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A review by jang
Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer
5.0
OMG THIS BOOK! Negl I read this book with the lowest of expectations because, let's be real, the title was kind of cringy and it reminded of the current running joke here in my country, that "walang forever! cliché and I just thought whatever. But then I found myself actually, genuinely enjoying the book as I read it because the "proof of forever" the novel was talking about was actually the friendship of these four teenage girls. It just hit so close to home because it reminded me of my pack way back during sophomore year. More on that later OMGOMGOMG.
This book reminds me so much of light rom-com fantasy movies such as 13 Going On 30 or full-on Spielberg sci-fi hits like Back To The Future because of the Time Travel theme of the book. I didn't expect that at all. I was preparing myself for the mush, the dramas, the love story but it exceeded all my expectations. Proof Of Forever, while being rich in themes and subjects, focused mainly on friendship and growing up. The dramas were still there (duh) but it's very enlightening and relatable that you'd likely go "oh hey that was so me back in high school!" I can even picture this novel as a movie what with all their issues and yelling and heartbreaks and romance and sex and sexuality and drugs. Oh yeah, I did say this novel was rich in themes, right?!
I always love a book that's current and modern and faulty and sex-positive because that is real life. This is why I'm always side-eyeing books that are too happy and rainbows-and-unicorns because those books are just fiction that makes you want to hope those happy things always happen in real life. They don't.
Proof of Forever is as unapologetic as, let's say, a rock star biopic. In the sense that there are timely occurrences that are normal in real life like the constant sneaking and boozing, trying out pot for the first time, having sex, lying, and being a teen. Being vulnerablevulnerable. The story revolves around the life of four very different girls and it's told from the 3rd person POV so every reader can relate to a character immensely. You can definitely have your pick.
The story was engaging because while it's a fantasy, it's also very romantic, inspiring and human. It's very funny. There were tons of scenarios where I found myself LOL-ing, especially that nudist, feminist movement that Tali accidentally staged. It was so funny yet so encouraging and empowering. It reminded me somehow of the "free the nipples" campaign. In this case it's definitely a "parade your perky ass" campaign. Like what I said before, it's faulty and unapologetic, which is perfect. Who doesn't love flaws?
This book, for me, was one of most relatable coming-of-age stories. I never went to a summer camp before but I experienced young love and complicated friendship. I tried boozing, pot, sneaking around, being competitive, having no chill and whatnot, and those are reasons enough for me to hail this book as one of the ultimate YA fantasy reads. There are tons of dramas in POF that can even reflect the dramas you see in reality TV shows and that's one of the reasons why the book works, imho. Everyone is yelling at everyone and they all have their petty and big issues. They all have something to moan about and the angst is all over the place but you will never feel it's too much because their dramas (issues) are still connected and they all factor massively to the progress of the story.
The main characters are some of the most realized and established characters I ever read in a YA book. There are some that are stereotypical, it's true, but those characters still possess surprises in the bag that make the story evolve. There's so much growth by the end of the novel that you'd just think WOW. I could've been that person or I could've done that.
I also get a boner every time I read a Filipino reference in a foreign YA book because hellloooo shout out to my kind! :) Luce's father has a Filipino heritage, which makes her glow with her golden-tan skin, hospitality, and brains. Don't even argue.
Not that I'm playing favorites but I think out of all the girls, Zoe's story is more my tempo. It's the most changed and most important. Her inner revelation about her sexuality by the end of the book is so important because it serves the issues the teens of today are facing right now. That's why her past holds so many dearly things for her. It's that realization of your desires, your preference, your happiness and your self. I'm sure LGBT people who have read this were also rooting for her. Good character placement and representation.
The ending killed me. It slayed me. I was a wreck as soon as I finished the book because like what I said earlier, it reminded me of my own girl gang during sophomore year. I was (am?) in a group of four solid girl friends and while we didn't completely drift apart, there's one who went ahead with her own life and decided to focus on her family and kids, which was good. But somehow, it killed the promise of a solid friendship. I understand why she did it but I'm still confused why things had to fall apart. And then the most heartbreaking part was Joy in the book. She was sick, she had a serious illness, her friends stuck with her but it was a hopeless case. Joy reminded me of my best friend who also died because of a terrible illness. And even more heartbreaking? We used to call my best friend "Joy." Fuck I'm crying again but anyway, you now get an idea as to why I'm crazy shit about this book. It reminded me of my teenage years. It reminded me of my "Joy." It reminded me of us. Fuck this, I'm so emotional right now L-O-fucking-L to me I didn't mean to take it out on my review.
So yeah. Have mad love for this book. I hope y'all cherish friendships and first loves while you're young because there's no such thing as press "Undo" in life. There's only a Re-do.
This book reminds me so much of light rom-com fantasy movies such as 13 Going On 30 or full-on Spielberg sci-fi hits like Back To The Future because of the Time Travel theme of the book. I didn't expect that at all. I was preparing myself for the mush, the dramas, the love story but it exceeded all my expectations. Proof Of Forever, while being rich in themes and subjects, focused mainly on friendship and growing up. The dramas were still there (duh) but it's very enlightening and relatable that you'd likely go "oh hey that was so me back in high school!" I can even picture this novel as a movie what with all their issues and yelling and heartbreaks and romance and sex and sexuality and drugs. Oh yeah, I did say this novel was rich in themes, right?!
I always love a book that's current and modern and faulty and sex-positive because that is real life. This is why I'm always side-eyeing books that are too happy and rainbows-and-unicorns because those books are just fiction that makes you want to hope those happy things always happen in real life. They don't.
Proof of Forever is as unapologetic as, let's say, a rock star biopic. In the sense that there are timely occurrences that are normal in real life like the constant sneaking and boozing, trying out pot for the first time, having sex, lying, and being a teen. Being vulnerablevulnerable. The story revolves around the life of four very different girls and it's told from the 3rd person POV so every reader can relate to a character immensely. You can definitely have your pick.
The story was engaging because while it's a fantasy, it's also very romantic, inspiring and human. It's very funny. There were tons of scenarios where I found myself LOL-ing, especially that nudist, feminist movement that Tali accidentally staged. It was so funny yet so encouraging and empowering. It reminded me somehow of the "free the nipples" campaign. In this case it's definitely a "parade your perky ass" campaign. Like what I said before, it's faulty and unapologetic, which is perfect. Who doesn't love flaws?
This book, for me, was one of most relatable coming-of-age stories. I never went to a summer camp before but I experienced young love and complicated friendship. I tried boozing, pot, sneaking around, being competitive, having no chill and whatnot, and those are reasons enough for me to hail this book as one of the ultimate YA fantasy reads. There are tons of dramas in POF that can even reflect the dramas you see in reality TV shows and that's one of the reasons why the book works, imho. Everyone is yelling at everyone and they all have their petty and big issues. They all have something to moan about and the angst is all over the place but you will never feel it's too much because their dramas (issues) are still connected and they all factor massively to the progress of the story.
The main characters are some of the most realized and established characters I ever read in a YA book. There are some that are stereotypical, it's true, but those characters still possess surprises in the bag that make the story evolve. There's so much growth by the end of the novel that you'd just think WOW. I could've been that person or I could've done that.
I also get a boner every time I read a Filipino reference in a foreign YA book because hellloooo shout out to my kind! :) Luce's father has a Filipino heritage, which makes her glow with her golden-tan skin, hospitality, and brains. Don't even argue.
Not that I'm playing favorites but I think out of all the girls, Zoe's story is more my tempo. It's the most changed and most important. Her inner revelation about her sexuality by the end of the book is so important because it serves the issues the teens of today are facing right now. That's why her past holds so many dearly things for her. It's that realization of your desires, your preference, your happiness and your self. I'm sure LGBT people who have read this were also rooting for her. Good character placement and representation.
The ending killed me. It slayed me. I was a wreck as soon as I finished the book because like what I said earlier, it reminded me of my own girl gang during sophomore year. I was (am?) in a group of four solid girl friends and while we didn't completely drift apart, there's one who went ahead with her own life and decided to focus on her family and kids, which was good. But somehow, it killed the promise of a solid friendship. I understand why she did it but I'm still confused why things had to fall apart. And then the most heartbreaking part was Joy in the book. She was sick, she had a serious illness, her friends stuck with her but it was a hopeless case. Joy reminded me of my best friend who also died because of a terrible illness. And even more heartbreaking? We used to call my best friend "Joy." Fuck I'm crying again but anyway, you now get an idea as to why I'm crazy shit about this book. It reminded me of my teenage years. It reminded me of my "Joy." It reminded me of us. Fuck this, I'm so emotional right now L-O-fucking-L to me I didn't mean to take it out on my review.
So yeah. Have mad love for this book. I hope y'all cherish friendships and first loves while you're young because there's no such thing as press "Undo" in life. There's only a Re-do.