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There are currently 45 member reviews
for Never Have I Ever
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Kristen H. (Hagerstown, MD)
Read So Quickly
This is my first book by this author and it was quite good. I was immediately drawn into this book. The characters were very well described by the author so much so that I felt like I had known them for a long time. The ending was definitely a twist that I did not see coming. This author has a great knack for drawing you in to the story and just when you think that you know what is about to happen she pulls the rug out from under you! A very thrilling read. I hope to see more of these kinds of stories from this author.
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Leslie R. (Lynchburg, VA)
expect the unexpected
Having read several Joshilyn Jackson novels, I began this one with certain expectations; but those expectations fell quickly away as I began asking myself why I continued to read. I do not like books with evil and unpredictable characters and deep, mysterious psychotic secrets. This was not the Joshilyn Jackson I knew!
A few chapters in, however, and I was hooked. The action travels forward and backward adeptly; and just as the reader thinks, "oh, yeah, that's it," the plot takes another unexpected twist. A few chance coincidences strain believability, but not enough to derail the enjoyment of reading. Jackson's excellent writing keeps the reader in the game, all the way to the last page.
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Shelley C. (Eastport, NY)
What a ride!
There are thrillers and there are THRILLERS! This book is one of the latter. Joshlyn Jackson takes us on an amusement park ride of a novel with, "Never Have I Ever". The are twists and turns that you never see coming until you arrive breathlessly at the conclusion.
Ms. Jackson certainly knows how to create tension as well as tender moments that allow us the necessary time to recover from whatever she has taken us through. Her writing is wonderful and so is her story. Her characters and situations are well drawn and realistic. I highly recommend this book.
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Paula K
Joshilyn Jackson Meets Gillian Flynn
I am a Joshilyn Jackson fan. I love her small town characters, her sense of humor and her humanity. So I am predisposed to like just about anything she writes. This was the case with "Never Have I Ever" which was somewhat of a departure from earlier books in that it is MUCH more suspenseful and just plain scary… almost a mash-up of Joshilyn Jackson meets Gillian Flynn. We still have the appealing small town characters and the chuckle-out-loud moments. And like her earlier books, secrets factor heavily into the plot and character motivation, and these secrets drive the edgy darkness of the plot. Amy Whey seems your typical suburban mom: power walking in the morning, attending book club meetings, caring for her adorable infant son and shuttling teen-age step-daughter. Her routine is remarkably unremarkable until Roux shows up in the neighborhood and throws Amy's carefully-balanced life into disarray. (Love the sticky, pasty symbolism of Roux's name as well as "rue" pun opportunity.)
I didn't expect the darkness and incredible suspense of "Never Have I Ever" and Jackson does a masterful job building surprise after surprise into the plot. It had me turning pages far beyond my typical bedtime. Scuba diving factors heavily into the story, an activity which introduced Amy to her husband and step-daughter and an activity which brings about a crisis with Roux. We feel Jackson's love of diving which she characterizes in her author's notes as "….a meditation, it is peace" which sharply contrasts with the war which Amy is waging with Roux.
A delicious, page-turning treat!
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Madeline M (Florida)
Never Have I Ever
Joshilyn Jackson takes her much-loved Southern fiction voice and her women's fiction genre and edges them with a sharp darkness that is absolutely thrilling. This is not a flip-the-pages-as- fast-as-you-can suspense novel. This is a sit-inside-the-story tale where the twists and turns are slow and subtle yet leave you shaken by their power.
As a long time fan of Ms. Jackson's, I am thrilled to see her take on - and thrive! - in this new genre. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
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Elizabeth P. (Lower Burrell, PA)
Edge-of-Your-Seat Tension
A secret from her past and someone who happens to show up that may ruin everything.
During their regular, monthly book club meeting a knock on the door brings a new member who as the evening wears on definitely isn't welcome.
Roux knows something about Amy and innocently suggests they play a game called Never Have I Ever.
What dark secret could Amy be hiding, how does Roux know about it, and how did Roux find Amy?
Roux demanded money, and Amy had it.
Who would have thought after all this time someone would find out and take the time to look into what Amy did as a fifteen-year old?
Roux did just that, and she was pretty clever, but Amy was pretty clever too so the game gets intense for both of them, but who has the most to lose?
Both women are strong and determined. Both know how to play games, but will the winner take all or will both players lose?
A tiny bit on the slow side at first, but not for long. Ms. Jackson took a nightmarish incident that could very well happen and turned it into a story line that will grab you and will have you wondering how someone would even think about doing something like this to someone and how they were able to acquire the information they found or how they even found the person.
You will be on the edge of your seat as you turn the pages and anxiously await how this game ends.
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Susan L. (Alexandria, VA)
Never Have I...
Missed reading a book by Joshilyn Jackson. She is a favorite author. This book is a huge departure from her usual Southern stories, but should appeal to those who love thrillers. It is tightly wound with surprises along the way.
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