This was such a cutesy YA romance that still managed to pack a punch emotionally. Deja and Raja’s meet-cute had me grinning from ear to ear—it was the kind of moment that makes your heart flutter in the best way.

What really set this apart for me was how Ebony LaDelle wove in family pressures and cultural expectations without losing the joy and magic of first love. Deja’s flashbacks with her grandmother were especially tender and emotional, and Raja’s struggle with balancing his artistic dreams and his immigrant parents’ hopes added real depth.

Interracial and intercultural relationship dynamics were explored with care, and the story never felt preachy—just honest and real. This book balances butterflies and big themes so beautifully. Definitely one I’d recommend to readers who like their romance sweet *and* substantial.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

this was a beautiful example of a coming of age multiracial romance!! this book felt so realistic and I loved how much the author researched for the mmc, it felt like reading about a family member and for fmc it was just like how my friends would talk to each other. usually dialogue in a story feels unrealistic and choppy but this was literally perfect!!

This Could Be Forever is a sweet young adult romance between Deja and Raja. This is a story of a Black girl and a brown boy in the summer before starting college finding love, each other, and the complexities that come with interracial romance where families from both sides hold specific expectations for who these kids will end up with. Deja is a dark skinned Black American girl who knows what she wants in life and has her natural skincare business and soon to be education in chemistry and soil science to prove it. Raja is a Nepali American boy who loves art and wants to open his own tattoo studio but whose family subscribes to their home country’s caste system, expectation of arranged marriage, and his becoming an engineer. Together, Deja and Raja find similarities in their humor, their healer grandparents and their stubborn fathers as they navigate the differences they face in cultures and gendered expectations— all while finding themselves and opening up to the potential of a future with each other.

This story is so sweet. It really had my giggling and kicking my feet. I adored the way Deja and Raja uplifted the other in support, encouragement, and genuine praise for the other’s passion. I was cheesing so hard throughout the entirety of this book.

One small detail that I really appreciated about this story is the acknowledgment of their finding each other at such a young age and the uncertainty of if they really are each other’s forever person yet holding onto the hope and feeling that they would certainly like to try and explore the potential of what they could be. Beautiful. Chef’s kiss. I’ve found that a lot of romance books have characters that are *sure* that they’ve found their forever in each other, but it was nice to read the reality of that unsureness and the hope that overrides and exceeds that within this young adult novel.

While I’m neither Nepali, nor of South Asian descent, as an Asian American, I found a lot of similarities between myself and Raja and his family and their expectations. And especially his sister! While my parents don’t expect me to marry a person of their choosing, I aggressively relate to the unbalanced expectations of being an Asian American girl in an immigrant Asian family with a brother who had far more freedom than me. So I love that Raja has her and their sister-cousins to put him in his place and that he’s open to learning about his privilege.

I’m not entirely sure why this book took me so long to finish because I thoroughly enjoyed reading and was internally screaming (positively) throughout much of it. But I did end up switching to the audiobook halfway through in order to finish the story, and the narrators also brought a certain life to these characters that only helped grow my love for them.

This Could Be Forever is an absolutely beautiful love story of finding similarities and relatability across cultures with different flavors of oppression, and I’m excited to read more from Ebony LaDelle. Thank you, Netgalley and Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Publishing, for the ARC!

A true YA book.

The depiction of young love, family, cultural identity and navigating a new environment makes this book perfect for the young adult audience. Addressing not racism but cultural stereotypes and the youth's willingness to confront it, was so beautifully written that you wanted to root for Deja and Raja immediately. Knowing the battles they may face but also how far they are willing to go (not for love but for what's right).

I love Ebony LaDell's writing and she doesn't hesitate to show young love in the light that we all know it as.

Consuming, confusing and captivating.

I love E. LaDelle previous book so much, so I was so excited to read this new release. In This Could be Forever, I really loved how it explores the complexities of interracial relationships and the cultural tensions that can come along with them. Raja and Deja both had struggles with navigating their identities and relationship, but I loved how they both showed maturity along the way. Raja’s struggle with his families expectations around arranged marriage vs. honoring his family’s traditions. Deja’s journey of self-discovery, seeing how she found strength in her individuality while dealing with the pressures of family and culture. I appreciated how LaDelle showed both thoughts on the subject and showed both family’s view point as well.

That said, I did feel like some moments could’ve been wrapped up faster, and it didn’t hit as hard emotionally as I expected it to. However, the overall pay off made for a sweet slow burn relationship to reflect on.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narration by Angel Pean and Vikas Adam was fantastic! The voice acting brought out the tension in both Raja and Deja which made the listening enjoyable even with the slower pace.

Overall, i did really enjoyed reading about their love story coupled with the culture and the choices we make for self vs our families.

When Ebony LaDelle announced that she wrote another book I immediately added it to my pre-order cart. I knew that I was going to buy it no matter what it was LOL If you know me, you know that Love Radio was my favorite book of 2022, so I knew I was going to read whatever it was that she came up with next. And let me just say, this one was just as amazing.

So the characters were absolutely my favorite part. I LOVED Deja. She was her own person but still the embodiment of her family, especially her grandmother. She seemed like the rock of her family. She had so much wisdom at such a young age. She was so relatable. I was the same way when I was that age. A definite old soul.

And then there was Raja. He was a smart brave soul. He may have been of a different culture than me, but I recognized the things he went through all the same. The way he went through all he went through, but still went above and beyond for his sister cousins AND Deja made me want to give him a hug, a round of applause, or something. He did things that adults still don’t know how to do. And he did not take no for an answer. I know this seems bare minimum, but again, a lot of adults wouldn’t do what he did.

I also liked the community they fostered when they all came together. Yeah Deja and Raja were the ones in the relationship. but the way the sister cousins and Deja’s family all came together to help them or even just to cook together, to laugh together, or to help Deja with her clothing. It was so special the way they looked out for each other in different ways. It was so special to see them find each other and fall in love the way they did and see the community and friends that rallied behind them. Even if some of them had to hide to do so.

As for the romance itself, hands down, one the cutest couples ever lol These kids were the cutest. I loved the way they took care of each other and made sure that other people took care of them too. They didn’t play about each other and that may seem like bare minimum, but these kids both had a lot to fight through and I recognize that it was a lot. Also, I have to admit, I was originally going write in my review that I was not a fan of the instalove, but after going to see her speak about her new book, I can honestly say I understood why she did what she did. She said that she was aware it was instalove, but it was because she knew with the rest of the story she was doing a lot, and trying to add on some kind of conflict here too might have been too too much. It made sense if she wanted the main conflict and main plot point to be their journey together.

There is so much going on in this book, from the community, to the romance, to the family dynamics. It was so much and it really made me feel bad that these kids were still trying to figure out who they were and they were going through these things. And let me just tell you, all of that made this book so damn good. I loved this so much, and I think you all will too. Go pick it up and let me know what you think too!

"The way she finds a way to connect the dots, to bring us together when everything around us wants to pull us apart. With everything that's happened over the last few weeks, when it's just us, we always seem to find our groove. This girl has me smitten."

I was so excited for another novel from Ebony LaDelle because I absolutely loved Love Radio. This Could Be Forever is an amazingly written story about two young adults finding love for the first time. I really enjoyed Deja and Raja's relationship. I loved how they didn't let their very different backgrounds stop them from being with each other. The ending was so perfect. I can tell that Deja and Raja are tied together forever.

With the resurging popularity of Forever... by Judy Blume, this is a perfect novel that evokes the same feels!

✨Instagram: Books.withTay✨

Deja and Raja both have big dreams. Deja plans to study chemistry and grow her natural skin care product business. Raja wants to own his tattoo parlor, but his parents want him to follow the traditional Nepali way and study engineering and settle down in an arranged marriage. What happens with they meet the summer before they start college?

The story shows the complexity of love across cultures. We follow Deja and Raja as they navigate their family's expectations with their desire. I felt that Ebony did a beautiful job highlighting both cultures, traditions, and how they navigate uncharted territory. The MCs were mature and communicated throughout the story.

Such a sweet YA romance that duces deep into cultural bias and bi racial dating. It felt a bit innocent for college age characters, but the character development was top notch.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC opportunity.


What a beautiful read of young love and finding a love you get to choose. Ebony does it again with a raw, beautiful, unfiltered look into a love that blossoms between two individuals from different cultural backgrounds. This book explores love, healing, and acceptance through family, cultural practices, friendships, and more. One thing Ebony does so well is write tender moments and gives immersive descriptors into the world she creates. I appreciated the resiliency and willingness to break away from cultural norms as needed. Raja the committed/loyal king and Deja the compassionate/fierce Queen balanced one another out. The way I was highlighting was so intense because there were important conversations being had. Ebony does this with sensitivity and understanding when writing an interracial couple. Overall, I enjoyed the messiness of insta love and how these two chose connection above all else..

I really enjoyed part 1 but after that I wasn’t really sure how I felt about it. The characters themselves were nice people who wanted the best for each other which was good to see. That being said; the romance and the overall plot fell flat for me. Although the conflict in the story is something that many interracial couples face, I struggled with the writing to be able to connect to the issues.

What a beautiful journey of Raja and Daja’s story. I found myself giggling in awe of how cute they were and the innocence to two teenagers just loving on each other and crushing on each other. So pure. I loved this one.

Beautifully written story that I hope opens readers minds and hearts to accepting people regardless of their race. Great book for young adults to senior citizens. Raja & Deja’s chemistry gave such mature innocence. I loved it! I listened to the audiobook version and the narrators were excellent!

First off, let me say that I will read anything Ebony writes! Her ability to make readers feel deeply connected to her characters is something I always look forward to when diving into her stories. I saw myself in both characters—Deja, an NC girl destined to leave home and pursue her goals, was me just a few years ago. Raja, trying to pursue his passions while constantly reminded of the loyalty he owes his family, represents something many people struggle with. The love in this book felt real, fueled by support and collaboration. I know everyone could benefit from reading about growth—not only for yourself, but for your personal village as well.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

This was an adorable read! This Could Be Forever follows Deja and Raja, who meet the summer before their freshman year at the University of Maryland. They have a magnetic connection as soon as they meet. However, Deja is Black American, and Raja is from Nepal. The book centers around their families and how they navigate their cultural differences.

What stood out to me was how, even though Deja and Raja were both people of color, there were still many nuances about dating interracially and the challenges they faced from their families. I also appreciated that even though Deja and Raja were from different cultures, they still had similar things in common, like their upbringing and interests. I was rooting for these two throughout the book! The story also touches on breaking out of the traditions and norms set by your family and forging your own path as a young person. I also loved that I had the opportunity to learn more about Nepali culture while reading this! Thank you to Simon Teen for the e-ARC and the gifted finished copy!

Read this book if you enjoy:
-Black and South Asian representation
-Insta love/Insta connections
-Upper YA books
-Family dynamics in books
-Stories set in the DMV!

Representation matters. This YA romance story of a black American young woman and a Nepali American young man was equal parts swoony and thoughtful. The writer did a good job of highlighting some specific cultural aspects of each character, honoring their ancestors and traditions, and providing a modern context but also underscored the cultural similarities. My main takeaway from the book was that there is much more that connects us than divides us. Love can be that translator to demonstrate that as it did in this story. My main hang up was that both characters had a preoccupation with marriage. As young adults, I felt that was a little much at times. All in all, a solid book worth reading with some very sweet moments.

There was so much love, care, and appreciation put into this book, and I felt it through every aspect of the way Deja and Raja’s lives were depicted.

Raja and Deja are two people who seemingly come from very different cultural backgrounds, but so much of their stories felt like mirrors. Raja, a young Nepali tattoo apprentice grappling with his family’s expectations for him to pursue science and agree to an arranged marriage, and Deja, a southern Black first generation college student looking to expand her natural skincare business, face so many of the same struggles in their journey to defining their futures. Both come from hard working families who made unimaginable sacrifices to provide the younger generations with more opportunity, and both have a vision for themselves that defy what their familial traditions look like.

This Could Be Forever felt like one of those books that’s perfect for me now, and would’ve been the exact type of romance book younger me would’ve really fallen in love with. This book is an exploration of knowing in an instant that someone is meant for you, set against cultural and familial expectations that may not agree with your desires. It does an incredible job of showing that no matter how complex family may be, love can be simple when you choose to stand up for it. The fact that this was done beautifully within the context of YA, through two 18 year olds out on their own for the first time, is a testament to Ebony’s storytelling capabilities.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this story is that the romance between Raja and Deja is never the question. From the moment they laid eyes on each other, their mutual interest was very palpably known, and I loved seeing them build on that throughout the book. These characters were so sure of what they wanted for themselves and from each other, and I loved seeing their families recognize that.

I really, REALLY loved this book and recommend it 1000% 💗

DNF @ 21%

This book was unfortunately not for me. I was excited to read it because I read “Love Radio” by Ebony LaDelle and really loved it. However, while reading this, I struggled to connect with the narrative voices enough to keep reading.

I loved reading about two college age students about to start a new chapter in their lives and experiencing new love. There’s a lot to be explored in that stage of life, so the premise was very promising. However, I didn’t get far enough into the plot to see how it played out.

Their personalities/characteristics were unique—Deja’s love for natural products and Raja’s tattoo artist journey were nice touches that added to how they connected with each other.

However, their relationship seemed to move a bit fast, so the insta-love threw me off a bit. I also struggled with the dialogue which came across as a little cringey sometimes.

I think there was a sweet energy to the interactions that I admired, which made me want to try and keep reading, but ultimately, the story wasn’t for me.

Thank you Net Galley and Publishers for the ARC.

What a gorgeoussss teen romance story 😭 not too long ago, I finished watching Forever on Netflix and this book reminded of all the things I loved about that show. The insta-love & the innocence of finding love as a teen. The vulnerability and self-discovery. The emotionally mature family members who guide them on how to navigate love/be brave stepping into it even when they might be afraid. Ugh!!! This book was just refreshing.

The discussions in this book were incredibly rich! I loved the different perspectives on identity development outside of cultural expectations/norms. I loved how Deja’s southern roots were thoughtfully centered and Raja’s refusal to let cultural traditions/norms control who he loved. Also, as a first gen college student myself, I loved the realistic portrayal of being a first gen college student trying to find your own way when there isn’t an exact blueprint. This took me back to my summer before college 🥹

I realized that I was like holding tight to my seat thinking that there would be some kind of trauma, especially when they were meeting each other’s families. But thankfully, there was really none of that. Just pure, vulnerable, sweet love and growth. Def recommend!