Entertainment
Forever review: Netflix series strays from Judy Blume classic, but thats a good thing
For 50 years, Judy Blume’s Forever… has served as a rite of passage for young readers everywhere thanks to its honest, stigma-less approach to mature subject matters like sex and birth control. Now this long-celebrated tale of first love comes to the screen in Netflix’s Forever, created by Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends).
For devotees of Blume’s novel, this take on Forever might not feel familiar at first. Yes, the bones of its central romance are the same, but Brock Akil transfers Blume’s narrative to 2018, examining how phones and the internet can complicate a first relationship. She also reimagines the novel’s leads as Black teens and conjures up rich new interior struggles for both. What follows is a sweet, heart-wrenching account of young love, one that significantly diverges from Blume’s original novel but is still very much a companion piece to it.
How is Netflix’s Forever different from Judy Blume’s book?
Lovie Simone and Xosha Roquemore in “Forever.”
Credit: Elizabeth Morris / Netflix
While Forever… introduced us to Katherine and Michael, two white high school seniors living in Westfield, New Jersey, Forever‘s leads are Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), two Black high school juniors in Los Angeles. Former kindergarten classmates, the two now attend different schools, and both have dreams of athletic greatness. Keisha’s a track star hoping for a full ride to Howard University, while Justin’s striving for basketball glory at any Division I school that will take him.
When the pair reconnect at a New Year’s Eve party, sparks fly — literally. Fireworks accompany their first kiss, while Justin’s first touch of Keisha’s wrist is scored by a blooming orchestral sound cue. It’s the perfect amount of dramatic flair for teen romance, where every touch or every text back can feel like a life or death situation.
And texts back certainly are a concern for both Keisha and Justin, especially as their early flirtations fly over cutesy text messages and giggly video calls. But whenever either of them mess up — and trust me, the two make several mistakes before they get together in earnest — the block button becomes their biggest weapon.
The fear of blocking and losing that digital connection is just one of the many ways in which Brock Akil brings Blume’s story into the 21st century. Another factor? An oral sex tape between Keisha and her ex Christian (Xavier Mills) that’s been circulating, prompting waves of slut shaming — both digital and in-person — so bad that Keisha has had to change schools. It’s a pertinent update to depictions of bullying that permeate Blume’s work, and a reminder of the new challenges that come with intimacy in the digital age.
Netflix’s Forever examines sex and intimacy, but not quite as much as Judy Blume did.
Michael Cooper Jr. and Niles Fitch in “Forever.”
Credit: Elizabeth Morris / Netflix
Intimacy is another key aspect of Forever. After all, it would be impossible to adapt Forever… — a novel about all the “firsts” of first love — without it. Keisha and Justin are each other’s firsts, prompting a sex scene that’s both tender and sweetly grounded in nervousness.
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For the most part, Forever remains frank about sex. Keisha and Justin discuss what they’re comfortable with and often ask for consent before going any further. In one of the show’s funniest scenes, Justin’s father, Eric (Wood Harris), demands his son practice putting condoms on a cucumber while he watches. (And yes, like the novel’s Michael, Justin nicknames his penis Ralph.)
Still, there’s a sense that the series is holding back from the taboo subjects that made Forever… such a hit, not to mention so controversial it frequently winds up on banned book lists. There’s very little sexual exploration in the lead-up to Keisha and Justin’s first time, nor does the series discuss birth control beyond condoms. (In the novel, Katherine takes birth control pills.) Without some of these elements, which are important for young adult audiences to understand and see represented on screen and in literature, Forever occasionally stops resembling Forever… and instead becomes a regular teen drama.
Forever offers up two wonderful romantic leads in Keisha and Justin.
Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. in “Forever.”
Credit: Elizabeth Morris / Netflix
But what Forever lacks in Blume’s approach to sex, it makes up for in character depth. Keisha and Justin are two fully fleshed-out romantic leads, to the point that while I love to see them together, I’d just as easily watch the two of them apart.
And that’s a good thing, because Brock Akil has given Keisha and Justin major roadblocks to overcome in addition to their relationship. Keisha continues to deal with the blowback from her sex tape, even if she hasn’t told her single mother, Shelly (Xosha Roquemore), about it yet. The worry builds up in her over the series, compounded by the fact that star athlete Christian wants her back, to an unknowing Shelly’s delight. Keisha’s family’s financial woes accrue too, coming into stark light when contrasted with Justin’s affluent family. (Seriously, one comment about sensor lights speaks volumes.) Yet despite all these anxieties, Keisha remains headstrong and knows her worth, qualities a nicely confident Simone contrasts with Cooper Jr.’s more anxious turn as Justin. (The two young leads are dynamite together.)
Unlike Keisha, who’s dead set on her future, Justin isn’t quite sure what he wants from life. Basketball at an elite university is his parents’ dream, one that’s led him to a predominantly white high school where he feels like an outsider. But what’s a dream he can call his own? As college anxieties grow, and as Justin tries to manage his ADHD, could his relationship with Keisha be a distraction, or the key to him learning how to communicate and ask for what he wants?
With these major expansions from Blume’s original novel, Forever proves its ability to carefully recontextualize Blume’s story, unpacking issues of race and class in addition to sex. Keisha and Justin may be very different from Michael and Katherine, yet their love still has firm roots in the original romance. As Blume puts it on her own website, Forever… came to be when her daughter Randy “asked for a story about two nice kids who have sex without either of them having to die.” And, spoiler alert, that’s exactly what happens in Netflix’s Forever as well!
Yes, Blume’s novel is already a key lens through which young adults can unpack their own adolescent experiences. Thanks to some thoughtful adaptation choices, Brock Akil’s series may be able to serve a similar purpose, as well as introduce Blume’s work to a new generation.
Forever is now streaming on Netflix.
Entertainment
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 19, 2026
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition will be a little easier if you love baseball.
As we’ve shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections: Sports Edition?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication’s sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
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Here’s a hint for today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Here are today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: AL East Teams
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Green: First Words of Football Positions
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Blue: Premier League Managers
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Purple: Nicknames for the Dodgers Franchise, Over Time
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections: Sports Edition #573 is…
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
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AL East Teams — BLUE JAYS, ORIOLES, RAYS, YANKEES
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First Words of Football Positions — DEFENSIVE, RUNNING, TIGHT, WIDE
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Premier League Managers — EMERY, GUARDIOLA, MOYES, SLOT
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Nicknames for the Dodgers Franchise, Over Time — BRIDEGROOMS, DODGERS, ROBINS, SUPERBAS
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
Entertainment
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 19, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a sweet tooth.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
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Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: Lippy
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Green: Gowns
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Blue: Played in Vegas
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Purple: Sweet treats
Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: Cheeky
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Green: Dress measurements
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Blue: Cards in Texas Hold ‘Em
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Purple: Last words of candy brands in the singular
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections #1043 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
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Cheeky: ARCH, FRESH, SASSY, WISE
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Dress measurements: BUST, HIPS, LENGTH, WAIST
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Cards in Texas Hold ‘Em: FLOP, HOLE, RIVER, TURN
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Last words of candy brands in the singular: CAP, DUD, KID, MINT
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today’s puzzle.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
Entertainment
NYT Strands hints, answers for April 19, 2026
Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you’re constantly changing.
Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Small change
The words are related to changes.
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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe fine-tuning.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today’s spangram is There I Fixed It.
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NYT Strands word list for April 19
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There I Fixed It
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Adjust
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Modify
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Alter
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Improve
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Tweak
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Refine
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Strands.
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 19, 2026
Blazers face Victor Wembanyama, Spurs to open playoffs
