From the Bookshelf of Easy Reads…

Never (Never, #1)

Jessa Hastings

Start date: January 31, 2024

Finish date: February 25, 2024

Discussion leader: Mitzi Payne

Why we're reading this: February book pick by Zandalee Lieske!
[close] February book pick by Zandalee Lieske!

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Jan 24, 2024 Mitzi Payne rated it liked it

Shelves: easy-reads-book-challenge

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 28, 2024 Alexa Fernando rated it did not like it

asdfghjkl; what did I just read?! was this supposed to be dark romance? there were so many red flags 🚩 in this i don’t even know where to begin, and if i should even bother. i was tempted to DNF but kept reading hoping it’ll get better. by 70% i just wanted to see if things could get worse.. and it did. 🫠

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Jan 08, 2024 Zandalee rated it really liked it

Shelves: easy-reads-2024

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Firstly, I will say that this mostly loses a star for me because of the racial comments in the book that really were unnecessary. I would’ve understood them if that was a theme throughout the book that people were actively fighting against but it wasn’t. Jessa has also said that in newer editions of the book these would be changed. I just hope this book sees enough success for there to be a second edition.

Secondly, while I sort of understand people’s issue with her age and the age of the love i Firstly, I will say that this mostly loses a star for me because of the racial comments in the book that really were unnecessary. I would’ve understood them if that was a theme throughout the book that people were actively fighting against but it wasn’t. Jessa has also said that in newer editions of the book these would be changed. I just hope this book sees enough success for there to be a second edition.

Secondly, while I sort of understand people’s issue with her age and the age of the love interests, I read another review that made a good point. She meets them within such a short time frame of her birthday that I’m really indifferent. She also battles with this pull toward her childhood and a pull toward adulthood which makes sense as a 17/18 year old. That wouldn’t have worked with another age so I get it. I didn’t find that all too bothersome and I think you can let it go.

Thirdly, I think it’s okay for authors to write characters you don’t love! That’s part of what makes this book easy to binge! You are just constantly hoping they will finally not be so petulant and annoying and grow a little and they don’t. And since this is a series, maybe they will! But not in this book.

I loved the world building in this novel, I still love Jessa’s writing style, I loved that I was absolutely uncomfortable a lot of the time, I loved that it took a childhood classic of “good” Peter Pan vs “bad” Captain Hook and flipped it. We are all human and sometimes we just make good choices and some bad and some of us make some more than the other.

I think this series has so much potential and I can’t wait to see it play out.

Here are some of my predictions: (where the spoilers are)
- Daphne is actually not a Darling, she is also an heir somehow (hopefully through this Aanya and not somehow related to her lovers) that’s why nature also talks to her and is trying to help her
- Daphne is going to still get red flags about the medicine they’re taking and she is going to help free the Lost Boys
- Jem is endgame (obvs) and happy to let Daphne be Queen
- I think Peter will die and I think Daphne will be the one to kill him so she can become heir and also because he is bad (drugging people, kidnapping boys and being mean to fairies, yeah no thanks)
- oh I also don’t think Rye has a crush on Daphne, I think he has a crush on a character we haven’t met yet and it’s whoever he ran off to see when they were in town together the first time and I think it could possibly be an important character later on

Any other predictions you guys have? ...more

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Mar 31, 2024 Elle rated it really liked it

Feb 16, 2024 Jill Dewes rated it it was ok

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Mar 11, 2024 Marie Clare rated it really liked it

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Feb 01, 2024 Emily marked it as to-read

Shelves: easy-reads-bookclub

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