Looking Forward

Looking Forward by Maya Henry is a novel that blends romance and drama, inspired in part by her own experiences. The story follows Mallory Hunt, a young woman from an upscale Tennessee neighborhood who never quite fit in with the debutante scene. Instead, she bonded with her best friend over their love for the boy band 5Forward.

As Mallory’s life progresses, she becomes a high-fashion model and eventually enters a tumultuous relationship with Oliver Smith, a former member of 5Forward. Their romance is marked by the challenges of fame, personal struggles, and public scrutiny. The novel explores themes of love, heartbreak, and the transition from youthful fantasies to harsh realities.

Some aspects of the book have drawn parallels to Henry’s real-life relationship with Liam Payne, though she has not explicitly confirmed these connections. The story includes intense moments, such as Oliver dealing with substance abuse and emotional breakdowns, which lead to dramatic confrontations. At one point, Oliver experiences a crisis that involves self-harm and a near-tragic moment on a balcony, an event that has gained attention due to real-life events involving Payne .

Henry has described the book as fictional but influenced by true events, aiming to depict the struggles of relationships in the public eye while advocating for women’s voices .