Ebony might be my new favorite YA Romance writer. Between this and Love Radio I’m convinced she does this genre justice. Raja and Deja are cute, loving and compelling characters. The amount of effort it took for them to fight for their relationship, their individual futures and teach each other about their different but similar cultures was beautiful to watch. I was sucked in immediately. I love the vulnerability and accountability each character showed and I also loved learning about their families and their history. I can say I finished this book rooting for them and would love a sequel where they are nearing college graduation and even more uncertainty and growth/change within their relationship. The supporting characters like Rani, Queen, and Di felt fleshed out and like real people I’d could come across IRL. Overall Ebony did a wonderful job. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. Most definitely will be buying the released copy.

Nearly perfect! 4.75/5
Protect Raja and Deja at all cost... and protect your peace.

Full review up on Instagram.

3.75⭐️

A haven of representation for following your heart and fiercely loving those in your life.

Disclaimer: I read this as an eARC through NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Teen for the free copy. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

What do you do when your families don't approve of your choices in life and love? You fight fiercely for the things you want and need in life. That is exactly what Raja and Deja have to do in order to show their families how much they care for each other.

Things I loved:
•Darker complected, African-American FMC. Nepali MMC. Cultural representations surrounding weddings and other family traditions.
•Hard discussions surrounding family expectations with school, futures and arranged marriages.
•Detailed descriptions of cultural foods and what they represented.
•Talks of natural skin care and products

Challenging aspects:
•Insta Love between FMC and MMC was unrealistic for their age.
•Confusing timeline surrounding MMC's age. (he was tattooed "years ago" at a tattoo convention without parental consent, but was only 18 at the time of meeting the FMC)
•Pacing was a little on the slow side for me. There were times where I found my mind wandering, and I had to pull myself back into the story.
•Missed opportunity with a Dominican queer side character that was very lovable. But was used for plot movement in the beginning and then faded into obscurity.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It had a ton of representation that felt very realistic, and definitely created an emotional pull towards our main characters. I feel like there is a lot that anybody can relate to within this novel when it comes to family and cultural expectations. I like how in depth the representation went for their backgrounds and cultures. It didn't shy away from difficult conversations or topics that are rarely discussed in novels. I'll be picking up the other authors novel "love radio" and giving that a try as well.

⏰/📖:384 pages
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Teen
Genre: YA fiction
Themes: Choosing your destiny, fighting for those you love
Tropes: Insta-Love, Love by choice
Rep: Darker complected African-American FMC, Nepali MMC
Spice: 🌶️ Light kissing
Release Date: May 20, 2025

Ebony has knocked it out of the park once again! This book is an absolute must-read, especially for high school seniors and young adults. The way it tackles crucial and relatable topics, particularly the exploration of cultural nuances, immediately draws you in and makes you invested in the characters' journeys. The powerful portrayal of parental relationships and expectations adds a compelling layer as the protagonists navigate their own paths while engaging with their families.

Thank you, SimonTeen and Netgalley, for the eARC! Miss Ebony LaDelle, you did it again!! This was so beautifully written. This Could Be Forever follows Deja and Raja, two teens from different backgrounds, culturally and religiously. Deja Martin, a young black girl from NC, is into skincare and is one with nature. She loves what she does, from planting, gardening, and making natural products. She is getting ready to start her college career and is making a huge decision: where does she want to go? With the help of her sister and a visit to the school, she finds a couple of surprises along the way that help solidify her decision. Raja, also getting ready to start his college career, knows he is going to the University of Maryland. It's close enough to home to but he can still have his independence. Raja, a young brown boy, is trying to understand his parents and be a great son while figuring out who he is.

This is a story about fighting for the love you deserve while navigating two different backgrounds between these individuals. Deja's and Raja's fears were valid in the way they can be accepted in each other's lives. A love WORTH the battle. This is not an instant love story but more of two young adults discovering not only themselves but each other. I loved this in its entirety, from the inner dialogue to the honesty between siblings. This is for sure, without a doubt, will melt your heart, make you laugh, and come out on the other side with something new.

This Could Be Forever follows Deja and Raja, two incoming freshmen from different backgrounds who find themselves and each other while pursuing their passions the summer before college. Over the course of the summer, they fall hard for one another. But the closer they get and the more their lives intertwine, the more they find that dating someone who doesn’t match your parents’ expectations is harder than they imagined. Ebony Ladelle explores the complexities of love, family expectations, interracial relationships and cultural identity.

I love when a romance novel gives me all the feels and makes me feel giddy inside. This Could Be Forever did exactly that! I haven’t felt this cheesy over romance since reading A Love Song for Ricki Wilde (Tia Williams). For them to be so young, Deja and Raja are extremely confident in who they are and seem to know exactly what they want out of life. It was refreshing to see them navigate their relationship and stand up for themselves. I love that they each had a sibling to confide in and root for them, Rani is that girl! Ebony LaDelle was thorough in showing the differences and similarities between Deja’s Black family and Raja’s traditional Nepali family. I smiled every time they found something in common between themselves and their families. Their story is just as beautiful as the cover. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ebony LaDelle, and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this swoon worthy romance. Pub Date: May 20, 2025

I loved this book so much! I really enjoyed learning about other cultures and as someone who married into a culture different than my own I can appreciate the struggles and triumphs that are shown in this book. They are real.
I would recommend this book if you like YA books with cross cultural romances or interracial relationship dynamics.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-arc. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Raja and Deja insta love was so cute and heartwarming. Deja has plan when she goes away to college. Get her degree to continue building her skincare company. She meets Raja who is trying to do everything his parents want for his future, including getting a degree in engineering even though his passion is to be an artist and own his own tattoo shop, until he is just fed up and wants his own path. They meet and their differences in culture becomes evident but their love is so big and bold they will do whatever it takes to keep it. This story tackles so many big critical issues and is a necessary read. Teaching you the necessity of paving your own way even when the odds seem stacked against you.

I was very excited going into this book because of the Author, however it took a very long time for me to get into it. Overall it is a great story , it was just very slow paced to me. I kept putting it down after a chapter or two. I liked the topic of interracial dating and learning of Rajs culture and background.
Overall I did enjoy the book, it just didn’t hit the mark for me the way I was expecting.

Ebony LaDelle has such incredible skill in writing young adults in such a realistic and respectful way that is so refreshing and important. She truly gives her characters agency and complexity. I also know that LaDelle is going to deliver a swoony romance steeped in culture and This Could Be Forever did not disappoint!

In this book we meet Deja who is starting an Onward Bound summer program at the University of Maryland, the summer before school starts. Raj is apprenticing at a tattoo shop in College Park, Maryland. When Deja walks into the shop where Raja's working they both start crushing hard.

Over the course of the summer, they fall more and more deeply for one another. But the closer they get and the more their lives entwine, the more they find that dating someone who doesn't match your parents' expectations is harder than they ever imagined.

I fell completely in love with Deja and Raj and their sweet romance journey. I really like how they encouraged one another and were respectful of each other’s families/traditions but with also having firm boundaries. Wanting to be more modern when having a more traditional/religious family is something a lot of young adults have to navigate and i think this book handles that really well and will resonate with a lot of people.

Ebony’s writing is absolutely beautiful and made this book so hard to put down. I can’t wait for everyone to read Deja and Raj’s story!

Such an emotion, deep and interesting premise for these two teens, learning about each other and their selves. I love the premise and how much there is to learn!

3.5⭐️

This was a cute YA romance. Two teens of different ethnicities/religions trying to navigate first love and independence while dealing with disapproval from family.

I admit the first half of the book dragged a bit for me and I found it hard to get into. However, the second half flowed much better to me. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I’m glad read it.

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for approving me for this novel.

I started this novel being so eager and excited to read it and from the beginning it was very cute and interesting but as I kept reading something fell flat for me. I’ve tried to return to reading it and just finding myself not as intrigued as I once was. Overall, I feel this is such a precious novel and I think so many individuals will find it to be great! The writing flows, the characters are cute and the storyline is good. I think any young adult will devour this. This is one I think I’ll come back to in the future, for sure.

3.75/4 ⭐️

This is a cute YA romance titled the deals with a budding interracial and multicultural relationship. Deja is a young black woman and she meets Raja from Nepal during a college visit. They attempt to navigate a developing relationship with different cultural upbringings and customs between each family. Overall I enjoyed the budding relationship between Deja and Raja! It’s cute to see young love and the sense of nostalgia that comes over you as you remember the first time you fell in love. Deja and Raja were very emotionally intelligent and mature. While overall, I enjoyed the book, this is insta-love, for sure! While this could be said to be realistic when we think of the young all consuming love that young people often fall in, I thought the strong emphasis on bringing their family in was a bit heavy given the very early stage of their relationship. They met during the summer, and had a relationship and familial involvement all before school even started! I would have loved to see more of them as a couple- more dates, more young kids being college students.

I thought the author did a great job respectfully exploring the differences and nuances between each culture.

Thank you so much to Simon Teen and NetGalley for the gifted e-arc

Ebony LaDelle delivers a beautifully layered and emotionally resonant story in This Could Be Forever, a novel that pulses with heart, hope, and the magic of young Black love. From the very first page, LaDelle captures the raw honesty of navigating love, grief, and identity, all while wrapping readers in a vibrant world full of lyrical prose and unforgettable characters.

The chemistry between the leads is electric yet tender, filled with meaningful dialogue and unspoken tension that will have you rooting for them from the start. LaDelle skillfully balances romance with deeper themes—mental health, family expectations, and creative passion—making this more than just a love story. It’s a story about choosing yourself, healing, and finding forever in the most unexpected places.

The writing is vivid and cinematic, and the floral-themed cover is a perfect reflection of the book’s blooming, soul-nourishing essence. This Could Be Forever is an absolute triumph—a must-read for fans of contemporary romance with depth, style, and soul.
Thank you NetGalley

This Could Be Forever is such a sweet young adult romance. A great insight into the two very different cultures and how the young couple fights for what they want. It’s beautifully written with a great character build-up and peeling off the layers of their love story. I’ll for sure be reading more from Ebony LaDelle!

4.25⭐️ Thank you Simon Teen & NetGalley for the e-ARC!
This is my first time reading anything by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. The whole premise, plot, relationship, and execution of the book was so good overall! Our main characters are so mature in their relationship with one another, but are also accurate to being college students. Due to them being different races, this book has so many great conversations around interracial relationships and tackles things like racism, culture, family dynamics, etc. The balance between these more serious topics while still being a fun YA romcom was so well done! I highly recommend this one, and will be looking out for more by this author!

This Could Be Forever by Ebony LaDelle is a captivating read that immediately drew me in. The story's gripping narrative and well-developed characters kept me hooked from start to finish. LaDelle's writing style is both engaging and thought-provoking, making this novel a must-read for anyone looking for a compelling and immersive literary experience.

Young instant love written beautifully took me a minute to get into. But it didn’t disappoint at all I will definitely recommend you if you want a cute fluffy love story.

If you loved “Love Radio”, then you’re definitely going to love this novel as well. Although this was a cute YA romance, the topics discussed in the storyline are real and something that is still very prevalent to this day and age. This novel highlights not only wanting to be your own person and taking that stance to stand up for yourself and what you you want in your own life, but it only speaks on the pressures and issues that many go through with interracial relationships.

I loved the fact that Deja and Raja didn’t allow their families to separate them and that they stayed true to themselves. It shows not just the courage that they have but the faith that they have in their relationship. Being the first of anything in a tight knit family is hard and carries a lot of weight on your shoulders, and these two main characters preserved well and ensured that their family dynamics understood where they stood on not only their relationship, but the path that they wanted for their lives. I loved this novel. I enjoyed learning about another culture. The writing was beautiful and heartfelt. If you’re looking for a cute YA romance that also provides a lesson in standing up for yourself, then this is the novel for you. Thank you Simon & Schuster, Ebony Ladelle and Net Galley for this E-ARC.