Review: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Sixteen-year-old Maya and seventeen-year-old Lochan have never had the chance to be 'normal' teenagers. Having pulled together for years to take care of their younger siblings while their wayward, drunken mother leaves them to fend alone, they have become much more than brother and sister. And now, they have fallen in love. But this is a love that can never be allowed, a love that will have devastating consequences ...
How can something so wrong feel so right?

Three words come to mind when I think of Forbidden. Raw, emotional and perfection. This book has everything I could ask for in writing. It had me laughing one second then balling my eyes out in the next. This book isn't out in the US yet, but after reading reviews saying that they wanted it to work out for the two main characters I had to read it. How could any author make me sympathize for two siblings in love? Well, Tabitha Suzuma did that much more.

Logan and Maya are in a very unique situation that I've never been in, but I still found it easy to relate to them. Especially Logan since he has trouble in social situations. But even outgoing Maya has struggles of her own. The supporting roles are strong and add amazing depth to the book. Their younger siblings have such different personalities, I can picture them so clearly. The mother, well to word it politely, is a total jerk. You can't help but sympathize with their situation.

Now on to the relationship. It never felt awkward to me or like the book was trying to get me to agree with incest. Forbidden simply told this beautiful story of two people in love who happened to be siblings. I was rooting for these two since the beginning. They're perfect for each other. I wish I could describe their relationship more, but Tabitha does this without flaw, it's incredibly moving.

Tabitha Suzuma's writing is perfection. Her descriptions and how she gets you to feel what the characters are feeling is amazing. I couldn't put this book down until I knew how the star-crossed lovers would end up.

I found myself crying multiple times during this book, but the ending I completely lost it. I have yet to read a book that put me through all these emotions: sadness, happiness, sympathy. The ending is perfect.

Characters: 5/5

Creativity: 5/5

Voice: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Impact: 5/5

Overall: 5+/5

Amazing Quote:
"At the end of the day it's about how much you can bear, how much you can endure. Being together, we harm nobody; being apart, we extinguish ourselves."

A good book makes you smile and understands how you feel. An amazing book makes you laugh, cry and feel for the characters. Forbidden is an amazing book. For those who say that Young Adult Fiction isn't literature I dare them to pick this up. It's so much more than a book. Forbidden challenged my beliefs and has left a permanent impact.

Go pick up Forbidden and a box of tissues. You will not regret this book. It's perfection.