Never Have I Ever
Fiction
William Morrow
July 30, 2019
Advanced Reader Copy
352
Publisher via BookExpo
In this game, even winning can be deadly... Amy Whey is proud of her ordinary life and the simple pleasures that come with it—teaching diving lessons, baking cookies for new neighbors, helping her best friend, Charlotte, run their local book club. Her greatest joy is her family: her devoted professor husband, her spirited fifteen-year-old stepdaughter, her adorable infant son. And, of course, the steadfast and supportive Charlotte. But Amy’s sweet, uncomplicated life begins to unravel when the mysterious and alluring Angelica Roux arrives on her doorstep one book club night. Sultry and magnetic, Roux beguiles the group with her feral charm. She keeps the wine flowing and lures them into a game of spilling secrets. Everyone thinks it’s naughty, harmless fun. Only Amy knows better. Something wicked has come her way—a she-devil in a pricey red sports car who seems to know the terrible truth about who she is and what she once did. When they’re alone, Roux tells her that if she doesn’t give her what she asks for, what she deserves, she’s going to make Amy pay for her sins. One way or another. To protect herself and her family and save the life she’s built, Amy must beat the devil at her own clever game, matching wits with Roux in an escalating war of hidden pasts and unearthed secrets. Amy knows the consequences if she can’t beat Roux. What terrifies her is everything she could lose if she wins. A diabolically entertaining tale of betrayal, deception, temptation, and love filled with dark twists leavened by Joshilyn Jackson’s trademark humor, Never Have I Ever explores what happens when the transgressions of our past come back with a vengeance.
My review:
I knew from reading the synopsis that this was not likely to be the same kind of novel for this author, and my premise was correct. Despite the fact that her last book The Almost Sisters was a huge favorite of mine, I'm going to try and review this as though I had never read this author before. I think that is the best way to go into this one, so you will not do the comparison game. First of all, there is no doubt that Ms. Jackson can spin a story no matter what genre she may choose! This story is definitely on the dark spectrum (at least for me), but it does still have some characters and plot points that shed light into the darkness. I loved what I learned about scuba diving, and of course there is the little matter of the neighborhood bookclub (not a very big part of the story, but enjoyable nonetheless). There was a ton of tension in this one, and lots of head scratching while you tried to figure out just who was the villain? Ultimately it's a story about how you can never really bury your past. Even if you aren't found out, you will always carry the weight of your secrets!
This was really enjoyable, I'm not going to say that I didn't miss the sassy wit that has been present in the other books I've read by this author, but go into it blind and you will be rewarded with an engrossing read.
