Foreverland by Heather Havrilesky (Review by Lara Ferguson)

If you are married or partnered, this book will have you laughing, cringing, and nodding your head—all at the same time. If you are not, well, hang on, this may open your eyes. For some, the idea of marriage is a beautiful, logical part of the natural progression of life. For others, it appears to be a pointless struggle. The reality, however, is that it is both; it is a spectrum of experiences and daily decisions. In Foreverland, Heather Havrilesky shares, with no filter, the ups and downs of the progression of her marriage with brutal, often hysterical prose. From early “in love” perfection, to “I hate you, why are you here” moments, she is open and utterly transparent about her strengths and weaknesses as well as those of her husband, as they navigate their lives both separately and together. An un-partnered reader, while entertained, may be shocked at the veracity of the full spectrum of emotions described. A married or partnered reader will likely nod and chuckle as they read her depictions of moving, raising children, and navigating in-laws all while trying to figure out not only her own emotions, but also those of her husband. With Foreverland, Heather Havrilesky takes her reader on an honest, often hilarious trip through the daily grind of marriage, describing the good, the bad, the love, the hate, the tolerance, the intolerance, and the give-and-take, with a sense of humor tinged with reality. It helps to know that we are all riding on the same planet.