Friday, July 1, 2011

Forbidden by Tabitha Sazuma

Cover Image

Synopsis: 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.


First of all, sorry I haven't reviewed any books in awhile. However, this book is the reason I decided to start reviewing again, or at least try to, because this is a book I will not be able to stop thinking about.

Forbidden starts out by taking a very real and heartbreaking look at a family, in particular siblings Lochan and Maya who have been forced to grow up too fast. With an often absent, alcoholic mother, and a father who deserted the family years ago, Lochan and Maya must assume responsibility for their 3 younger siblings: Kit, a 13-year-old who has taken to smoking and hanging out with a nasty crowd of kids, Tiffan, a rambunctious 8-year-old, and 5-year-old Willa.

Lochan and Maya are only 13 months apart, and have been best friends for as long as they can remember. Due to Lochan's overwhelming fear of speaking in public, he is often looked at as a freak and a loner, but at home he is the surrogate father in his dysfunctional family. As Lochan and Maya begin to work harder to keep their family from being split up, as their mother begins to make her full exit from the family, they realize that their love for each other goes deeper than just siblings or friends.

Tabitha Sazuma has a true gift for writing. The way she portrays these five siblings will make you fall in love with them, rooting for them despite everything that is thrown their way. Even as the romance aspect begins to be part of Lochan and Maya's life, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't wish for there to be a happy ending for them.

This story was haunting and beautiful. I honestly don't remember the last time I cried so much after reading a book. I know that I won't be able to stop thinking about these characters and their story for a very, very long time.

Rating: A+
Warning: This book is not suitable for younger readers. It contains intimate details of Lochan and Maya's relationship that might make some readers uncomfortable.

Other Recommended Books: (I haven't read either of these books, I just know that they also involve similar incestual themes and could perhaps be of interest to readers of Forbidden)

  • Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
  • Illyria by Elizabeth Hand

17 comments:

  1. Thanks for stopping by. Suzuma does have a gift for writing and she created a family and love story that is impossible not to root for. This one will probably make my list of favourite reads for this year.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have never been so moved by a story character or book before. I cried so hard after finishing the book. It is beautifully written and truly haunting. It will stay with me forever. Oh Lochie, my heart goes out to you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This book is something I know will be etched in my memory forever.After I finished the book, I could barely stop crying.Even after all the books I have read since,I can't stop thinking about Maya and Lochan and their forbidden love that started out so happy and ended up having a heartbreaking ending.Tabitha Suzuma is truly a talented author and I look forward to reading more of her books.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Its so beautifully written and touching. I never experienced love vicariously so strong before and I'm so sorry for Lochan. Given the circumstances even though it is a taboo I never for a single moment judged their feelings for each other. Its so unfair that they did not end up together.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I finished the book about an hour ago. It is the first book in a long time that I just couldn't put down. I usually am pretty lazy when it comes to books, and read when I have nothing to do, but the story was just so gripping, I read it in three days, and lost sleep. The ending made me sob. Or more so, the last paragraph of Lochie's view. I think the only people who could be truly disgusted by the story, are those without a heart! Suzuma brought out thoughts I didn't think I would ever know. Definitely 10/10

    ReplyDelete
  6. This book is one of the most amazing books I have ever read. It is inspiring in so many ways. The love Maya and Lochie have for each other is quiet remarkable. Thank Suzuma for that wonderful interpretation of a taboo many refuse to talk, let alone write about. *****

    ReplyDelete
  7. I didn't--or couldn't-- accept the ending. It was the last thing I expected of it yet the story indeed was beautifully written and the story flow was stable and it made sense. Suzuma was able to create an actual life out of it, something we readers would now and then constantly think about.
    It was very touching. Lochie is a true hero.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I wish there could been a better ending for Lochie and Maya. They both deserve a break from the hassle environment they live in. But anyhow.
    This is my first novel that I've read. Quite powerful for starters like me. Though this is a meaningful book. Touching. Sweet. Powerful. Heartfelt.
    You're awesome, Suzuma. Take good care of Lochie ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. This book is no doubt one of the most beautifully written pieces in a long time. The end was too overwhelming for me if i must admit. The discrimination that they faced is not foreign to me. As a black female I faced the same problems when my relationship with a white male wouldnt be accepted. Nevertheless this is a very beautiful story. :))

    ReplyDelete
  10. This book..
    Oh my goodness.
    This is literally the best
    book I've read in my entire life.
    I've never been so
    addicted to reading.
    I finished this in two days.
    sleep. read forbidden. eat. read forbidden. sleep. <3
    & I've also never cried on a book before,
    best book, ever.

    I'm now reading it for the second time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. BEST BOOK YOU'LL EVER READ.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Don't, second guess it.

    Best book I've read in my entire life.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Haven't read the book yet, about to pick it up and read it now!! Maybe I wont cry!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I actually did a short review of this book on my own book blog www.blondepurplebruise.blogspot.com
    The book was so beautifully tragic it made me 4 two days!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. that was meant to to say it made me cry for 2 days haha

    ReplyDelete
  16. Easily the best book I have ever read, and I have read hundreds of books...it's indescribable, you just have to read it to understand the brilliance of it. I never cried reading a book before, I was in tears after this. Gripping stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This was one of the best books I ever read.... My friend was reading it and she told me that it was about a sister and brother who were in love. I thought it was disgusting but she really thought I should read it. I did, and in the end I was close to tears. It's a good book because it so close to reality.

    ReplyDelete