Psychological thriller with a really messed up heroine: not my cup of tea😟

🤔 This story had potential with its theme of mean girls and sins of the past resurfacing to threaten their present, but its execution had issues. I felt it broke the thriller tension because it dragged on in too many scenes and my attention flagged accordingly. The story's big mystery also took too long to reveal; I lost interest along the way. But maybe the biggest issue was the heroine. She was all over the place and I could not sympathize with her. Instead of working on her novel or caring for her long-awaited child, she wasted time, sent her son off to grandma's all the time and seemed totally self absorbed and isolated, living a fantasy life in her head. By the end of the story, she'd acted so erratically that nothing she did surprised me. Actually, most of the characters left me cold🙁.

I think the author has potential but could benefit from better editing and creating more sympathetic characters. Not every hero or heroine needs to be lovable, but I needed someone other than the baby to root for!

Thanks to publisher Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

#NeverHaveIever #NetGalley
Enthralling and addictive.
Never Have I Ever is a story about a game by the name of Never Have I Ever.
Samantha, a crime writer is living in Ilfracombe with her husband, Mo and her baby, Caleb. She left London because of some terrible thing happened in her past. She and Mo living with some ups and downs in their marriage and then one day she found an envelope in the bunch of mails they received. Her name is written on the note and there's no address on it. Convinced that the envelope was hand delivered, she opened it and found a single line written on a white strip. It's about a game she played with her three friends, Aimee, Maddy and Ruby when they were teenagers about twenty three years ago.
She thought that the game was over when their school was over but she proved wrong. Someone is there in the plain sight who doesn't want to end that game.
Twists unfold in the story one after the other and we come to know the back story of Samantha, who she was and what she did. The story moves forward in zigzag motion and keep you engaged. Its a masterful debut by the author.
Characters of Ruby, Maddy and Samantha were awesome. While Jess, Michael and others were ok.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for giving me an advance copy of this enthralling psychological thriller.
A must read.

Sam is a successful mystery writer, she has a loving husband Mo, and a toddler Caleb, who was conceived through IVF which has put a strain on the marriage, the sex life, and the finances. They move back to Sam’s home seaside town of Ilfracombe, a place she left 23 years earlier. The move goes smoothly Mo and Caleb seeming to adapt quickly to being away from the hustle and bustle of London. Living in Ilfracombe is also much cheaper than London.

Sam has a deadline for her new book it’s due to be ready by September but it’s already mid August. Sam occasionally gets fan mail, but it seems one fan is taking things a little too far, referring to Sam’s past, who is this fan? How do they know about Sam’s past?

When she was younger Sam and her friends played the game “Never Have I Ever” but they added their own twist to the game, they took it further, and something terrible happened. Now it seems someone who never stopped playing the game wants Sam to pay for what happened all those years ago.

Sam is determined to stay and face her bully/stalker, but to do so she has to go back in time, reconnect with old friends and acquaintances. But at what cost? Sam has spent years trying to erase those memories, is it a good idea to rake it all up again.

Sam comes across as a bit of a bully herself, I didn’t find her a likeable, relatable character, you don’t get to know much about the husband but he isn’t treated well, Sam’s mum is the only character that comes across as more relatable with her interaction with Caleb, she is there for Sam, but even she is treated in a dismissive sort of way.

I couldn’t relate with the characters at all, I found the first half of the book a little bit slow, with too much description, I know other readers may enjoy this,, I just found the first half of the book a little too slow, the second half was better as the pace and tension picked up. As Sam tries to find the person she believes her letter writing stalker to be. But could it be who she thinks or not? I liked the way all the loose ends were tied up.

There was just something missing, possibly just the characters weren’t likeable enough, I really wanted to connect with them in some way, but it just didn’t happen.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #Hodder&Stoughton for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

When Sam goes back to her hometown, a place she left behind as a teenager, she realises that no matter how long you wait, there are some things you just can't escape from.
Now a successful author, she is looking for a fresh start after a tough few years with her husband and baby boy. But when anonymous letters start appearing, bringing up mistakes she was desperate to leave in the past, she realises that it won't be as easy as she hoped.
This was a good read. A nice mystery with a few twists thrown in.
My biggest issue was that the main character Sam was not likeable at all and I was constantly wishing she would just tell someone what was going on!

Another tale of a game gone wrong but OMG WHAT A READ. Hooked from the first page and read in one sitting. This book is really hard to put down. This read had me tapping my kindle like a demented wood pecker and at times literally shouting at the characters. This book had everything I want and more. I loved it!!!!!!!
I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

So very sorry! I’ve already read and reviewed this book in August of this year!
Original review below with apologies.


My Recommendation

This is a decent read. I've not read Joshilyn Jackson before and, although it's not my usual genre (domestic thriller) it's a well written tale about a young mother (Amy) whose safe, sturdy life becomes threatened by a new member to their book club. Angelica Roux is a dark force that engages the women in a game, revealing long hidden secrets.

It kept me engaged and wraps things up nicely.

All in all a good 3* read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

I absolutely enjoy the Mystery/Thriller genre. This book not so much.
The premise for this book is fantastic. A group of teen girls twisting the game, Never Have I Ever, with dire consequences. What is there not to love? Unfortunately, a lot.
The main character, Samantha, is manipulative, self-absorbed, and infantile. She is unhappy with how she treats her husband and continues to treat him badly. She adores her son, yet he is with her mother through most of the book so she can "write", when in fact she is running around the countryside trying to find someone that may or may not exist.
I will admit that the book was not half bad after deciding to skim through the filler material, at times, prolonged beyond bearable. The ending had a major twist I was not expecting which was a bonus. I do hope this book has one more read through before being released. I believe with further editing and proofreading, this okay book could become a rather good read.

This book may not be for me. Does not mean it isn't for you. Give it shot. Still worth it to check an author you are not familiar with.. Always!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the availability of the ARC.

New mother, happily married and successful writer - three remarks that perfectly describe our feisty main character - Samantha. The story begins with her recent move from busy and noisy London back to her home town - Ilfracombe. The relocation went nice and smooth, her son Caleb and husband Mo seem to adjust and favor the new home. And so did Sam, until old ghosts started to make a fresh appearance in her new life.

Never Have I Ever Been Punished For What I Have Done...

Seriously, if I would ever receive that kind of note, I would pack up my life and move far far away from a creepy place and weirdos that write such threats. But of course, Sam decides to stand her grounds and find and confront her bully. In order to do so, Sam must go down her memory lane, reconnect with old friends and acquaintances. What first sounded like a good plan - started to bring back the memories Samantha spend twenty-three years to forget.

Should the past be left in the past? And what sacrifices a woman can make to keep her family safe?

Well written, dark, disturbing, twisty, and unsettling. Looking forward to reading more from the talented author. Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton publisher for a free and advanced copy of the novel.

3.25 stars out of 5

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read an advanced cop on this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Sam,her husband Mo and their toddler Caleb move have recently moved back to her seaside home town after 23 years. She should be overjoyed. After all she has an understanding and kind husband and a child that they went through so much to have. She is also a successful mystery writer. For anyone looking in from the outside she has a wonderful life. The truth is Sam and Mo are falling apart. Having to go through the IVF treatments to have their beautiful baby put a strain on their marriage,,love life and has put them in debt. If all of that isn't bad enough Sam has to finish almost a whole book by late September and we are in late August. Then there are the letters...... You see, when Sam was a teenager she and her best friends played a game called "Never Have I Ever". We have all played but Sam and her friends took it to the next level and something terrible happened. Someone has never stopped playing the game and they are out to make Sam pay for what happened when she was teenager.

I really wanted to read this and though I did enjoy it enough to give it three stars there was something lacking. This book had all the things I love in good thriller. It is set in England, has a twisted cat and mouse game and many suspects but there was something that was missing. I am certain that there are many others that will love this but it just left me wanting something more. There seemed to be so much where nothing really happened and there was also my kryptonite in the form of a main character I didn't care for. There were points in the novel where I thought something big would happen but it never did. I wanted a bigger pay off. It was still a fun read.

Never Have I Ever

Omg what have I just read. I absolutely loved this book and found it so hard to put down, that I’ve actually read it in 2 seatings.
This book had me hooked after the first two chapters
Never have I ever tells the story of a group of teenage girls who decide to put a twist on the traditional game of never have I ever. However, the twist spirals out of control and someone gets hurt!
Samantha is back to her home town, with her husband and toddler. One day she receives a note, never have I ever, and she realises the past is back to haunt her!
This book literally had me reading at speed so I could find out what samantha’s big secret was
It was exciting and captivating and everything that a psychological thriller should be
This is easily a 5⭐️ read for me!

Oooh!! One of those to put you on the edge of your seat and find yourself slipping forward...Sam is an author. They have recently moved back to her childhood home of Ilfracombe for various reasons, finances being one of them as it’s much cheaper to live there than London where they were previously. Sam has a past and a secret. She occasionally gets fan mail but when a fan starts becoming rather more and referring to her past she is getting worried. She tells her husband only the bare outline as he doesn’t know what happened twenty three years ago and she wants it to stay that way. She meets up with a couple of old school friends but the main possible suspect hasn’t been seen for many years and Sam is struggling to track her down- being convinced that’s who is now threatening her. Scenes of domestic chaos and harmony and then bang! That something that puts you off kilter. We have all been there and Lucy gets this across very well. The tension is slowly but surely built and you are not quite sure where this is going. I just had to keep reading and reading, I was so engrossed in this I really couldn’t put it down. Wow! Stunning just doesn’t cover it 5 huge shining stars.
(rest of links on publication)

While this thriller didn't necessarily stand out from the dozens of others that came out recently, it was still a fun ride and the game aspect was unique and intriguing.

The book description and gorgeous cover is what pulled me to this book. And then the protagonist Samantha (Sam) was a teenager in the 1990s like I was (though Sam is just a couple of years older than me.) I identified with Sam on that part and enjoyed the 90s references that were used in the novel.

Now an adult and published author writing under a pseudonym, Sam and her family move back to her hometown then she starts receiving notes. She and her friends played “Never Have I Ever” when they were teens and now that Sam is back, it seems like the game is continuing despite Sam not wanting to play.

Over the course of the novel, Sam thinks she has it figured out and then the final act was significant to read: This is where the past and the present collide together to form the climax of the novel and we finally find out what happened over 20 years ago.

Though a good novel, a few parts of it did not work for me: Sam really was not that likeable and it was just hard for me to think of someone having a huge high school grudge 20+ years later.

I really did enjoy reading about the town of Ilfracombe. With Hay’s vivid descriptions I felt like I was in that town with Sam. I will be reading more from L.V. Hay in the future.

Many thanks to the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for granting me an arc copy.

Sam and her friends play a game of 'Never have I ever' and as the games move on, the dares become nastier. Sam then moves away with her family and thinks thats the end of the unpleasantness.
Years later, following some challenging times Sam, her husband and their baby Son move back to the area. Sam starts receiving anonymous notes which refer to the games she played as a child with her friends. As the campaign against her warms up, Sam has to solve the puzzle to find the answer of who is tormenting her.
Having read the information on this book I thought it an interesting idea and expected it to be an enjoyable read. However, I found the plot to be slow and it seemed to drift on aimlessly. As the story stumbled on I hoped that the conclusion would be one that I didn't see coming and improve my opinion on the plot as a whole. Unfortunately that didn't happen and I was left feeling rather underwhelmed.

This book was based on a very interesting premise (a game of Never Have I Ever gone wrong), and I did enjoy it for the most part. It was a quick and easy read, with a fair amount of suspense and intrigue. However, I don't feel as though I can rate it any higher than three stars, as it REALLY needed a tighter edit. There are multiple tenses scattered throughout the text (which can become confusing at times), as well as a variety of phrases and passages that crop up over and over again.

The story started with a good premise, but the narrative was lost on the way with the author describing the daily activities in such detail. Cutting short on the pages would have helped. Otherwise the story was good and the suspense was well maintained. 3.5 stars

Thank you to the publishers for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this novel, it was a fast-paced story about someone who struggles with the past and deals with a stalker. Thinking the past was catching up to her and a thwart to ruin her life, she ultimately finds that it isn't who she thinks that's after her....

It is said you should never go back, and it seems in Samantha's case returning to Ilfracombe is only compounding mistakes made in the past. Having left Devon in her teens she is now back, married to Mo and with a little boy called Caleb. She is also now a successful crime novelist who takes her and her family's privacy very seriously. So when anonymous notes start arriving at her  new home reminding her of something which happened in her past she sees things begin to unravel before her eyes.

Unfortunately this book didn't work for me. Samantha wasn't a likeable character, and there wasn't anything about her which made me really care what happened to her or her family. The only sympathetic character was Samantha's mother, especially when she was with Caleb, but she wasn't treated any better than anyone else by her daughter even though she was on her side throughout.

It is obvious the author is very familiar with the Devon countryside and having spent time there myself it was a pleasure to read about places I remembered from holidays in my childhood. The descriptions made it easy to envisage everything that was going on and as the action reached its climax the location definitely made everything far more tense.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a story with flashback scenes and a family base.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Sam and her friends used to play a game called never have I ever which is a game of dares. The game goes wrong on Sams last day in Ilfracombe and she thinks she can leave it all behind. However when she returns to Ilfracombe 23 years after she left her past catches up with her.

I had to DNF this.
The tenses are all over the place, something typical of a first, self-published book, and I'm baffled this has slipped by an editor's desk. The main character Sam is repeatedly all over the place. Multiple times each chapter we had to read of her decision to not tell her husband the truth of what was going on, and while I was mildly curious about what was going on, it was clear we were never going to get there. She's pretty awful to her husband without a reason.

The inner dialog was unexciting, repetitive, and went in circles that weren't engaging. There is an inordinate amount of time spent telling the day to day of this women's life, it's incredibly repetitive and is more of a space filler than actually moving the story along. Perhaps if it was properly edited it would be worth revisiting.