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We'll Never Be Apart
Murder.
Fire.
Revenge.
That’s all seventeen-year-old Alice Monroe thinks about. Committed to a mental ward at Savage Isle, Alice is haunted by memories of the fire that killed her boyfriend, Jason. A blaze her twin sister Cellie set. But when Chase, a mysterious, charismatic patient, agrees to help her seek vengeance, Alice begins to rethink everything. Writing out the story of her troubled past in a journal, she must confront hidden truths.
Is the one person she trusts only telling her half the story? Nothing is as it seems in this edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller from the debut author Emiko Jean.
Fire.
Revenge.
That’s all seventeen-year-old Alice Monroe thinks about. Committed to a mental ward at Savage Isle, Alice is haunted by memories of the fire that killed her boyfriend, Jason. A blaze her twin sister Cellie set. But when Chase, a mysterious, charismatic patient, agrees to help her seek vengeance, Alice begins to rethink everything. Writing out the story of her troubled past in a journal, she must confront hidden truths.
Is the one person she trusts only telling her half the story? Nothing is as it seems in this edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller from the debut author Emiko Jean.
279 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2015
About the author
Emiko Jean
9 books1,741 followersEmiko Jean is the author of Tokyo Ever After, Empress of all Seasons, and We'll Never be Apart. When Emiko is not writing, she is reading. Most of her friends are imaginary. Before she became a writer she was an entomologist (fancy name for bug catcher), a candle maker, a florist, and most recently a teacher. She lives in Washington with her husband and children (unruly twins). She loves the rain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 608 reviews
September 10, 2015
We'll Never Be Apart is a psychological thriller that relies heavily on the reveal/climax that you can feel coming for the entire book.
I'm not usually a fan of mystery/thrillers that don't deliver more substance in the build and hang everything on the answers, but with this book I think there's an even bigger problem: it's just not that original or shocking.
I can predict that your enjoyment of this book depends on whether the ending is a surprise for you. Having read several mystery/thrillers, both YA and adult, I guessed the outcome when I read the very first chapter. Some of these kind of books have characters and a clever psychological exploration that is strong enough to survive a reader who figures it out, but We'll Never Be Apart is not one of those books.
After a prologue in which Alice and Jason are in a fire set by Alice's twin sister - Cellie - the story moves to a mental hospital where Alice is being held. Everyone seems to think she set the fire that killed Jason, but Alice knows it was Cellie. She also knows that Cellie is being held in D Block and that it's only a matter of time before she comes to finish Alice off.
If you've read this kind of book before, you might have already guessed it from that small blurb. If you've read books like Vanishing Girls or Twisted Fate, there's really no point in reading this.
On top of this, the characters are nowhere near developed or interesting enough to be memorable. The psychological aspect is superficial and left relatively unexplored. And how Alice and her new friend Chase managed to sneak around a mental hospital so much is a complete mystery to me. Do they not have any security measures?
This book tries to build a story around a twist that many of us have seen before. The author should have invested more time into creating strong characters and backstory, instead of hoping the climax would be shocking enough to make us forget the rest.
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I'm not usually a fan of mystery/thrillers that don't deliver more substance in the build and hang everything on the answers, but with this book I think there's an even bigger problem: it's just not that original or shocking.
I can predict that your enjoyment of this book depends on whether the ending is a surprise for you. Having read several mystery/thrillers, both YA and adult, I guessed the outcome when I read the very first chapter. Some of these kind of books have characters and a clever psychological exploration that is strong enough to survive a reader who figures it out, but We'll Never Be Apart is not one of those books.
After a prologue in which Alice and Jason are in a fire set by Alice's twin sister - Cellie - the story moves to a mental hospital where Alice is being held. Everyone seems to think she set the fire that killed Jason, but Alice knows it was Cellie. She also knows that Cellie is being held in D Block and that it's only a matter of time before she comes to finish Alice off.
If you've read this kind of book before, you might have already guessed it from that small blurb. If you've read books like Vanishing Girls or Twisted Fate, there's really no point in reading this.
On top of this, the characters are nowhere near developed or interesting enough to be memorable. The psychological aspect is superficial and left relatively unexplored. And how Alice and her new friend Chase managed to sneak around a mental hospital so much is a complete mystery to me. Do they not have any security measures?
This book tries to build a story around a twist that many of us have seen before. The author should have invested more time into creating strong characters and backstory, instead of hoping the climax would be shocking enough to make us forget the rest.
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February 7, 2017
Now that. Was awesome.
(Yes, I absolutely had to do that.)
We’ll Never Be Apart is quite the debut novel. From the very first words on the very first page, it had me hooked and even after finishing it, I’m not sure if it has quite let go of me yet. I’m still thinking about what a mad (pun intended) rollercoaster this was, filled with twists and turns, building up and up and up until it finally lets you drop and leaves you reeling with all of the mindfuck.
But in a good way.
Alice Monroe is stuck at the mental facility in Savage Isle after a brutal attack by her twin sister Cellie, which burned her boyfriend to death and nearly killed her, too. With nothing but a journal to occupy her mind, she’s filled with a terrible rage and only one mission: to find her sister, so she can return the favour. But when she starts writing down her earliest memories, some locked memories race to the surface and leave her reeling with more questions than answers. Nothing is what it seems anymore.
This is not a genre I usually read, but it’s always a genre that blows my mind if done well, and this was one of those times. There’s always that uncomfortable, niggling feeling of a thriller set in a mental ward, that something is about to go terribly wrong, and you’re just turning page after page to find out what.
Even more unsettling was Cellie – we know from the beginning that she set fire to the barn Alice and Jason were hiding in. Then, through Alice’s journal, we travel back in time to when Alice and Cellie were youngest. Bit by bit, Cellie grows more unnerving and it becomes clear that something’s not quite right about her. This slow transition into madness was done incredibly well, and with every journal entry I grew more and more disturbed by Cellie’s behaviour until she became downright scary, but in the best possible way.
When Alice is not writing in her journal, she’s either in group therapy, individual therapy, or hanging out with Chase Ward. They build a careful friendship based on lie after lie after lie, which you know just won’t end well, but it’s great to see that unique dynamic of a dysfunctional blossoming romance and it’s hard to pinpoint just where it will go. Especially when Chase tries to help Alice come to terms with her past – things go all kinds of wrong.
The book relies heavily on the ending, which can make it or break it for you. Some people had predicted it; I personally didn’t (well, part of it) and that raised the book from a four-star to a five-star-read for me. I thought it was really well done and it made me wonder about the entire book and what I just read.
We’ll Never Be Apart was a quick and thrilling read that left me upside down and wondering about my own sanity. Absolutely brilliant.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy
“I’m coming for you, Cellie. Come hell or high water. I’m going to find you. And when I do, I’m going to kill you.”
(Yes, I absolutely had to do that.)
We’ll Never Be Apart is quite the debut novel. From the very first words on the very first page, it had me hooked and even after finishing it, I’m not sure if it has quite let go of me yet. I’m still thinking about what a mad (pun intended) rollercoaster this was, filled with twists and turns, building up and up and up until it finally lets you drop and leaves you reeling with all of the mindfuck.
But in a good way.
Alice Monroe is stuck at the mental facility in Savage Isle after a brutal attack by her twin sister Cellie, which burned her boyfriend to death and nearly killed her, too. With nothing but a journal to occupy her mind, she’s filled with a terrible rage and only one mission: to find her sister, so she can return the favour. But when she starts writing down her earliest memories, some locked memories race to the surface and leave her reeling with more questions than answers. Nothing is what it seems anymore.
“She knew what I was feeling – that a beam of happiness as soft and shiny as the moonlight had found its way in. She couldn’t wait to carve it out.”
This is not a genre I usually read, but it’s always a genre that blows my mind if done well, and this was one of those times. There’s always that uncomfortable, niggling feeling of a thriller set in a mental ward, that something is about to go terribly wrong, and you’re just turning page after page to find out what.
Even more unsettling was Cellie – we know from the beginning that she set fire to the barn Alice and Jason were hiding in. Then, through Alice’s journal, we travel back in time to when Alice and Cellie were youngest. Bit by bit, Cellie grows more unnerving and it becomes clear that something’s not quite right about her. This slow transition into madness was done incredibly well, and with every journal entry I grew more and more disturbed by Cellie’s behaviour until she became downright scary, but in the best possible way.
When Alice is not writing in her journal, she’s either in group therapy, individual therapy, or hanging out with Chase Ward. They build a careful friendship based on lie after lie after lie, which you know just won’t end well, but it’s great to see that unique dynamic of a dysfunctional blossoming romance and it’s hard to pinpoint just where it will go. Especially when Chase tries to help Alice come to terms with her past – things go all kinds of wrong.
The book relies heavily on the ending, which can make it or break it for you. Some people had predicted it; I personally didn’t (well, part of it) and that raised the book from a four-star to a five-star-read for me. I thought it was really well done and it made me wonder about the entire book and what I just read.
“And I know, I know, we’ll never be apart.”
We’ll Never Be Apart was a quick and thrilling read that left me upside down and wondering about my own sanity. Absolutely brilliant.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy
February 6, 2017
This book left me kind of disappointed. I guessed the "twist" in the first few pages and while I enjoyed reading the book, I was disappointed that I had been right about the "shock" ending. More than anything I wish that I was wrong; I wish that Emiko Jean didn't go with the obvious ending. If there was a different ending I probably would have been more impressed.
The writing was good. It was a very addicting story. I found it hard to put the book down. I wanted to see how the story would play out. I really disliked the "twist". It was so predictable. Personally, I think psychological thrillers should make you feel super confused. I think you should be constantly questioning everything the author is saying and then be shocked at the crazy ending OR you should be led to believe something and then BAM, that's not actually true (like Shutter Island). This story was missing that crazy, good psychological thriller element that completely blows your mind.
I liked the characters and I liked how they were all done. The pace was quite casual, it wasn't quite as quick and exciting as most of the other thrillers I have read. The plot was okay. It's not a very original concept but overall I think Emiko Jean did a good job with this book. I think Emiko Jean is a very promising author. I think next time Emiko should focus more on developing characters to create a story (because the characters were done quite well) rather than moulding the characters around the story (and that predictable twist).
I would read another book by Emiko Jean and I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone. It's just too predictable. * I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
The writing was good. It was a very addicting story. I found it hard to put the book down. I wanted to see how the story would play out. I really disliked the "twist". It was so predictable. Personally, I think psychological thrillers should make you feel super confused. I think you should be constantly questioning everything the author is saying and then be shocked at the crazy ending OR you should be led to believe something and then BAM, that's not actually true (like Shutter Island). This story was missing that crazy, good psychological thriller element that completely blows your mind.
I liked the characters and I liked how they were all done. The pace was quite casual, it wasn't quite as quick and exciting as most of the other thrillers I have read. The plot was okay. It's not a very original concept but overall I think Emiko Jean did a good job with this book. I think Emiko Jean is a very promising author. I think next time Emiko should focus more on developing characters to create a story (because the characters were done quite well) rather than moulding the characters around the story (and that predictable twist).
I would read another book by Emiko Jean and I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone. It's just too predictable. * I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
August 29, 2015
www.melissa413readsalot.blogsplot.com
THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!! I had a feeling where it was going and I was right, but it's still so freaking good.
You have these twin sisters, Alice & Celia). They live with their grandfather but wake up one day to find him dead. They stayed in the house for a bit of time before they are found out and carted off to different foster homes. In one of these homes they meet Jason. All three of them make a little team and hang out together all of the time. They do some terrible things and one of these things lands the twins on Savage Isle in the mental ward. Jason is going to go to jail.
Jason has a brilliant plan to get him and Alice away from the place so they can live out their lives. They are in love and Celia is jealous so she devises a plan to keep her and Alice close and take Jason out of the picture.
Alice is telling her story about her and life before the mental hospital through a journal. She writes down all the things that happen with her, Celia, and Jason in it from the day they find their grandfather all the way up until what happens with Jason.
Alice is going about her life in the mental hospital at the same time and she meets a really nice boy named Chase there. He tries his best to help her. She has this plan to break into another part of the ward in a different building and face Celia.
So many things are going on throughout the book I didn't want to put it down. You just want to get to the end game.
Some really messed up things come out, but in the end I think it's all going to be okay.
**I would like to thank NETGALLEY and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.**
THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!! I had a feeling where it was going and I was right, but it's still so freaking good.
You have these twin sisters, Alice & Celia). They live with their grandfather but wake up one day to find him dead. They stayed in the house for a bit of time before they are found out and carted off to different foster homes. In one of these homes they meet Jason. All three of them make a little team and hang out together all of the time. They do some terrible things and one of these things lands the twins on Savage Isle in the mental ward. Jason is going to go to jail.
Jason has a brilliant plan to get him and Alice away from the place so they can live out their lives. They are in love and Celia is jealous so she devises a plan to keep her and Alice close and take Jason out of the picture.
Alice is telling her story about her and life before the mental hospital through a journal. She writes down all the things that happen with her, Celia, and Jason in it from the day they find their grandfather all the way up until what happens with Jason.
Alice is going about her life in the mental hospital at the same time and she meets a really nice boy named Chase there. He tries his best to help her. She has this plan to break into another part of the ward in a different building and face Celia.
So many things are going on throughout the book I didn't want to put it down. You just want to get to the end game.
Some really messed up things come out, but in the end I think it's all going to be okay.
**I would like to thank NETGALLEY and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.**
July 24, 2022
3.5 Stars
"This must be some kind of cosmic joke. Disbelief and utter despair run heavy and icy through my veins. Cellie's really done it this time.
She's succeeded.
She's brought me down. I'd clap for her if it wasn't so awful."
This is a story about Alice, a pyromaniac charged with murder. The story follows her time in a mental ward on Savage Island.
If I were to judge this book for it's simple prose it would receive all the stars.
I always find that young adult novels hit the sweet spot when it comes to my desire for emotional conviction.
That said, I have a major disconnect when it comes to unreliable narrators. Because it's ALL about the reveal. Which is not to say this isn't a good one, but simply not to my taste in plotline. The reveal happens, your mind is reeling, suddenly the pages end, and nothing... I want more aftermath.
"Don't worry. I won't let them take you away. Where ever you go, I'll go, too."
"Do you promise?" she asked.
My answer was easy and automatic. Because blood was blood and it was thicker than any sickness. "I promise," I said. "We'll never be apart."
"This must be some kind of cosmic joke. Disbelief and utter despair run heavy and icy through my veins. Cellie's really done it this time.
She's succeeded.
She's brought me down. I'd clap for her if it wasn't so awful."
This is a story about Alice, a pyromaniac charged with murder. The story follows her time in a mental ward on Savage Island.
If I were to judge this book for it's simple prose it would receive all the stars.
I always find that young adult novels hit the sweet spot when it comes to my desire for emotional conviction.
That said, I have a major disconnect when it comes to unreliable narrators. Because it's ALL about the reveal. Which is not to say this isn't a good one, but simply not to my taste in plotline. The reveal happens, your mind is reeling, suddenly the pages end, and nothing... I want more aftermath.
"Don't worry. I won't let them take you away. Where ever you go, I'll go, too."
"Do you promise?" she asked.
My answer was easy and automatic. Because blood was blood and it was thicker than any sickness. "I promise," I said. "We'll never be apart."
December 18, 2017
Full Review on my blog!
We’ll Never Be Apart is a riveting psychological thriller from page one. It’s a mystery…a thinker…and full of suspense. From the first time I saw the wickedly amazing cover… I knew I had to read this book. The cover just grabs you and doesn’t let go.
The story revolves around Alice who is now in a mental facility after surviving a fire that her twin sister, Celia, started in an attempt to kill her and her boyfriend Jason, whom sadly did not survive. Alice is recovering and trying to get answers about her life and the events that led up to the fire. Alice is determined to find her twin sister and get revenge for Jason. She tries to come to terms with what her sister Celia did by writing her memories of her bad childhood in a journal. When she realizes that Cellie is in a different ward at the hospital, Alice makes it her mission to find a way to get to her and make her pay by killing her.
A piece of Alice’s plan just happens to be a boy she meets in her ward, Chase. He has some demons of his own and as he and Alice become closer, his story is revealed a bit more and he happens to be more than just the cocky troublemaker he presents himself as. Honestly, Alice is the perfect level of sarcastic which I love and her interactions with Chase made me smile. I mean the romance? (Kind of romance-y) between Alice and Chase was cute, but Alice’s constant moaning over Jason kind of ruined it. But when they first met Alice really tried to win him over to help her out with her plan, are some of my favorite interactions between them. I loved seeing their characters develop.
Emiko Jean is a great writer. Her words were quite poetic and beautiful even with the grittiness of the story. The whole book had this dark, almost spooky feel to it. I had a lot of fun with this and the characters were both engaging and well fleshed out. I would pick up another book by this author without hesitation in the future, in fact I can’t wait to read more of her work!
I recommend it!
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We’ll Never Be Apart is a riveting psychological thriller from page one. It’s a mystery…a thinker…and full of suspense. From the first time I saw the wickedly amazing cover… I knew I had to read this book. The cover just grabs you and doesn’t let go.
The story revolves around Alice who is now in a mental facility after surviving a fire that her twin sister, Celia, started in an attempt to kill her and her boyfriend Jason, whom sadly did not survive. Alice is recovering and trying to get answers about her life and the events that led up to the fire. Alice is determined to find her twin sister and get revenge for Jason. She tries to come to terms with what her sister Celia did by writing her memories of her bad childhood in a journal. When she realizes that Cellie is in a different ward at the hospital, Alice makes it her mission to find a way to get to her and make her pay by killing her.
A piece of Alice’s plan just happens to be a boy she meets in her ward, Chase. He has some demons of his own and as he and Alice become closer, his story is revealed a bit more and he happens to be more than just the cocky troublemaker he presents himself as. Honestly, Alice is the perfect level of sarcastic which I love and her interactions with Chase made me smile. I mean the romance? (Kind of romance-y) between Alice and Chase was cute, but Alice’s constant moaning over Jason kind of ruined it. But when they first met Alice really tried to win him over to help her out with her plan, are some of my favorite interactions between them. I loved seeing their characters develop.
Emiko Jean is a great writer. Her words were quite poetic and beautiful even with the grittiness of the story. The whole book had this dark, almost spooky feel to it. I had a lot of fun with this and the characters were both engaging and well fleshed out. I would pick up another book by this author without hesitation in the future, in fact I can’t wait to read more of her work!
I recommend it!
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September 24, 2015
I adore stories where the narrator is unreliable or where things aren't quite what they seem and in We'll Never Be Apart, Jean manages to portray both elements of unreliability and the feeling that you know a twist is coming. That things aren't quite right and at any moment they will turn for the worst.
Woven with sly hints and foreshadowing as the story progresses from Alice's point of view to her journal entries, this was done well. Captivating as much as it was interesting, this was a story that I quickly read in a few short hours.
And while I did see the ending coming, the twist for what it was, this was still a really fun read that is worthy of the YA mystery thriller title.
I had a lot of fun with this and the characters were both engaging and well fleshed out. I would pick up another book by this author without hesitation in the future.
*An ARC Copy of this was provided by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Woven with sly hints and foreshadowing as the story progresses from Alice's point of view to her journal entries, this was done well. Captivating as much as it was interesting, this was a story that I quickly read in a few short hours.
And while I did see the ending coming, the twist for what it was, this was still a really fun read that is worthy of the YA mystery thriller title.
I had a lot of fun with this and the characters were both engaging and well fleshed out. I would pick up another book by this author without hesitation in the future.
*An ARC Copy of this was provided by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
December 17, 2015
Actual rating: 2.8
The problem with We'll never be apart is that this book promises a lot but in the end it takes more that it gives. From the annotation and first chapters it looked like a quality thriller YA with psychological twists and turns. What happened in the barn that night? Why was Alice in the hospital the first time? Is it real? And so on. But unfortunately in the end all these questions didn't matter, because we have a quite typical YA strongly leaning on the topic of hard lives of children in foster care. I get that this topic is important as it is and under different circumstances I would enjoy this issue, but in this book I was promised a psychological thriller! Don't get me wrong, this book is psychological but not a thriller. Two first chapters were exactly what it promised to be, only the description of mental facility where the story takes place promises something sinisterOutside, wind howls and shakes the thin walls of the building. A shudder rolls through me. Oregon State Mental Health Hospital is located on a thin strip of densely forested island. The hospital advertises itself as a peaceful haven where troubled souls recover, but there’s nothing tranquil about this place. Even the name of the island, Savage Isle, was born from blood. In the late 1800s, a hundred Native Americans were forcibly relocated here, only to be killed later in a massacre. Old newspapers say there was so much blood that winter, it looked as if red snow had fallen from the sky.
But further into the book the mood and the main mystery lost it's appeal and no longer could be qualified as something dark nor suspenseful. The main failure we can blame on the author who carelessly reviled almost in the beginning the main mystery, which was the carcass of the whole story. If you are not interested in reading the book, but curious about the reveal, here what's all the deal is about . In my opinion Emiko Jean wasn't subtle enough in giving us hints about the mystery and I almost immediately guessed what it was.
We'll never be apart is not a total failure. Actually, this book has positive aspects as language, which was very beautiful - some of the descriptions were so vivid I really enjoyed the pictures they provided for my imagination. The romance was really good and interesting to observe, I liked every interaction between Alice and Chase. Chase is something and I totally had hots for him in the book“No. You got it all wrong. You’re looking for the obvious. You’ve got to look below the surface. She’s got sexual deviant written all over her.”
“Sexual deviant?” I cock my head.
“Yeah, you know . . .” He waggles his brows at me suggestively.Shit. Double shit. He’s going to leave and I don’t have what I need yet. Before I can think, I reach up and grab his forearm. There’s an immediate heat that flows through our skin. A pleasurable spark shoots up my spine and explodes like firecrackers.
“Easy, Sparky,” he says, prying my fingers from his arm. “I like it rough, but not in public places.”Sparky. Wonderful. He’s given me a nickname. I wonder how he would feel if I gave him one, too. Maybe douche canoe. Or turd burglar.
“You’re such a dick.”
“There’s that dirty mouth again. That didn’t take very long.”I smile. “You know you’re kind of a sick bastard. You’re into me because you dig 1950s pinup girls and I remind you of your sister?”
He smiles back. “Don’t forget your dirty mouth and fascination with paper animals.”
“You’re such a fucking weirdo.”
“Takes one to know one.”“Based on the way you ate that mango, I bet you’re a terrible kisser, huh?” He lets out a low laugh and touches my lower lip with his thumb. “Yeah, I bet you kiss like an angry Velociraptor.” He mock sighs. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”
Cute, right? I totally ship this couple.
And the best part of the book is emotions the story carries and shares with readers. I sympathized with MCs and genuinely wanted to hear their story.
There was also that scene between girls when they discussed boys comparing them to books. I really enjoyed this one.“So what’s up? You got the hots for him or something?”
<...>
“It’s not like that.” I scratch my forehead. “He’s hard to read, that’s all.”
“Like Atlas Shrugged?”
I chuckle. “No, more like War and Peace.”
All in all, this book wasn't what I expected or wanted from the beginning, but turned out to be a nice emotional debut with pleasant characters, beautiful language and hot romance. If you are in the mood for psychological YA (without prefix thriller) - totally recommend this book.
March 10, 2021
Full Review on The Candid Cover
We’ll Never Be Apart is the perfect book to cozy up with this Halloween season. Emiko Jean has written a whirlwind of a novel that will have readers kept in suspense. This novel is very eerie with its mental hospital setting, unique writing style and intense story of vengeance.
With its spine-chilling vibe, We’ll Never be Apart is a book that has the ideal backdrop for a fall read. It is set in the creepiest perfect location for a book of this type, a mental hospital. The main character, Alice, is sent to live in a mental ward on Savage Isle (even the name is creepy!) after a fire that was actually set by her sister. Now, this mental hospital isn’t terrifying or filled with ghosts, but it is the perfect venue for something unusual to occur, since there are potential murderers in the building. Jean has created a mood of terror in We’ll Never be Apart that will keep readers in suspense and definitely scared about what’s to happen next.
The layout of We’ll Never Be Apart is so noteworthy. Most of the book is told in the present, however at the end of every chapter an entry from Alice’s journal that reveals pieces of her past is incorporated. This is a really interesting technique that surprises the reader and adds many plot twists to the storyline. Also, the story contains a similar format to We Were Liars by E. Lockhart and Damage Done by Amanda Panitch with its suspense and a big information reveal/plot twist at the very end.
We’ll Never Be Apart is a story that includes revenge. Books that include the element of sweet vengeance are always engaging for the reader. Alice is angry at her twin sister Cellie for getting her thrown into the mental hospital again and vows to seek revenge. It is enjoyable accompanying Alice on her journey to find her sister, as she is also being closely monitored by the mental hospital. The plot of this book is so rich and contains so many interesting layers of intrigue.
The perfect components for an incredible thrill ride are included in Emiko Jean’s We’ll Never Be Apart: a strange mental hospital, journal entries that slowly reveal the past, and a dark revenge story. This is the kind of book that can be read in one sitting, it is that mind-blowing. If you are a fan of the thriller genre, this is a must-have book this fall!
We’ll Never Be Apart is the perfect book to cozy up with this Halloween season. Emiko Jean has written a whirlwind of a novel that will have readers kept in suspense. This novel is very eerie with its mental hospital setting, unique writing style and intense story of vengeance.
With its spine-chilling vibe, We’ll Never be Apart is a book that has the ideal backdrop for a fall read. It is set in the creepiest perfect location for a book of this type, a mental hospital. The main character, Alice, is sent to live in a mental ward on Savage Isle (even the name is creepy!) after a fire that was actually set by her sister. Now, this mental hospital isn’t terrifying or filled with ghosts, but it is the perfect venue for something unusual to occur, since there are potential murderers in the building. Jean has created a mood of terror in We’ll Never be Apart that will keep readers in suspense and definitely scared about what’s to happen next.
The layout of We’ll Never Be Apart is so noteworthy. Most of the book is told in the present, however at the end of every chapter an entry from Alice’s journal that reveals pieces of her past is incorporated. This is a really interesting technique that surprises the reader and adds many plot twists to the storyline. Also, the story contains a similar format to We Were Liars by E. Lockhart and Damage Done by Amanda Panitch with its suspense and a big information reveal/plot twist at the very end.
We’ll Never Be Apart is a story that includes revenge. Books that include the element of sweet vengeance are always engaging for the reader. Alice is angry at her twin sister Cellie for getting her thrown into the mental hospital again and vows to seek revenge. It is enjoyable accompanying Alice on her journey to find her sister, as she is also being closely monitored by the mental hospital. The plot of this book is so rich and contains so many interesting layers of intrigue.
The perfect components for an incredible thrill ride are included in Emiko Jean’s We’ll Never Be Apart: a strange mental hospital, journal entries that slowly reveal the past, and a dark revenge story. This is the kind of book that can be read in one sitting, it is that mind-blowing. If you are a fan of the thriller genre, this is a must-have book this fall!
December 19, 2021
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DNF @ 8%
So I'm pretty sure I already know what the big twist is. Even if I'm wrong, though, this book just isn't cutting it for me. The writing style is perfectly fine but it's a bit too heavy on the drama with too little happening. Sometimes that works for me if it's a slow and gradual build that's heavy on the psychological horror, but this is more like E. Lockhart's WE WERE LIARS, where it seemingly tries to create confusion by inconveniently omitting info and masking this with purple prose as if washi-taping the plot holes.
YMMV.
2 to 2.5 stars
September 17, 2015
‘So where does a story that ends in fire and death begin? It begins in the snow on the coldest day of the coldest winter of the last fifty years, with two girls on their sixth birthday in silent house. It begins with a body.’
Alice and Celia are twins who have had an arduous life, but fortunately they’ve had each other to get through it. After their grandfather died when they were six, they’ve bounced around to various different foster care homes, some worse than others. When Alice is seventeen years old, Celia intentionally sets a fire that almost kills her but does kill her boyfriend, Jason. She wakes in a mental health hospital called Savage Isle to find herself recovering from burns and a definite lack of memory surrounding the incident. All Alice knows is Celia killed Jason and revenge begins to consume her thoughts.
Honestly, the summary gives it all away and if you didn’t bother to read the summary then the prologue definitely will. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with a mystery that’s predictable because the story itself can make it all worth it, but I have a hard time becoming sympathetic towards characters and their plights when I know more than they do. Their mental stumbling, trying to uncover obvious clues becomes more obnoxious than tragic.
We’ll Never Be Apart could have been saved with some tension but I never felt a sense of urgency from Alice to uncover the mystery. She finds herself in a mental hospital being charged with a crime that she knows in her heart she didn’t commit, yet instead of attempting to work through her memories she becomes resigned to her plight and instead focuses her attention on her crush. Nevermind that her boyfriend of several years just died in a fire a few weeks ago. Becoming resigned to the situation she finds herself in would have been one thing, because can you imagine waking up in a mental hospital being blamed for something you didn’t do and being force-fed medication? That would be terrifying and I think we’d all mentally shut down to some extent, but the focus on the boy was what really ruined it for me. And all the security card stealing so that the two can carouse the halls of the hospital at night. Because that’s totally legit.
I kept reading, hoping for a twist that I maybe hadn’t foreseen. Alas, the end came, and it was less twisty and suspenseful than I had been hoping for. The resolution was also far more tidy than I would have expected given the topic. All in all, this one is far from being a terrible read, but I’ve read too many books that touch on the same topic that have just been done better.
I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Alice and Celia are twins who have had an arduous life, but fortunately they’ve had each other to get through it. After their grandfather died when they were six, they’ve bounced around to various different foster care homes, some worse than others. When Alice is seventeen years old, Celia intentionally sets a fire that almost kills her but does kill her boyfriend, Jason. She wakes in a mental health hospital called Savage Isle to find herself recovering from burns and a definite lack of memory surrounding the incident. All Alice knows is Celia killed Jason and revenge begins to consume her thoughts.
Honestly, the summary gives it all away and if you didn’t bother to read the summary then the prologue definitely will. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with a mystery that’s predictable because the story itself can make it all worth it, but I have a hard time becoming sympathetic towards characters and their plights when I know more than they do. Their mental stumbling, trying to uncover obvious clues becomes more obnoxious than tragic.
We’ll Never Be Apart could have been saved with some tension but I never felt a sense of urgency from Alice to uncover the mystery. She finds herself in a mental hospital being charged with a crime that she knows in her heart she didn’t commit, yet instead of attempting to work through her memories she becomes resigned to her plight and instead focuses her attention on her crush. Nevermind that her boyfriend of several years just died in a fire a few weeks ago. Becoming resigned to the situation she finds herself in would have been one thing, because can you imagine waking up in a mental hospital being blamed for something you didn’t do and being force-fed medication? That would be terrifying and I think we’d all mentally shut down to some extent, but the focus on the boy was what really ruined it for me. And all the security card stealing so that the two can carouse the halls of the hospital at night. Because that’s totally legit.
I kept reading, hoping for a twist that I maybe hadn’t foreseen. Alas, the end came, and it was less twisty and suspenseful than I had been hoping for. The resolution was also far more tidy than I would have expected given the topic. All in all, this one is far from being a terrible read, but I’ve read too many books that touch on the same topic that have just been done better.
I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 21, 2015
Woo hoo! I got approved on Edelweiss. I'm going to start it soon!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing for allowing me to read and review We'll Never Be Apart by Emiko Jean.
I absolutely loved this book! Initially what drew me to the book was just the plot summary. There's an unreliable narrator set in a mental ward? Fire, revenge, and murder? I'm in! Then when I saw it on Edelweiss something else caught my attention. It said that We'll Never Be Apart was inspired by the author's work with children in foster care. I was really curious to find out how that would show in the novel.
We'll Never Be Apart is a YA mystery and psychological thriller. In the novel Alice is committed to a mental ward where she is disturbed my memories of a fire that killed her boyfriend Jason. The fire was started by her twin sister Cellie. Alice befriends another patient, Chase, and she plans revenge against her sister. The novel is written in the present time and also using journal entries to tell the past. In the past there are some hidden truths that Alice needs to figure out.
Well first of all I love stories set in mental health facilities. I just find it fascinating to begin with. I also love a good psychological thriller where I'm not sure what the hell is happening or what is real. Sadly, a lot of them are not well done and I can see the "twist" from a mile away. We'll Never Be Apart is well done and I did not guess the twist right away. I did guess it early on, but it did take some time and wasn't completely obvious from page one. That is a win in my opinion! The writing throughout is flawless and engaging. I could see in the writing where the author's work with foster children was used, and it seemed to me to be an accurate representation. I enjoyed that aspect of the book a lot. I think this is a brilliant debut novel by Emiko Jean and I can't wait to read more from her.
I recommend We'll Never Be Apart to fans of books set in a mental institution and to fans of psychological suspense and mystery/thrillers. The expected publication date is October 6, 2015.
http://angelerin.blogspot.com/
Thank you to Edelweiss and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing for allowing me to read and review We'll Never Be Apart by Emiko Jean.
I absolutely loved this book! Initially what drew me to the book was just the plot summary. There's an unreliable narrator set in a mental ward? Fire, revenge, and murder? I'm in! Then when I saw it on Edelweiss something else caught my attention. It said that We'll Never Be Apart was inspired by the author's work with children in foster care. I was really curious to find out how that would show in the novel.
We'll Never Be Apart is a YA mystery and psychological thriller. In the novel Alice is committed to a mental ward where she is disturbed my memories of a fire that killed her boyfriend Jason. The fire was started by her twin sister Cellie. Alice befriends another patient, Chase, and she plans revenge against her sister. The novel is written in the present time and also using journal entries to tell the past. In the past there are some hidden truths that Alice needs to figure out.
Well first of all I love stories set in mental health facilities. I just find it fascinating to begin with. I also love a good psychological thriller where I'm not sure what the hell is happening or what is real. Sadly, a lot of them are not well done and I can see the "twist" from a mile away. We'll Never Be Apart is well done and I did not guess the twist right away. I did guess it early on, but it did take some time and wasn't completely obvious from page one. That is a win in my opinion! The writing throughout is flawless and engaging. I could see in the writing where the author's work with foster children was used, and it seemed to me to be an accurate representation. I enjoyed that aspect of the book a lot. I think this is a brilliant debut novel by Emiko Jean and I can't wait to read more from her.
I recommend We'll Never Be Apart to fans of books set in a mental institution and to fans of psychological suspense and mystery/thrillers. The expected publication date is October 6, 2015.
http://angelerin.blogspot.com/
August 22, 2015
A very paint-by-numbers YA psychological thriller.
Recommended for: those who are new to this type of novel. If this is a genre you dabble in frequently, it brings nothing new to the table and will likely not impress you.
*a quick note: this novel contains triggering material and includes a scene with animal cruelty*
I have no real complaints for the writing - as a first novel I think it was good in regards to style, and I definitely look forward to reading Emiko Jean's future projects.
However, this was a dud for me for a multitude of reasons, the main one being the lack of distractions. In a psychological thriller, I rely on being partially confused while reading - getting in the character's mind set and not really knowing where the story is going. In this novel, it lacked any real side stories, confusing plot points or dramatic red herrings to distract me from the character's mental diagnosis. From the first 5 pages it was clear to me what her issue was, and it was a very straight and narrow storyline to get to the final "big reveal" (which might I add, I THOUGHT we as readers were SUPPOSED to know the entire time...because it was so obvious. I was caught off guard when I discovered I was meant to be shocked and surprised by the ending."
I refer to it as a colour-by-number because
It's a little tired of a storyline, and I've seen it done much better. This is unfortunate as I was quite excited to read this, and was provided an early copy by NetGalley/HMH.
Recommended for: those who are new to this type of novel. If this is a genre you dabble in frequently, it brings nothing new to the table and will likely not impress you.
*a quick note: this novel contains triggering material and includes a scene with animal cruelty*
I have no real complaints for the writing - as a first novel I think it was good in regards to style, and I definitely look forward to reading Emiko Jean's future projects.
However, this was a dud for me for a multitude of reasons, the main one being the lack of distractions. In a psychological thriller, I rely on being partially confused while reading - getting in the character's mind set and not really knowing where the story is going. In this novel, it lacked any real side stories, confusing plot points or dramatic red herrings to distract me from the character's mental diagnosis. From the first 5 pages it was clear to me what her issue was, and it was a very straight and narrow storyline to get to the final "big reveal" (which might I add, I THOUGHT we as readers were SUPPOSED to know the entire time...because it was so obvious. I was caught off guard when I discovered I was meant to be shocked and surprised by the ending."
I refer to it as a colour-by-number because
It's a little tired of a storyline, and I've seen it done much better. This is unfortunate as I was quite excited to read this, and was provided an early copy by NetGalley/HMH.
September 28, 2015
This review was originally posted on Novel InkWe'll Never Be Apart was one of my most anticipated reads of the fall. It sounded so good and the cover is GORGEOUS. I picked this book up expecting a twisted story that would keep me on the edge of my seat the entire time. While, this was *as* twisted as I was expecting, it was still a great read.
After a fire that killed her boyfriend, Jason, Alice is sent to Savage Isla, a psychiatric hospital. She's having trouble remembering what happened that night. All she knows is even though she's being charged for Jason's death, she wasn't the one who set the fire, her twin sister, Cellie, did, and Alice has to prove it.
First of all, I want to say that I loved the way this book was written. It goes back and forth between the present and the past. Only the past comes in the form of journal entries from Alice, so it's easy to follow along. I really liked that we get to see the past between Jason, Alice, and Cellie, and the events that lead to the fire that took Jason's life. I think it helped the readers understand Alice more, and I think it made Alice a more sympathetic character because we get to see the horribleness of what she lived through.
"One of these days, I might just let it choke me."
As far as the mystery aspect in this book, I had it figured out about halfway through. But, if you know me, then you know I read a ton of thrillers so I'm always on the lookout for clues while I'm reading them. With that being said, the mystery aspect was done really well and had I not been looking for the 'thing', then I probably wouldn't have caught on.
Like I said, everything was done really well, and I felt like it all played out really well, so the fact that I guessed the big 'thing' before it was revealed didn't bother me that much, I was still curious about how everything came to be and how everything would play out.
We'll Never Be Apart is a well written, entrancing story that takes the term 'twisted sister' to a whole new meaning.
After a fire that killed her boyfriend, Jason, Alice is sent to Savage Isla, a psychiatric hospital. She's having trouble remembering what happened that night. All she knows is even though she's being charged for Jason's death, she wasn't the one who set the fire, her twin sister, Cellie, did, and Alice has to prove it.
First of all, I want to say that I loved the way this book was written. It goes back and forth between the present and the past. Only the past comes in the form of journal entries from Alice, so it's easy to follow along. I really liked that we get to see the past between Jason, Alice, and Cellie, and the events that lead to the fire that took Jason's life. I think it helped the readers understand Alice more, and I think it made Alice a more sympathetic character because we get to see the horribleness of what she lived through.
"One of these days, I might just let it choke me."
As far as the mystery aspect in this book, I had it figured out about halfway through. But, if you know me, then you know I read a ton of thrillers so I'm always on the lookout for clues while I'm reading them. With that being said, the mystery aspect was done really well and had I not been looking for the 'thing', then I probably wouldn't have caught on.
Like I said, everything was done really well, and I felt like it all played out really well, so the fact that I guessed the big 'thing' before it was revealed didn't bother me that much, I was still curious about how everything came to be and how everything would play out.
We'll Never Be Apart is a well written, entrancing story that takes the term 'twisted sister' to a whole new meaning.
Read
November 15, 2015Good book to read on Halloween -- a girl in a mental hospital is searching for her twin sister, also a patient in the hospital, because she holds her responsible for a fire that killed her boyfriend.
I liked this book -- it was sort of a combination of Girl, Interrupted with White Oleander (the girls have bounced around from foster home to foster home since they were young.) All along I had a feeling that The ending But overall, well done and well written!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
I liked this book -- it was sort of a combination of Girl, Interrupted with White Oleander (the girls have bounced around from foster home to foster home since they were young.) All along I had a feeling that The ending But overall, well done and well written!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
July 12, 2015
4.3 stars
I really, really enjoyed this book! Ended up being something I totally was not expecting. If you want to read my full review and hear all my thoughts on this book (and why you should read it), head on over to my blog!! :)
I really, really enjoyed this book! Ended up being something I totally was not expecting. If you want to read my full review and hear all my thoughts on this book (and why you should read it), head on over to my blog!! :)
November 3, 2015
*3.25 stars*
Extremely predictable. But I was rooting for the main character. Definitely creepy and atmospheric. I also felt like the epilogue was unnecessary and sort of negated the ending? It's kinda like at the end of every horror movie they do a flash of the serial killer/monster for a cheap scare.
Extremely predictable. But I was rooting for the main character. Definitely creepy and atmospheric. I also felt like the epilogue was unnecessary and sort of negated the ending? It's kinda like at the end of every horror movie they do a flash of the serial killer/monster for a cheap scare.
September 25, 2015
Check out this and other reviews on my blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
I've always had problems with books that label themselves as thrillers, mostly because they are so predictable and the author just tries too hard to make it believable or interesting. The characters usually lack depth, and they're typically uninteresting, because that author will work so hard to create a great story and plot line, and then they forget to do anything worthwhile with the characters.
If you feel that way about a lot of "thrillers" that you have read, let me introduce you to We'll Never Be Apart, by debut Emiko Jean.
Yes, this is her first novel. How, I have no idea. I had to double check that, because this book made it seem like she's been writing for years.
Part of me wishes this were the case, because I absolutely need more books by her. Since there are none, I want to go into hibernation until she writes another.
Okay, let's take a look at the book now, shall we?
Our story starts off with our main character, Alice, locked up in a mental hospital called Savage Isle. They believe that she started a fire in an abandoned barn that gave her some pretty nasty burns and killed her boyfriend, Jason. Only she knows that her twin sister, Celia, started the fire. Alice finds out that Celia is locked up in the same hospital, in the D ward, which is the ward with the highest security. Since charges are being pressed against her, she is determined to make sure that her sister pays for what she did.
While she is in Savage Isle, she meets her roommate, Amelia, who has spiky pink hair and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Amelia and Alice become good friends - eating meals together, sharing secrets, and spending their time together. Alice also meets Chase, a mysterious guy who was recently in the D Ward - and who promises to help Alice find Celia. So they work together, with Chase stealing key cards to break out of their locked rooms, and while trying to help Alice seek her revenge on Celia, the two form a bond and a relationship that makes Alice feel cared for in a way that she hasn't in a long time.
The characters in this book were deep and interesting. Their personalities are fantastic - especially Alice. She and Celia have had a very troubling past together, which is told in Alice's journal entries that she keeps while she is a patient at Savage Isle. These journal entries describe Alice and Celia's troubled childhoods that include going from foster home to foster home, abuse, and Celia and Jason's love for setting fires. As the journal entries continue through each chapter, we learn more and more about how troubled Celia really is, and how Jason isn't the person that Alice thought he was.
This really is one of the few books that live up to the name of "thriller." It's exciting from the very first page, and it kept me guessing to the very last.
Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I've always had problems with books that label themselves as thrillers, mostly because they are so predictable and the author just tries too hard to make it believable or interesting. The characters usually lack depth, and they're typically uninteresting, because that author will work so hard to create a great story and plot line, and then they forget to do anything worthwhile with the characters.
If you feel that way about a lot of "thrillers" that you have read, let me introduce you to We'll Never Be Apart, by debut Emiko Jean.
Yes, this is her first novel. How, I have no idea. I had to double check that, because this book made it seem like she's been writing for years.
Part of me wishes this were the case, because I absolutely need more books by her. Since there are none, I want to go into hibernation until she writes another.
Okay, let's take a look at the book now, shall we?
Our story starts off with our main character, Alice, locked up in a mental hospital called Savage Isle. They believe that she started a fire in an abandoned barn that gave her some pretty nasty burns and killed her boyfriend, Jason. Only she knows that her twin sister, Celia, started the fire. Alice finds out that Celia is locked up in the same hospital, in the D ward, which is the ward with the highest security. Since charges are being pressed against her, she is determined to make sure that her sister pays for what she did.
While she is in Savage Isle, she meets her roommate, Amelia, who has spiky pink hair and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Amelia and Alice become good friends - eating meals together, sharing secrets, and spending their time together. Alice also meets Chase, a mysterious guy who was recently in the D Ward - and who promises to help Alice find Celia. So they work together, with Chase stealing key cards to break out of their locked rooms, and while trying to help Alice seek her revenge on Celia, the two form a bond and a relationship that makes Alice feel cared for in a way that she hasn't in a long time.
The characters in this book were deep and interesting. Their personalities are fantastic - especially Alice. She and Celia have had a very troubling past together, which is told in Alice's journal entries that she keeps while she is a patient at Savage Isle. These journal entries describe Alice and Celia's troubled childhoods that include going from foster home to foster home, abuse, and Celia and Jason's love for setting fires. As the journal entries continue through each chapter, we learn more and more about how troubled Celia really is, and how Jason isn't the person that Alice thought he was.
This really is one of the few books that live up to the name of "thriller." It's exciting from the very first page, and it kept me guessing to the very last.
Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2015
Right from the start of this book I was hooked. It was nothing like what I expected, the prologue is from Cellie's point of view as she starts a fire in the barn which nearly kills Alice and does kill Jason. Chapter one switches to Alice's point of view with her leaving the hospital and being transferred to the mental hospital. While reading I had no idea where the book was going, I couldn't even guess at the resolution of the story. By the end of the book I was shocked, this rarely happens for me, I never thought that the ending that happened was even a possibility.
I give this book a 10/10. Jean made a fantastic debut with this novel and I can't wait for more from her.
Full review at http://www.testybadger.blogspot.com/
I give this book a 10/10. Jean made a fantastic debut with this novel and I can't wait for more from her.
Full review at http://www.testybadger.blogspot.com/
September 10, 2015
Wow. I mean REALLY, REALLY WOW. This is an AMAZING BOOK!!!
This is one that I absolutely LOVED from start to the beautiful finish and want everyone to RUN out and pick it up as soon as it’s available. I borrowed an ARC from a friend based solely on the cover... I really like the idea of looking up from a character's point of view, so I was interested before I even opened up the cover.
The way that debut novelist Emiko Jean takes us through the story of twin sisters Alice and Cellie, commenting subtly on the status of the foster care system in the US, and intertwines a compelling love story shows her mastery of the genre. She has something to say, but doesn't shout it into your ears. She lets it heat up slowly to a boiling point, then right when you think you know what is happening, you are absolutely amazed with how this story unfolds. This is one of the most compelling and suspenseful thrillers that I have ever read. The way that Jean takes us through the satisfying conclusion really impresses and left no questions unanswered and me wanting more.
I have read a lot of thrillers, mysteries, and all that I liked were suspenseful- but Jean's debut novel absolutely floored me! I had to go back and re-read the last 100 pages again just to make sure that I read it correctly! When I did, I then went back and re-read the entire story, and LOVED it that much more! This is a book that you uncover additional nuggets every time you read it.
Here is what I love about this book. The characters are completely development and grow during the retelling of the story from a past/present story narrative. It has incredible world building, I felt like I was on Savage Isle. It also has a page turning pace that starts of fast, keeps going faster, and sprints all the way through to the compelling ending. MORE PLEASE!!!
We'll Never Be Apart
This is one that I absolutely LOVED from start to the beautiful finish and want everyone to RUN out and pick it up as soon as it’s available. I borrowed an ARC from a friend based solely on the cover... I really like the idea of looking up from a character's point of view, so I was interested before I even opened up the cover.
The way that debut novelist Emiko Jean takes us through the story of twin sisters Alice and Cellie, commenting subtly on the status of the foster care system in the US, and intertwines a compelling love story shows her mastery of the genre. She has something to say, but doesn't shout it into your ears. She lets it heat up slowly to a boiling point, then right when you think you know what is happening, you are absolutely amazed with how this story unfolds. This is one of the most compelling and suspenseful thrillers that I have ever read. The way that Jean takes us through the satisfying conclusion really impresses and left no questions unanswered and me wanting more.
I have read a lot of thrillers, mysteries, and all that I liked were suspenseful- but Jean's debut novel absolutely floored me! I had to go back and re-read the last 100 pages again just to make sure that I read it correctly! When I did, I then went back and re-read the entire story, and LOVED it that much more! This is a book that you uncover additional nuggets every time you read it.
Here is what I love about this book. The characters are completely development and grow during the retelling of the story from a past/present story narrative. It has incredible world building, I felt like I was on Savage Isle. It also has a page turning pace that starts of fast, keeps going faster, and sprints all the way through to the compelling ending. MORE PLEASE!!!
We'll Never Be Apart
April 12, 2017
Despite guessing a few major plot points early on, I enjoyed this book. The pace was casual and addicting. I kept finding myself eager to continue on. My major issues lied with there being plot points that didn't make sense after I finished the book. I enjoyed the side characters and wish we had more time with them especially Chase. I'd have liked less about Jason overall. As a debut novel, I'm looking forward to future works by this author.
I received an e-copy of this through Net-Galley for an honest review.
I received an e-copy of this through Net-Galley for an honest review.
September 30, 2015
Okay, here’s the thing … I knew what was going on after I read the prologue, and almost quit reading because I figured why bother if I already figured it out. I thought it would be another disappointing YA mystery/thriller. Well, luckily I don’t always listen to myself and continued reading, because We’ll Never Be Apart was actually pretty good!
This is a quick read that really sucked me in and held my attention once I decided to give it a chance. It was a totally different experience reading it with certain knowledge already, and while I thought that would put a damper on it, it actually turned out that I enjoyed seeing it for what it was and how various situations were handled. So what I initially perceived to be a negative, turned out to be a positive. And I absolutely love how the author wove past and present, forming a bigger picture to unfold the truth.
Honestly, Chase is a major reason I continued reading at first. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a guy with a sense of humor and a bit of a rebel streak. And while I had major points of the story figured out, Chase kept me curious as to what his true intentions were.
Which brings us to our dear Alice. The girl is locked away in a mental ward facing the possibility of murder charges all thanks to her twin sister. Ah, siblings, right? Alice is determined to exact revenge. I’m surprised how much I enjoyed Alice, and I believe that’s partly to do with what I already knew but can’t say. Ohhh cryptic! No, but seriously, she’s a character that got increasingly interesting as the story progressed.
Overall, We’ll Never Be Apart wound up being a pleasant surprise. It may not be the most complex or intense psychological thriller, but it’s still a fun and crazy ride.
Dr. Goodman opens group therapy with a poem about acceptance. He then asks us to partner up and talk about acceptance and what that means to us. Of course Chase, my new bestie, turns his chair toward mine, leans back, and crosses his arms. Our knees brush. He assumes we’re going to be partners. He assumes wrong.
“I don’t feel like talking today.” I pull out a piece of origami paper and begin to fold.
“And I accept that,” Chase says. ”I knew we’d make a good team.”
July 24, 2016
3.5 stars
Is it possible to enjoy a psychological thriller even if you guess the mystery in the prologue? Being well written but somewhat predictable, We’ll Never be Apart by Emiko Jean brings forth this dilemma I struggled to resolve before deciding whether to recommend the book. On the one side, the plot Jean crafted is largely dependent upon the big reveal in the last few chapters, a mystery that can be guessed on the very first pages. On the other side, though, the book has plenty going for it along the way, and Emiko Jean’s writing style itself is enough to make this worth our while.
Alice and Cellie have a very unusual, co-dependent relationship, even for twins. They adore each other, but Cellie doesn’t allow anyone to get too close to Alice or she becomes extremely violent. Both sisters are obviously troubled, but Alice seems more vulnerable – until Cellie kills Alice’s boyfriend Jason in a fit of jealousy. We meet Alice in the days following the incident as she struggles to find her footing in a mental ward at Savage Isle. She misses Jason terribly and she’s desperate to find Cellie and exact revenge. Through her diary entries, we also learn more about the girls’ past, the history of Cellie’s behavior and Alice’s desire to protect her. The two have been inseparable their whole lives, through far too many foster homes and several abusive situations.
Subtle foreshadowing isn’t one of Emiko Jean’s strengths. Everything that was meant to be a small hint is actually a big neon sign in the reader’s face. It is virtually impossible not to guess the big mystery, but somehow, that doesn’t take away too much from the book’s appeal. The power of this book is in uncovering small details, understanding everyone’s motives and the depth or their madness. Despite her less than subtle approach, Emiko Jean writes well and she knows how to create a creepy atmosphere.
All things considered, We’ll Never Be Apart is a decent read, a good choice for readers who enjoy feeling unsettled. Despite being a bit predictable, it’s a good enough book to deserve a few hours of your time.
Is it possible to enjoy a psychological thriller even if you guess the mystery in the prologue? Being well written but somewhat predictable, We’ll Never be Apart by Emiko Jean brings forth this dilemma I struggled to resolve before deciding whether to recommend the book. On the one side, the plot Jean crafted is largely dependent upon the big reveal in the last few chapters, a mystery that can be guessed on the very first pages. On the other side, though, the book has plenty going for it along the way, and Emiko Jean’s writing style itself is enough to make this worth our while.
Alice and Cellie have a very unusual, co-dependent relationship, even for twins. They adore each other, but Cellie doesn’t allow anyone to get too close to Alice or she becomes extremely violent. Both sisters are obviously troubled, but Alice seems more vulnerable – until Cellie kills Alice’s boyfriend Jason in a fit of jealousy. We meet Alice in the days following the incident as she struggles to find her footing in a mental ward at Savage Isle. She misses Jason terribly and she’s desperate to find Cellie and exact revenge. Through her diary entries, we also learn more about the girls’ past, the history of Cellie’s behavior and Alice’s desire to protect her. The two have been inseparable their whole lives, through far too many foster homes and several abusive situations.
Subtle foreshadowing isn’t one of Emiko Jean’s strengths. Everything that was meant to be a small hint is actually a big neon sign in the reader’s face. It is virtually impossible not to guess the big mystery, but somehow, that doesn’t take away too much from the book’s appeal. The power of this book is in uncovering small details, understanding everyone’s motives and the depth or their madness. Despite her less than subtle approach, Emiko Jean writes well and she knows how to create a creepy atmosphere.
All things considered, We’ll Never Be Apart is a decent read, a good choice for readers who enjoy feeling unsettled. Despite being a bit predictable, it’s a good enough book to deserve a few hours of your time.
September 26, 2015
"Wherever you go, I'll go too."
"Do you promise?" she asked.
"I promise," I said. "We'll never be apart."
We'll Never Be Apart is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page. It's a mystery...a thinker...and full of suspense. From the first time I saw the wickedly amazing cover.. I knew I had to read this book. The cover just grabs you and doesn't let go.
The story revolves around Alice who is now in a mental facility after surviving a fire that her twin sister, Celia, started in an attempt to kill her and her boyfriend Jason, whom sadly did not survive. Alice is recovering and trying to get answers about her life and the events that led up to the fire. Alice is determined to find her twin sister and get revenge for Jason.
Alice meets a young man named Chase while in the hospital and I felt like he helped her to heal and to focus on getting better while searching for the answers she needed.
I enjoyed Emiko Jean's writing style because it drew me in immediately and had me captivated with every turn of the page. There were so many questions to be answered and Emiko Jean gives you just enough to keep you reading to the end.
There were several reviewers that stated they guessed the ending immediately and they knew what was happening....well I am definitely not one of those reviewers because I had NO idea the twists that were coming and I was literally in SHOCK.
I am not even sure what category to place this book in. Its a thriller, mystery, and intense psychological thriller all intertwined into one captivating story and I really enjoyed it. I recommend this book to anyone who reads YA and needs a break from the normal.
"Do you promise?" she asked.
"I promise," I said. "We'll never be apart."
We'll Never Be Apart is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page. It's a mystery...a thinker...and full of suspense. From the first time I saw the wickedly amazing cover.. I knew I had to read this book. The cover just grabs you and doesn't let go.
The story revolves around Alice who is now in a mental facility after surviving a fire that her twin sister, Celia, started in an attempt to kill her and her boyfriend Jason, whom sadly did not survive. Alice is recovering and trying to get answers about her life and the events that led up to the fire. Alice is determined to find her twin sister and get revenge for Jason.
Alice meets a young man named Chase while in the hospital and I felt like he helped her to heal and to focus on getting better while searching for the answers she needed.
I enjoyed Emiko Jean's writing style because it drew me in immediately and had me captivated with every turn of the page. There were so many questions to be answered and Emiko Jean gives you just enough to keep you reading to the end.
There were several reviewers that stated they guessed the ending immediately and they knew what was happening....well I am definitely not one of those reviewers because I had NO idea the twists that were coming and I was literally in SHOCK.
I am not even sure what category to place this book in. Its a thriller, mystery, and intense psychological thriller all intertwined into one captivating story and I really enjoyed it. I recommend this book to anyone who reads YA and needs a break from the normal.
April 8, 2018
This book was really boring and I was upset with the ending. I felt a little disappointed and it was predictable. I'm not amused. But I did like the ending with Cellie because it was creepy and scary. I liked that but everything else I disliked.
July 26, 2015
Even though it didn't mess with my head as much as I wanted to, it was completely fucked up.
January 25, 2022
Well, frankly, I'm staring at assignments I probably should do, but I'm still rethinking those last 10 pages.
Gosh darn it, this was GOOD.
And dark.
And so deliciously vicious.
Gosh darn it, this was GOOD.
And dark.
And so deliciously vicious.
July 30, 2015
Even though I predicted the outcome of this book on page three (of the prologue, mind you), I still had a fantastic time reading it. Some parts felt like they could have gone deeper, explored more, but overall I was really happy with how the book turned out. It was creepy, compelling, and a little maddening. All the things you'd want from a book like this.
Full review closer to release!
Full review closer to release!
May 2, 2019
Read this in one sitting! Guessed the twist, but really close to the actual reveal. It was honestly a fantastic thriller :)
April 30, 2019
2.5/5 Voiam să îmi placă și să fie acel fast & light read clasic (plot twist bun, personaje credibile, acțiune palpitantă), însă când începi să te plictisești la un thriller psihologic și semnalele de alarmă apar în primele 50 de pagini, singurul gând cu care rămâi este „potențial irosit”.
Premisa a fost interesantă și coperta a fost intrigantă (momentul meu de superficialitate). Gemene cu un trecut întunecat, un iubit mort, foc, pasiune, intrigă, un spital de boli mintale (în care paza este o glumă și oricine poate să facă orice), flashback-uri + jurnal dark & twisted, un pacient misterios, care are demonii săi de învins, și o dorință de răzbunare. Sună perfect, nu-i așa?
Plot twist-ul l-am întâlnit de două ori doar anul trecut, dar puteam să trec peste acest aspect dacă:
1) autoarea ar fi încercat să intensifice misterul în loc să-l stingă atât de prematur;
2) mi-ar fi păsat de personaje, însă toate mi-au fost indiferente (nici măcar momentele dramatice/emoționante nu au avut niciun impact asupra mea);
3) legătura dintre Chase și Alice nu ar fi fost atât de ciudată și de nenaturală (nu am uitat că amândoi „locuiesc” într-un spital de boli mintale);
4) autoarea ar fi ales alt final (sunt cam 4-5 idei când acțiunea se învârte în jurul gemenelor – întotdeanua va exista o umbră de previzibilitate).
Bonus: stil sec și dialoguri neconvingătoare (parcă au fost scrise doar ca să existe).
Premisa a fost interesantă și coperta a fost intrigantă (momentul meu de superficialitate). Gemene cu un trecut întunecat, un iubit mort, foc, pasiune, intrigă, un spital de boli mintale (în care paza este o glumă și oricine poate să facă orice), flashback-uri + jurnal dark & twisted, un pacient misterios, care are demonii săi de învins, și o dorință de răzbunare. Sună perfect, nu-i așa?
Plot twist-ul l-am întâlnit de două ori doar anul trecut, dar puteam să trec peste acest aspect dacă:
1) autoarea ar fi încercat să intensifice misterul în loc să-l stingă atât de prematur;
2) mi-ar fi păsat de personaje, însă toate mi-au fost indiferente (nici măcar momentele dramatice/emoționante nu au avut niciun impact asupra mea);
3) legătura dintre Chase și Alice nu ar fi fost atât de ciudată și de nenaturală (nu am uitat că amândoi „locuiesc” într-un spital de boli mintale);
4) autoarea ar fi ales alt final (sunt cam 4-5 idei când acțiunea se învârte în jurul gemenelor – întotdeanua va exista o umbră de previzibilitate).
Bonus: stil sec și dialoguri neconvingătoare (parcă au fost scrise doar ca să existe).
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