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A review by alivaster
Never Say Never by Justine Manzano
3.0
I received “Never Say Never” by Justine Manzano from the publisher as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book could have easily been a 4.5 star because I truly enjoyed reading this book. I finished the book in two sittings! It was quick-paced, fun, and had the usual (though also a little stereotypical) cast of characters you see in romances back in the day - minus Val who is Aphrodite. This book was also really lighthearted.
I really liked the premise of the book and enjoyed the story. Even though I didn’t like Val, I had to remind myself it’s because she was a Greek Goddess so over-the-top made sense. What caused stars to be lost? It was because I was disappointed in the execution of the Greek Goddess element and I was perplexed with how the ending played out. I don’t know how I expected it to end, but it felt like it came out of left field and it left me reeling. After that, I found it difficult to get back into the story and actually enjoy it. I didn’t believe in Val’s redemption and I think that her ending arc was a big factor of what took me out of the story. If the ending and mythological factors were executed just a little better, I know this story would’ve reached the next level.
Again, I still enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to anyone who would like a story that had some serious topics, but takes it in a way that isn’t too intense.
This book could have easily been a 4.5 star because I truly enjoyed reading this book. I finished the book in two sittings! It was quick-paced, fun, and had the usual (though also a little stereotypical) cast of characters you see in romances back in the day - minus Val who is Aphrodite. This book was also really lighthearted.
I really liked the premise of the book and enjoyed the story. Even though I didn’t like Val, I had to remind myself it’s because she was a Greek Goddess so over-the-top made sense. What caused stars to be lost? It was because I was disappointed in the execution of the Greek Goddess element and I was perplexed with how the ending played out. I don’t know how I expected it to end, but it felt like it came out of left field and it left me reeling. After that, I found it difficult to get back into the story and actually enjoy it. I didn’t believe in Val’s redemption and I think that her ending arc was a big factor of what took me out of the story. If the ending and mythological factors were executed just a little better, I know this story would’ve reached the next level.
Again, I still enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to anyone who would like a story that had some serious topics, but takes it in a way that isn’t too intense.