Book Nerds Across America

Me and Maggie Stiefvater, author of Forever, at This Is Teen

Authors are my rock stars, to steal a quote from a magnet I have on my fridge and a conversation I had with the MIA Crew at the Carrie Ryan book signing. And those of you who know me know that I tend to get a little mute and tongue-tied and weird around my faves, even though I know they're regular people and all that. Anyways, this goes to explain why upon meeting Maggie Stiefvater at the This Is Teen event in Miami back in July, I decided to tell her that her books made me cry in public when I read them over my lunch breaks. To which she let me know that Forever would certainly make me cry in Burger King. Thanks Maggie.

I'd heard mixed reviews about Forever, so I wasn't sure what to expect going in. And WOW. I think it 's my favorite of the trilogy. Maggie doesn't just write scenes, or write a narrative. She writes poetry that weaves together to form a plot line. I can honestly say that I wasn't sure whether I wanted to read her next book, The Scorpio Races, and now I know I will for sure. Just to experience again the song that is her writing style.

But back to Forever. I have another confession to make. Unlike pretty much everyone else I've talked to who has read this series, I was not really a huge fan of Cole. (This even includes Maggie who told us at This Is Teen that Cole surprised her and was really fun to write.) I could take him or leave him. Eh. But by the end of this book, he won me over.

And then, at the end of this amazing book which, Maggie added an Author's Note that included this:

"Many, many readers have written me asking wistfully about the nature of Sam and Grace's relationship, and I can assure you, that sort is absolutely real. Mutual, respectful, enduring love is completely attainable as long as you swear you won't settle for less."

Ok, how much do I love Grace, Sam and Maggie?! A lot.

~Flo~