Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC.

This book was a hard read in the way it was supposed to be. It tackles hard topics, but in an important way. These topics are important to discuss and read about and are meant to be tough to do. This book was everything I hoped it would be.

What a powerful novel. I was not familiar with Alena Bruzas when I initially request this title, but she has an amazing voice and writing style. She handled difficult topics with grace. Will be recommending this to friends and mature students.

Oh, my god. What a debut. I'm still reeling with this, but one thing I can say with total certainty: this is some of the best writing I have ever read, ever. Lyrical and searing and true in such a beautiful, raw, heart-shredding way. It hurts and hopes and I have a feeling it just might change the world.

Alena Bruzas is an incredible new talent. This is a must-read for everyone.

Virginia hears the gossip about her, the rumours that follow her everywhere she goes about how promiscuous and easy she is. When her best friend Poppy unexpectedly goes away for the summer, she begins to hang out with Poppy's boyfriend, Rumi. Breaking her norm, she does not sleep with him, in respect to Poppy. But as they spend more time together, she begins to realize that she may be falling in love with him. As she grows closer to Rumi, she also grows closer to his younger sister, Lyra, who tells her about a "special friend". As Lyra confides in her more, she begins to feel uncomfortable as the details of this friend are far too familiar to what happened to her.

This book was intense, and so heartbreaking. It covers some difficult topics, such as sexual abuse, grooming, addiction and suicidal ideation. The trauma that Virginia went through as a child, and had to relive in order to help Lyra was hard to read. I know Virginia is meant to be unlikable, but I couldn't help but want to comfort and hug her. She felt like such a real person, and it hurt to watch her turn to alcohol and sex as a coping mechanism because of that trauma. I like how this showed how sexual assault and abuse affects not only the person who it happened to, but also those around them as well and how these effects can last a lifetime. I also loved how it ended on a more hopeful note, when Virginia chooses to speak up.

This does not feel like a debut in the slightest, and I can't wait to read more of this author's work as soon as it comes out.

Ever Since is absolutely gut-wrenching and heartbreaking all wrapped up in one 288 page book. I will always reach for a book that's going to cause pain over one with a happy ending - this book was no exception. Initially, i wasn't sure how i felt about our main character because of her relationship with Rumi, but boy did this book give me bigger fish to fry. Please, dear god, check the trigger warning, As someone that has experienced SA, this book spoke to me and made it that much harder to hear what our main character had gone through. I think this is an incredibly important story and something that needs to be read. The writing is very well done and really allows us to have an insight on the main characters feeling. I will be thinking about this one for years to come.

Also, please read the author's note.

This was difficult to read at times, but ultimately I really loved it - emotional, impactful, difficult but in a necessary way. I hope a lot of people read this one.

Le daría un millón de estrellas a este libro si la plataforma lo permitiera.

Hacia tanto tiempo que no lloraba con tanta profundidad por un libro. Este lo logró. No puedo describir, lo tan conectada y visceral que me sentí con esta historia. Pudiera escribir páginas y páginas sobre lo que opino de ella, pero no le harían justicia. Simplemente daré las gracias por que existan historias tan reales como estas, tan necesarias, y esclarecedoras. Me sentí identificada con cada personaje. Fue como ver una parte de mi vida junto a mis primas a través de un velo. Este libro es un recorrido hacia lo liberador, después de habernos culpado por hechos ajenos a nosotras. Fue hermoso y catártico leerlo.

Recomiendo este libro con los ojos cerrados, no por su estructura, no por su gramática, no por sus diálogos. Sino por su verdad y su mensaje. Y a las personas que han sufrido lo mismo o algo parecido, desde lo más profundo de mi ser, desde mi propia experiencia les diré que, hay luz al final del túnel, y aunque su recorrido sea oscuro y lleno de baches y aunque el.peso de la culpa les esté consumiendo, el círculo cerrará, y será liberador y gratificante. La maldad nunca fue felicidad.

3.5

This story talks about trauma from sexual abuse as a child, sexual assault,, and what these thnigs can bring to a person. it was a hrd to´pic to read about, so to anyone who want to read this book beware to the triggers.
Now , abou the writing... the first chapters were soo hard to get through cus, i didn't understand at firts what was happening, but in the course of the book I managed to understand some things. Even though i can't imagine what a person feels in these situations.

This book was heart-wrenching and beautifully written. Discussing such hardships and the challenges teenagers fit, this book couldn't have been written any better.

A beautiful YA debut with exceptionally difficult topics. Topics that are often hidden or not talked about with teens, yet that affect such an unfortunate number of them.

I don’t have experience with a lot of the difficult topics that were touched on so I felt quite dissociated from the story and couldn’t relate to the characters. But also, this is likely due to my fear of feeling what would be felt. Opening up to understand those feelings would’ve crushed me.

Beautiful book about a very hard subject. How brave the author is for sharing a story so close to home, and shining a light on these topics.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Rocky Pond Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest reviews

WOW!! This book started out slow but OMGosh it picked up and ended so well. This is a story of abuse, rape and SA so I'm glad there is a trigger warning. This story was heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. The author did such an amazing job of describing what trauma can look like, especially in teens who have been abused. Especially the underage drinking, drug use, having sex because you don't know how to say no. I think books like these are necessary, especially in high schools to girls who have gone through this but not for everyone.

Very strong warning of rape, assault, parental neglect, teenage drinking and drug use.

Okay, this book was great. It was so heartwarming. Her story of abuse was so touching and the emotions of the book were so strong. I could almost feel her pain! And when all the pieces came together and you learn the whole story? PERFECTION. It was just so good.

Bruzas did a very good job in writing about the effects of unresolved trauma on a person and I personally could relate to it a lot, especially when she was losing her friends left and right and spiraling out of control. Books like these are very necessary, especially for the people who don't understand how trauma can affect someone.

Overall, very hard hitting and enjoyable.

Alena’s writing style is beautiful. This is precisely why I couldn’t actually finish this book—I only got to about fifty pages in. I’ve never meshed very well with lush, literary narratives, with protagonists who are so quietly observant. It’s hard for me to rate books like this, where I know the book is incredible, but it just isn’t the right book for me to read. But this one really is amazing.

Go into this book knowing you will leave it with a heavy heart and a lot to think about. Ever Since tackles complicated issues such as grooming, abuse, and friendships in a way that is both powerful and impactful. This story is important for anyone to read.

Oof this was a tough read, just because of all the pain Virginia has been through. For me it's interesting to compare/contrast with The King Is Dead because I read that and I was like "why is this kid making the WORST choices ughhh" and here Virginia is also making very bad choices but you get why and see how victims of abuse can get into these cycles. Her kind of dreamy friend group gave me The Perks of Being a Wallflower vibes.

I don't think this book is for everybody but I think it's going to mean a lot to some teens. Major content warnings for child sexual abuse/parental neglect.

Ever Since is a book which tore my heart out in the best way. It's a book that feels timely and necessary. A book about grooming and abuse, but also about slut shaming and friendship. About love and speaking out, family and codependency. It's about the stories and myths we think we know, which always hide shadows in the corners. How people take advantage of the stories, the legends, the 'truths' they think they know about us, our lives, and our choices.

I got an ARC of this book.

I was so excited for this book, but it wasn't anything I wanted.

It was overly written, which really got on my nerves. Sometimes beautiful prose can really elevate a story. Sometimes it can drag it down. In this case, it really slowed the story down and made it inch at a snail's pace.

I even tried listening to the audiobook, but the narrator was incredibly dramatic. Everything was the end of the world at all times. Combine this over the top narration with the over the top writing and I was lost and uninterested. Blah, I was so hopeful this would be like Nina LaCour and I would have another author I would insta-read everything by. Maybe the next book will do it for me.

A hard-hitting contemporary story of resilience and finding one's voice. Ever Since is an important read and stayed with me a long time. I highly recommend this book.

The novel is a real and raw story centered around the dynamics between a group of friends the summer of their freshman year. It is about their friendships, their fallout, loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness.
The novel feels with really weighty subjects: sex, sexual abuse, date rape, alcohol abuse, and emotional abuse.
The characters are diverse in ethnicity and gender identity.
Again, it is REAL.
If you’ve got a teenager in your life, this novel would offer AMAZING points of discussion around sexuality, friendship, victimization, healing and empowerment.