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"She wasn't going to love him forever."

Well, of course not, because it's a fictional story; and if she had, it wouldn't have fit the book's plot.

In real life, you never know. My grandmother was wed at 17 to my grandfather after my mother was conceived, and they stayed married until my grandfather's death.

I am currently re-involved with my "first" (I was also her "first"). I was 16, she was 15 at the time. We are now 48 and 47.

Throughout history, all over the world, people have married in their teens. The fact of someone's teenaged status doesn't preclude him or her from loving someone forever...it is no different today.

In the past people married younger much because lifespans were shorter.

In the past there was also more spousal abuse, alcoholism and people who were desperately unhappy. People just didn't get divorced. Was that good? Well for many families an even worse problem was there.

Getting married at 16 or 17 is not a good idea. My grandmother got married at 17 too. It may have worked well for your grandmother maybe because it had better work well, but ask a 20 something if they feel they're a completely different person from when they were 16 or 17.

In many areas the South, people still get married much younger. Now Look at the divorce rate in those same areas. Forever doesn't really mean forever when you're 17.
I'm going to go into a Scientific explanation now. Just a few years ago Neuroscientists learned that the brain does not finish developing until the age of 21ish. Adolescents have always been irrational, illogical and irresponsible and now we know why. Because they really cannot help it. When someone is 17 they are undergoing a dramatic maturation process as they enter into adulthood. And by the way, many people I know regret their first. And a few people I know don't regret their first, but regret being so young and not understanding the emotional implications of it until it was too late. The people who don't regret it, are the ones who waited until they were at least 18. One year makes little difference in the adult world, but for a teenager it is a great period of development.