Review: Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

Title: Never Have I Ever

Author: Joshilyn Jackson

Published: July 2019, William Morrow

Format: ARC Paperback, 352 pages

Source: Publisher

Summary: 

In this game, even winning can be deadly…

Amy
Whey is proud of her ordinary life and the simple pleasures that come
with it–teaching diving lessons, baking cookies for new neighbors,
helping her best friend, Charlotte, run their local book club. Her
greatest joy is her family: her devoted professor husband, her spirited
fifteen-year-old stepdaughter, her adorable infant son. And, of course,
the steadfast and supportive Charlotte. But Amy’s sweet, uncomplicated
life begins to unravel when the mysterious and alluring Angelica Roux
arrives on her doorstep one book club night.

Sultry and magnetic,
Roux beguiles the group with her feral charm. She keeps the wine
flowing and lures them into a game of spilling secrets. Everyone thinks
it’s naughty, harmless fun. Only Amy knows better. Something wicked has
come her way–a she-devil in a pricey red sports car who seems to know
the terrible truth about who she is and what she once did.

When
they’re alone, Roux tells her that if she doesn’t give her what she asks
for, what she deserves, she’s going to make Amy pay for her sins. One
way or another.

To protect herself and her family and save the
life she’s built, Amy must beat the devil at her own clever game,
matching wits with Roux in an escalating war of hidden pasts and
unearthed secrets. Amy knows the consequences if she can’t beat Roux.
What terrifies her is everything she could lose if she wins.

A
diabolically entertaining tale of betrayal, deception, temptation, and
love filled with dark twists leavened by Joshilyn Jackson’s trademark
humor, Never Have I Ever explores what happens when the transgressions of our past come back with a vengeance.

My thoughts: I have loved Joshilyn Jackson’s books for quite a while now and this latest one is no exception. I find her to create such compelling and drama-filled stories and characters that pull you in and hook you right off the bat.

I loved this book. It is so deliciously devious and filled with jaw-dropping little bombs that just give you whiplash. Just when you think you have a handle on where this book might be heading, think again! I love books like that…they really keep you on your toes and this is exactly that type of book.

I love a good cat and mouse game and that is what we have here. Roux has inserted herself into Amy’s neighborhood to stir up trouble and boy did I have fun watching her and Amy circle each other. These two characters are quite complex, and while my feelings for Amy never really wavered, they did for Roux…I was a bit back and forth about her. She is definitely one of those characters where nothing is quite as it seems.

This is definitely a book that keeps you hooked and has you thinking it’s going one way and winds up in a totally different direction…which I absolutely loved. I never would have guessed the ending and while it was even more disturbing than I was anticipating, I think it totally works. 

This book totally consumed me and I could think of nothing but these two women. There are other characters in this book and they are well-developed and play roles in the story, but in my mind, Amy and Roux are what make this book. They are definitely going down as some of the most memorable characters I’ve read lately. I highly recommend picking this one up and adding it to your summer reading list…you won’t be sorry!