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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
fast-paced
I think if the fat phobia/eating disorder content was better handled or more relevant to the main plot this would have had a higher rating from me, as it is it felt played for shock value / to up the trauma factor which feels exploitative to me. The ending felt a little out of left field, I wish we had been given more clues so that we could have had a chance to work Roux out. I liked the diving aspect and I found it easy to read and it kept my attention, so the previous faults are not fatal flaws for me.
Way too much fatphobia! I just couldn’t get past that. It also read like a YA thriller which I’m not a fan of. Overall, just kind of boring with not a lot going for it to keep me listening and a lot against it that made me just not that i ye rested in finishing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
I got this as a free ARC from Goodreads giveaway.
I really enjoy Joshilyn Jackson's writing. This was a fun, easy read, but the explicit description at the end was disturbing to me. That knocked off at least half a star.
Amy is happily married and living the suburban life with her husband, stepdaughter and infant son.
Amy hosts the neighborhood book club for her best friend, Charlotte. Char is super sweet, super involved, pregnant and in charge of the book club. The usual bitchy neighborhood moms show up, but this time they have an exotic, sultry guest -- the newest resident of the neighborhood Air BnB -- named Roux.
Roux threatens to expose Amy's secret. Well, actually two big secrets.
Spoiler:
Secret 1 — When they were teenagers, Amy and her friend/love interest Tig accidentally killed a woman in a car accident when they were high and drunk.
Secret 2 — Char is the daughter of the woman that was killed. Charlotte was in the car accident.
Roux knows this because she slept with Tig, who told her the whole story. Roux and her “son” Luca, who is actually a boy she molests and basically kidnapped, move in to the Air BnB to be by Amy and blackmail her. Amy’s step daughter starts a relationship with Luca. At the end when the reader finds out that Luca is really a kid named Ezra that is missing, there is too much disturbing detail.
There were scuba diving scenes that were so well done that I feel like I watched a movie. I also learned what a “keeping room” is, and now I want one.
I really enjoy Joshilyn Jackson's writing. This was a fun, easy read, but the explicit description at the end was disturbing to me. That knocked off at least half a star.
Amy is happily married and living the suburban life with her husband, stepdaughter and infant son.
Amy hosts the neighborhood book club for her best friend, Charlotte. Char is super sweet, super involved, pregnant and in charge of the book club. The usual bitchy neighborhood moms show up, but this time they have an exotic, sultry guest -- the newest resident of the neighborhood Air BnB -- named Roux.
Roux threatens to expose Amy's secret. Well, actually two big secrets.
Spoiler:
Secret 1 — When they were teenagers, Amy and her friend/love interest Tig accidentally killed a woman in a car accident when they were high and drunk.
Secret 2 — Char is the daughter of the woman that was killed. Charlotte was in the car accident.
Roux knows this because she slept with Tig, who told her the whole story. Roux and her “son” Luca, who is actually a boy she molests and basically kidnapped, move in to the Air BnB to be by Amy and blackmail her. Amy’s step daughter starts a relationship with Luca. At the end when the reader finds out that Luca is really a kid named Ezra that is missing, there is too much disturbing detail.
There were scuba diving scenes that were so well done that I feel like I watched a movie. I also learned what a “keeping room” is, and now I want one.
This was pretty good. Shocker moments are in the middle of the book instead of the ending, per usual.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WOW!!! So many layers to this book with so many twists and turns. I kept thinking that I had expected the outcome, but I was surprised at every turn of events. I LOVED IT!
Never Have I Ever is a book I read based on the description... and of course, the cover too.
It had lots of twists and turns with a great ending.
For more, click here: https://www.christinaallday.com/never-have-i-ever-by-joshilyn-jackson-book-summary-and-review/
It had lots of twists and turns with a great ending.
For more, click here: https://www.christinaallday.com/never-have-i-ever-by-joshilyn-jackson-book-summary-and-review/