The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Narrated by Amy Landon

Synopsis (via Goodreads): A story about friendship, survival and finding your voice.

Growing up, Mallory Dodge 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, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at a public high school. But she never imagined 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 soon 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.

“The past never went away and it was not designed to do so. It would always be there, and it should be acknowledged.”

I want to start off by saying Amy Landon rocked as a narrator. Mallory has trouble speaking, and I could really feel it through Landon's words. She would pause often and struggled to voice Mallory's thoughts and feelings. I think that really honored the character Armentrout created. Mallory has a lot of issues in the beginning, but as the story progresses, we hear her speech improve as her confidence grows. Amazing job by all!

My husband and I have friends that started an adoption process when their son was still a baby, but because of all the technicalities and paperwork... he was almost four before he was able to come home with them. Books like this, that show the scary and terrible side of foster care, only solidify my feelings about adopting children out of the system. 

Jennifer L. Armentrout did a wonderful job crafting characters that felt authentic and layered. It wasn't just Mallory and Rider, but all of the other secondary characters that made an appearance. No one was there as filler, even if they only showed up on a few pages. If a person was mentioned, they meant something to someone, or were vital to the overall story. 

I feel like this book lasted longer than it did, but only because my hold from the library expired and I had to wait for it to become available again. I didn't have any trouble getting back into the story, but it did make it feel like I'd been listening to it for ages. (The audiobook was 10+ hours, if that helps.)

The Problem with Forever touches on a lot of really important topics. Some were harder to read about than others, but I think the author handled them all incredibly well. The foster care system has its flaws, and not all foster parents take children into their homes for the right reasons. It's an ugly truth about the world we live in, and it shapes the future of a lot of children. They are kicked out of the system once they turn eighteen or graduate from high school, and then they are expected to just make it on their own. Very few people have their lives figured out at eighteen, and even fewer are financially stable. We fail so many kids on a daily basis, and then we are surprised when they get involved with drugs or other crime-related activities. They're just trying to survive, and they're trying to do it in a world that has never cared about them.

“I learned that even monsters could have a positive impact.”

Again, I think Armentrout brings attention to a lot of these issues, and she does it in a way that gives people hope. Mallory's story was both horrible and uplifting. She's has lived through things that no child should ever experience. It has shaped the person she is today, but it will forever leave a scar. If you're looking for an authentic, honest story, this is definitely a book to consider. It will make you think about life and what it means to truly live. I felt a strong connection to all of the characters, and I really hope some of them get their own story one day.