Unfortunately had to DNF this book at 20% ;-;
I am not a fan of insta-love and didn’t know that this book would be centered around that. I also didn’t particularly enjoy the writing style and how juvenile it read-even with the book being YA it felt middle grade. I absolutely think people are going to love this book, it just wasn’t for me.

Cute romance, good characters and an enjoyable read.

🧴🌿 Deja was such a motivated character, her dreams and ambitions were so inspiring. Her love for using natural products and wanting to make it into a business is was so nice.

🎨💉Raja was so wholesome. He had to deal with a lot of family issues not wanting to disappoint them but also wanting to be his own person, following through with his love of art and tattooing.

I really liked how the characters mixed well with the plot of the story. It was cute getting to see their motivations and passions develop more and become clear to them. The level of respect they had towards one another was also really nice to read. The family dynamics were different but they both had a supportive sibling to help them along the way of their life.

Plot: 5/10
Pace: 7/10
Ending: 7/10
Characters: 4/10
Enjoyability: 6/10
Writing Style: 5/10
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character: Raja

Favorite Quote: ❝ He planned a perfect evening, all to make me feel comfortable about things out of his control. I think I’m ready to be his something more. ❞

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for an ARC of Ebony LaDelle’s This Could Be Forever.

In this YA novel, LaDelle did a wonderful job depicting how two eighteen-year-olds, just leaving the nest, are learning to navigate both the world and their families.

Deja, an African American woman from a large family, has big plans to be the first in her family to go to college so she can study chemistry to further her natural skin care line she started while in high school. She ends up leaving her North Carolina farm to go to the University of Maryland to start classes early.

Raja, a Nepali man, wants to go to school to study art so he can open his own tattoo parlor one day. His parents expect him to be in an arranged marriage and they want him to study engineering.

Raja and Deja meet and start dating over the summer but have to deal with a lot of racism and classism from their own families just to be together.

Not personally being a POC, I can’t say that I understand what either of these characters are going through. Having an almost 17 year old, I can see how they think they know best and how I think I know better. As a parent it is hard to let go. So while I know I was supposed to be rooting for Deja and Raja getting to be together and their families to accepting their wishes, and I did, I also understood why their parents were concerned for reasons that Deja and Raja didn’t understand.

I really enjoyed this book.

#EbonyLaDelle #ThisCouldBeForever #NetGalley #Simon&SchusterBooksforYoungReaders #ARC #YA #Romance #ContemporaryRomance #ContemporaryFiction #Fiction #RealisticFiction #YARomance #CollegeRomance #College #Family #FirstLove #POC #April #2025

Ebony LaDelle's This Could Be Forever is a beautifully crafted romance that explores themes of vulnerability, hope, and the transformative power of love. The novel centers around two vividly drawn characters whose paths cross during a pivotal time in their lives. LaDelle skillfully portrays the intricacies of relationships, making their connection feel both authentic and deeply moving. With richly descriptive prose, LaDelle immerses readers in the characters' world, balancing moments of joy and heartbreak. Fans of contemporary romance will appreciate the relatable dynamics, emotional depth, and the uplifting journey toward self-discovery.

Quick and cute read that can serve as a palate cleanser between genres.

Read if you like interacial couples and the challenges they face, insta "hand shaking, butterflies in the stomach" crush, quirky moments

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

After reading Love Radio by this author i knew this book would be an automatic read for me. I love when authors are able to make YA novels realistic, meaningful, and engaging. This book was no different. I enjoyed the complex relationships of the main characters as they had graduated from high school and are both on a journey to find purpose beyond the expectations of their families. I appreciated the representation and culture backgrounds from both sides. If you are looking for a good palette cleanser with a hint of YA romance this is the book for you.

Rating: 3.75 ⭐️
Thank you netgalley for this e-arc
Release date May 20, 2025

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon Teen Publishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts, but I am DNF-ing this book at at 17%.

The premise of the story sounded very promising and I absolutely adored Ebony LaDelle's "Love Radio", so my expectations were fairly high for "This Could Be Forever." The writing in the beginning was a little weaker and I'm not the biggest fan of the instalove trope, but I was tentatively willing to stick it out to see where LaDelle took the plot. But unfortunately, the characterization of both Raja and Deja fell so flat, that the previous problems just felt even more magnified.

The dialogue between the characters felt so rushed, that their characters felt constantly boiled down to stereotypes; Raja as a South Asian man who struggles with overly strict parents who want him to be in STEM while also desiring an arranged marriage in the proper caste for him, and then Deja as the first Black girl in her family to go to college, going to a PWI institution. Neither of their stories contained any depth, seeming to abide by a strange rigidity that felt rehashed from the countless other stories that so closely mirror this one. Their conversations felt glazed over, which meant the build-up of their relationship felt so rushed. Their first date spanned only one single chapter, and because the author relies so heavily upon the insta-love trope, the foundation of their relationship is flimsy at best.

The entire meet-cute scene with Raja and Deja were littered with horrendous inaccuracies, ranging from the lack of consent/liability forms signed by Deja (OR Diamond), the lack of Raja's teacher being present while he was tattooing a client as an apprentice, the complete lack of detailed aftercare instructions after the appointment, the way in which Raja changed ink colors without rinsing or changing his tattoo needle, the way that Raja neglected to shave the hairs off Deja's arm prior to tattooing, the blase attitude with which Deja trusted Raja to tattoo her despite never having seen any pictural evidence of his past work or pictures of how his work heals; I could go on further, but the blatant lack of research into this scene does not give me hope that the later scenes in the story are written any better. Overall, this story was a disappointment on many levels, but I will still hold out hope that Ebony LaDelle's next book will be a return to the excellence that was "Love Radio".

Loved Deja and Raja’s love story. Deja is about to start her freshman year of college and is part of a summer program. She meets Raja in a tattoo parlor where he works and pretty much have an instant connection. Their love was so sweet but both of them were aware of their cultural differences. Raja’s parents expected him to marry someone they chose and also the career they chose. I was so happy to see Raja not capitulate and stand up for himself and Deja. It was sweet how he wanted her to understand his culture and be part of it. Deja had some wonderful confidence and she didn’t cower even when Raja’s parents weren’t friendly.

Raja also gets a chance to meet Deja’s family and he was so eager to please. It was funny reading about his various experiences with her family.

Most importantly, Raja and Deja loved and cared about each other. Even though there were cultural differences, the reader will believe Raja and Deja can make it. Great book!

💜 Country Girl/City Guy
💜 Tattoo artist
💜 Budding Skincare Mogul
💜 Exploration of Nepali and Black cultural norms and caste
💜 Breaking traditions
💜 The only thing spicy is the food

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book follows a couple who fall for one another in their first year of college. Each is navigating being away from home and thinking about what they want their lives to be. Neither was searching for love but you can't fight chemistry. A lot of our story is centered around breaking down cultural norms and learning how to be the partner the other needs. There is not any explicit content, so this would be appropriate for younger readers.

This Could Be Forever is such a great read! I love how Ebony LaDelle brings two cultures together—showing the differences, yes—but also shining a light on the similarities. The connection between the FMC and MMC was definitely love at first sight, and it was so sweet watching them grow together. Their chemistry felt so real, and the way their relationship grew had me hooked. I highly recommend this book if you're into romance with heart, culture, and connection. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from Ebony in the future!

I’ll talk more about this read in my March Read Wrap—@iamerikarenee on Instagram!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Teen for the ARC! This was a 4 star read for me I enjoyed reading. I've never read a book dealing with interracial relationships and culture differences. This story was such a cute read and made me think about different cultures in a different more respectful light light. Would definitely recommend.

In this "New Adult" romance, we meet Deja and Raja, both coming from large, complicated, and close families. Because of their differing racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, this romance seems doomed, but through open communication and a solid takedown of the patriarchy, they may have a chance at happily ever after.

This was a sweet and well developed story, maybe a little repetitive, but an enjoyable read. Very much a "clean" romance, rather than a hot and spicy one.

For me this was a 3.5 stars. Thank you netgalley and Simon Teen for the ARC! Definitely a good read if you’re into books that are insta love, interracial relationships and dating, and culture differences. Would definitely recommend to those looking for a good palette cleanser!

Thank you @simonteen for a digital copy to review!

This compelling and complex romance about love across cultures follows a Black girl and Brown boy who find themselves—and each other—while pursuing their passions the summer before college.

^from the publisher!

Okay so I really, really enjoyed this book. The dual POV was perfection and I really loved both of our main characters. Deja was so level headed and had such big dreams with her business and love of natural products, and Raja had the sweet vulnerability with the fear of wanting to be his own person and not completely disappoint his family.

These two characters were so layered and complex that as the story moved forward and you got to know them better, their motivations became so clear. What started as a simple meeting turned into a deep respect and care for each other and their relationship. I loved how vulnerable they were and how they each had complicated family dynamics at play. The growth was amazing!! I also really loved how they each had a supportive sibling to give them guidance and love. 🥹

Fully recommend.

after seeing so many good things about this i was excited to start it, yet im about 30% through and keep having to put it down. i dont feel quite connected to the characters yet (or maybe its the writing making me feel this way) but as of right now im going to dnf it so as not to enter a book slump! much appreciation for the early copy 💫

Ebony LaDelle has done it again! I’m not at all surprised after reading her debut, Love Radio. This book definitely confirms why she’s an auto buy author for me. I’ll be back with more details!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced eARC!

Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This Could Be Forever by Ebony LaDelle is my first experience with the author. A solid four star read. I am not an insta-love believer and this book is insta love at it's core. What sold me on this book was the relationship between the FMC and the MMC. Understanding the complex characteristics of an interracial relationship made me enjoy this book. This was extremely enlightening in so many ways and watching how the FMC and the MMC work together to make their relationship work and how much care each person takes with each other and understanding their cultures was beautiful. I know this is an ARC but there was a line in the book that really hit me. I want to say this line could change, though I hope not. "It's hard not to think about that when racism is something you're forced to learn and understand at a young age as a Black person in this country, when the world around you tries to remind you of the box you're supposed to stay put in. Every Black child remembers their first racist encounter, the moment their innocence begins to dim, when the world shows them its true colors. That feeling, no matter how prepared you are to experience it, is soul crushing...".

In Ebony LaDelle's This Could Be Forever, we meet Deja and Raja, two young people navigating that pivotal moment between adolescence and adulthood. Deja carries the meaningful responsibility of being her family's first college student, while Raja pursues his artistic passion against the backdrop of his family's traditional expectations. Their chance summer encounter in Maryland blossoms into a genuine connection that challenges both to reconsider what they want for their futures.

What makes this novel stand out is how LaDelle crafts a story about love in all its forms. The romance between Deja and Raja feels refreshingly real - her confidence and his thoughtful resistance to convention create a chemistry that's impossible not to root for. The book tackles interracial and intercultural relationship dynamics with honesty, celebrating both the joy of shared differences and acknowledging the real challenges that come with them.

LaDelle's writing transports you to the warmth of a Maryland summer, creating moments that range from laugh-out-loud funny to genuinely touching. While some story elements follow familiar patterns, the emotional journey feels fresh, especially through the authentic voices of these compelling characters. Their story beautifully illustrates how finding your own path can coexist with honoring your roots.

This Could Be Forever is a thoroughly enjoyable romance that offers cultural richness, emotional depth, and characters you'll miss when the final page turns. It's a wonderful read for anyone who appreciates contemporary young adult fiction with heart and substance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the advance review copy!

such a beautiful and sweet love story. it took me a second to get into it, but once I didn't I couldn't put it down. i think this is one of the best adaptations of the insta-love trope becuase both of the characters know that it is kinda ridiculous that they feel this strongly this quickly. such a cute read and also dives deep into the intermix of different cultures and young love