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Like It Never Happened
When Rebecca Rivers lands the lead in her school’s production of The Crucible, she gets to change roles in real life, too. She casts off her old reputation, grows close with her four rowdy cast-mates, and kisses the extremely handsome Charlie Lamb onstage. Even Mr. McFadden, the play’s critical director, can find no fault with Rebecca.
Though “The Essential Five” vow never to date each other, Rebecca can’t help her feelings for Charlie, leaving her both conflicted and lovestruck. But the on and off-stage drama of the cast is eclipsed by a life-altering accusation that threatens to destroy everything…even if some of it is just make believe.
Though “The Essential Five” vow never to date each other, Rebecca can’t help her feelings for Charlie, leaving her both conflicted and lovestruck. But the on and off-stage drama of the cast is eclipsed by a life-altering accusation that threatens to destroy everything…even if some of it is just make believe.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2015
About the author
Emily Adrian
5 books101 followersEmily Adrian is the author of EVERYTHING HERE IS UNDER CONTROL and THE SECOND SEASON, as well as two critically acclaimed novels for young adults. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Emily currently lives in New Haven, Connecticut with her husband, her son, and her dog named Hank.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
June 29, 2015
LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED?
Yeah, right, let's do this please?
► Let's forget I tried to read this book. BLEH. BLEH. BLEH.
DNF 24%, (almost) before throwing my reader or something (worse).
► Let's forget I tried to read this book. BLEH. BLEH. BLEH.
DNF 24%, (almost) before throwing my reader or something (worse).
June 9, 2015
Dumb, pointless, and quite frankly, irritating as hell. Nothing really happens until the last third of the book, and the first two-thirds are basic nonsense that has nothing to do with anything substantial to the story. Nothing really. The "Essential Five" could just as easily have been the Essential Four to spare us that lame attempt of another character. Stupid backstory, completely avoidable situations, with a totally predictable EVERYTHING. What was the need to mention summer camp? FILLER. Oh, and Rebecca is an idiot.
What I liked about this book? The subtle shift in direction of the story. Nadine's letter. Rebecca admitting Charlie was a worthless piece of shit. (my words, not hers)
Completely and utterly avoidable. Don't waste your time.
What I liked about this book? The subtle shift in direction of the story. Nadine's letter. Rebecca admitting Charlie was a worthless piece of shit. (my words, not hers)
Completely and utterly avoidable. Don't waste your time.
August 6, 2015
DNFed around 60% and skimmed the rest.
THIS FREAKING BOOK. The title is accurate--let's pretend like it never happened.
From the get-go, I could not form a good connection with the MC. As the narrator, Rebecca Rivers was just that--a narrator. She did mention that she only had one extracurricular, acting, which was true. But that's all she had. Her personality was completely bland. Charlie was a total ass, but at least he had more life than she did. (That does not excuse him from his ass-ery, however. He was a horrible boyfriend . I also did not care for or trust any of the characters. I've got to say that their complete normal regard toward smoking personally bothered me, especially since they are pretty young at the beginning of the book.
Now, I did like the whole story going on with Rebecca and her sister, and the style of writing made the book very easy to read. Writing style is super important regarding whether I read past the first few chapters or not, and the authentic teenage voice kept me interested for the first half of the book. Everything was relatively OK until BAM--things just went downhill. I really did not like how it all turned out. It's disappointing (and makes me kind of mad) to make it this far in a book and realize how badly things would turn out. At least I caught it when I did.
THIS FREAKING BOOK. The title is accurate--let's pretend like it never happened.
From the get-go, I could not form a good connection with the MC. As the narrator, Rebecca Rivers was just that--a narrator. She did mention that she only had one extracurricular, acting, which was true. But that's all she had. Her personality was completely bland. Charlie was a total ass, but at least he had more life than she did. (That does not excuse him from his ass-ery, however. He was a horrible boyfriend . I also did not care for or trust any of the characters. I've got to say that their complete normal regard toward smoking personally bothered me, especially since they are pretty young at the beginning of the book.
Now, I did like the whole story going on with Rebecca and her sister, and the style of writing made the book very easy to read. Writing style is super important regarding whether I read past the first few chapters or not, and the authentic teenage voice kept me interested for the first half of the book. Everything was relatively OK until BAM--things just went downhill. I really did not like how it all turned out. It's disappointing (and makes me kind of mad) to make it this far in a book and realize how badly things would turn out. At least I caught it when I did.
June 15, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. Quite different from a lot of other books that I've read that deal with peer pressure and friendships. It was just really eye opening and fast. Extremely witty and smart. Just very well written.
February 21, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Like It Never Happened is an original novel with characters who are actors. The main character is relatable and strong and has a great bond with her older sister. This book is so different from anything I’ve ever read!
I love the use of drama in Like It Never Happened. The main characters are all actors and love performing together. They never let what happens on stage bleed into their personal lives and vow never to date each other. However, this is where the true drama begins. I have only read a handful of theatre books, so this one was definitely a big change for me. I’m glad I picked this one up and went out of my comfort zone a bit.
Rebecca is the perfect main character for Like It Never Happened. She is relatable to anyone who is a fellow actor and she is quite flawed. She has a bad reputation at school due to a false rumour, but doesn’t let it bring her down. Rebecca is a very strong character who demonstrates what it’s like to be a teenager very well.
One of the themes in Like It Never Happened is family. I actually found there was more family in the book than romance. Rebecca’s sister, Mary, comes to visit and announces that she is getting married. The sisters bond more and it’s very sweet reading about them. Who doesn’t enjoy a good sister book?
Like It Never Happened is an enjoyable theatrical novel. It stars a relatable main character and contains a bond between sisters. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique summer read.
Like It Never Happened is an original novel with characters who are actors. The main character is relatable and strong and has a great bond with her older sister. This book is so different from anything I’ve ever read!
I love the use of drama in Like It Never Happened. The main characters are all actors and love performing together. They never let what happens on stage bleed into their personal lives and vow never to date each other. However, this is where the true drama begins. I have only read a handful of theatre books, so this one was definitely a big change for me. I’m glad I picked this one up and went out of my comfort zone a bit.
Rebecca is the perfect main character for Like It Never Happened. She is relatable to anyone who is a fellow actor and she is quite flawed. She has a bad reputation at school due to a false rumour, but doesn’t let it bring her down. Rebecca is a very strong character who demonstrates what it’s like to be a teenager very well.
One of the themes in Like It Never Happened is family. I actually found there was more family in the book than romance. Rebecca’s sister, Mary, comes to visit and announces that she is getting married. The sisters bond more and it’s very sweet reading about them. Who doesn’t enjoy a good sister book?
Like It Never Happened is an enjoyable theatrical novel. It stars a relatable main character and contains a bond between sisters. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique summer read.
August 26, 2015
I thought this book was a parody of Lolita, but this was not a humorous parody.
I am honestly disgusted with this book. There was slut shaming, no fluidity, incredibly irritating inner dialogue, the worst people ever, and itseemed was highly illogical. The author jumped around different times in the beginning of the book at it really infuriated me because I like things in chronological order. It flows better and it's easier on my brain. The writing was very plain and irritating. I feel like irritating is the only word I can think of at the moment. I really can't describe the writing in a better way. The voice and the texture of the writing was iffy and off putting.
A character can save a book. The main character was the ultimate demise of this book. Her personality and inner dialogue was
If you read the beginning of this review you see that I mentioned Lolita. In this book, there isn't a Humbert Humbert. The "Humbert Humbert" is a teacher who DOES NOT have feelings for an under-aged girl. It is the girl, Rebecca, who has weird feelings for him. This feeling have no true romantic development. It came out of nowhere. If Rebecca had a thing for older guys like that chick from Juno, I would understand her feelings, but her feelings came out of the blue. It was insta-love.
Someone please kill me.
I am honestly disgusted with this book. There was slut shaming, no fluidity, incredibly irritating inner dialogue, the worst people ever, and it
A character can save a book. The main character was the ultimate demise of this book. Her personality and inner dialogue was
If you read the beginning of this review you see that I mentioned Lolita. In this book, there isn't a Humbert Humbert. The "Humbert Humbert" is a teacher who DOES NOT have feelings for an under-aged girl. It is the girl, Rebecca, who has weird feelings for him. This feeling have no true romantic development. It came out of nowhere. If Rebecca had a thing for older guys like that chick from Juno, I would understand her feelings, but her feelings came out of the blue. It was insta-love.
I was completely in love with Mr. McFadden
Someone please kill me.
January 1, 2016
This 1.5 stars review will be published on Latte Nights Reviews on September 14, 2015.
I might be rude in saying this but I have to. Can I just pretend I never read this book? I'm just... What did I read? I feel like the cover of the book betrayed me since it's made to look like a fun and entertaining read when it was the complete opposite. The story was incredibly slow for the majority of the book. It finally started to pick up after 73% (I just checked) and it was when the "real" drama was presented in the story. I'm not saying it went zooming fast after that point but it slowly started to build up to the end of the story but it still wasn't enough to wow me or leave me intrigued by the drama and scandal that were very predictable. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start from the beginning, shall we?
Rebecca has loved acting since she played a fairy in A Midsummer Nights Dream. Since then, her focus has only been on getting the lead in her school's plays. Good luck was on her side because she started getting the leads, made friends with her co-stars and even had their own group name: "The Essential Five". They had a rule, which was to never date one another but of course, feelings will start arising at one point. Now, this is misleading because the story's plot is not even centered around the "forbidden" romance between Rebecca and Charlie. From an outsider's point of view or in this case, my point of view, is that this book is more centered on friendship and not the good kind. It is also centered on having feelings for someone who you should totally not have feelings for because this is truly forbidden. I would also say it is a bit centered in finding yourself but it's not the major point here.
The friendship in this story was... Ugly. Hideous. The stay away kind. The Essential Fives start out to be kind of close and friendly, but too soon two of them stop speaking. Then, when rumors start flying around, a major part of the group believes the rumors and stop talking to the very minority of the group. Not only that, one of them even participates in spreading more rumors around, believing they are true. They just betray you without a second thought. I mean, what kind of friendship is this?! I disliked every member of The Essential Fives, including our main character Rebecca.
Let me discuss the characters I did like and these have to be Mary, who's Rebecca's sister and the plays director, Mr. McFadden. I honestly believe they brought some kind of enjoyment to the story even if they rarely made appearances. Mary is a free-spirited woman who had a very wrecked past but has redeemed herself, has matured and is a very nice independent woman. In my opinion, she plays a slight part in Rebecca's growth now as a teenager, but that's just me. I was very wary of Mr. McFadden at the beginning because he seemed kind of creepy and for some unknown reason I pictured him as an old man, but he is actually 26-years-old. He obviously loves what he does as the plays director and he really wants what's best for his students, even if he has preferences with some.
Overall: I think this book could have been something unique and impressive yet it failed to do so, in my opinion. I was anticipating a light and funny story and what I got was less than I had bargained for. It really disappointed me.
I might be rude in saying this but I have to. Can I just pretend I never read this book? I'm just... What did I read? I feel like the cover of the book betrayed me since it's made to look like a fun and entertaining read when it was the complete opposite. The story was incredibly slow for the majority of the book. It finally started to pick up after 73% (I just checked) and it was when the "real" drama was presented in the story. I'm not saying it went zooming fast after that point but it slowly started to build up to the end of the story but it still wasn't enough to wow me or leave me intrigued by the drama and scandal that were very predictable. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start from the beginning, shall we?
Rebecca has loved acting since she played a fairy in A Midsummer Nights Dream. Since then, her focus has only been on getting the lead in her school's plays. Good luck was on her side because she started getting the leads, made friends with her co-stars and even had their own group name: "The Essential Five". They had a rule, which was to never date one another but of course, feelings will start arising at one point. Now, this is misleading because the story's plot is not even centered around the "forbidden" romance between Rebecca and Charlie. From an outsider's point of view or in this case, my point of view, is that this book is more centered on friendship and not the good kind. It is also centered on having feelings for someone who you should totally not have feelings for because this is truly forbidden. I would also say it is a bit centered in finding yourself but it's not the major point here.
The friendship in this story was... Ugly. Hideous. The stay away kind. The Essential Fives start out to be kind of close and friendly, but too soon two of them stop speaking. Then, when rumors start flying around, a major part of the group believes the rumors and stop talking to the very minority of the group. Not only that, one of them even participates in spreading more rumors around, believing they are true. They just betray you without a second thought. I mean, what kind of friendship is this?! I disliked every member of The Essential Fives, including our main character Rebecca.
Let me discuss the characters I did like and these have to be Mary, who's Rebecca's sister and the plays director, Mr. McFadden. I honestly believe they brought some kind of enjoyment to the story even if they rarely made appearances. Mary is a free-spirited woman who had a very wrecked past but has redeemed herself, has matured and is a very nice independent woman. In my opinion, she plays a slight part in Rebecca's growth now as a teenager, but that's just me. I was very wary of Mr. McFadden at the beginning because he seemed kind of creepy and for some unknown reason I pictured him as an old man, but he is actually 26-years-old. He obviously loves what he does as the plays director and he really wants what's best for his students, even if he has preferences with some.
Overall: I think this book could have been something unique and impressive yet it failed to do so, in my opinion. I was anticipating a light and funny story and what I got was less than I had bargained for. It really disappointed me.
Read
June 12, 2015This novel was.... inconsistent? That's the word e for it. I loved the concept of rumors hurting people, but the thread of it felt weak. A seventh grade rumor based on underpants dictates the MC's life? It wasn't concrete enough for me.
Was the summer camp segment truly necessary? I don't think so. It seemed to sacrifice the "Essential Five," who I never fully understood. Those pages would have best been spent fleshing out those characters, I think.
While I appreciated the theme and liked the last part of the book; overall, this fell flat for me. I never connected with the MC, Rebecca, and had a hard time liking her. I thought Hadley would have a more important role; but no-- she was just someone Rebecca was better than. (Why did Rebecca need to live in a million-dollar house?) And her relationship with Charlie never fully gelled for me.
I won't rate this book. I can't recommend it, either.
Was the summer camp segment truly necessary? I don't think so. It seemed to sacrifice the "Essential Five," who I never fully understood. Those pages would have best been spent fleshing out those characters, I think.
While I appreciated the theme and liked the last part of the book; overall, this fell flat for me. I never connected with the MC, Rebecca, and had a hard time liking her. I thought Hadley would have a more important role; but no-- she was just someone Rebecca was better than. (Why did Rebecca need to live in a million-dollar house?) And her relationship with Charlie never fully gelled for me.
I won't rate this book. I can't recommend it, either.
September 6, 2018
I wanted to read this book forever and I'm so bummed with where it went, it was not at all what I thought it would be sadly.
Yeah, this was so distressing to me as a reader and I was so frustrated with the characters and how they were willing and DID destroy someone's life because of pettiness.
Ugh I hated it and I just felt sick by the time I was done with the book.
Yeah, this was so distressing to me as a reader and I was so frustrated with the characters and how they were willing and DID destroy someone's life because of pettiness.
Ugh I hated it and I just felt sick by the time I was done with the book.
July 5, 2015
For half the books I read, I happen to be the black ship and this book is no exception. What overjoys me is that this time I'm the black ship because I loved a book! That doesn't happen nearly often enough, so YAS!
I've discovered something. I like contemporaries when there's a larger cast of characters and more things in play than just two people getting together and admitting their feelings toward each other (which usually happens 300 pages too late). Apparently not too many people are the same, if this book and Emancipated are any indication.
What caught my eye first was the cover (its quite beautiful, especially the font!) and the synopsis indicated that it'd probably be a cute romance but it was so much more. I think it was about... people. Different kinds of people. The person you're never sure if they're the friend or the foe. The person that appear suddenly but take over a large part of your world. The people who were a large part of your world that disappear sudden. The people who let you down. The people who surprise you, whether good or bad. And just... people and relationships and characters and facades and wondering who people really are. I really like that. That might be why fantasy is my favourite genre because usually they have a large cast and they're all different and I love trying to figure them out and as much I love it when I guess a person's next move, it pleases me more when I'm caught off guard.
I can't really connect to the MC much. She's an actress and I've only memorized scripts as the narrator. She loves the stage and for me, that one time I volunteered to present my project third, it truly felt like I'd volunteered to be on the Hunger Gamers. Rebecca was more like a way of communication for me in a strange way, I guess...
Ugh I hate this review and I have so many thoughts about this book in my head that I cant grasp anything... Perhaps I'll actually end the review someday but probably not. D: I just know that I want to reread this book in a different period in my life and see what I think of it then.
I've discovered something. I like contemporaries when there's a larger cast of characters and more things in play than just two people getting together and admitting their feelings toward each other (which usually happens 300 pages too late). Apparently not too many people are the same, if this book and Emancipated are any indication.
What caught my eye first was the cover (its quite beautiful, especially the font!) and the synopsis indicated that it'd probably be a cute romance but it was so much more. I think it was about... people. Different kinds of people. The person you're never sure if they're the friend or the foe. The person that appear suddenly but take over a large part of your world. The people who were a large part of your world that disappear sudden. The people who let you down. The people who surprise you, whether good or bad. And just... people and relationships and characters and facades and wondering who people really are. I really like that. That might be why fantasy is my favourite genre because usually they have a large cast and they're all different and I love trying to figure them out and as much I love it when I guess a person's next move, it pleases me more when I'm caught off guard.
I can't really connect to the MC much. She's an actress and I've only memorized scripts as the narrator. She loves the stage and for me, that one time I volunteered to present my project third, it truly felt like I'd volunteered to be on the Hunger Gamers. Rebecca was more like a way of communication for me in a strange way, I guess...
Ugh I hate this review and I have so many thoughts about this book in my head that I cant grasp anything... Perhaps I'll actually end the review someday but probably not. D: I just know that I want to reread this book in a different period in my life and see what I think of it then.
September 18, 2015
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We, the five essential members of the Thespian Troupe Of Bickford Park Alternative School of the city of Portland, solemnly swear to never kiss, grope, fondle, lick, caress, court, woo, seduce, or otherwise date each other. Should any actor develop unseemly feelings for one of his/her four costars, he/she will sacrifice his/her desires for his/her love of the stage and for the collective artistic potential of Rebecca Rivers, Charlie Lamb, Tim Li, Tess Dunham, and Liane Gallagher. The foregoing pact is hereby consented to by the five essential members of the Thespian Troupe as evidenced by their signatures hereto.
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. At least, that’s certainly the case for Rebecca Rivers and the four other members of the ‘Essential Five’, a tight-knit drama troupe brought together by a shared, single-minded passion for acting. Or should I say drama? Forged together in the fires of terrifying tenth grade auditions and the mercurial and exacting standards of their drama teacher, Mr. McFadden, the Essential Five quickly become a unified force, an incestuous, isolated, island unto themselves. As feelings shift and their once-simple declaration to remain true to their craft is tested, however, memorizing their lines and remembering their cues will soon become the least of their worries. In her insightful debut, Adrian reminds of us the complexity of human relationships, the vast spectrum of sexuality, and how closely life often imitates art in a masterful exploration of the secrets we keep, the lies we tell, the roles we play, and how quickly it can all fall apart.
Admittedly, I adored Charlie. Touching his skin – even by accident – was the best thing that happened on a regular basis. But most likely he only flirted with me because he knew he would never have to follow through.
The pact might have been Charlie’s idea, but the rest of us had signed our names for a reason.
Novels like Like It Never Happened are the reason I became a book blogger. Rapidly expanding and increasingly competitive, the young adult literary market is one in which visibility is at a premium. As a result, we’re beginning to see the implementation of increasingly elaborate (and often expensive) promotional campaigns in order to achieve just that. But as we celebrate the new releases from Dessen and Dennard, Roth and Riordan, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the equally compelling and powerful, but often overshadowed, mid-list titles. The novels that are not necessarily backed by the full might of the publisher’s marketing machine, but which are no less memorable or important. I’ll be discussing one such title today. I was first made aware of Emily Adrian’s 2015 debut when I received one of the quarterly catalogues from Penguin Canada, detailing the forthcoming titles that would be published in the following season and were currently available for review. While I refrained from requesting a copy, wary of my ever-growing to-be-read list and prior commitments, I knew that Like It Never Happened was a novel I wouldn’t soon forget and quickly pre-ordered a finished copy. And, a little over a month post-publication, I began reading and promptly fell in love. Were it up to me, Like It Never Happened would never be over-looked again.
The truth was that nobody had ever kissed me when it wasn’t explicitly written into the script. Even last summer, the whole thing had been orchestrated not-so-masterfully by Tess. And it didn’t count, because after every kiss I had begged the boy to stop.
And that was really the last thing I wanted to remember.
A safe space. That’s what Rebecca Rivers seeks each time she takes to the stage of Bickford Park Alternative School. A refuge. From her mother’s interference. Her sister’s noticeable absence. Her classmates’ malicious gossip. The uncertainty of her future. She doesn’t have to be that Rebecca, whose life is scored by a soundtrack of whispers and catcalls. Instead, on stage she can command the lead in the play. She can be Abigail Williams in The Crucible. Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. She can be bold, beautiful and brave, buoyed by the support of Mr. McFadden, whose praise is made all the more special because of its relative rarity. Dissension and resentment amongst the group begins to fester, however, as McFadden’s increasing demands and capricious temperament cause the Essential Five to fracture from within with unexpected, and dramatic, results. Adrian’s thoughtful exploration of group dynamics and relationships – familial, romantic, platonic, or professional – is rich and compelling, spurning the reader on as the real life drama becomes as fraught and complex off-stage as it is on.
Girls your age always think they will be rewarded for destroying themselves. And if that’s what you believe, it’s not your fault. But it also isn’t true.
In the hands of a less capable writer, a cast of this magnitude has the potential of becoming unwieldy, unfocused and confusing. Under the direction of accomplished debut author Emily Adrian, however, each character from the primary to the most periphery are distinct, fully-realized, and easily distinguishable from one another. Every single individual, from Rebecca and the members of the Essential Five to Mr. McFadden and the assorted members of Rebecca’s family, demonstrate the author’s clear, concise vision and impeccable execution of such. Even Rebecca’s elder sister Mary, who is physically absent for much of the novel, has a presence which is vividly felt and whose shadow looms large over the text. Adrian’s frank and forthright discussion of sexuality is reminiscent of literary pioneer Judy Blume, exploring issues of sexual history, orientation, pleasure, and consent. While I’ll refrain from discussing the specific events of the novel in detail for fear of spoiling the wonder of discovery as the author takes the story in new and unexpected directions, Adrian’s grasp of the teenage and high school experience is achingly poignant and unflinchingly honest. The author forces readers to confront the often ugly and unkind truths of being an adolescent, a stage of development when surviving – and thriving – means navigating a tenuous tightrope of rumour, reputation, image and innuendo. Throughout the the novel, Rebecca and the other members of the Essential Five are consumed with rehearsals for their next production, A Streetcar Named Desire. This play runs parallel to the central narrative as Adrian masterfully dovetails the two stories and uses the play as a lens through which to view the events of the novel, underling the cruel inevitability of the characters’ fate. The immense amount of time, care and effort it must have taken for the author to intertwine these two narratives so seamlessly is nothing short of amazing and underlines Adrian’s tremendous gift as a storyteller.
I had thought that falling in love was a decision. Like first you noticed a boy was cute and smart and had good taste in movies. He kissed you and it occurred to you to love him. If a certain amount of time passed and nothing went wrong, then congratulations: love.
But apparently that was not how it worked at all. Apparently love happened accidentally, and without warning, and at the exact moment you were supposed to get out of the car.
In case I haven’t already made this abundantly clear: You need this book in your life. Immediately. It seems as though there are no words adequate to describe the extent to which Like It Never Happened surprised, impressed and moved me or the level of injustice should it continue to go largely overlooked amongst its contemporary peers. The universality and vast scope of this tale, simultaneously reflecting on nothing in particular and everything all at once, creates an experience that must be read to be believed – and appreciated. Smart, brash, and unflinchingly honest, Emily Adrian’s 2015 debut will challenge you to become a better reader, a better friend, and a better person. I believe in this book, I believe in this author, and I can’t wait to see what Adrian has in store for readers next.
We, the five essential members of the Thespian Troupe Of Bickford Park Alternative School of the city of Portland, solemnly swear to never kiss, grope, fondle, lick, caress, court, woo, seduce, or otherwise date each other. Should any actor develop unseemly feelings for one of his/her four costars, he/she will sacrifice his/her desires for his/her love of the stage and for the collective artistic potential of Rebecca Rivers, Charlie Lamb, Tim Li, Tess Dunham, and Liane Gallagher. The foregoing pact is hereby consented to by the five essential members of the Thespian Troupe as evidenced by their signatures hereto.
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. At least, that’s certainly the case for Rebecca Rivers and the four other members of the ‘Essential Five’, a tight-knit drama troupe brought together by a shared, single-minded passion for acting. Or should I say drama? Forged together in the fires of terrifying tenth grade auditions and the mercurial and exacting standards of their drama teacher, Mr. McFadden, the Essential Five quickly become a unified force, an incestuous, isolated, island unto themselves. As feelings shift and their once-simple declaration to remain true to their craft is tested, however, memorizing their lines and remembering their cues will soon become the least of their worries. In her insightful debut, Adrian reminds of us the complexity of human relationships, the vast spectrum of sexuality, and how closely life often imitates art in a masterful exploration of the secrets we keep, the lies we tell, the roles we play, and how quickly it can all fall apart.
Admittedly, I adored Charlie. Touching his skin – even by accident – was the best thing that happened on a regular basis. But most likely he only flirted with me because he knew he would never have to follow through.
The pact might have been Charlie’s idea, but the rest of us had signed our names for a reason.
Novels like Like It Never Happened are the reason I became a book blogger. Rapidly expanding and increasingly competitive, the young adult literary market is one in which visibility is at a premium. As a result, we’re beginning to see the implementation of increasingly elaborate (and often expensive) promotional campaigns in order to achieve just that. But as we celebrate the new releases from Dessen and Dennard, Roth and Riordan, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the equally compelling and powerful, but often overshadowed, mid-list titles. The novels that are not necessarily backed by the full might of the publisher’s marketing machine, but which are no less memorable or important. I’ll be discussing one such title today. I was first made aware of Emily Adrian’s 2015 debut when I received one of the quarterly catalogues from Penguin Canada, detailing the forthcoming titles that would be published in the following season and were currently available for review. While I refrained from requesting a copy, wary of my ever-growing to-be-read list and prior commitments, I knew that Like It Never Happened was a novel I wouldn’t soon forget and quickly pre-ordered a finished copy. And, a little over a month post-publication, I began reading and promptly fell in love. Were it up to me, Like It Never Happened would never be over-looked again.
The truth was that nobody had ever kissed me when it wasn’t explicitly written into the script. Even last summer, the whole thing had been orchestrated not-so-masterfully by Tess. And it didn’t count, because after every kiss I had begged the boy to stop.
And that was really the last thing I wanted to remember.
A safe space. That’s what Rebecca Rivers seeks each time she takes to the stage of Bickford Park Alternative School. A refuge. From her mother’s interference. Her sister’s noticeable absence. Her classmates’ malicious gossip. The uncertainty of her future. She doesn’t have to be that Rebecca, whose life is scored by a soundtrack of whispers and catcalls. Instead, on stage she can command the lead in the play. She can be Abigail Williams in The Crucible. Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. She can be bold, beautiful and brave, buoyed by the support of Mr. McFadden, whose praise is made all the more special because of its relative rarity. Dissension and resentment amongst the group begins to fester, however, as McFadden’s increasing demands and capricious temperament cause the Essential Five to fracture from within with unexpected, and dramatic, results. Adrian’s thoughtful exploration of group dynamics and relationships – familial, romantic, platonic, or professional – is rich and compelling, spurning the reader on as the real life drama becomes as fraught and complex off-stage as it is on.
Girls your age always think they will be rewarded for destroying themselves. And if that’s what you believe, it’s not your fault. But it also isn’t true.
In the hands of a less capable writer, a cast of this magnitude has the potential of becoming unwieldy, unfocused and confusing. Under the direction of accomplished debut author Emily Adrian, however, each character from the primary to the most periphery are distinct, fully-realized, and easily distinguishable from one another. Every single individual, from Rebecca and the members of the Essential Five to Mr. McFadden and the assorted members of Rebecca’s family, demonstrate the author’s clear, concise vision and impeccable execution of such. Even Rebecca’s elder sister Mary, who is physically absent for much of the novel, has a presence which is vividly felt and whose shadow looms large over the text. Adrian’s frank and forthright discussion of sexuality is reminiscent of literary pioneer Judy Blume, exploring issues of sexual history, orientation, pleasure, and consent. While I’ll refrain from discussing the specific events of the novel in detail for fear of spoiling the wonder of discovery as the author takes the story in new and unexpected directions, Adrian’s grasp of the teenage and high school experience is achingly poignant and unflinchingly honest. The author forces readers to confront the often ugly and unkind truths of being an adolescent, a stage of development when surviving – and thriving – means navigating a tenuous tightrope of rumour, reputation, image and innuendo. Throughout the the novel, Rebecca and the other members of the Essential Five are consumed with rehearsals for their next production, A Streetcar Named Desire. This play runs parallel to the central narrative as Adrian masterfully dovetails the two stories and uses the play as a lens through which to view the events of the novel, underling the cruel inevitability of the characters’ fate. The immense amount of time, care and effort it must have taken for the author to intertwine these two narratives so seamlessly is nothing short of amazing and underlines Adrian’s tremendous gift as a storyteller.
I had thought that falling in love was a decision. Like first you noticed a boy was cute and smart and had good taste in movies. He kissed you and it occurred to you to love him. If a certain amount of time passed and nothing went wrong, then congratulations: love.
But apparently that was not how it worked at all. Apparently love happened accidentally, and without warning, and at the exact moment you were supposed to get out of the car.
In case I haven’t already made this abundantly clear: You need this book in your life. Immediately. It seems as though there are no words adequate to describe the extent to which Like It Never Happened surprised, impressed and moved me or the level of injustice should it continue to go largely overlooked amongst its contemporary peers. The universality and vast scope of this tale, simultaneously reflecting on nothing in particular and everything all at once, creates an experience that must be read to be believed – and appreciated. Smart, brash, and unflinchingly honest, Emily Adrian’s 2015 debut will challenge you to become a better reader, a better friend, and a better person. I believe in this book, I believe in this author, and I can’t wait to see what Adrian has in store for readers next.
July 8, 2016
What To Expect
Expect a lot of waiting for the actual plot to come about. Some parts I can see have a point, but others do not. Also expect the characters to act like falling in love equals having sex. This book has a good number of tropes but, thankfully, not the shallow best friend trope and not the mean girl trope. It does seem at times, however, that the main character is a bit of a Mary-Sue. It doesn't really discuss religion much, but when it does, it uses the typical YA-contemporary generalizations in regards to a probably unnecessary subplot. The writing is like basically every contemporary novel I've read, which is only like three, not counting the Princess Diaries sequels.
Tropes
*instalove
*student-teacher relationships
*forced tokenism/everyone important appears to be white
*gary-stu boyfriend
*"male-theater-people-are-generally-gay"
*"Nothing will happen if you drink, smoke, or have sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend"
*love triangle
*student-teacher relationship
*"Forbidden" love (ish)
There are also a few other passages that I found a bit awkward
Expect a lot of waiting for the actual plot to come about. Some parts I can see have a point, but others do not. Also expect the characters to act like falling in love equals having sex. This book has a good number of tropes but, thankfully, not the shallow best friend trope and not the mean girl trope. It does seem at times, however, that the main character is a bit of a Mary-Sue. It doesn't really discuss religion much, but when it does, it uses the typical YA-contemporary generalizations in regards to a probably unnecessary subplot. The writing is like basically every contemporary novel I've read, which is only like three, not counting the Princess Diaries sequels.
Tropes
*instalove
*student-teacher relationships
*forced tokenism/everyone important appears to be white
*gary-stu boyfriend
*"male-theater-people-are-generally-gay"
*"Nothing will happen if you drink, smoke, or have sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend"
*love triangle
*student-teacher relationship
*"Forbidden" love (ish)
"Look," he said. "I recently learned that I'm not allowed to drive students home without notifying the office and obtaining permission from the student's parents... But I;m probably also not supposed to leave students in dark, icy parking lots after hours either. So do you want to break the rules now and confess in the morning?*random awkward nerd who's supposed to be comic relief
"Well," said Tim brightly. "Last year in English, Ms. Kramer told me I had the best reading voice she has ever heard... She made me read aloud from the Odyssey for like, three days straight, then told me I probably have the stamina to record audiobooks if I want. Sounds awesome, right?"*This kind of dialogue
A grin stretched across Charlie's face. He ground the remainder of his cigarette against the diner's brick exterior. "No, Rivers, not just for my college applications.*super-awkward old-school parents who don't understand sh*t.
Mom inhaled sharply and sat on the edge of my bed, much too close. "Honey, you've always been so serious. And you know we are very proud of you.... But last year it's been such a pleasure to watch you blossom."Other Thoughts
I listened to my father climb the stairs and shut himself inside the bathroom. He blew his nose in the most elephantine way poassible. Suddenly, I hate him for things that had never really bothered me. I hated him fro the hours spent in front of the evening news, and for the giant khaki pants he always wore. I hated him for wrinkling his nose at Tess's I ❤ ᴍʏ ᴠᴀɢɪɴᴀ T-shirt, even though I also hated that shirt...
There are also a few other passages that I found a bit awkward
June 20, 2015
This book was so unexpected. I picked it up thinking it would be a light, fun book about theatre kids and high school drama. What I got instead was a poignant, intense read about friendship and family and coming-of-age. I was shocked and awed and emotional and angry. Honestly, I didn't expect to have such a reaction to this book. It surpassed my every expectation, and made it's way on to my 2015 favourites list.
One thing I just loved about this book was how real Rebecca was. She was most definitely a teenager. She made mistakes. She was over-dramatic. She didn't have the right answers. But she kept going, kept adapting, kept trying to figure out what to do and how to move forward. And I connected with her completely. She was a character to admire, and I loved being brought along for her journey.
There's not a lot I can say about the plot without spoiling, so I'm just going to say I loved it. There was so much going on and it was all really well thought-out and realistic. It was shocking at points and absolutely heart-breaking at others. I felt so immersed in Rebecca's world, in her story, I didn't want to let it go. There were so many important themes and ideas brought up here. I felt like I was being punched in the gut at some points, but in the very best way.
There's a lot of gray area in this book. A lot of things that are hard to process and harder to make sense of. As a reader (and as someone who appreciates true-to-life books) reading the gray areas here were hard but so, so thought-provoking. In certain aspects, the line between right and wrong was pretty clear. But, in others, it was hard to see where the separation was. And if these characters really understood how much damage they were causing. It was an element of this book that brought it to a whole other level for me.
The only real reason I couldn't give this book five stars was because I didn't feel some of the side characters were fleshed out. I didn't have a picture of them or who they were at points. But, I also think that was kind of what Rebecca was feeling. She was never quite sure where she stood in the Essential Five, and part of that was not really getting who these people were outside of the characters they portrayed. This really was Rebecca's story, and I was totally okay with that.
I never include favourite quotes in my reviews, but I'm doing it now cause this one stuck with me. I knew as soon as I read it that I had picked up a special book:
"Girls your age always think they will be rewarded for destroying themselves. And if that's what you believe, it's not your fault. But it also isn't true." -page 74
*note I checked this quote against the final version and it's correct*
I can name a bunch of different reasons why this line stuck out for me but I won't. It's powerful and poignant on it's own. This book was full of gems like this. I just want to read this book all over again to find them all.
Like It Never Happened hit me like a ton of bricks. This review doesn't do it justice, I'm telling you that right now. Read it, then come back and tell me how much you loved it.
- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)
One thing I just loved about this book was how real Rebecca was. She was most definitely a teenager. She made mistakes. She was over-dramatic. She didn't have the right answers. But she kept going, kept adapting, kept trying to figure out what to do and how to move forward. And I connected with her completely. She was a character to admire, and I loved being brought along for her journey.
There's not a lot I can say about the plot without spoiling, so I'm just going to say I loved it. There was so much going on and it was all really well thought-out and realistic. It was shocking at points and absolutely heart-breaking at others. I felt so immersed in Rebecca's world, in her story, I didn't want to let it go. There were so many important themes and ideas brought up here. I felt like I was being punched in the gut at some points, but in the very best way.
There's a lot of gray area in this book. A lot of things that are hard to process and harder to make sense of. As a reader (and as someone who appreciates true-to-life books) reading the gray areas here were hard but so, so thought-provoking. In certain aspects, the line between right and wrong was pretty clear. But, in others, it was hard to see where the separation was. And if these characters really understood how much damage they were causing. It was an element of this book that brought it to a whole other level for me.
The only real reason I couldn't give this book five stars was because I didn't feel some of the side characters were fleshed out. I didn't have a picture of them or who they were at points. But, I also think that was kind of what Rebecca was feeling. She was never quite sure where she stood in the Essential Five, and part of that was not really getting who these people were outside of the characters they portrayed. This really was Rebecca's story, and I was totally okay with that.
I never include favourite quotes in my reviews, but I'm doing it now cause this one stuck with me. I knew as soon as I read it that I had picked up a special book:
"Girls your age always think they will be rewarded for destroying themselves. And if that's what you believe, it's not your fault. But it also isn't true." -page 74
*note I checked this quote against the final version and it's correct*
I can name a bunch of different reasons why this line stuck out for me but I won't. It's powerful and poignant on it's own. This book was full of gems like this. I just want to read this book all over again to find them all.
Like It Never Happened hit me like a ton of bricks. This review doesn't do it justice, I'm telling you that right now. Read it, then come back and tell me how much you loved it.
- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)
July 18, 2015
Well that was...weird.
First of all, this cover is so misleading! To me, looking at it gives me the instant impression that this is a fluffy summer romance between a boy and a girl. Umm...nope! Not only does this barely take place in summer, it's not really even a romance at all. Sure, there's some kissing and some (possible) falling in love, but it's very very different from what I was anticipating, and that did not end up being a good thing.
My biggest problem with this book was that it was SO all over the place. The main character had so many different little stories happening that I couldn't tell what the "main story" was supposed to be. Was it about her sister? Was it about whether or not people are gay? Was is about rape? Was it about first love? Was it about inappropriate relationships? Was it about friendship? All of the above...? None of the above...?
Its lack of focus was confusing and left me reeling. I have no idea what to make of this book. I have no idea who I even ship. Am I supposed to be shipping anybody? What was even the POINT of this book?
I mean, I guess maybe the point is that Rebecca just goes on living her life like none of the stuff in this book ever happened. But is that seriously the point? Why did I even read this then? It wasn't some literary masterpiece that left me going "Woahhh that was so meta." It was just...weird. That's the best word I can come up with to describe this thing.
The reason why I'm rating it as high as three stars is because it was actually a pretty entertaining book to read. While I was constantly at a loss of what to make of it, part of the fun was trying to figure it out. It's constant left turns out of nowhere were exciting and interesting. But, at the same time, that's also what makes this book such a failure. It became so focused on being entertaining that it failed to leave a lasting impression or ever become something meaningful to the reader.
I'll definitely check out Adrian if she comes out with more books in the future, but I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless you're super in the mood for something totally bizarre and random.
First of all, this cover is so misleading! To me, looking at it gives me the instant impression that this is a fluffy summer romance between a boy and a girl. Umm...nope! Not only does this barely take place in summer, it's not really even a romance at all. Sure, there's some kissing and some (possible) falling in love, but it's very very different from what I was anticipating, and that did not end up being a good thing.
My biggest problem with this book was that it was SO all over the place. The main character had so many different little stories happening that I couldn't tell what the "main story" was supposed to be. Was it about her sister? Was it about whether or not people are gay? Was is about rape? Was it about first love? Was it about inappropriate relationships? Was it about friendship? All of the above...? None of the above...?
Its lack of focus was confusing and left me reeling. I have no idea what to make of this book. I have no idea who I even ship. Am I supposed to be shipping anybody? What was even the POINT of this book?
I mean, I guess maybe the point is that Rebecca just goes on living her life like none of the stuff in this book ever happened. But is that seriously the point? Why did I even read this then? It wasn't some literary masterpiece that left me going "Woahhh that was so meta." It was just...weird. That's the best word I can come up with to describe this thing.
The reason why I'm rating it as high as three stars is because it was actually a pretty entertaining book to read. While I was constantly at a loss of what to make of it, part of the fun was trying to figure it out. It's constant left turns out of nowhere were exciting and interesting. But, at the same time, that's also what makes this book such a failure. It became so focused on being entertaining that it failed to leave a lasting impression or ever become something meaningful to the reader.
I'll definitely check out Adrian if she comes out with more books in the future, but I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless you're super in the mood for something totally bizarre and random.
August 7, 2015
I just sat down and read this book straight through.
I've rarely felt this kind of tension in a contemporary YA, especially one that's not dealing with some extra-heavy subject matter (e.g. suicide, drug abuse, etc.). Don't get me wrong: there's a bit of grit to it, but nothing too intense or sensationalized. (Even the teacher-student relationship, which I won't comment on further because SPOILERS) felt very realistic. So it's amazing to me that Adrian was able to keep my stomach in knots basically from page one all the way through. There were several storylines/conflicts that the main character, Rebecca, was going through and, for me, they all worked. They all had me worried, anxious, and intrigued.
That said, I'd recommend this book to people who like stories about friendships and family relationships. As others have pointed out, it's not a romance-heavy book, which is sometimes hard to tell from these (notably beautiful) contemp covers.
Anyway, I LOVED the characters--especially Liane, Mary, and Mrs. Rivers--and it kept me hooked straight through. Also the HUMOR! The banter was great, without the teens sounding like 25-year-old grad students trying to out-charm one another. Such a wonderful, natural flow.
Now to go unwind my intestines and find something a little fluffier to take the edge off.
I've rarely felt this kind of tension in a contemporary YA, especially one that's not dealing with some extra-heavy subject matter (e.g. suicide, drug abuse, etc.). Don't get me wrong: there's a bit of grit to it, but nothing too intense or sensationalized. (Even the teacher-student relationship, which I won't comment on further because SPOILERS) felt very realistic. So it's amazing to me that Adrian was able to keep my stomach in knots basically from page one all the way through. There were several storylines/conflicts that the main character, Rebecca, was going through and, for me, they all worked. They all had me worried, anxious, and intrigued.
That said, I'd recommend this book to people who like stories about friendships and family relationships. As others have pointed out, it's not a romance-heavy book, which is sometimes hard to tell from these (notably beautiful) contemp covers.
Anyway, I LOVED the characters--especially Liane, Mary, and Mrs. Rivers--and it kept me hooked straight through. Also the HUMOR! The banter was great, without the teens sounding like 25-year-old grad students trying to out-charm one another. Such a wonderful, natural flow.
Now to go unwind my intestines and find something a little fluffier to take the edge off.
June 27, 2017
DNF at 27%
I’m going to honor the title and pretend like reading this book has never happened. I did not connect with the characters at all, especially the main character, Rebecca. Charlie is an ass through and through. He is neither charming nor compelling. The story is bland, and then I read some of the reviews… I figure I should stop now because I don’t really care for Lolita stories.
I’m going to honor the title and pretend like reading this book has never happened. I did not connect with the characters at all, especially the main character, Rebecca. Charlie is an ass through and through. He is neither charming nor compelling. The story is bland, and then I read some of the reviews… I figure I should stop now because I don’t really care for Lolita stories.
June 17, 2015
I loved this book! It's a book about self-discovery above all else. At first, I thought it would be a total love story. Cute, simple, and perfect. I'm a big fan of "perfect." I thought the family drama would be the main issue. Boy, was I wrong.
A lot more happened than I expected. This story was very centred around friendship. I'd say family took precedent over love, too. But above all that was Rebecca Rivers, riding the tide, and learning to embrace her talent, beauty, and everything she stood for. It was inspiring, in a way.
I've always been in love with the stage, and this book drew out the best parts of the thespian life. What it's like to be at the centre of the universe, to feel oh-so-essential in some fictitious world. This book captured that enthralling beauty of theatre. It's fleeting, and the best performances can never quite be repeated. The emotions become genuine, and the characters come to life. I did not know much about A Streetcar Named Desire, but I sure learned to appreciate it. I feel like Emily Adrian could peel back the layers to any story and make it meaningful. I'm a huge, huge fan.
A lot more happened than I expected. This story was very centred around friendship. I'd say family took precedent over love, too. But above all that was Rebecca Rivers, riding the tide, and learning to embrace her talent, beauty, and everything she stood for. It was inspiring, in a way.
I've always been in love with the stage, and this book drew out the best parts of the thespian life. What it's like to be at the centre of the universe, to feel oh-so-essential in some fictitious world. This book captured that enthralling beauty of theatre. It's fleeting, and the best performances can never quite be repeated. The emotions become genuine, and the characters come to life. I did not know much about A Streetcar Named Desire, but I sure learned to appreciate it. I feel like Emily Adrian could peel back the layers to any story and make it meaningful. I'm a huge, huge fan.
December 31, 2016
This is unlike any YA contemporary novel I've ever read–from the writing to the character portrayal–and it's just so refreshing to have a cast with a zeal for theater and who have very complex relationships.
July 2, 2015
I was a little apprehensive to read this book initially thanks to it's page length and the mixed reviews. However, I noted that the mixed reviews mainly complained about the page length and the fact that the real plot didn't drop until about half way through the book. Even further. In all honesty, any other time, I would feel the same way. I'm pretty hard about details, especially if an author is incessant with them and especially if they're unnecessary. But here's the thing with 'Like It Never Happened' the details were actually necessary. ::SPOILER ALERT:: Each chapter leading up to the climax was needed. By the end of the book, I realized each chapter weaved with each other seamlessly. We needed those chapters about camp -- it showed us who Charlie really was and the red flags were shown. We needed to know about her sister, her past and Nadine. It gave Rebecca some insight on love. We needed the story of her and Tess' trip to the seaside. We learned why Tess was so bitter and we also learned our heroine isn't perfect. ::SPOILERS OVER:: Besides that, we can at least enjoy Rebecca's melodramatic mother. Some may have taken more than just a little salt to her antics, but I found her to be quite hilarious. TL;DR: I couldn't put this book down. I read it in two days and practically sobbed when it was over! The only real criticism I have is wanting more than just a conversation with Liane. I would have liked for her to speak to Charlie and Tess as well, but honestly, Tess can bite it. But the most important detail of all, four words: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. You'll get it if you read it, which you totally should.
June 9, 2015
When I was first pitched this book, the description and premise stated that it would be for fans of E. Lockhart, who, as some of you may know, I am a fan of. I was incredibly excited about this book. It was definitely "a whole lot of drama" like the description states. This book definitely reminded me of the TV series Glee, because the school production lifted all of these five individuals out of their shells (somewhat) and also the teacher, Mr. McFadden plays a significant role in the book as well, like the teachers did in the glee series. I really enjoyed Rebecca as a character because she was incredibly self-aware. She often made bad choices and decisions, knowingly, but the fact that she admitted to them and did not try to kind of change how she was being perceived really surprised me. I loved seeing her growth as a character and it really drove me insane at times seeing her plunged into a world of drama. The book also focuses a lot on Rebecca's relationship with her parents and also her sister, Mary. Mary was a side character, but I really enjoyed the scenes when Rebecca was spending time with her sister Mary. All in all, I think that this was quite a good young adult contemporary "scandal/revenge" type read. It deals with all the clique problems of high-school and also demonstrates good character progression which is always a requirement in my books. This is my first time reading something by Emily Adrian and I can't wait to read what she writes next!
Full review on my blog: http://padfootslibrary.blogspot.ca/20...
Full review on my blog: http://padfootslibrary.blogspot.ca/20...
February 26, 2019
Awkward girl has a crush on cool guy who’s basically a dick. The two of them and three others are all friends and theater in-crowd buddies. Then she develops a massive crush on their drama teacher. Nothing happens, but her frienemy tells the principal it did. The teacher ends up resigning and going to teach choir at some other school, even though his name is cleared. The main character also ends up going to another school. Fuck these kids; hopefully strangers will treat her better.
Sadly, the lesson she seems to take from all this is “don’t try to have friends at work or school.”
I was going to say kids’ lives are much more complicated now than they were “in my day,” but that’s not really true. We had scandals of teachers sleeping with students back then, too. It’s just that now, it’s taken seriously, it’s talked about, and people actually get punished for it. (Even in cases like this, where they didn’t actually do anything wrong.)
In any event, this book stuck with me. I was still thinking about it a few days later. Well done.
P.S. I wouldn’t go back to high school for a billion dollars.
Sadly, the lesson she seems to take from all this is “don’t try to have friends at work or school.”
I was going to say kids’ lives are much more complicated now than they were “in my day,” but that’s not really true. We had scandals of teachers sleeping with students back then, too. It’s just that now, it’s taken seriously, it’s talked about, and people actually get punished for it. (Even in cases like this, where they didn’t actually do anything wrong.)
In any event, this book stuck with me. I was still thinking about it a few days later. Well done.
P.S. I wouldn’t go back to high school for a billion dollars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2015
Read more of our reviews at: www.thebookjarblog.wordpress.com
Emily Adrian's Like It Never Happened is a wonderfully different young adult book. Rebecca Rivers is part of the drama club and drama is definitely part of the drama club. Rivers is a little naive and her actions really show that, which is why I enjoyed this book. Sometimes I feel YA writers try to make their characters more mature than their actual age group, whereas Adrian portrayed Rivers perfectly.
Rivers is your typical confused, making mistakes teenager and it was refreshing. The story doesn't seem like the typical bubblegum YA story, the ending is refreshingly honest, and realistic. The characters had reacted to situations that showed Adrian really understood what it is like to be a teenager. The writing is engaging, fresh and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was perusing my local library and stumbled on this book by accident and I'm glad I did, quiet YA for the win! Definitely a fun summer read. 4 out of 5 stars.
Emily Adrian's Like It Never Happened is a wonderfully different young adult book. Rebecca Rivers is part of the drama club and drama is definitely part of the drama club. Rivers is a little naive and her actions really show that, which is why I enjoyed this book. Sometimes I feel YA writers try to make their characters more mature than their actual age group, whereas Adrian portrayed Rivers perfectly.
Rivers is your typical confused, making mistakes teenager and it was refreshing. The story doesn't seem like the typical bubblegum YA story, the ending is refreshingly honest, and realistic. The characters had reacted to situations that showed Adrian really understood what it is like to be a teenager. The writing is engaging, fresh and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was perusing my local library and stumbled on this book by accident and I'm glad I did, quiet YA for the win! Definitely a fun summer read. 4 out of 5 stars.
June 27, 2015
I honestly enjoyed this book. But I didn't give it 5 stars because I felt that the beginning was pointless and was just there to waste time until it got to the real stuff. But once it did... I was hooked. I loved the main character and how she seemed so confident. I also liked how she went from being someone so shy that she can barely speak to someone who can make a conversation with anyone or act like anyone. I thought her love for acting was so real and raw that it made me think she was a professional. Overall a lot of twists that I didn't see coming and problems that formed or were from her past that I didn't expect. The main character was easy to relate to and the whole story line was just fantastic. I also really enjoyed her taste in Gossip Girl! Anyways, this book was the perfect combination of friendship, romance, and drama.
April 24, 2015
Stereotypes, sexuality, and destructive rumors collide in this smart YA novel for fans of Sara Zarr’s Story of a Girl, Siobhan Vivian’s The List, and E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.
When Rebecca Rivers lands the lead in her school’s production of The Crucible, she gets to change roles in real life, too. She casts off her old reputation, grows close with her four rowdy cast-mates, and kisses the extremely handsome Charlie Lamb onstage. Even Mr. McFadden, the play’s critical director, can find no fault with Rebecca.
Though “The Essential Five” vow never to date each other, Rebecca can’t help her feelings for Charlie, leaving her both conflicted and lovestruck. But the on and off-stage drama of the cast is eclipsed by a life-altering accusation that threatens to destroy everything…even if some of it is just make believe.
When Rebecca Rivers lands the lead in her school’s production of The Crucible, she gets to change roles in real life, too. She casts off her old reputation, grows close with her four rowdy cast-mates, and kisses the extremely handsome Charlie Lamb onstage. Even Mr. McFadden, the play’s critical director, can find no fault with Rebecca.
Though “The Essential Five” vow never to date each other, Rebecca can’t help her feelings for Charlie, leaving her both conflicted and lovestruck. But the on and off-stage drama of the cast is eclipsed by a life-altering accusation that threatens to destroy everything…even if some of it is just make believe.
February 8, 2020
I didn't really like this book, so I'm going to spare my words about this one. The plot line was shifty and confusing and I didn't know what was going on when. The characters were not all that great. I mean, Rebecca only dated Charlie because he was attractive, and it felt good kissing him. Charlie was a terrible boyfriend! He was moody and his character shifted to what other people expected him to be. And the rumor! Such a terrible rumor! Why would say that about someone, except that it was sort-of true? Rebecca was a weird character, too. What I gathered from her was she was all about dramatics. I'm so glad I didn't waste my money on this one because it was not worth it. If anyone feels confused about this review, that's how I felt the duration of the book. Ugh.
December 5, 2015
Y'all, this book. Such an authentic, teenage experience. Loved Rebecca's voice and the way she sees the world. The drama--and the DRAMA--were so poignant and expertly woven through the narrative. Feminism, sexuality, lies, betrayal. It's all here!
August 25, 2018
I actually really enjoyed the writing, I think that was something special, but I didn't like any of the characters or the plot. I'd be super interested in reading more from this author in the future though.
Want to read
February 3, 2015Screw the ick plotline I neED THIS BOOK FOR IT'S COVER GIMMAH
July 8, 2015
2015 Contemporary ya's are either really good or just plain terrible, it's the year of no in betweens. This definitely falls into the later.
February 9, 2022
I just didn’t love it.
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