Inspired by Judy Blume’s classic Forever, I Never features a perfect, delicious, almost-to-good-to-be-true high school relationship . . . and it doesn’t shy away from the details. Destined to be passed from teen to teen, this is a young adult debut that will get readers talking. (Pub Date: Nov 7, 2017)
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
This book goes from the meet cute to the problems more common in a teenager's relationship in a very comprehensive and sometimes a little too graphic manner.
Janey had never spoken to Luke even though they are in the same track team at school. After an embarrassing incident going back from her last vacations with her now about-to-divorce parents, he's taken a sudden interest in her. And she can't take her eyes off him.
Why is the rating so low for this? I avoid reading what people say but always think it's weird when the average rating is below my own. I'd even considered saying this was a 3.5 because it felt a little above my usual 3-star books. As it happens, I had gotten this book so long ago (hides in shame) that I'd forgotten the proposal of being like a new Forever by Judy Blume. From what I concluded as I read the many 1-star reviews—they are usually like unicorns when it's still before publication dates!—, I think people got it exactly for that reason though, and so they were disappointed.
I won't say I was in love either. At the same time, it was impossible not to feel at awe with what the author accomplished in a normal-length without feeling rushed (most of the time, at least—we'll get there). I'm sure if I were a teenager I would have loved reading a book that discusses first times, falling in love, dealing with changes in the way I Never did. However, I do think the make out scenes got a little bit out of hand, almost into New Adult grounds. This was one thing that bothered me, sometimes it felt as if I were reading erotica, which will probably raise concern of parents and defeat purpose. I don't think she needed to go so far, it's not like there aren't enough NA's around if an older teenager feels like it, so this is a pity.
As I mentioned before, she managed to go from A to Z of relationships and the rhythm in the book didn't feel rushed at all. Nonetheless, I don't think it was so believable how fast things progressed for Janey, to a point even her parents seemed okay with her active sexual life, even lending her a whole apartment for that? Instead of a rule, I'd call her an exception among teenagers. Am I too outdated on how the mind of an inexperienced teen works? And maybe I was too inside Janey's point of view but Luke's feelings never convinced me as real. That speed got me frowning but, as I said, the book itself had good rhythm.
I like how the portrayal of her friends, although Brent sometimes made it awkward. I'm not so sure what his role was supposed to be and sometimes I even forgot he existed. Aside from that, books reminding us that teenagers can have good friends as a rule always earn extra points with me. It wasn't all heavenly but no one was faking anything, either. Also, each in the trio was a break from the stereotype you'd expect. One isn't really the easy lay, the boy isn't the one forever in love with the main girl and the other isn't a prude. Each have their own personality in addition to what they may look like. Nice job.
My decision not to give a 3.5 was actually set in stone due to the end. This is not about being happy or sad. To be honest, it was probably the most verisimilar. But I don't think it represented a closure to this story and it basically made me swear very bad words. It was like Janey had become even more passive than she was in the beginning, like she had unlearned to control her own fate. That's not the lesson I wanted my teenager self to learn. And right because I was so frustrated, the whole magic dissolved and I questioned much of the evolution I thought Janey had had.
So yes, Hopper didn't succeed in many parts. But it wasn't a bad book. It was quick and easy to read.Unfortunately, the ending was aggravating and the couple didn't do it for me. So it's your good old 3 stars. But I do recommend it to teenagers, this is the kind of book I loved reading back then.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
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