This Could Be Forever
(Simon & Schuster BFYR) This compelling and complex romance about love across cultures follows a Black girl and brown boy who find themselves--and each other--while pursuing their passions the summer before college.
Deja’s got a plan. The first in her large family to go to college, she wants to study chemistry and sell natural skin care products, like the ones she already creates from plants grown on her family’s North Carolina farm. It all starts with the Onward Bound summer program at the University of Maryland, the summer before school officially starts. Raja’s got a dream. His traditional Nepali parents want him to study engineering and settle down in an arranged marriage, but his passion is art, and he wants to open his own tattoo parlor one day. In the meantime, he’s apprenticing at a tattoo shop in College Park, Maryland.
When Deja walks into the shop where Raja’s working, they both start crushing hard--over the course of the summer, they fall more and more deeply for one another. But the closer they get and the more their lives entwine, the more they find that dating someone who doesn‘t match your parents’ expectations is harder
than they ever imagined.
Can they bridge the divide between the vision their families have for their futures and the lives--and love--that are starting to feel like destiny?
“In this sweet romance, a serendipitous moment paves the way for radical growth and transformation.”
— KIRKUS REVIEWS, STARRED REVIEW“This timely, touching novel by LaDelle (Love Radio) is a moving exploration of love’s potential to bridge cultural divides…Sparkling character personalities make cast interactions leap off the page in a richly rendered romance that probes themes of self-reflection, cultural identity, and the connective and healing power of love.”
— Publishers weekly, STARRED REVIEW“All the major aspects of a romance novel are here, but it’s made even better by characters who are multifaceted, parents learning to let go of control, and the complicated nature of bringing two cultures into one relationship. Hand this book to readers looking for a nuanced summer romance.”
— The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books“LaDelle’s writing is clear and informative, balancing witty humor with an engaging narrative that teaches lessons about acceptance and open-mindedness without feeling didactic. The couple’s budding romance is so sweet and genuine. What sets this book apart is its ability to distill discussions about race and sexism into digestible and compelling entries.”
— school library journal