Review: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

3.5 stars

Reviewing Forbidden in complete, coherent thoughts is one of the hardest things I did. I still am not really sure about the stars I give to this book. This book can earn two, three, or even five stars from me. I'm just too conflicted with my own feelings. Books with dysfunctional family theme always leave me feeling sad. I mourn how much children would be affected because of their parents. I especially hate it when parents can be completely ignorant of their kids and just mind their own business. This is one of the books, and the result of the dysfunction in the family is the worst.

Lochan and Maya are two siblings separated only by thirteen months. Even since their father’s leaving, they take turn doing household chores and taking care of their little brothers and sister. Lochan was constantly coping with his depression, haunted by his mother’s words when he’s twelve-year-old that he is ‘the man in the family’. Maya tries to help her brother by helping him socialize, but she doesn’t help much. Lochan has some kind of phobia to people and he can’t bring himself to talk to people out of his family members.

They try to hide the fact their mother is gone most of the time so they’re always on their own. If Social Services know about their condition, the children would be forced to go to foster houses. In this hard situation, Lochan and Maya find themselves forbiddingly attracted to each other. Even though they know that they can never have future together, and their relationship would threaten the fragile string of hope in their family…

Oh, what can I say about this book? Forbidden is a gripping read and I found myself devouring the story. It’s obvious than Lochan is broken, even more crushed than any members of his family. He has sudden outbursts and he said things he doesn’t mean sometimes, but I liked Lochan and I really hoped that he would recover from his depression and anxiety problem. Lochan thinks way too much and the only who can help him is his sister, Maya. Maya never doubts Lochan and she always sees the bright view in everything. If Lochan is in darkness, Maya is a representation of light to Lochan.

I don’t usually like reading two POVs in a book, but Forbidden is an exception. I love reading Maya’s cheerful and bright thoughts, and getting glimpses of Lochan’s darker thoughts and fear. The transition between Lochan and Maya’s feelings is fairly smooth. A character I especially resent in this book is their mother. She’s completely oblivious to the fact that her children are suffering. She spends money on useless things to please her boyfriend, while her children are struggling to make ends meet. I feel like she’s the one to blame of the messed up result.

Forbidden is a disturbing read, one that will leave you feeling completely raw and twisted. I recommend this book to people who enjoy mature YA with psychological streak since the theme of this book might be considered offensive to some people. 

They said that we refused to mix, that we had no friends. But they were wrong. We had each other. He was my best friend in the world. He still is.

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I rate this book: 

  Three cups of tea. Don't let the rates deceive you. Recommended to read but I know this book is not for everyone.