There are some stories that imprint on you long before you understood why. For me, Forever... by Judy Blume is one of those books. I first checked it out of the library when I was about nine (seriously) and practically wore out that copy by the time I was twelve. I always felt so clever getting it from the library—surely the librarians had no clue what this was really about!
Re-reading it as an adult, first in 2020 while taking Judy Blume's MasterClass, and again in July 2025 in anticipation of watching the Netflix adaptation, was both nostalgic and surprisingly fresh.
Honestly? It holds up. Even more than that—I love it more now, reading it as a grown woman and a parent. There's something powerful about how Blume writes a teenage love story with such clarity and compassion. It's tender, it's honest, and it doesn't moralize. Kath and Michael fall in love. They have sex. They break up. No one gets pregnant. No one dies. And life goes on.
I can remember countless (dated) books of teens having sex and having a baby, being forced to marry, etc. (Thinking of you, Mr and Mrs Bo Jo Jones.) While I do think it's important for teens to know possible consequences, I don't think only focusing on those negative outcomes in stories helps anyone. For that, Forever... was—and still is—refreshing. It allows its main character to explore sex and heartbreak without shame. That message felt radical when I was young, and it still feels rare today.
I watched the Netflix adaptation after re-reading the book, and while it stays emotionally true to the original, it definitely updates and reshapes the story for a 2025 audience.
What Stayed the Same:
Michael's signature mole on his cheek is still there (thank you, casting!). That's one thing that I remembered from the book over all these years, even before re-reading.
The cozy New Year's Eve party and fondue scene made it into the show and felt like a direct lift from the book—nostalgic and warm.
What Changed:
In the book, Kath and Michael meet for the first time at the party, but in the show, Keisha and Justin already know each other from childhood.
They kiss on New Year's Eve in the show, which speeds up the emotional stakes right away.
The show's version of Keisha is more experienced and confident, sexually and socially.
Justin's family is portrayed as more emotionally stable and warm compared to the book, where Michael's parents are pretty absent, but his sister and brother-in-law are somewhat involved.
The story is much more modern, with FaceTime calls, ADHD references, and other contemporary updates.
Their relationship gets physical more quickly than in the novel, a nod to how teen relationships have changed (or how they're perceived to have changed) over the decades.
The show is a solid reimagining, but the book still holds a sacred place for me. It captures something timeless about first love—that intoxicating mix of intensity, idealism, and eventual unraveling. And it does so with respect for young people's intelligence and emotional depth. Even re-reading it as an adult, I was blown away by how the book captures those feelings and then, at the end, allows room for heartbreak, acceptance of change, and new beginnings, all at once.
Check out this article where Mara Brock Akil, the producer, shares a lot of her thoughts about the book and also insight into the show's creation. Watch the show for a contemporary spin, but definitely read—or re-read—the book for its quiet, enduring power. Because Forever... is a solid story about growing up, letting go, and realizing that the end of a relationship isn't the end of you.
