Firsts are everything. Your first kiss, your first heartbreak, your first love. Judy Blume captured the magic and magnitude of those moments in her novel Forever…, a coming-of-age story that has resonated with generations of readers. Now, nearly 50 years later, the beloved book is getting a fresh retelling in Netflix’s new series of the same name, premiering May 8, 2025.

Set in 2018 Los Angeles, the adaptation follows Keisha and Justin, two teens who meet at a New Year’s Eve party and form an instant connection that leads to Keisha’s first relationship, her first kiss, her first time, and her first “I love you.”

Judy Blume executive produced alongside showrunner Mara Brock Akil and episode director Regina King. Keisha, played by Greenleaf’s Lovie Simone, is a fierce and focused track star with big dreams and an even bigger heart. Michael Cooper Jr., known for his role in the 2022 film On The Come Up, plays a rising basketball talent whose intellect and ambition go far beyond the court. The two have amazing on-camera chemistry that is sure to make the show a binge-worthy summer watch.

See the trailer here!

The show’s goal was to reflect the honest and authentic feelings of many teens in their own coming-of-age stories, which motivated many of the adaptation decisions, including changing the location from New Jersey to Los Angeles. Akil says it provides the perfect backdrop for the show because LA is where people go to follow their dreams, and in this case, their hearts. The setting shift explores and reframes Blume’s themes of young love, self-discovery, and vulnerability through a contemporary lens.

Another smart adaptation move was Akil’s decision to center the love story on a Black couple. Akil has said she wanted the story to reflect the honest experiences of modern teens, particularly those who rarely see themselves in this kind of tender, romantic narrative. By doing so, Forever becomes more emotionally resonant for today’s audience.

Bringing the show into the modern era adds another complicated layer to Justin and Keisha’s relationship. How does modern digital culture impact relationships? A viral moment for Keisha centers this story in the social media reality for teens and young adults that would have, of course, been absent in the original story.

Even with these changes, the heart of Blume’s story remains. The nerves and excitement of a person’s firsts continue to resonate with audiences, and the question of “will this person be my forever?” is on the mind of every teen in their first relationship.

Forever… by Judy Blume

Michael is Katherine’s first everything. Her first boyfriend, her first kiss, and the first person she had sex with. She knows the two of them will be together forever, and no amount of concern from her family can change that. But when he goes away for the summer, and she is sent to work at a tennis camp, she begins to fall for someone else, something she thought impossible. Now, she is unsure what her future will look like and how Michael will fit into it.

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