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16 Forever
It’s the morning of Carter Cohen’s 16th birthday, and everything’s going his way.
He’s psyched and ready to get his driver’s license, his little brother’s not hogging the bathroom, and, man, something smells good for breakfast…
But when Carter bounds downstairs, Mom bursts into tears. It happened again. It’s Carter’s 16th birthday—for the sixth time. Every time he’s supposed to turn 17, he loops back a year. His memory gets wiped clean, his body ages backward—the rest of the world moves on, just not him.
Maggie Spear, on the other hand, has been dreading this day ever since she and Carter started dating. When she spies him in the halls and he doesn’t seem to know her at all, it’s obvious that it’s over between them. She can’t be in a relationship with someone who is just going to forget her again and again. Since Carter doesn’t remember that they’re together, then it’s probably better if she just pretends that they never were.
Except Carter senses that there’s more to their story than Maggie’s letting on, and Maggie’s keeping secrets of her own—but in the process of trying to let the other go, they find themselves falling in love all over again.
With Maggie soon leaving for college and Carter’s birthday quickly coming around again, will they be able to find a forever that isn’t stuck at 16?
Filled with tender moments, silly banter, and lots of teenage angst, 16 Forever is the latest YA page-turner from New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Lance Rubin.
He’s psyched and ready to get his driver’s license, his little brother’s not hogging the bathroom, and, man, something smells good for breakfast…
But when Carter bounds downstairs, Mom bursts into tears. It happened again. It’s Carter’s 16th birthday—for the sixth time. Every time he’s supposed to turn 17, he loops back a year. His memory gets wiped clean, his body ages backward—the rest of the world moves on, just not him.
Maggie Spear, on the other hand, has been dreading this day ever since she and Carter started dating. When she spies him in the halls and he doesn’t seem to know her at all, it’s obvious that it’s over between them. She can’t be in a relationship with someone who is just going to forget her again and again. Since Carter doesn’t remember that they’re together, then it’s probably better if she just pretends that they never were.
Except Carter senses that there’s more to their story than Maggie’s letting on, and Maggie’s keeping secrets of her own—but in the process of trying to let the other go, they find themselves falling in love all over again.
With Maggie soon leaving for college and Carter’s birthday quickly coming around again, will they be able to find a forever that isn’t stuck at 16?
Filled with tender moments, silly banter, and lots of teenage angst, 16 Forever is the latest YA page-turner from New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Lance Rubin.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 6, 2026
10 people are currently reading
6984 people want to read
About the author
Lance Rubin
11 books336 followersHi, I'm Lance Rubin.
I write MG and YA novels, including Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend, 16 Forever, the Denton Little series, and Crying Laughing.
I also co-wrote The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek with Good Mythical Morning's Rhett & Link, Monster Club: Monsters Take Manhattan with filmmakers Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel, and the musical Broadway Bounty Hunter with Be More Chill's Joe Iconis & Jason SweetTooth Williams.
I'm originally from Matawan, New Jersey. I went to Brown University, and now I live in Brooklyn with my family.
Before I became an author, I was primarily an actor. "Anything I'd recognize you from?" you might ask. Probably not, unless you watched the short-lived NBC hospital show Mercy, in which I guest-starred as a patient with a naked sleepwalking problem.
I love Back to the Future, empathy, the New York Knicks, and the Before Sunrise Trilogy.
Thanks for reading. Reach out and say hi!
I write MG and YA novels, including Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend, 16 Forever, the Denton Little series, and Crying Laughing.
I also co-wrote The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek with Good Mythical Morning's Rhett & Link, Monster Club: Monsters Take Manhattan with filmmakers Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel, and the musical Broadway Bounty Hunter with Be More Chill's Joe Iconis & Jason SweetTooth Williams.
I'm originally from Matawan, New Jersey. I went to Brown University, and now I live in Brooklyn with my family.
Before I became an author, I was primarily an actor. "Anything I'd recognize you from?" you might ask. Probably not, unless you watched the short-lived NBC hospital show Mercy, in which I guest-starred as a patient with a naked sleepwalking problem.
I love Back to the Future, empathy, the New York Knicks, and the Before Sunrise Trilogy.
Thanks for reading. Reach out and say hi!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 8, 2025
This was definitely a unique take on a time loop story. It’s not even really a time loop, since time moves forward for everyone but Carter and everyone around him is aware that he is unable to get to 17.
I had previously read a novella by this author and I was interested to try something longer by him. The book had an easy to read writing style and I absolutely flew through it. I also had no idea where the story was going so props to the author for that, since I read a lot of stories that play with time. I also liked seeing Carter put the pieces together. As the story progresses, Carter (and by extension the reader) finds out what has been going on around him in the six years he has been stuck.
The romance was only okay for me, mostly because she didn’t really come into the story until later and they didn’t interact much for the first half of the book. They had some cute moments, but I would have liked to see them together more. I liked Carter’s relationship with his parents and younger brother (who is now older) a lot though. Suddenly becoming the younger sibling would certainly be a strange thing to have happen to someone!
I did enjoy the book overall; my 3 star rating is mostly for the ending. I wanted more! It was very sudden, so much so that I was shocked when I flipped the page on my e-reader and saw the acknowledgements. At the very least I would have liked an epilogue! There also really wasn’t an explanation as to WHY and HOW this happened to Carter. There were a few suppositions going around, but usually in a story that plays with time there is some reasoning behind it, so I was a little surprised that nothing was confirmed for Carter.
Still, this was a fun YA contemporary. Give it a read if you like books that play with time in some way — this is a unique one for sure!
I had previously read a novella by this author and I was interested to try something longer by him. The book had an easy to read writing style and I absolutely flew through it. I also had no idea where the story was going so props to the author for that, since I read a lot of stories that play with time. I also liked seeing Carter put the pieces together. As the story progresses, Carter (and by extension the reader) finds out what has been going on around him in the six years he has been stuck.
The romance was only okay for me, mostly because she didn’t really come into the story until later and they didn’t interact much for the first half of the book. They had some cute moments, but I would have liked to see them together more. I liked Carter’s relationship with his parents and younger brother (who is now older) a lot though. Suddenly becoming the younger sibling would certainly be a strange thing to have happen to someone!
I did enjoy the book overall; my 3 star rating is mostly for the ending. I wanted more! It was very sudden, so much so that I was shocked when I flipped the page on my e-reader and saw the acknowledgements. At the very least I would have liked an epilogue! There also really wasn’t an explanation as to WHY and HOW this happened to Carter. There were a few suppositions going around, but usually in a story that plays with time there is some reasoning behind it, so I was a little surprised that nothing was confirmed for Carter.
Still, this was a fun YA contemporary. Give it a read if you like books that play with time in some way — this is a unique one for sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2026
Thank you Harper Collins for the digital copy to review!
I love a time loop story. And this one had a different twist to it. Everyone *except* our main character remembers his years in the time loop. That was very intriguing to me, because usually only the main character remembers!
There was a lot to unpack in this one in a good way. I liked how Carter tried to figure out why he was stuck, and how in this time loop, he really seemed genuinely intrigued, confused, happy, and sad all at the same time. I loved his relationship with his brother and the I thought it was heart wrenching when we saw Lincoln’s POV.
I really felt for Carter and Maggie. The more complex their relationship got, the more I was worried about how it would end. Maggie’s friends had her number though, lol. The relationship between Maggie and her sister was another really intriguing one in the book, and I loved how they were both insecure about different things.
The ending was really sweet and I was happy with it. I had a good time, and this is a great coming-of-age book for teens! I finished it in two sittings if that tells you anything. :)
I love a time loop story. And this one had a different twist to it. Everyone *except* our main character remembers his years in the time loop. That was very intriguing to me, because usually only the main character remembers!
There was a lot to unpack in this one in a good way. I liked how Carter tried to figure out why he was stuck, and how in this time loop, he really seemed genuinely intrigued, confused, happy, and sad all at the same time. I loved his relationship with his brother and the I thought it was heart wrenching when we saw Lincoln’s POV.
I really felt for Carter and Maggie. The more complex their relationship got, the more I was worried about how it would end. Maggie’s friends had her number though, lol. The relationship between Maggie and her sister was another really intriguing one in the book, and I loved how they were both insecure about different things.
The ending was really sweet and I was happy with it. I had a good time, and this is a great coming-of-age book for teens! I finished it in two sittings if that tells you anything. :)
January 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ALC. This is my personal review.
Think Groundhog Day + Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind + 17 Again, but make it an older school John Green YA romance with a bit of romcom thrown in there.
I loved this book. This is a true YA novel where the characters and their thoughts, words, and actions are all incredibly realistic and believable. I don't want to give too much away, but what really made me fall for this story was how it's so much more than just Carter's story. Even more than Carter and Maggie's story. This book has a lot of levels, and I definitely got emotional.
While a play on the time loop trope, I love that this story isn't about avoiding or fixing the mistakes of the past. It's about leaning into the mess and how sometimes the chaos and uncertainty is what he need to move forward. Rubin had me on the edge of my seat until the very last second...and then I sobbed like a baby. Happy tears, of course!!
This was a 6 STAR read for me and definitely one of my top 5 favorite YA reads ever.
Think Groundhog Day + Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind + 17 Again, but make it an older school John Green YA romance with a bit of romcom thrown in there.
I loved this book. This is a true YA novel where the characters and their thoughts, words, and actions are all incredibly realistic and believable. I don't want to give too much away, but what really made me fall for this story was how it's so much more than just Carter's story. Even more than Carter and Maggie's story. This book has a lot of levels, and I definitely got emotional.
While a play on the time loop trope, I love that this story isn't about avoiding or fixing the mistakes of the past. It's about leaning into the mess and how sometimes the chaos and uncertainty is what he need to move forward. Rubin had me on the edge of my seat until the very last second...and then I sobbed like a baby. Happy tears, of course!!
This was a 6 STAR read for me and definitely one of my top 5 favorite YA reads ever.
January 13, 2026
3.25 ⭐️ babe wake up a new version of a time loop just dropped
September 17, 2025
I really enjoy books where characters relive the same day over and over, so when I saw that this story had the main character reliving not just a single day but the entire year he turns 16, I was immediately intrigued. It felt like a fresh spin on the typical “stuck in time” trope, and I was excited to dive in.
Carter Cohen wakes up on his 16th birthday only to discover he’s actually 22 years old. He’s been looping for six straight years, and no one can figure out why. Each time, he forgets the entire year he just lived, and when his next birthday rolls around, everything resets. It’s as if he’s turning 16 for the very first time all over again.
It’s a mind-boggling setup, especially considering that Carter’s younger brother Lincoln was 13 when the looping started. Lincoln’s now 19 and in college, essentially becoming the older brother while Carter's body remains frozen at 16. Meanwhile, most of Carter’s old friends have graduated college and moved on to adult lives he can no longer relate to. He’s stuck starting over again making new friends at school. Everyone seems to know about his condition, which is helpful because they don’t bombard him with questions, but also awkward because it makes him a subject of pity.
Maggie Spear, Carter’s girlfriend until he turned 16 again from the latest loop, is trying to move on with her life. Carter completely forgot who she was and their six-month relationship, which is heartbreaking. But she’s also keeping secrets from him, and that creates a lot of tension between them.
As the story unfolds, Carter discovers that several people believe they might be responsible for his condition. He starts trying to make amends and take accountability for the people he’s hurt, but nothing seems to change his circumstances. Still, it was refreshing to see him finally take control of his life, become less self-centered, and try to help others.
That said, I had a few issues with the book that made me deduct 1.5 stars (I rounded up to 4). The amount of swearing was distracting, the physical age-reversal aspect of Carter’s condition didn’t quite make sense to me, and the ending felt too abrupt.
Overall, it was a fun story with a solid coming-of-age theme. I’d recommend it to teens who enjoy a modern take on time-disruption stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.
Carter Cohen wakes up on his 16th birthday only to discover he’s actually 22 years old. He’s been looping for six straight years, and no one can figure out why. Each time, he forgets the entire year he just lived, and when his next birthday rolls around, everything resets. It’s as if he’s turning 16 for the very first time all over again.
It’s a mind-boggling setup, especially considering that Carter’s younger brother Lincoln was 13 when the looping started. Lincoln’s now 19 and in college, essentially becoming the older brother while Carter's body remains frozen at 16. Meanwhile, most of Carter’s old friends have graduated college and moved on to adult lives he can no longer relate to. He’s stuck starting over again making new friends at school. Everyone seems to know about his condition, which is helpful because they don’t bombard him with questions, but also awkward because it makes him a subject of pity.
Maggie Spear, Carter’s girlfriend until he turned 16 again from the latest loop, is trying to move on with her life. Carter completely forgot who she was and their six-month relationship, which is heartbreaking. But she’s also keeping secrets from him, and that creates a lot of tension between them.
As the story unfolds, Carter discovers that several people believe they might be responsible for his condition. He starts trying to make amends and take accountability for the people he’s hurt, but nothing seems to change his circumstances. Still, it was refreshing to see him finally take control of his life, become less self-centered, and try to help others.
That said, I had a few issues with the book that made me deduct 1.5 stars (I rounded up to 4). The amount of swearing was distracting, the physical age-reversal aspect of Carter’s condition didn’t quite make sense to me, and the ending felt too abrupt.
Overall, it was a fun story with a solid coming-of-age theme. I’d recommend it to teens who enjoy a modern take on time-disruption stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.
January 7, 2026
DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS.
Firstly, I love the cover art. It's so satisfying to look at.
I really loved this book in ways I didn't expect. It was such an interesting concept. Kinda of a reverse Groundhog Day where everyone else knows Carter is going back to 16 but they all age around him. He gets left behind by his little brother when he suddenly becomes older than him, he forgets everyone he's met after his 17th birthday, has to make new friends, etc.
It really felt like a representation of mental disability or traumatic brain injuries that can occur that make people perpetually a certain age or not age at the standard rate. People were coddling him, treating him like he was younger than he was, stepping on eggshells around him so as not to upset or disrupt his new "norm."
Now, I really wanted it to end with him waking up on his birthday and it being his 16th birthday again. That would have fully confirmed my theory that it was a representation of disability in some way. But I also got all the feels when he did wake up and turned 17. Although, I will say, I was shocked everyone just assumed after 6 years of being 16 that if the curse broke, he would just turn 17 and not go back to the age he would have been had he not relived all these past years. Regardless, it was a great book along the way.
*I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway.*
Firstly, I love the cover art. It's so satisfying to look at.
I really loved this book in ways I didn't expect. It was such an interesting concept. Kinda of a reverse Groundhog Day where everyone else knows Carter is going back to 16 but they all age around him. He gets left behind by his little brother when he suddenly becomes older than him, he forgets everyone he's met after his 17th birthday, has to make new friends, etc.
It really felt like a representation of mental disability or traumatic brain injuries that can occur that make people perpetually a certain age or not age at the standard rate. People were coddling him, treating him like he was younger than he was, stepping on eggshells around him so as not to upset or disrupt his new "norm."
Now, I really wanted it to end with him waking up on his birthday and it being his 16th birthday again. That would have fully confirmed my theory that it was a representation of disability in some way. But I also got all the feels when he did wake up and turned 17. Although, I will say, I was shocked everyone just assumed after 6 years of being 16 that if the curse broke, he would just turn 17 and not go back to the age he would have been had he not relived all these past years. Regardless, it was a great book along the way.
*I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway.*
September 26, 2025
Thank you to netgalley & HarperCollins for the ARC!!!
I love the time loop trope, a true classic and I throughly enjoyed this spin on it!
I liked the writing style a lot, and found the story surprisingly realistic! It was the perfect balance of all the emotions and I grew really attached to Carter and Maggie. I thought the characters were definitely a strong point in this story.
Unfortunately I can’t say much more without spoilers, but I highly recommend giving 16 forever a go!!
I love the time loop trope, a true classic and I throughly enjoyed this spin on it!
I liked the writing style a lot, and found the story surprisingly realistic! It was the perfect balance of all the emotions and I grew really attached to Carter and Maggie. I thought the characters were definitely a strong point in this story.
Unfortunately I can’t say much more without spoilers, but I highly recommend giving 16 forever a go!!
September 8, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.
Carter wakes up every year on his would-be 17th birthday thinking he's 16 again. The issue is that everyone else's lives have moved on without him. Even his body de-ages. Stuck in the loop, Carter must navigate starting over while everyone else tries to help him adjust.
Legally 22 years old, Carter has some growing pains during his recent loop while drawn to a mysterious girl he thinks he might know. Meanwhile, Maggie, Carter's girlfriend from the past year tries to avoid him to avoid more heartache. Can they stay away from each other, or are they both in for more heartache?
This novel is well written and provides an interesting take on a time loop full of deja vu. I enjoyed the story, but I struggled to follow the medical aspects of Carter's condition in an otherwise realistic depiction of daily events in his life.
Carter wakes up every year on his would-be 17th birthday thinking he's 16 again. The issue is that everyone else's lives have moved on without him. Even his body de-ages. Stuck in the loop, Carter must navigate starting over while everyone else tries to help him adjust.
Legally 22 years old, Carter has some growing pains during his recent loop while drawn to a mysterious girl he thinks he might know. Meanwhile, Maggie, Carter's girlfriend from the past year tries to avoid him to avoid more heartache. Can they stay away from each other, or are they both in for more heartache?
This novel is well written and provides an interesting take on a time loop full of deja vu. I enjoyed the story, but I struggled to follow the medical aspects of Carter's condition in an otherwise realistic depiction of daily events in his life.
September 2, 2025
Thank you netgalley for this ARC
All opinions are my own.
16 forever is about Carter, who's stuck in a time loop. The night before his 17th birthday, time rewinds, and he wakes up 16 again. He has been living like this for years only he doesn't remember, but his family and friends do. The author navigates this in such a fun way. I found Carter to be realistic for the most part and just a fun character. I enjoyed his and Maggie's storyline as well as seeing how it affected others through the multiple pov's. 16 forever is a good balance of fun, sad, and real life moments. The pace of the book was perfect, as well as the dialog. I would definitely recommend this book.
All opinions are my own.
16 forever is about Carter, who's stuck in a time loop. The night before his 17th birthday, time rewinds, and he wakes up 16 again. He has been living like this for years only he doesn't remember, but his family and friends do. The author navigates this in such a fun way. I found Carter to be realistic for the most part and just a fun character. I enjoyed his and Maggie's storyline as well as seeing how it affected others through the multiple pov's. 16 forever is a good balance of fun, sad, and real life moments. The pace of the book was perfect, as well as the dialog. I would definitely recommend this book.
January 9, 2026
WOW!!!!!
Even going in already excited about the premise, it's such a dramatic idea and shakeup to what you're used to with time looping device rules that I was being both surprised and going "oh and that makes total sense" as soon as I was reading the summary of the book jacket, and then immediately again when reading the very first page of the book. Even deliberately trying to take my time, I read this book in 2 days and had a nonstop great time doing so.
Lance Rubin's books have this brilliant best-of-both-worlds balanced dynamic in that writing that has so much life and heart and versatility while also having all the benefits of the thought and effort behind the scenes that make it a joy to read, both so easy to devour and so clearly continuously substantial, no tradeoff between what makes the reading delightfully enjoyable and what ideas there are to explore and consider. The way the overall plot flows along just as well as the experience of reading from one sentence or paragraph or page or section to another is all the more impressive with how easily 16 Forever's multiple time loops could get tangled up, but here is handled so deftly in what info is conveyed and how that there's absolutely no trouble for the reader—though there's plenty of motivation to wonder about it yourself before you're given details. Jumping right into the main character's situation as he also immediately learns about it is an incredible start to a read, and the investment and intrigue for the reader never stops.
Just like the balance between what comes from spontaneity vs. deliberation, or surface vs. substance, another remarkable element in any Lance Rubin books is the humor throughout, and 16 Forever is absolutely no exception. Not only is the clever and funny and voice in characters' narration and dialogue an inimitable delight, but an example of how the only opposite of being funny is not being funny—the emotion and earnestness and anything else that might be called "serious" elements are always supported by the writing, truly using comedy as a lens which can be turned on any ideas or moments, and what the use of that lens can do. 16 Forever and the author's other works all incorporate such strong themes that in a way distill to "Yeah, you just gotta feel those feelings" while fully getting into the messy reality of how it's still never really a matter of "just" doing that (or we'd already be doing it) with characters who are dealing with a lot of novel and sometimes intense situations, plenty to be thrilled about or terrified of, and varying obstacles in the midst of all of it, and can be getting caught up in any of this while beginning to really build up a new perspective on their life and world and consider new ideas about what they really want and how they can really have it—something adults can understand completely too, whether remembering tumult of the past or just relating to it in a present that never actually settles into a reliably static existence, even if that's pitched as ideal and attainable.
Jumping off of that, another remarkable element is how efficiently and effectively a sense of the setting of every moment is created. You know where you are, when you are, who's around, with little details set up and revisited throughout a scene. There's plenty of characters with different voices and personalities and interests, plenty of events touched on that are making up people's day-to-day lives, all handled while keeping the focus where we need the focus to be, without pretending that nothing really exists outside that focus—it always feels like the characters have full lives in a full world, and it makes it all the easier to connect and relate and imagine the situations they're in. This is only highlighted through the use of multiple POV narration, where we get a sense of a new perspective both visual and emotional.
The way character's observations and emotional states play off of and into each other is so in tune with their individual strengths and limitations alike—there's so much heart, characters are aware of and motivated by their feelings throughout, including consciously reflecting/remarking on them, and yet they all deal with the realistically complicated nature of this, made all the more impossible to really get a handle on (much less freeze into something permanently Understood & Handled) through the focus in turn on all these characters' new and longtime (and a combination of the two) relationships, giving such thoughtful focus to them all, to the strengths and trip-ups in both the novelty or familiarity of these relationships, and the value in all of them that makes them worth finding and wanting to keep. There's so much room found for the capacity of each individual relationship, and how these relationships affect each other. The thread of the romance between the main characters is very central while not in the least seeming like this does or must displace other connections and feelings or like it has to "transcend" the qualities that a real-life kind of dating experience at that age could have. The influence and connections possible between family, friends, mentors, acquaintances, strangers are all present with thought and care for the way all of this makes up all of our lives and who we are.
(Somehow, I forgot to touch on the specific element of how characters can clearly be expressing things about their emotions while holding back &/or not processing other feelings fully, and it's always so simple and powerful when the expression of those feelings come out in other ways through the description of actions that just crop up in the middle of their scene, just like happens in life, and the feeling of the genuine heart behind that is striking every time.)
Just like the matter of "You do have to feel your feelings," the simple but huge and answered-through-living-it questions about What Can Get Us Stuck and What Can Get Us Unstuck are explored throughout. It's such a fun and funny read while being all about living life and trying to figure things out and dealing with the whole spectrum of emotions, and how those can be totally present even in what seems like an unremarkable situation or something that's surely going smoothly Enough. The matter of moving towards living with more openness toward more possibilities, despite all the incredibly hard and even painful possibilities that come with that, are explored in this book which itself is so open and so alive that every bit of energy you put into reading it will be rewarded.
I was so excited to read this, and then getting to Actually Be Reading It was so special and a ride of getting a kick out of each page after another. Both immediately and then repeatedly surprised with the details of the story which keep combining to give you even more to be invested in; I sure can't think of any other time I had cause to look at the edges of the closed pages and be intrigued and excited by an element found there (a little Physical Book Copy bonus experience).
This thing is thoughtful, funny, fresh, such a great choice for anyone who enjoys YA with such a sense of humor and such heart out of appreciation for the kinds of little, would-be passing experiences that can totally be worthy of a ton of drama and novel of exploration. Absolutely get hold of this book and read it for yourself / recommend it for another reader, SO worthwhile, and check out other works of Lance Rubin's where you'll find the gift of more of the same—I'm only all the more hyped for any future works after getting to read 16 Forever. Get on it!!!
Even going in already excited about the premise, it's such a dramatic idea and shakeup to what you're used to with time looping device rules that I was being both surprised and going "oh and that makes total sense" as soon as I was reading the summary of the book jacket, and then immediately again when reading the very first page of the book. Even deliberately trying to take my time, I read this book in 2 days and had a nonstop great time doing so.
Lance Rubin's books have this brilliant best-of-both-worlds balanced dynamic in that writing that has so much life and heart and versatility while also having all the benefits of the thought and effort behind the scenes that make it a joy to read, both so easy to devour and so clearly continuously substantial, no tradeoff between what makes the reading delightfully enjoyable and what ideas there are to explore and consider. The way the overall plot flows along just as well as the experience of reading from one sentence or paragraph or page or section to another is all the more impressive with how easily 16 Forever's multiple time loops could get tangled up, but here is handled so deftly in what info is conveyed and how that there's absolutely no trouble for the reader—though there's plenty of motivation to wonder about it yourself before you're given details. Jumping right into the main character's situation as he also immediately learns about it is an incredible start to a read, and the investment and intrigue for the reader never stops.
Just like the balance between what comes from spontaneity vs. deliberation, or surface vs. substance, another remarkable element in any Lance Rubin books is the humor throughout, and 16 Forever is absolutely no exception. Not only is the clever and funny and voice in characters' narration and dialogue an inimitable delight, but an example of how the only opposite of being funny is not being funny—the emotion and earnestness and anything else that might be called "serious" elements are always supported by the writing, truly using comedy as a lens which can be turned on any ideas or moments, and what the use of that lens can do. 16 Forever and the author's other works all incorporate such strong themes that in a way distill to "Yeah, you just gotta feel those feelings" while fully getting into the messy reality of how it's still never really a matter of "just" doing that (or we'd already be doing it) with characters who are dealing with a lot of novel and sometimes intense situations, plenty to be thrilled about or terrified of, and varying obstacles in the midst of all of it, and can be getting caught up in any of this while beginning to really build up a new perspective on their life and world and consider new ideas about what they really want and how they can really have it—something adults can understand completely too, whether remembering tumult of the past or just relating to it in a present that never actually settles into a reliably static existence, even if that's pitched as ideal and attainable.
Jumping off of that, another remarkable element is how efficiently and effectively a sense of the setting of every moment is created. You know where you are, when you are, who's around, with little details set up and revisited throughout a scene. There's plenty of characters with different voices and personalities and interests, plenty of events touched on that are making up people's day-to-day lives, all handled while keeping the focus where we need the focus to be, without pretending that nothing really exists outside that focus—it always feels like the characters have full lives in a full world, and it makes it all the easier to connect and relate and imagine the situations they're in. This is only highlighted through the use of multiple POV narration, where we get a sense of a new perspective both visual and emotional.
The way character's observations and emotional states play off of and into each other is so in tune with their individual strengths and limitations alike—there's so much heart, characters are aware of and motivated by their feelings throughout, including consciously reflecting/remarking on them, and yet they all deal with the realistically complicated nature of this, made all the more impossible to really get a handle on (much less freeze into something permanently Understood & Handled) through the focus in turn on all these characters' new and longtime (and a combination of the two) relationships, giving such thoughtful focus to them all, to the strengths and trip-ups in both the novelty or familiarity of these relationships, and the value in all of them that makes them worth finding and wanting to keep. There's so much room found for the capacity of each individual relationship, and how these relationships affect each other. The thread of the romance between the main characters is very central while not in the least seeming like this does or must displace other connections and feelings or like it has to "transcend" the qualities that a real-life kind of dating experience at that age could have. The influence and connections possible between family, friends, mentors, acquaintances, strangers are all present with thought and care for the way all of this makes up all of our lives and who we are.
(Somehow, I forgot to touch on the specific element of how characters can clearly be expressing things about their emotions while holding back &/or not processing other feelings fully, and it's always so simple and powerful when the expression of those feelings come out in other ways through the description of actions that just crop up in the middle of their scene, just like happens in life, and the feeling of the genuine heart behind that is striking every time.)
Just like the matter of "You do have to feel your feelings," the simple but huge and answered-through-living-it questions about What Can Get Us Stuck and What Can Get Us Unstuck are explored throughout. It's such a fun and funny read while being all about living life and trying to figure things out and dealing with the whole spectrum of emotions, and how those can be totally present even in what seems like an unremarkable situation or something that's surely going smoothly Enough. The matter of moving towards living with more openness toward more possibilities, despite all the incredibly hard and even painful possibilities that come with that, are explored in this book which itself is so open and so alive that every bit of energy you put into reading it will be rewarded.
I was so excited to read this, and then getting to Actually Be Reading It was so special and a ride of getting a kick out of each page after another. Both immediately and then repeatedly surprised with the details of the story which keep combining to give you even more to be invested in; I sure can't think of any other time I had cause to look at the edges of the closed pages and be intrigued and excited by an element found there (a little Physical Book Copy bonus experience).
This thing is thoughtful, funny, fresh, such a great choice for anyone who enjoys YA with such a sense of humor and such heart out of appreciation for the kinds of little, would-be passing experiences that can totally be worthy of a ton of drama and novel of exploration. Absolutely get hold of this book and read it for yourself / recommend it for another reader, SO worthwhile, and check out other works of Lance Rubin's where you'll find the gift of more of the same—I'm only all the more hyped for any future works after getting to read 16 Forever. Get on it!!!
January 11, 2026
4.5*
This book is just... how do I explain? It warmed my heart in a time when I really needed some good vibes, you know? World's on fire, but books are there for us, right? In this case, 16 Forever brought me so much joy, was so very heartfelt, and was absolutely just downright entertaining. The premise itself was so unique- like can you even imagine having to relive one year over and over? Only, everyone else just grows up regularly, leaving you behind? I felt so bad for poor Carter, talk about a gut punch (and a gut punch on repeat, at that). But even beyond the cool story, I loved other things about it too! Carter's family bonds were awesome, his character growth was great, and it was just funny, while still tackling some more serious stuff. And look, did I maybe hope for a little more explanation about some stuff? Sure, but the whole rest of the book was so great that I wasn't even mad.
Bottom Line: Made me remember exactly all the things that I adore about YA.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
This book is just... how do I explain? It warmed my heart in a time when I really needed some good vibes, you know? World's on fire, but books are there for us, right? In this case, 16 Forever brought me so much joy, was so very heartfelt, and was absolutely just downright entertaining. The premise itself was so unique- like can you even imagine having to relive one year over and over? Only, everyone else just grows up regularly, leaving you behind? I felt so bad for poor Carter, talk about a gut punch (and a gut punch on repeat, at that). But even beyond the cool story, I loved other things about it too! Carter's family bonds were awesome, his character growth was great, and it was just funny, while still tackling some more serious stuff. And look, did I maybe hope for a little more explanation about some stuff? Sure, but the whole rest of the book was so great that I wasn't even mad.
Bottom Line: Made me remember exactly all the things that I adore about YA.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“16 Forever” by Lance Rubin puts a fresh spin on the familiar time-loop trope by trapping its main character not in a single day, but in an entire year. Each time Carter Cohen reaches what should be his seventeenth birthday, time resets for him. He wakes up sixteen again with his memory wiped, his body de-aged while the rest of the world continues moving forward. By the time the story begins, Carter is legally twenty-two, even though he’s physically stuck in the middle of sophomore year.
The emotional weight of the premise quickly becomes clear. Carter’s younger brother, once a kid trailing behind him, is now in college. His old friends have graduated and moved on to adult lives Carter can’t share. The entire school knows about his condition and treats it with a mix of understanding and pity, leaving Carter constantly restarting his life while everyone else grows up around him.
At the heart of the story is Carter’s relationship with Maggie Spear. Maggie was his girlfriend during the previous loop and they had a relationship Carter has completely forgotten. Knowing how painful it is to fall in love only to be erased from his memory, Maggie tries to keep her distance. But Carter feels an undeniable pull toward her, and despite her resistance, the two begin falling in love all over again. Told through dual points of view, the story captures both sides of this heartbreak: Carter’s confusion and longing, and Maggie’s grief at loving someone who will inevitably forget her.
Rubin leans heavily into coming-of-age themes, exploring identity, responsibility, regret, and what it means to grow up when time refuses to let you. Carter’s early loops show him as immature and self-centered, but as the story progresses, he begins to take accountability for his actions and actively tries to help the people around him even when it won’t save him. The family dynamics are a standout element, showing how deeply Carter’s condition affects not just him, but his parents and brother as well. I can’t imagine how heartbreaking this condition is for Carter as well as his family with them aging while Carter doesn’t.
The plot itself is a slow burn, spending much of its time on character relationships and emotional buildup rather than plot twists. The pacing was a bit uneven at times, and the medical explanations behind Carter’s condition can be confusing; I wanted more development of that aspect of the story. However, the final stretch delivers a stronger emotional payoff, even if it leaves some questions unanswered.
Overall, “16 Forever” is a bittersweet YA romance with a clever premise and a strong emotional core. It’s a story about loving someone when nothing is guaranteed, about growing up even when time stands still, and about the ache of being left behind.
“16 Forever” by Lance Rubin puts a fresh spin on the familiar time-loop trope by trapping its main character not in a single day, but in an entire year. Each time Carter Cohen reaches what should be his seventeenth birthday, time resets for him. He wakes up sixteen again with his memory wiped, his body de-aged while the rest of the world continues moving forward. By the time the story begins, Carter is legally twenty-two, even though he’s physically stuck in the middle of sophomore year.
The emotional weight of the premise quickly becomes clear. Carter’s younger brother, once a kid trailing behind him, is now in college. His old friends have graduated and moved on to adult lives Carter can’t share. The entire school knows about his condition and treats it with a mix of understanding and pity, leaving Carter constantly restarting his life while everyone else grows up around him.
At the heart of the story is Carter’s relationship with Maggie Spear. Maggie was his girlfriend during the previous loop and they had a relationship Carter has completely forgotten. Knowing how painful it is to fall in love only to be erased from his memory, Maggie tries to keep her distance. But Carter feels an undeniable pull toward her, and despite her resistance, the two begin falling in love all over again. Told through dual points of view, the story captures both sides of this heartbreak: Carter’s confusion and longing, and Maggie’s grief at loving someone who will inevitably forget her.
Rubin leans heavily into coming-of-age themes, exploring identity, responsibility, regret, and what it means to grow up when time refuses to let you. Carter’s early loops show him as immature and self-centered, but as the story progresses, he begins to take accountability for his actions and actively tries to help the people around him even when it won’t save him. The family dynamics are a standout element, showing how deeply Carter’s condition affects not just him, but his parents and brother as well. I can’t imagine how heartbreaking this condition is for Carter as well as his family with them aging while Carter doesn’t.
The plot itself is a slow burn, spending much of its time on character relationships and emotional buildup rather than plot twists. The pacing was a bit uneven at times, and the medical explanations behind Carter’s condition can be confusing; I wanted more development of that aspect of the story. However, the final stretch delivers a stronger emotional payoff, even if it leaves some questions unanswered.
Overall, “16 Forever” is a bittersweet YA romance with a clever premise and a strong emotional core. It’s a story about loving someone when nothing is guaranteed, about growing up even when time stands still, and about the ache of being left behind.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I picked this up out of pure audiobook desperation—and once again proved I should stop judging books by my last remaining library hold.
This one completely caught me off guard. I needed something, nothing else looked remotely appealing, and this was the option left standing. Turns out, it was more than worth my time. I was pulled in quickly and ended up far more emotionally invested than I ever expected to be.
What starts as a seemingly straightforward premise quietly slides into magical realism. Carter Cohen remembers nothing after his 16th birthday. He wakes up on what should be his 17th… except it feels exactly like turning sixteen again. And again. And again. For the sixth time. While the rest of the world moves forward, his body actually ages backward during that missing year. He’s stuck at sixteen in both mind and body, watching life progress without him—which is exactly as unsettling as it sounds.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Lance Rubin, Katie Schorr, and Dustin Rubin, and all three were excellent. The performances felt age-appropriate, emotionally grounded, and never distracting (a surprisingly rare trifecta). Their narration added real weight to the story and kept me locked in.
What really sold this for me was the emotional depth hiding beneath the premise. Carter’s frustration, grief, and growing desperation as he tries to piece together a life he can’t remember—and find a way to finally move forward—hit harder than expected. And yes, this is also a romance. A complicated one. A tender one. And one that somehow avoids being cheesy while still being heartfelt, which feels like a minor miracle.
There are a lot of layers at play, but at its core this is a coming-of-age story about identity, time, love, and what it actually means to grow up when growing up isn’t guaranteed.
Sometimes the book you grab out of sheer necessity ends up being the one you can’t stop thinking about—and this one absolutely earned that spot.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harper Audio- Children’s via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
This one completely caught me off guard. I needed something, nothing else looked remotely appealing, and this was the option left standing. Turns out, it was more than worth my time. I was pulled in quickly and ended up far more emotionally invested than I ever expected to be.
What starts as a seemingly straightforward premise quietly slides into magical realism. Carter Cohen remembers nothing after his 16th birthday. He wakes up on what should be his 17th… except it feels exactly like turning sixteen again. And again. And again. For the sixth time. While the rest of the world moves forward, his body actually ages backward during that missing year. He’s stuck at sixteen in both mind and body, watching life progress without him—which is exactly as unsettling as it sounds.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Lance Rubin, Katie Schorr, and Dustin Rubin, and all three were excellent. The performances felt age-appropriate, emotionally grounded, and never distracting (a surprisingly rare trifecta). Their narration added real weight to the story and kept me locked in.
What really sold this for me was the emotional depth hiding beneath the premise. Carter’s frustration, grief, and growing desperation as he tries to piece together a life he can’t remember—and find a way to finally move forward—hit harder than expected. And yes, this is also a romance. A complicated one. A tender one. And one that somehow avoids being cheesy while still being heartfelt, which feels like a minor miracle.
There are a lot of layers at play, but at its core this is a coming-of-age story about identity, time, love, and what it actually means to grow up when growing up isn’t guaranteed.
Sometimes the book you grab out of sheer necessity ends up being the one you can’t stop thinking about—and this one absolutely earned that spot.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harper Audio- Children’s via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
November 21, 2025
16 Forever is a sweet coming of age YA romance. Told in dual POV, it tells the story of Carter and Maggie and their complicated relationship. Complicated because when Carter wakes up on what is supposed to be his 17th birthday, he is actually 16. Again. For the sixth time, in fact. Every time he is supposed to turn 17, Carter loops back a year. His memory gets erased and his body ages backwards, while the rest of the world moves on.
Carters girlfriend, Maggie, has been dreading his birthday since the day they started dating. When she sees him at school on his birthday and he doesn't know who she is, she realizes their relationship is over, but she can't bring herself to start all over again and hope he falls in love with her again. It's too painful. So she resolves to stay away from him and pretend they never dated. However, Carter feels a pull towards Maggie and keeps finding himself wanting to be around her. Even though Maggie tells him they can't be together, the two of them find themselves falling in love all over again. But what will happen when Carter's birthday rolls around yet again? Are they doomed to start over year after year or will Carter finally be able to move past 16?
I really enjoyed 16 Forever. Lance Rubin has not only created a unique love story, but he has given the reader true-to life-flawed characters who just want what's best for each other. The family dynamics between Carter and his parents and brother play a large roll in this book. Not only do we see how Carter's loop affects him, but we see how it also affects his family. The same is true with Maggie. By giving us her POV, Rubin enables the reader to see both sides of the story; what it's like for Carter being stuck at 16 and what it's like for those who have to watch him loop year after year.
The emotions and words are honest, raw, and genuine. We see the reality of what happens when we keep secrets from those we love because we want to protect them. We see what it's like to struggle and not know how to fix our situation. Themes of grief, regret, relationships, and love can be found throughout this story.
Lastly, it is pure delight watching Carter and Maggie fall in love all over again. Theirs is a love story for the ages.
Carters girlfriend, Maggie, has been dreading his birthday since the day they started dating. When she sees him at school on his birthday and he doesn't know who she is, she realizes their relationship is over, but she can't bring herself to start all over again and hope he falls in love with her again. It's too painful. So she resolves to stay away from him and pretend they never dated. However, Carter feels a pull towards Maggie and keeps finding himself wanting to be around her. Even though Maggie tells him they can't be together, the two of them find themselves falling in love all over again. But what will happen when Carter's birthday rolls around yet again? Are they doomed to start over year after year or will Carter finally be able to move past 16?
I really enjoyed 16 Forever. Lance Rubin has not only created a unique love story, but he has given the reader true-to life-flawed characters who just want what's best for each other. The family dynamics between Carter and his parents and brother play a large roll in this book. Not only do we see how Carter's loop affects him, but we see how it also affects his family. The same is true with Maggie. By giving us her POV, Rubin enables the reader to see both sides of the story; what it's like for Carter being stuck at 16 and what it's like for those who have to watch him loop year after year.
The emotions and words are honest, raw, and genuine. We see the reality of what happens when we keep secrets from those we love because we want to protect them. We see what it's like to struggle and not know how to fix our situation. Themes of grief, regret, relationships, and love can be found throughout this story.
Lastly, it is pure delight watching Carter and Maggie fall in love all over again. Theirs is a love story for the ages.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
16 Forever was an interesting and thoughtful YA read, and while I did enjoy it, I think this is a story I would have loved even more if I’d read it when I was younger. At its core, this is a coming-of-age story wrapped in a speculative time-loop premise, and it explores first love, growing up, and the ache of being out of sync with the world around you in a way that feels very true to the teenage experience.
I found myself rooting hard for both Carter and Maggie. Watching their relationship unfold—again and again—was bittersweet, and my heart broke for each of them at different points. The multi-POV worked well here, giving insight into how differently they process the same impossible situation. I did wish there had been a little more romance on the page, but the emotional connection and longing between them were still very present, making their story feel tender and genuine.
The magical realism and speculative elements were handled in a way that kept the focus on the characters rather than the mechanics, which suited the story well. The time loop adds an emotional weight that really highlights the uncertainty, frustration, and hope that come with growing up and falling in love for the first time. While the book discusses the idea of intimacy in an age-appropriate way, there is no on-page spice, keeping it firmly in YA territory.
Overall, 16 Forever is a reflective, heartfelt read that leans more into emotion and character growth than big twists. It left me feeling nostalgic, a little sad, and hopeful all at once.
Thank you to Lance Rubin and the Harper Collins Children's Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and review this thoughtful story.
I found myself rooting hard for both Carter and Maggie. Watching their relationship unfold—again and again—was bittersweet, and my heart broke for each of them at different points. The multi-POV worked well here, giving insight into how differently they process the same impossible situation. I did wish there had been a little more romance on the page, but the emotional connection and longing between them were still very present, making their story feel tender and genuine.
The magical realism and speculative elements were handled in a way that kept the focus on the characters rather than the mechanics, which suited the story well. The time loop adds an emotional weight that really highlights the uncertainty, frustration, and hope that come with growing up and falling in love for the first time. While the book discusses the idea of intimacy in an age-appropriate way, there is no on-page spice, keeping it firmly in YA territory.
Overall, 16 Forever is a reflective, heartfelt read that leans more into emotion and character growth than big twists. It left me feeling nostalgic, a little sad, and hopeful all at once.
Thank you to Lance Rubin and the Harper Collins Children's Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and review this thoughtful story.
January 7, 2026
This is one of those books that quietly gets under your skin — and then stays there.
It ended up being one of my favorite reads in a very long time.
Carter Cohen is trapped at 16 years old. Every year, just as he’s about to turn 17, time resets for him: his memory is wiped, his body rewinds, and the world continues on without him. Each loop leaves him more isolated, while everyone else grows older.
Maggie, his girlfriend from a previous loop, is devastated that Carter no longer remembers her — and determined not to repeat that heartbreak, even as their connection resurfaces. Carter, meanwhile, is forced to confront what it means to live without a future while desperately searching for a way out.
The novel alternates between Carter’s and Maggie’s perspectives, with a few chapters from Carter’s older brother, Lincoln. This structure works beautifully, deepening the emotional stakes and showing the ripple effects of Carter’s condition. (The audiobook narration — by author Lance Rubin, his wife Katie, and his brother Dustin — is excellent.)
I was fully invested in Carter and Maggie. I cared deeply about what happened to them, and I found myself unexpectedly emotional at several points. The book captures, with real honesty, the pain of being left behind and the fragile beauty of living in the present.
Despite its dark premise, the novel is filled with humor, warmth, and sharp dialogue. The pacing is excellent, the reveals are perfectly timed, and the relationships — romantic, familial, and platonic — feel authentic and lived-in.
Highly recommended.
It ended up being one of my favorite reads in a very long time.
Carter Cohen is trapped at 16 years old. Every year, just as he’s about to turn 17, time resets for him: his memory is wiped, his body rewinds, and the world continues on without him. Each loop leaves him more isolated, while everyone else grows older.
Maggie, his girlfriend from a previous loop, is devastated that Carter no longer remembers her — and determined not to repeat that heartbreak, even as their connection resurfaces. Carter, meanwhile, is forced to confront what it means to live without a future while desperately searching for a way out.
The novel alternates between Carter’s and Maggie’s perspectives, with a few chapters from Carter’s older brother, Lincoln. This structure works beautifully, deepening the emotional stakes and showing the ripple effects of Carter’s condition. (The audiobook narration — by author Lance Rubin, his wife Katie, and his brother Dustin — is excellent.)
I was fully invested in Carter and Maggie. I cared deeply about what happened to them, and I found myself unexpectedly emotional at several points. The book captures, with real honesty, the pain of being left behind and the fragile beauty of living in the present.
Despite its dark premise, the novel is filled with humor, warmth, and sharp dialogue. The pacing is excellent, the reveals are perfectly timed, and the relationships — romantic, familial, and platonic — feel authentic and lived-in.
Highly recommended.
October 14, 2025
⭐⭐⭐
16 FOREVER by Lance Rubin (Jan 6, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the earc
Each year on Carter Cohen's 17th birthday, he fails to turn 17. Instead, it's like time reverts back to when he was 16...for him anyways, and he turns 16 again. He's unable to remember being 16, but Maggie Spear remembers. She doesn't want to be with someone who doesn't remember her, but when Carter senses there's more to their story, they find themselves falling in love again.
16 FOREVER is a YA contemporary novel with a unique premise. From page one, the reader is taken on a journey. Ultimately, this book does fall flat---at least until the 70% mark, when everything really goes down. To be clear, I did struggle to make it to 70%, because I struggled getting to the 30% mark. Honestly, I didn't like this author's writing. It felt juvenile to me. It was cringy and it was just hard to see past that. This put me in a slump. It felt like a chore to continue on. I didn't care for the characters---especially Carter and Maggie. They were annoying, petty, and kind of rude. The only reason I powered through, after taking about two weeks of from reading this, was my want to see the ending. This surprises even me, but I thought the ending was just enough. Yes, 16 FOREVER could have benefited from an epilogue, but it is what it is. I do think 16 FOREVER will have its audience, but it wasn't for me...which sucks because I wanted to love this one way more than I did.
16 FOREVER by Lance Rubin (Jan 6, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the earc
Each year on Carter Cohen's 17th birthday, he fails to turn 17. Instead, it's like time reverts back to when he was 16...for him anyways, and he turns 16 again. He's unable to remember being 16, but Maggie Spear remembers. She doesn't want to be with someone who doesn't remember her, but when Carter senses there's more to their story, they find themselves falling in love again.
16 FOREVER is a YA contemporary novel with a unique premise. From page one, the reader is taken on a journey. Ultimately, this book does fall flat---at least until the 70% mark, when everything really goes down. To be clear, I did struggle to make it to 70%, because I struggled getting to the 30% mark. Honestly, I didn't like this author's writing. It felt juvenile to me. It was cringy and it was just hard to see past that. This put me in a slump. It felt like a chore to continue on. I didn't care for the characters---especially Carter and Maggie. They were annoying, petty, and kind of rude. The only reason I powered through, after taking about two weeks of from reading this, was my want to see the ending. This surprises even me, but I thought the ending was just enough. Yes, 16 FOREVER could have benefited from an epilogue, but it is what it is. I do think 16 FOREVER will have its audience, but it wasn't for me...which sucks because I wanted to love this one way more than I did.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book, and it will not affect my thoughts or feelings towards it.*
16 Forever by Lance Rubin is the perfect YA novel of coming to terms with growing up and learning to own up to our own mistakes. I was beyond excited to start reading this novel after hearing how it was basically Groundhog Day but for a year, and see how that would affect the lives of everyone around our MC, Carter. I thought Carter and Maggie were both lovely characters to follow and watch grow, experiencing the pain of only one of them knowing why everything fell apart, and the other who won't stop pushing for the answers. I always felt like I was cheering these two on their journey to find each other and themselves again. The pacing of the novel was great and never left a dull moment, and always had great beats for the explosive fun moments and the slow, thoughtful ones. I thought the ensemble of characters helped create this believable world of people accepting and learning how to move on with Carter's circumstance and highlight the pain it can bring to people when others can't grow up.
Overall, the novel was 5/5 star read for me as it delivered a quick and thoughtful perspective on the fears of never growing old and the real purpose of growing older. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick YA romance with a fun twist on the idea of growing up.
16 Forever by Lance Rubin is the perfect YA novel of coming to terms with growing up and learning to own up to our own mistakes. I was beyond excited to start reading this novel after hearing how it was basically Groundhog Day but for a year, and see how that would affect the lives of everyone around our MC, Carter. I thought Carter and Maggie were both lovely characters to follow and watch grow, experiencing the pain of only one of them knowing why everything fell apart, and the other who won't stop pushing for the answers. I always felt like I was cheering these two on their journey to find each other and themselves again. The pacing of the novel was great and never left a dull moment, and always had great beats for the explosive fun moments and the slow, thoughtful ones. I thought the ensemble of characters helped create this believable world of people accepting and learning how to move on with Carter's circumstance and highlight the pain it can bring to people when others can't grow up.
Overall, the novel was 5/5 star read for me as it delivered a quick and thoughtful perspective on the fears of never growing old and the real purpose of growing older. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick YA romance with a fun twist on the idea of growing up.
January 16, 2026
Grade: B/B-
Lance Rubin's 16 Forever is an amalgamation of Groundhog Day and 50 First Dates, if a first date were extended to a year in a person's life. The story follows Carter, who wakes up on his 16th birthday to realize he has lived the same 16th birthday year in seven time-loops. Life has passed him by: his younger brother is now older, his high school friends have moved on, and he is left to wonder how to break the time-loop. Rubin's story leans into the nostalgia of relationships, evoking the passage of time. When Carter feels left behind, Rubin's readers grieve his loss and stagnation. Rubin adds romance to his story, though one would consider it romance-lite, as it's about learning to come to terms with your present rather than fully yearning for your future. The challenge of Rubin's book for me lies in its focused audience of young adults. Carter and Maggie's character development requires more than the pared-down prose of his YA romance story. I was oftentimes looking for depth of feeling within Rubin's words. The gravity of his situation was often lost, at least to me, in the sparseness of his language.
Did I enjoy the story? Yes. Carter is a likable character, and you find yourself hoping for a better outcome for him. Carter and Maggie's challenges keep the reader engaged, if not nervous over their outcome. It was easy to invest your feelings in 16 Forever.
Lance Rubin's 16 Forever is an amalgamation of Groundhog Day and 50 First Dates, if a first date were extended to a year in a person's life. The story follows Carter, who wakes up on his 16th birthday to realize he has lived the same 16th birthday year in seven time-loops. Life has passed him by: his younger brother is now older, his high school friends have moved on, and he is left to wonder how to break the time-loop. Rubin's story leans into the nostalgia of relationships, evoking the passage of time. When Carter feels left behind, Rubin's readers grieve his loss and stagnation. Rubin adds romance to his story, though one would consider it romance-lite, as it's about learning to come to terms with your present rather than fully yearning for your future. The challenge of Rubin's book for me lies in its focused audience of young adults. Carter and Maggie's character development requires more than the pared-down prose of his YA romance story. I was oftentimes looking for depth of feeling within Rubin's words. The gravity of his situation was often lost, at least to me, in the sparseness of his language.
Did I enjoy the story? Yes. Carter is a likable character, and you find yourself hoping for a better outcome for him. Carter and Maggie's challenges keep the reader engaged, if not nervous over their outcome. It was easy to invest your feelings in 16 Forever.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Carter Cohen is reliving his 6th year of being 16 years old. The morning of his 17th birthday, he goes back to the morning of being 16 a year earlier. He has no memories of that year so he is constantly starting over, redoing school, and making new friends. While he stays 16 years old, the world around him continues on. Everyone knows about his "condition" and can't seem to fix it until Maggie Spears comes along. Maggie is determined she knows how to solve his condition, but on his 6th time turning 17 he ends up back at the start. Will Carter be able to break this curse and live to see his 17th birthday?
First, this book was extremely refreshing from the recent storylines I have read lately. I am such a sucker for a time loop storyline. This book is YA (young adult) but it gives off those innocent, giddy feelings of being a teenager again. Lance Rubin really hits it on the head with those teenage feels, the giddiness of first loves, and the devastation of a first heartbreak. I found myself laughing out loud throughout this book.
I will not be able to recommend this book enough. Easily in my top books of the year!
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperAudio Children's for the ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Carter Cohen is reliving his 6th year of being 16 years old. The morning of his 17th birthday, he goes back to the morning of being 16 a year earlier. He has no memories of that year so he is constantly starting over, redoing school, and making new friends. While he stays 16 years old, the world around him continues on. Everyone knows about his "condition" and can't seem to fix it until Maggie Spears comes along. Maggie is determined she knows how to solve his condition, but on his 6th time turning 17 he ends up back at the start. Will Carter be able to break this curse and live to see his 17th birthday?
First, this book was extremely refreshing from the recent storylines I have read lately. I am such a sucker for a time loop storyline. This book is YA (young adult) but it gives off those innocent, giddy feelings of being a teenager again. Lance Rubin really hits it on the head with those teenage feels, the giddiness of first loves, and the devastation of a first heartbreak. I found myself laughing out loud throughout this book.
I will not be able to recommend this book enough. Easily in my top books of the year!
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperAudio Children's for the ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was so unique. For starters, I have not read may books with the main character being the male in the story. I know that sounds odd but i just have not gravitated towards many books like that. Second, this book was a time loop kind of story except instead of the main character living the same day over and over and being aware, the main character lived a year and then on his 16th bday started that year over again. He also would forget the last year where everyone around him remembered what was happening to him. It kind of reminded me of 51st dates, in some aspects.
I loved listening to this book! The narrators were really good. I did at some points get annoyed with the male acting childish, but then remembered this was about a 16 yo not an adult. While this is a YA book, I would consider it an upper YA with some of the language and alcohol use.
I really did enjoy this book! Interesting take on the time loop story.
I loved listening to this book! The narrators were really good. I did at some points get annoyed with the male acting childish, but then remembered this was about a 16 yo not an adult. While this is a YA book, I would consider it an upper YA with some of the language and alcohol use.
I really did enjoy this book! Interesting take on the time loop story.
January 14, 2026
Whenever I read a book based on or inspired by another, I can’t help wonder what the source author would think of the new work. Would they be proud? Insulted? Happy? Devastated? There’s really no way to know, but I think in the case of Beth is Dead, Louisa May Alcott would at least be intrigued.
Beth is Dead is a bold, YA mystery that reimagines Little Women in a unique and somewhat dark way.
The story unfolds from the points of view of each of the sisters then (including Beth) and now. It’s all done in first person. And it works. In fact, it gives the book an intimate feel, where you really get to know what drives each of the sisters.
And while Beth is Dead is a mystery, it’s also an exploration of family, wealth, status and expectations. It’s a beautifully complex read that will appeal to readers both familiar and new to the March family. It’s an unexpected read that’s sure to give you big feelings.
Beth is Dead is a bold, YA mystery that reimagines Little Women in a unique and somewhat dark way.
The story unfolds from the points of view of each of the sisters then (including Beth) and now. It’s all done in first person. And it works. In fact, it gives the book an intimate feel, where you really get to know what drives each of the sisters.
And while Beth is Dead is a mystery, it’s also an exploration of family, wealth, status and expectations. It’s a beautifully complex read that will appeal to readers both familiar and new to the March family. It’s an unexpected read that’s sure to give you big feelings.
November 27, 2025
(3.5 stars, rounded up)
This was an interesting spin on a time loop story. Carter reverts back to his 16th birthday every year on what should be his 17th. He forgets everything that have happened in the past year, while his family and friends keep moving forward. He returns to the middle of sophomore year. His younger brother is now in college and the class he should be in has already finished college. We learn more about past loops from his brother and parents. He and his family are trying to figure out what started this and how to end it, including seeing all kinds of doctors. I liked how the whole school knew what was going on with him and helped support him each time he reverted back. For grades 9 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
This was an interesting spin on a time loop story. Carter reverts back to his 16th birthday every year on what should be his 17th. He forgets everything that have happened in the past year, while his family and friends keep moving forward. He returns to the middle of sophomore year. His younger brother is now in college and the class he should be in has already finished college. We learn more about past loops from his brother and parents. He and his family are trying to figure out what started this and how to end it, including seeing all kinds of doctors. I liked how the whole school knew what was going on with him and helped support him each time he reverted back. For grades 9 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
January 6, 2026
This plot really sucked me in with the first chapter, especially as more was revealed and you learned how truly complicated it is. Everyone knows about Carter's "condition" at this point and just live around it. The typical 16 year old activities and the Maggie's band were a nice little layer of storyline. It lost a few points to me with Maggie's sister being involved which made you really start to think about Carter's situation and it kinda felt creepy. I think both sets of siblings conflicts would have made more sense with some more flashbacks or maybe a prologue at the beginning, there was a lot to their lives we never saw and just had to take guesses about relationships.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a heartfelt, emotional, second chance stuck in a time loop YA love story featuring a Jewish teen boy, Carter Cohen who keeps repeating his 15th year every time he tries to wake up on his 16th birthday. Full of emotional depth, complex interpersonal family relationships, love triangles and a compelling love interest who remembers them falling in love when he doesn't. It was good on audio and perfect for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon's See you yesterday. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy by this new to me author!
August 6, 2025
5/5 stars.
16 Forever is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. Rubin’s writing is extremely moving, and the characters are special. I read this book within a few days, and could not put it down. Each perspective was well-written, and made me root for every single character! I will recommend this book, as I believe this story is extraordinary. 16 Forever is one of my favorite books!!
16 Forever is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. Rubin’s writing is extremely moving, and the characters are special. I read this book within a few days, and could not put it down. Each perspective was well-written, and made me root for every single character! I will recommend this book, as I believe this story is extraordinary. 16 Forever is one of my favorite books!!
Read
January 6, 2026After flood of memory still i lovey
at same age
at virty age
at any age
i still love
even if my moon want to be far
even if y cant bear my unturned book
i lovey
with y and any age and time
i love y
my blood time friez at same one
now my past ashed my time
still i love y
body grow time grow snow man move
still i love y
at same age
at virty age
at any age
i still love
even if my moon want to be far
even if y cant bear my unturned book
i lovey
with y and any age and time
i love y
my blood time friez at same one
now my past ashed my time
still i love y
body grow time grow snow man move
still i love y
January 16, 2026
My first book of 2026! Another phenomenal read by Lance, he has such imaginative stories and the magical realism he writes is insanely good!
But my only question after page 359 is… did he turn 17?????!?!?!!
But my only question after page 359 is… did he turn 17?????!?!?!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2026
Romance not being my forte, I nonetheless found this irresistibly fun and fun. Obviously I'm a little out of the age bracket now, but this gave me a glimpse back in time whilst being another clever and worthwhile entry into the time-looping genre.
November 24, 2025
fun and interesting story about a guy who gets trapped in his own personal time loop while everyone else ages. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
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