Forever... Summary

The plot revolves around the character of Katherine Danziger, a high school senior from Westfield, New Jersey who lives with her creative younger sister Jamie, their librarian mother Diana, and pharmacist father Roger. Katherine's first serious romantic affair commences when she meets Michael Wagner, a high school senior who is an enthusiastic skier, at a New Year's Eve party thrown by Sybil Davison, her friend Erica’s cousin. As the story progresses, Katherine begins to experience a sexual awakening with Michael, exploring intimate aspects of their relationship. Their friends Erica and Artie, another high school student with a passion for board games and theater, come into focus when Erica expresses her desire to lose her virginity to Artie, while Katherine worries Michael may still have feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Elizabeth.

The narrative moves to a Vermont ski house where Katherine and Michael spend a weekend. Here, Michael teaches Katherine to ski and they express their love for the first time. During this visit, they come close to becoming intimate but decide against it due to Katherine's monthly cycle. Back home, Erica and Artie's relationship hits a rough patch when Erica concludes Artie is impotent after a game of strip poker, while Katherine's family shows concern over her relationship with Michael. Following an encounter where Michael reveals his past contraction of a venereal disease, the young couple eventually share their first sexual experience, which proves disappointing for Katherine due to Michael's premature climax.

The plot thickens when Katherine’s ex-boyfriend Tommy attempts to rekindle their relationship but is rejected. He then pursues Erica, who finds him uninteresting. Katherine's visit to Planned Parenthood for birth control pills, her birthday gift from Michael of a silver locket, and a more pleasurable second sexual experience with him, form key moments in the narrative. An unexpected twist occurs when Katherine, despite her plans to stay with Michael, is compelled by her father to accept a summer job as a tennis counselor at Jamie’s camp in New Hampshire. Here, she meets Theo, a kind older college student, and soon finds herself drawn to him. The story concludes with a strained visit from Michael, leading to their breakup and Katherine's realization that she doesn't regret their relationship, despite the hurtful words exchanged during their breakup. The narrative ends with Katherine returning home and discovering that Theo has been in touch.