Parents' Guide to Forever My Girl

This sweet faith-based romance -- which is even more teen-friendly than the Heidi McLaughlin novel on which it's based -- benefits from charming performances and a notable country soundtrack. Unlike many romances that follow the drama of falling in love, Forever My Girl is a story of a second chance between two people who never fully fell out of love. Liam and Josie have a lot of emotional baggage to sort out and a child to put first, but it's clear from the first time they see each other that they're bound to reunite -- wedding day abandonment and international country music careers all but forgotten. The stakes never feel that high, but it's pleasant enough to see the characters arrive at their happily ever after ... in the same way that Hallmark Christmas romances or Lifetime movies are predictable and safe but still satisfying.

An unexpected difference from the original book (which was the first in a series) is that the filmmakers have injected a healthy dose of faith-based content and themes into the story -- to the point that viewers unfamiliar with the book might assume it's Christian fiction. The original material isn't spiritual (Liam's father's isn't a pastor, the church isn't a central meeting point for the town, etc.), but the faith-based aspects actually work here. What we end up with is a romance, a father-daughter love story (even though it's pretty hard to believe that Liam never heard about Billy, even from his own dad), and a prodigal son tale. Forever My Girl is one of those rare dramas that's clean enough for older tweens and younger teens and well-made enough for romance-loving parents to enjoy. If you want sizzling and swoon-worthy, watch Outlander, but for a light, message-filled romance, this one's worth checking out.