This book is exquisite in every single sense of the word. I read this book a couple of years ago and I mean it when I say that it changed my life. I have read it over and over again since then and my heart breaks every single time. It's magnificence is something that should not be overlooked and I am so glad and PROUD of its success. It really is a masterpiece and the bravery of the author should be commended. I cannot imagine the courage it must have taken to write something like this, to write something that deals with this subject matter. 
 I remember reading the synopsis before I first read the book back in 2012. I had never heard of anything like it before and it was safe to say I was more than a little intrigued by it. Lochan and Maya will remain in my heart forever, their story is utterly heart breaking but entirely believable. I do believe their relationship is one that goes on behind closed doors, I think it happens more than we think but it is still such an unspoken and taboo subject. None of us want to think about it, let alone deal with something of this magnitude and that's why I am so THANKFUL that the author was brave enough to do it. 
 Lochan and Maya are not the only controversial and difficult subject that Tabitha deals with in 'Forbidden.' Lochan suffers from anxiety, it is really intense and has reached the point of being uncontrollable. I think it is social anxiety that he suffers from and this makes his life extremely difficult. He is very bright, smart and intelligent but whenever he is out of his comfort zone and away from home, he becomes a different person. His anxiety has complete control over him and it affects his ability to speak, converse and cope at school. People find him strange but some of his teachers remain sympathetic towards his condition. I, myself, suffer from anxiety and have done my whole life, the author has ensured she depicted Lochan's condition in an extremely accurate and sympathetic light. His illness is so debilitating and restrictive, it takes so much from you and this was expressed beautifully in the book. 
 Lochan has taken on the role of being the head of the family and sees it as his sole responsibility to protect his younger siblings, look after them and take care of all the duties his irresponsible, self-centred, immature mother should be handling. 
 Maya and Lochan's mother really is a vile creature and ends up being the one person who destroys everything and the mere glimpse of a future Maya & Lochan could possibly have together (even though it's not realistic) she is the route of her family's unhappiness and immense difficulties, she is thoughtless and cruel to put her own needs before her children's. 
 Maya is extremely likeable, she became a dear friend of mine and the one I truly sympathise with at the end of the novel, the reason for this will become obvious when you come to the end of the book. She is slightly younger than Lochan and I think she's also more naive about the reality of them being together. In Maya's eyes she doesn't understand why society and the law will persecute and condemn them for their love when their love will not harm or cause pain to anyone. Lochan is her soul mate and she wants to spend the rest of her life with him. She doesn't understand why Lochan tries to deny the both of them what they really want- each other. 
 Maya seems to be the one who is the most comfortable with the sexual side of their relationship and instinctively tries to become closer to Lochan on a ore intimate level. Lochan is the one who denies her, he tries to fight it, knowing the extreme repercussions of such acts taking place between them. At one point they have a really hurtful, dramatic and devastating row which left me speechless. I was with Maya every step of the way and could empathise with the devastation she was experiencing, she had just been harshly rejected by Lochan and lashed out at him. Lochan was BEGGING her to reconsider, apologising profusely for the cruel way he treated her but she refused to listen, I did feel sorry for Lochan but understood Maya's anger. She was sick and tired of defending their impending relationship to her brother and finally went along with what he was saying, that it was sick and wrong. Of course neither of them actually believed it, it took what happened, it took that violent confrontation to happen before either of them were willing to admit that they didn't care what society, the law or other people would think. To them it wasn't sick, it wasn't immoral and it wasn't wrong. They were in love and that's the one thing they were certain of. 
 I love sad endings (I know that sounds weird) but it really is true, the more heart breaking the end of a novel is, the longer it will remain in your heart. I will NEVER forget this novel, I will never forget Maya and Lochan and I will continue to support and cherish this book for the rest of my life. It moved me beyond belief and I can't even begin to express the diverse range of emotions that were uncovered whilst reading. To be honest, I read that there was going to be a traumatic ending and I pretty much figured out what it would be, I was so caught up in the story and Maya and Lochan's relationship, I couldn't finish it. I had to stop reading it for my own sanity! I mentally had to prepare myself for the devastation that was to follow. 
 I eventually read the end whilst I was in a public place. I kid you not! That's what I had to do to ensure my own peace of mind, I knew I would not allow myself to burst into tears and that's why I chose to finish this book in a cafe. I know it sounds crazy but that's what I had to do! Certain stories have a unique way of getting inside my head and this one worked its way right inside my heart. I really don't have the vocabulary to express what this book means to me... it is more than a book, it's a transformation. I think all of us could do with addressing this topic and the issues within this story. We all need to question what Maya & Lochan are forced to question, we need to evaluate everything we once believed in and strip everything back. 
 It is extremely controversial and that's what makes it such a fascinating read. Lochan and Maya were soul mates, their love was murdered and I think we need to ask why? If this was real... what would you do? What would you say to someone in this situation? Would you change the law? Does it offend you? 
 This really is a work of art. It's beyond anything I've ever read and it's perfection inspires me every single day.