Member Reviews
Never Ever You by Sarah Echavarre. This story was a Groundhog Day story but it wasn’t. I think you will find the story interesting if you read it.
I’m biased because time travel books are my weakness and one with a unique concept like this will ultimately always be 5 stars for me, but I loved this concept! What an underrated little gem of a book.
This book had me invested in the story, I was like really trying to figure things out, I loved the ground hog day type of timeline too, it was not as spicy as some of her books, so if that was a reason to not read it you should. It is single POV but you understand why in the first chapter.
I didn't mind this book but also was confused with the plot. The main character is traveling backwards in time only to come back the present moment but seemingly took no risks during time travel? I think the story could have been told just in the present tense tbh. I liked the characters and the drama. Thanks NetGalley for this ARC :)
Never Ever You was one of the best books I’ve read recently! I love a good magical realism time-warp story, but this was a new one… jump one year into the future, and then wake up one day earlier every day, living the year in reverse! On Valentine’s Day, which is also her one-year wedding anniversary, Riley falls asleep next to her husband Tristan, after a disastrous evening with his family which ends in an argument with Tristan’s cousin Milo, who she hates. So imagine her shock when she wakes up the next morning, sans wedding ring, next to Milo, exactly a year later. As each day progresses, in reverse, she comes to learn about everything that happened in that crucial year that got her to that place, and we experience the end of a love story in reverse. Beautiful, tender, with moments of fun and humor, Never Ever You was a unique story!
This was a unique plot line where we follow Riley who is married to Tristan in a happy marriage and she wakes up the next morning with Milo, Tristan’s cousin who she does not really get on with. As we follow Riley she goes back each day when she wakes up to the year before and we slowly piece together how things have unfolded.
I thought Milo was a nice and endearing character and I was quickly hooked into the story to see how things unfolded. There was a great cast of characters and I enjoyed Riley trying to find out information without raising any suspicions. It’s a gripping story and I enjoyed the storyline and the characters.
This was a pretty standard, but sweet, romance told backwards. The leads were endearing and the ex was awful. The summary made me think it was going to be a twisty tale featuring a love triangle. It wasn't really either of those things, but I thought it was a cute, easy read.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.
Everyone has that thing that, no matter how it’s written, will just drive them nuts and make them not like a book. For me it’s when the main character has more internal dialogue that external interaction. Unfortunately for me, Ever After You falls victim to this and was not the book for me.
Besides the fact that Riley comes off pretty unlikable in the first few chapters, we get to see most of what happens in this book through what/how Riley thinks about it. Even interactions with other characters ultimately revolve around Riley’s interpretation of it. What that leads to is the same thoughts on a page over and over…how Tristan’s family treats her, how Milo’s family treats her, how Tristan and Milo are different…all repeated multiple times in pretty much the same way. The scenes incorporated are meant to emphasize these thoughts rather than really let us know the characters and couples in a deeper way, and to be honest it drove me crazy. I think I would have really liked Milo if we really got a better sense of who he was instead of just what Riley sees him to be. I wish I got to see more about each couple as a couple so I could form my own opinions of the characters vs. how Riley sees them.
The conflicts also fell very flat for me. Riley’s conflict with Tristan, while big, never felt fully flushed out. Riley’s conflict with Milo just annoyed me…she created more of out something that was already known for the sake of conflict IMO. The plot of this story had so much potential in my eyes, but the execution just wasn’t it for me. While others may not have the same hang-ups, this is a hard book for me to recommend to others.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I appreciate the opportunity.**
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This romance novel is perfect for fans of The Notebook, About Time or Me Before You. I enjoyed the unique story of a woman g0ing forward a year in the future in order to come to terms with her present.
I thought the audiobook narrator Jennifer Aquino had a great voice and I thought she also did a wonderful job with the British accents in the book. I would definitely listen to more books narrated by her in the future!
I will also be on the lookout for more books by Sarah Echavarre in the future as well!
Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
Connect with me for more reviews and content:
https://linktr.ee/bookreviewsbyjules
(includes links to my Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, Storygraph, blog, and Substack newsletter)
If you're an author or publisher with questions about my reviews, stats, reach, or engagement, feel free to email me. I'm also open to book review requests. Thank you for taking the time to read my review, and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me this ARC to review.
A truly unique love story that will keep you on your toes.
On the morning after her first wedding anniversary with Tristan, Riley Ricci-Chase wakes up exactly one year later with no wedding ring and Milo, her husband's cousin, who she hates by her side. The confusion doesn't stop there, as when she runs to find Tristan for comfort and answers she finds that he is living with his ex and has fathered a child. With every new day that comes, Riley is travelling back through time to the mysterious morning after where her life turned upside down. And she is dying to know the answers to what happened with Tristan and what blossomed with Milo.
As a unique take on the amnesia trope, Never Ever You has you gripped from the very start and has you feeling intrigued yet frustrating as you play catchup alongside Riley. Never reading something like this before, I admired Never Ever You and was eager to finish the book to discover the answers that Riley was seeking. Yet I would argue that the plot carried my interest and desire to continue reading, as other aspects such as connecting with the characters and depth within writing fell flat for me personally. I would still recommend this read however as you may have a different experience and it is such a unique plot that was an enjoyable experience to read for the first time.
“Never Ever You” is Sarah Echavarre is an enjoyable rom-com sprinkled with a dash of time travel.
In “Never Ever You,” we meet Riley, who is celebrating her first wedding anniversary with her husband, Tristian. But after a day that ended up being everything other than what Riley wanted, Riley wakes up a year later, no longer married to Tristian and instead, romantically involved with Milo, Tristian’s cousin. How did any of this happen? What she discovers is that she is going back in time, waking up each morning one day closer to the original first wedding anniversary date.
.
I have read stories that work backwards, though not executed in such magical way. What I didn’t understand was why the story had to be told in this particular format. However, I found the characters, especially Riley, relatable, though some, like Tristian, were complete a holes. Overall, this is a good story but not a great one.
Three out of five stars.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this great read.
I really struggled with this book and it just wasn’t for me.
The whole backwards timeline was confused with no real explanation about what or why this had happened. I kept thinking we’ll get to the end and find out what this is all about but it was a bit of a cop out with no explanation, like it might as well as been ‘and it was all a dream’ kind of ending.
As a main character, Riley was hugely unlikeable - obnoxious, full of herself and thought herself better than others. None of the secondary characters made up for this sadly, with most feeling very one dimensional and only there to prop up Riley’s ego. The writing style wasn’t for me either, and I found it a little lazy, for example numerous occasions Riley woke up in a different timeline and thought what had happened or where her relationship with a particular person was up to, and miraculously another character would just stumble into a conversation about it. There was also a lot of repetition of conversations and themes throughout which felt like a lot of filler.
Normally I finish a book in a day or two but I found this one a real slog and took me well over a week to get through. There were many times I considered giving up but I like to give the benefit of doubt and hope there’ll be an exciting twist or ending to make it worthwhile but there really wasn’t. Just not for me I’m afraid.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this in exchange for my views.
This is an interesting love story that has a unique twist thanks to a little magical realism. Riley and Tristan's marriage is not what it seems and neither is his cousin Milo. I thought the way the story worked backwards was a fun idea and I liked seeing how the story came together in the end. The families of the main characters were fun to get to know and the differences profound. I listened to the audiobook and the narration is fantastic. This is one that I'm excited to listen to again.
I really liked the story premise. I was curious to see how things would play out and was a bit disappointed in the MC. The timeline was cool but it made no sense why it happened and she never really questions it. The new love connection she has never made any sense to me. Why would anyone stay with a family that doesn’t want them? It made it hard to enjoy the romance and the relationship come across as very unrealistic. I would say it was just an okay read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
First off, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this!
I really wanted to like this book - and I did like parts of it. I think Milo was a fun character and I enjoyed seeing his relationship with Riley. It was sweet and he was so wonderful to her.
But honestly? I don't get it. I don't fully understand why we had to go to the future then work backwards. It just didn't seem to make much sense to me. I understand it allows her to let go of things and stand up for herself - but I just don't know. It didn't land the way I hoped for me.
Additionally, the family characters were over the top and I got a little sick of the harping on the cheating piece. I totally *get* it was important but by the end I was starting to feel like it was getting slammed in my face and I was just... done.
I don't know. didn't fully land for me is the bottom line here. 🤷♀️
Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own
Perfect book to read on a rainy day while recovering from knee surgery. Not only is it a comforting fluffy romance, but it's also a concept I have never read before.
Never Ever You, by Sarah Echavarre, is a time-travel fantasy folded into a romance. Be forewarned...the time travel aspect is not explained and doesn't really make sense. You just have to accept it and enjoy the story. The characters are divided into Team Good and Lovable versus Team Mean and Evil. Yet, they all managed to be relatively entertaining and true to their team names. This was a quick read, and although I enjoyed it, I doubt it will be memorable. It was the perfect light read following several books I struggled to finish. Take it to the beach, the pool, a long flight. Have no expectations and enjoy! Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.
I really, really loved this book! I saw this one getting a lot of mixed reviews, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I love reading romances, and this one really made my heart feel full. I loved Milo's and Poppy's characters, and Riley too I really liked. Would definitely recommend if you are looking for a romance that's deep, romantic and cute. The story doesn't have any spicy scenes and it didn't really need any. Loved loved loved this one!
I really loved this book. It is an interesting concept living your life backwards.
That is what happens to Riley. She wakes up in her car in 2025 with Milo. She can't understand what has happened as the night before she was with Tristan.
She has to live her life going back for the year to try and piece together what happened.
I liked Milo he was really understanding and patient opposite of his cousin Tristan who was a cheating nasty character.
I wasn't keen on the pet names however,
I really liked Poppy, Desmoid, Nessa and Roland. Also I loved Gus and Coco.
Riley certainly found out who the good guys were she had supportive friends who helped her throughout.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.
A time travel tale à la Groundhog Day, in which a happily married woman goes to bed with her spouse, and wakes up the next day with a different husband. Unlike any book you've ever read!