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A review by kelly_e
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Title: Never Let You Go
Author: Chevy Stevens
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: March 14, 2017
T H R E E • W O R D S
Suspenseful • Haunting • Melodramatic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped into the night with her young daughter and left an abusive relationship. Her ex-husband, Andrew, was sent to jail and Lindsey started over with a new life.
Now, Lindsey is older and wiser, with her own business and a teenage daughter who needs her more than ever. When Andrew is finally released from prison, Lindsey believes she has cut all ties and left the past behind her. But she gets the sense that someone is watching her, tracking her every move. Her new boyfriend is threatened. Her home is invaded, and her daughter is shadowed. Lindsey is convinced it’s her ex-husband, even though he claims he’s a different person.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Never Let You Go was my second read from Canadian author Chevy Stevens. I moved it up my TBR when a friend asked if anyone had any of this author's books to share/sell. I'd previously enjoyed Still Missing, which had prepared me for a fairly graphic description of whatever crime was central to the plot.
After reading the first twenty pages, I anticipated this thriller was going to be a captivating page-turner. The first half of the book was so well-paced and entertaining - confirming my initial impression. I really didn't know where it was going to go, which is what I love about thrillers. The non-linear structure did take some getting used to, as I had to continually flip back and forth to see what year I was in. Yet this structure did help create suspicion and set the stage.
The second half went downhill. The pacing seemed disjointed - the two halves coming across as separate stories. Everything became much more predictable and it could have easily been shorter as there's lots of unnecessary filler. I also wasn't a fan of the ending, which in my opinion didn't line up with the rest of the story.
Lindsay's character was likeable and well developed, to the point I was rooting for her early on. Honestly, she's the only character I had any sense of connection to. The daughter was unlikeable, I didn't like how Andrew (the husband) was handled in the second half. There were other characters I couldn't even figure out their role, other than to throw in a red herring or two.
Overall, Never Let You Go is a predictable, emotional rollercoaster. If domestic abuse is triggering content, then I'd definitely recommend skipping this one. I will likely continue to pick up this author's work, but there's no rush for me to get to it.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the domestic thriller
• reader who like mother/daughter perspectives
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Sometimes sleep is the only peace you can get, the only time where you don’t hurt."
Author: Chevy Stevens
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: March 14, 2017
T H R E E • W O R D S
Suspenseful • Haunting • Melodramatic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped into the night with her young daughter and left an abusive relationship. Her ex-husband, Andrew, was sent to jail and Lindsey started over with a new life.
Now, Lindsey is older and wiser, with her own business and a teenage daughter who needs her more than ever. When Andrew is finally released from prison, Lindsey believes she has cut all ties and left the past behind her. But she gets the sense that someone is watching her, tracking her every move. Her new boyfriend is threatened. Her home is invaded, and her daughter is shadowed. Lindsey is convinced it’s her ex-husband, even though he claims he’s a different person.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Never Let You Go was my second read from Canadian author Chevy Stevens. I moved it up my TBR when a friend asked if anyone had any of this author's books to share/sell. I'd previously enjoyed Still Missing, which had prepared me for a fairly graphic description of whatever crime was central to the plot.
After reading the first twenty pages, I anticipated this thriller was going to be a captivating page-turner. The first half of the book was so well-paced and entertaining - confirming my initial impression. I really didn't know where it was going to go, which is what I love about thrillers. The non-linear structure did take some getting used to, as I had to continually flip back and forth to see what year I was in. Yet this structure did help create suspicion and set the stage.
The second half went downhill. The pacing seemed disjointed - the two halves coming across as separate stories. Everything became much more predictable and it could have easily been shorter as there's lots of unnecessary filler. I also wasn't a fan of the ending, which in my opinion didn't line up with the rest of the story.
Lindsay's character was likeable and well developed, to the point I was rooting for her early on. Honestly, she's the only character I had any sense of connection to. The daughter was unlikeable, I didn't like how Andrew (the husband) was handled in the second half. There were other characters I couldn't even figure out their role, other than to throw in a red herring or two.
Overall, Never Let You Go is a predictable, emotional rollercoaster. If domestic abuse is triggering content, then I'd definitely recommend skipping this one. I will likely continue to pick up this author's work, but there's no rush for me to get to it.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the domestic thriller
• reader who like mother/daughter perspectives
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Sometimes sleep is the only peace you can get, the only time where you don’t hurt."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy