now I think the book is very mature for a YA, but then again, maybe YA is not where it’s meant to be genre wise. I mean it is a coming of age story but those are kinda their own thing I think.
It was a super fast read. It can take me weeks to months to finish a book, but this only took me a few days. It’s a little less than 300 pages.
I can appreciate and understand the message the author was trying to convey. Some things in the book though, due to the time written, are of course maybe a bit dated/not aged well. It would be interesting to see how the author would write a story just like this but for now.
SPOILERS BELOW
I was surprised by two big things that happened with two of the side characters; Sybil’s pregnancy and Artie’s attempted suicide. The latter was the most shocking.
Sometimes the writing made it seem like the characters were younger than they were, but it could also just be a time thing as well.
I did not like Michael. I felt he was too pushy and that’s just not a good message. If a girl says no she wants to wait, you leave it at that and stop trying to convince her. He was getting on my nerves.
The parents annoyed me at times too, trying to encourage Katherine to spend some time away from Michael and how they made her go to the tennis camp. I suppose I can understand their concerns but at the same time, it’s ok to have a steady boyfriend at a young age, they need to calm down. I mean like I said I wasn’t always a huge fan of Michael but it still annoyed me.
I didn’t dislike Katherine all that much, although at the end she all of a sudden decides she’s not so sure about a forever with Michael. Which happens, she’s young, her parents were probably right, she needs to experience more and date more, all that. But still… it happened so fast and it was kinda sad. And she basically did cheat on Michael.
But it kinda seemed Michael and Katherine’s relationship was just based on sex so…
But like I said, that seems to be the point, the message being conveyed about young, immature, first loves/relationships.
I had been wanting to read this for a very long time ever since it was mentioned in another book I read as a tween or teen, I can’t remember what book though. But anyway, years and years have gone by and now here I finally read it as an adult. I have changed so much since I was a teen. Teenaged me would’ve been SHOCKED and immediately put the book back 😂
It is definitely more explicit than I expected for a YA book, especially considering the time it was written and published. Kudos to Judy Blume for taking that leap during that time. Even now I think the book is very mature for a YA, but then again, maybe YA is not where it’s meant to be genre wise. I mean it is a coming of age story but those are kinda their own thing I think.
It was a super fast read. It can take me weeks to months to finish a book, but this only took me a few days. It’s a little less than 300 pages.
I can appreciate and understand the message the author was trying to convey. Some things in the book though, due to the time written, are of course maybe a bit dated/not aged well. It would be interesting to see how the author would write a story just like this but for now.
SPOILERS BELOW
I was surprised by two big things that happened with two of the side characters; Sybil’s pregnancy and Artie’s attempted suicide. The latter was the most shocking.
Sometimes the writing made it seem like the characters were younger than they were, but it could also just be a time thing as well.
I did not like Michael. I felt he was too pushy and that’s just not a good message. If a girl says no she wants to wait, you leave it at that and stop trying to convince her. He was getting on my nerves.
The parents annoyed me at times too, trying to encourage Katherine to spend some time away from Michael and how they made her go to the tennis camp. I suppose I can understand their concerns but at the same time, it’s ok to have a steady boyfriend at a young age, they need to calm down. I mean like I said I wasn’t always a huge fan of Michael but it still annoyed me.
I didn’t dislike Katherine all that much, although at the end she all of a sudden decides she’s not so sure about a forever with Michael. Which happens, she’s young, her parents were probably right, she needs to experience more and date more, all that. But still… it happened so fast and it was kinda sad. And she basically did cheat on Michael.
But it kinda seemed Michael and Katherine’s relationship was just based on sex so…
But like I said, that seems to be the point, the message being conveyed about young, immature, first loves/relationships.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt
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.linddykal's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, and Drug use