The saying, “She fell, but he fell harder” summarizes this book. Forever is probably the most realistic teenage love story. Katherine and Michael are both seniors in high school and they fall in love. She loses her virginity to him and they both promise themselves to each other forever. Katherine is on cloud 9 with Michael, but her parents don’t want her to get caught up on one guy forever at such a young age, because really, what do you know at 18? They both go away for the summer to work. She ends up working at a camp where she meets another boy and develops feelings for him. She still loves Michael, but she is confused. Normal for a teenager. She doesn’t want to hurt Michael, and she feels horrible for even growing feelings for another guy. Katherine realizes that maybe forever with Michael means he will forever be her first love, just not her first love, forever.

A love story and a murder mystery. That is how I would describe this book. Smart and clever. That is how I would describe Catherine Danielle Clark (Kya). Known as the marsh girl and is looked down upon by everyone in town. This book captures how even though one might not have an education, you can’t judge someone on their knowledge based on that. Kya proved them all wrong as she grew up through the knowledge she learned from a romantic friend, Tate. She surprised them all by publishing books about the marsh animals, and by carrying herself with confidence, which is why she was so easy to fall in love with. Two men were captured by her heart, one dead, murdered perhaps, and the other always by her side even when he wasn’t with her. Kya fights for her life on trial even though most of the town is not on her side given her reputation as the marsh girl.