Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Forbidden
Author: Tabitha Suzuma
Genre: Young Adult
Format: Hardcover
Source: Personal Library
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Synopsis: She is pretty and talented – sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But… they are brother and sister.

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. via GoodReads

Why I Picked It Up: I won this book in a contest a while back. After seeing several bloggers that I like reading it and their reviews. I figured that I should get cracking and read it. The problem? Clearly this book is about a very taboo subject and I just wasn’t sure if I would like it.

What I Loved: Once I got passed the ick factor, I was able to see Lochan and Maya as people. I understand how it happened and by the time I was accepting of it, everything changed again. Suzuma is able to take the taboo of a sexual brother/sister relationship and show a different, more importantly believable, perspective. Does that mean I’m going to jump on the pro-incest bandwagon? Hell no! It still grosses me out but Suzuma does an excellent job playing with “what if?”

What I Could Have Lived Without: Well let’s face it, this book is about incest. I really could have done without the very graphic sex scene. Isn’t it enough to know that they are indeed doing the dirty?

Recommended For: Readers looking for a thought provoking read. Must be open-minded.

Avoid If: Things that go against social norms makes you uneasy.

4 Hearts Other Reviews:
Pages of Forbidden Love – 5 Hearts
Candace’s Book Blog – 4 Stars
Between the Pages – 2 Stars

Stephanie @ Once Upon a Chapter

February 15, 2012

*Review

Contemporary

6 responses to “Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma”

Amanda

February 15, 2012 at 7:44 am

I love the new review style! I especially like the recommended for/avoid if sections. 🙂

This book makes me wary. I know some bloggers have really liked it, but I'm not sure I want to read it.

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1. OUAC_Stephanie
  
  February 15, 2012 at 9:19 pm
  
  Thanks Amanda! I think it's going to work for me too. 🙂
  
  Unfortunately, I think this is one of those books that the reader has to decide to read for themselves. I don't know that anyone can really "push" this book. If the reader isn't ready for it, the book is going to be a terrible experience for them.
  
  With that being said, I was able to set aside most of my hibee-jebee feelings and enjoy the book. I was a snotty mess at the end too. It really is a thought provoking read and I'm still not 100% on my feelings on it. I go back and forth, back and forth….though I was able to get a few feelings nailed down for the review.
  
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BarkLessWagMore

February 15, 2012 at 11:51 am

This sounds . . . interesting? This is one I think I have to read in E-pub format so no one can look over at the cover and judge 🙂

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1. OUAC_Stephanie
  
  February 15, 2012 at 9:21 pm
  
  I know! I think people have polar reactions to this book they either love it or hate it and there aren't many people who just feel meh about it. I am eternally grateful that none of my co-workers asked about my book. I'm telling you, it's one of the few that they haven't asked about. *wipes brow!
  
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Alexa

February 20, 2012 at 11:29 am

Aw thanks for linking my review on here. I loved this book, it was my second fav of 2011. It was just so powerful, emotional, sad, heartbreaking, and lovely! It is not for everyone considering the incest but that didn't really bother me and I think the graphic sex scene needed to be there. It wasn't enough to just know they were doing it behind scenes, the reader needed to read about it and see the connection they had when they had sex. The connection that they had was bliss to them and to watch the terror that happened after just made the moment stand out that much more. The bliss before the fatal downfall of their love. This book is beautiful in my eyes and I know that it is not for everyone so I'm glad you tried it out to see if it was to your own personal liking or not. This book will forever stay with me and I hope to one day re-read it once my heart heals a little 🙂

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1. OUAC_Stephanie
  
  February 21, 2012 at 4:03 pm
  
  No problem! It was a beautifully written book. I hope people do give it a fair chance. I know I did. I have to say your argument for the sex scene is well thought out and valid! I have to agree with it. It just gave me the hibee jibees. Maybe one day I'll reread it but like you said, it is a heartbreaking book. I know I shed quite a few tears at the unexpected ending.
  
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