I have been waiting for a New Adult book to bring me out of my funk. One that is different, original and is able to stand out from the others and all those pesky cliches that we have been seeing. A book that will blow me away; in ANY way. Be it writing, plot, characters or emotion. Forever Innocent has done just that. To a degree, the are a lot of similarities to other NA titles, but this book... this book is SO EMOTIONAL. 
 After the death of their baby, Gavin walked out of Corabelle's life. After four years, the two are reunited at the college they planned to attend as kids. Corabelle, wants to avoid Gavin, while Gavin is desperate to get her back. Both are harboring long kept secrets as well as guilt, sorrow and both are still in turmoil 4 years later. 
 There are a few scenes in this book that were just really.. difficult to get through. I felt gutted and heartbroken all at the same time. So I will say this right off; this book isn't easy to read. There were several stopping points where I just had to stop and set down my kindle and regroup. Since we get both Corabelle's and Gavin POV, we see more of their pain. More into their thoughts and fears. We also learn the details of what happened to Finn in flash backs. I actually applaud the way this was handled. And I can't say I LIKED it, per se, but it was important, for me, that we got to see what happened in both their eyes and perspectives. We see, over time, how that week transformed them both. 
 Both Corabelle and Gavin are so similar in their grief and guilt. They both had their own coping mechanism and both in turn, are horrible and sad. It tore my up how Cora dealt with her pain. When it was explained why she did what she did.. I just. I can't even.. She is carrying this heavy burden of sorrow and guilt and was withdrawn, sad and kept people at arm's length. Gavin was the same. Although what he did to cope wasn't as.. well sad as Corabelle's, it was awful in its own right. The chemistry and love between these two was palpable and I was wrapped up in their passion and love for each other. As the two decide to rekindle what they had, their fears and sorrow contentiously rear their heads and doubt sinks in. Once one secret was revealed the rest just came tumbling out. 
 There were a few other secondary characters to mention. Jenny, Cora's friend and co-worker. Knowing there was something tragic that Cora was dealing with, she was there for her and never really pushed her to change. And once she found out what happened, she started to become a secondary rock for Cora. Tina, while her presence is small, is open and blatantly honest with Cora about her issues and what she has to do to start to heal. She was that PUSH that Cora needed. 
 Me Peeve~ There was no mentioned of just how Corabelle had dealt those four years. We saw what Gavin was doing and what lengths he went to cover up his pain and "fix" what he thought the problem was, but not so much with Corabelle. Her friends. Family. Where were they? Why didn't she actively search for Gavin? Trivial stuff, but still that had me thinking regardless. 
 Overall- This book was good. It's one of those books you don't want to say you LIKED or LOVED because it isn't a feel good book; but I loved it non the less.. It was heartbreaking, emotional and just.. GUT WRENCHING. While we don't see a complete HEA for these two, we see hope. We see how two broken people can come together after a tragedy and start to heal. This book is the start of journey. And I am nervous/scared to see how their story continues.