Forever… by Judy Blume

This young adult classic of Forever… by Judy Blume is a love story between Katherine and Michael as they are about to graduate from their senior year of high school. Forever deals with the struggles of first love, the pressures of sex, sexuality, young pregnancy and suicide attempts in this quick and heartfelt read. It doesn’t let us know what time period it’s based on, but I want to guess that in the 60s or 70s. Katherine meets Michael at a New Year’s party and is immediately interested in him, they start dating almost every date they go on Michael is trying to have sex. Kath’s best friend Erica is also trying to have sex with Michael’s friend Artie, but keeps getting frustrated by his lack of advances. The book explores how scary a first time can be along with the feelings of a first love, exploring your sexuality, and being smart in your sexual actions. 

There were some parts in the book where Michael made me very uncomfortable with how Katherine could say no to his advances and he would keep pushing her until she’d say it was okay. I wasn’t sure if that was intentional or not, but it made the book a little realistic I suppose. Erica’s relationship with Artie comes to a head when they never have sex after a few months and Artie has a suicide attempt due to the guilt he feels after everything that’s happened between them. It was a pure shock. Something I really loved about the book is how Katherine is sent Planned Parenthood pamphlets from her grandma and decides to get on the pill to make sure she’ll be safe when she continues having sex with Michael throughout the book. 

I’ll give the book a 3/5.

This book has won an Award in 2012 for NPR – Your Favorites: 100 Best Ever Teen Novels. Judy Blume also has documentary that released last year in 2023 about the impact her works have had on women growing up. It’s titled Judy Blume Forever.

Blume, Judy. Forever__. Atheneum Books, 2014.