The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L Armentrout

The Problem with Forever

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

For some people, silence is a weapon.

For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield.

Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.

Reviewed by Linda on

5 of 5 stars

Share
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
The Problem With Forever gave me all the feels, and it took me a while to be able to actually write a full review - no coherence for days.



I love NA novels that make me sad, angry, happy - sometimes all at the same time. The Problem With Forever really rose to the occasion and made my heart break more than once, and I cried, laughed and cheered. I also screamed a bit - especially at Mallory's adoptive dad - because characters did or said stuff they really shouldn't have. Mallory and Rider *sighs* they have been through so much darkness and abuse, it's truly amazing they can function and have any kind of hope at all. They were in the same foster home until something really bad happened, and Mallory was taken to the hospital, where she was later adopted by two doctors. And then she was homeschooled, because for the longest time, she didn't talk. At all. Because she had to be as quiet as possible in her foster home, just to stay safe from her foster dad's explosive anger.

Rider and Mallory tried their best to take care of each other when they were children, and after they were separated, they both thought they wouldn't ever see each other again. And this was true until Mallory started high school for her senior year so she could get ready for college. The Problem With Forever captured the way both Mallory and Rider had been lost without each other, and how strong their bond was because they had grown up in the same sad and dark situation. I loved seeing them get to know each other again, and I especially loved the character development that showed Mallory transform from 'Mouse' to a young woman who was able to stand up for herself and use actual words to do so.

The Problem With Forever touched my heart in all the right ways, and just thinking about it - I finished reading it over a week ago - makes my chest heavy all over again. Armentrout truly outdid herself here, both with the story, and the characters. I was captivated from page one.



I nodded as my heart turned into a gooey mess. He actually remembered that I drank milk every chance I got - that and Cokes, when Rosa and Carl let me get away with it. 

Page wasn't lurking by my locker Thrusday morning. Jayden was as I switched out my books. An act of God held up his baggy jeans. That faint earthy smell clung to is Ravens T-shirt.

What I was lacking wasn't thinner thighs or a flatter stomach. It was courage. The fat was, I was a giant scaredy-cat. how could I bet thinking about a guy's lips when I couldn't even get mine to work to form words?

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 June, 2016: Finished reading
  • 7 June, 2016: Reviewed