Never Have I Ever – Joshilyn Jackson

Happy Monday!

Thanks to William Morrow for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

NEVER HAVE I EVER – Joshilyn Jackson (out tomorrow!)

How was everyone’s weekend? I spent it getting my nails done and reading. With the occasional run to the gas station or Dollar General in town to get some fresh air and grab a Dr. Pepper or snack. Because who reads without a snack or two?

My Thoughts: 4/5 stars!

I’ve been enjoying some thrillers and suspense novels lately, but this is more of a domestic thriller/drama. I haven’t really had too many of those lately, and most of them seem to be so similar to each other these days. NEVER HAVE I EVER by Joshilyn Jackson brings a new and refreshing take on the genre. Who here has played the drinking game? I mean, that was one of the games that you learned a whole lot about your friends and sometimes more than you wanted to know. Well, this game gets turned on its head and takes a darker turn.

Amy and her neighbors have a monthly book club and one night that changes when their new neighbor, Roux, joins them. She turns things into more of a drinking night and less about the book they all read. Drinking brings about a new game of hers that she calls a newer version of never have I ever. Only this one is about the worst things you’ve done. The winner is the one that did the worst thing for that period of time. Round one is that day, round two is that week, then it continues into the worst things you’ve ever done in your life. Amy has a terrible secret from her past that she never wants to get out, even her husband doesn’t know about it, but when Roux alludes to the fact that she is aware of it, everything turns into a little game. How far will everyone go to protect their secrets?

The beginning started a little slow for me despite the game being introduced in chapter one. I think it was the slightly longer chapters that felt slow for me. I’m so used to the 5 page chapters that the 10-20 page chapters felt really long (being someone that reads chapter to chapter). I loved the characters, and damn, Roux is ruthless. Jackson does a great job developing these characters and weaving the story for us. I haven’t picked up anything by Jackson in the past, but I will be now! I highly recommend this to anyone wanting a good domestic thriller/suspense.