Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma - Review

Forbidden

by Tabitha Suzuma

Published Orginally: May 27th 2010 by Definitions
My Copy Info: This edition: Hardcover, 464 pages; Publication date: June 28, 2011
Ages: above 16
Source: Galley Grab

Plot:

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives--and the way they understand each other so completely--has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.--Simon and Schuster

My Thoughts:

 

I go into every book with an open mind. Some books surprise me. I get into them and a fall in love with the characters even though the subject matter of the novel may be a little uncomfortable. That's exactly what happened with FORBIDDEN. Sure, I've heard of this one through the blogging community when it was released over in the UK, but never got the opportunity to read it for myself. Reviews vary for this novel. Some love it while others hate it. I'll admit it is hard to get over the fact that the love story in this novel is between brother and sister, and no, I don't mean step. I'm talkin' same momma and daddy here. Full on siblings.

 

Now I know what you're thinking, ewwww gross, how can people read something like that. It is pretty creepy. But I will say Ms. Suzuma did such an excellent job building the characters that it was easy to forget they were siblings. Their lives are just so messed up. Their dad wants nothing to do with them. Their mom is an alcoholic that stays gone most of the time, which leaves the two main characters alone, raising the younger kids in the family. The dynamics of the family are so crazy, it's believable that this incestuous love story could happen. It's like they are in their own little world and no one else can understand but each other.

 

For me the story really took off the last 3/4 of the book. That was where all the action was. It really hooked me in and I flew through the end. It was sooooooo sad. Be prepared for that. It was probably the saddest YA contemporary story I've ever read. Very realistic and I can totally see a situation like that happening in real life. 

 

All in all I say read it with an open mind. This is not a book that I think is suitable for the younger YA crowd, best to stick with 16 and up for this one. There is a gritty sex scene in this one and the subject matter in general is best suited for a mature reader.