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Read advance reader review of Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson, page 6 of 7

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Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

Never Have I Ever

by Joshilyn Jackson

  • Critics' Consensus (2):
  • Published:
  • Jul 2019, 352 pages
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Page 6 of 7
There are currently 45 member reviews
for Never Have I Ever
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  • Jennifer H. (Mishawaka, IN)
    Just didn't like it
    I am a big fan of these new psychological thrillers, but this one just didn't cut it with me. I think it was because I didn't think it was realistic that Amy would let Roux push her around, even though Roux had knowledge of the her big secret. I just didn't care for any of the characters, and the Roux-Luca relationship was obviously disturbing.
  • Elise B. (Macedonia, OH)
    Never Have I Ever
    Never Have I Ever met people like those that are in this book! This book is suspenseful and completely unpredictable; however, I found myself struggling with the plot development for the main characters. Many of their actions/reactions seemed off and it took away from my enjoyment of the book. I can't go into too much detail without giving away the twists and turns of the book. I would recommend this book to people who love Gillian Flynn's type of suspense with surprise twist endings. It's worth reading, even with its flaws, due to the author's ability to build suspense.
  • Ann B. (Bethlehem, PA)
    Never Did I Ever Really Get It
    I was very excited to choose this book, as I loved Joshilyn Jackson's Gods of Alabama. This was a much different venture which covered some disturbing topics of abuse, predatory behaviors, and deceit. However, while this was a thriller, it just never rang true. Perhaps the old adage, "the suspension of disbelief" best describes my feelings about this book.
  • Mary M. (Beverly Hills, FL)
    Lots of twists
    There are twists, turns and surprises galore throughout this novel. It is truly a page-turner and even though you think you may know what comes next, or think you have it all figured out, don't be so sure. Right to the very end. It will probably make a very popular movie. Lots of juicy parts. However, I could only give it three stars because, attention-getting as it may be, the characters are so unrealistic. They simply do not behave like real people; they behave like characters written to fulfill the plot. We are told what they think, and what they do, but none of it is very real. I kept asking myself, who acts this way? I got little sense of who Amy, the threatened suburban mom, was. Roux, the villain, is a great villain, but why does she do what she does? I know we are meant to find her mysterious, but still ...And most of the auxiliary characters are simply predicable props. This book is worth reading; it's fun and enjoyable in its way, but ultimately superficial.
  • CathyZ
    Thriller with a twist
    I have enjoyed several of Joshilyn Jackson’s books. This book is unlike the others that I have read. The book started out slow and I didn’t like Roux, one of the main characters. In the style of Gone Girl, the book is based on blackmail and deceit. I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery and the plot picked up with the twist in the end. It has some triggers related to abuse. Overall, the book improved.
  • Gina T. (Natick, MA)
    above average beach read
    Another book in the Gone Girl genre. The novel is well-written and has enough twists to render it unpredictable. The author has an obvious passion for scuba diving. The passages involved with diving were in my opinion, some of the most interesting. If you are looking to lose yourself in a quick novel this book would work.
  • Crumb
    An Average Thriller
    While I've seen good press for this novel, I wasn't as impressed. This did have interesting characters, but what I yearn for in a thriller, was missing. I enjoy a plot-driven thriller, and that was absent. However, I did like the writing. There was also a pretty good plot twist. If you like thrillers, give this one a try. Was it fantastic? No, but it is worth a read.

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