The Next Forever by Lisa Burstein

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One night in college can change everything…

Away at college, Amy just wants one night alone without her high school sweetheart, Joe. So when he invites her to go to the library, she heads off on her own instead. How she ended up at a house party with the mysterious bad-boy Trevor is another story…

Joe so isn’t going to the library. He needs space from Amy, too, so he’s decided to rush a fraternity, to get back the swagger he had in high school. But it doesn’t take long for the brothers to invite him to the real rush—where the beer is flowing and one particular girl has set her eyes on Joe.

Over the course of one wild night, both Amy and Joe will have to decide if their futures belong with two new people, or whether the next forever will have their first loves in it.

The Next Forever is an interesting story about two people whose relationship is at an impasse. Amy and Joe have known each other since high school. While there’s something comforting for Amy about being with someone who knows her so well, she’s feeling restless and thinks of Joe as stifling her. Having a shared history is great but it no longer feels like the anchor it once was. The alarm bells go off when Joe casually suggests that they move in together. She’s unsure if this is where she wants to be with her life and with whom. Joe happens to feel the same way where he’s grappling with his feelings about Amy. There's some misunderstanding and apprehension happening on both their parts. Going their separate ways this one night is a test of their commitment to each other and what they want out of their relationship.

The sense you get from Amy’s point of view is that she’s rather unhappy and is unsure if she should stay with Joe. Joe’s perspective is that he knows how much he loves her and doesn't want to lose her - hence his suggestion to move in together. However, he also wants more independence. Since it’s very short, I found elements of the story to be wanting. For example, I would have liked to have known what was so bad about Amy back in high school that worries her so much. Her persona back then is mentioned many times and worries her but it’s not elaborated on. She's very much stuck in her head and doesn't really offer much up in the way of conversation. Joe's issues in contrast are more obvious so I knew where he stood.

Overall, it’s a quick and simple story so if you’re looking for something decent with a tidy ending then this is a good pick.

~ Bel