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.

Received an ARC of the audio book from the author.

I wasn’t sure how this was going to play out at the beginning and then bam, Riley wakes up a year later only to find herself in vastly different circumstances than what she had in her yesterday. It was fun and interesting to see how all her relationships, romantic, friendships, family, all change over the course of the year but backwards! Yesterday is tomorrow and tomorrow is yesterday! I honestly wasn’t sure how far the reverse timeline was going but was so happy with how this book ended!!

While magic realism isn't my usual genre, I occasionally explore it to challenge my reading experience. This particular book had an intriguing concept, and I appreciated the resolution where good ultimately triumphed. However, I found myself wanting more depth in the story. The narrative felt a bit disjointed at times, making it hard for me to fully connect with the characters and plot. That said, readers who are more familiar with and enjoy the nuances of this genre may have a different experience

I've generally been a fan of Sarah Echavarre's books and I usually enjoy a good sliding door what if romance but sadly this one was a bit of a flop for me. I struggled to get invested in the characters or the plot and it was just okay as an audiobook. Not one I would go out of my way to recommend sadly. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Can you imagine waking up every day to a day you don’t remember from your past? That’s exactly what Riley Ricci-Chase experiences in Never Ever You by Sarah Echavarre, a romantic comedy that’s as twisty as it is emotional.

We meet Riley on the first anniversary of her marriage to Tristan. She seems to have it all—her shop, great friends, and a husband she adores. The only real blemish in her life? Her relationship with Tristan’s mother who clearly despises her. But despite that tension, everything seems perfect—until it isn’t.

At a celebration in the evening of their anniversary, things take a sharp turn after a family argument at Tristan’s restaurant. After the event, Riley dozes off during the car ride home, only to wake up one year later… and next to someone unexpected. She’s not with Tristan anymore. She’s with Milo, Tristan’s insufferable cousin. As Riley navigates this alternate reality, she realizes she’s moving backward in time, reliving her past year with new knowledge but no memory of how things got this way.

This narrative style—moving in reverse—took me a minute to adjust to. It’s not your typical linear story, but once I settled in after a chapter or two, I found it to be a refreshing and unique way to unfold Riley’s journey. As she rewinds through her life, seeing things from this reversed perspective, you start to question the choices she made and the way her relationships evolve.

The characters shine in this story. Riley is relatable, and it’s fascinating to see her romance develop in reverse, from something seemingly perfect to the unraveling truth. Milo, who initially feels like a thorn in her side, becomes a central figure, and watching the dynamics between them shift is both heartwarming and surprising.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook edition narrated by Jennifer Aquino. While she delivered a clear performance, I sometimes felt like she was simply reading the book rather than bringing it to life. Personally, I connect more with narrators who offer a more animated performance. That said, her narration was still enjoyable and easy to follow, making the story accessible for audiobook listeners.

Final Thoughts:

Never Ever You is an intriguing exploration of love, choices, and time. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted but thought-provoking romantic comedy, this one is worth a listen—or a read.

I received an ARC of this audiobook but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Sarah Echavarre’s new book is a whirlwind of emotions wrapped up in a mysterious, time bending romance! Imagine waking up one day and realizing your life is rewinding, forcing you to face a year of heartbreak and secrets you’d rather forget in reverse! Well, that’s Riley’s life now! I loved how her journey backwards helped her discover the real truth about her relationships, especially with her now ex husband Tristan, the golden boy who wasn’t all he seemed. Milo, on the other hand, totally won me over with his patience and care (and I just have to say, his “Sleeping Beauty” nickname was super cute!).

The family drama was intense, and I couldn’t get enough of Poppy’s loyalty despite her chaotic vibe. The story had a clever, magical twist that kept me hooked until the romantic and satisfying ending.

This book is a fun, emotional ride that makes you root for Riley every step of the way!

***Did contain some MA language and one scene I skipped through…

Huge thank you to #negalley and @brilliancepublishing for the advanced audiobook copy!

I'm not a magical realism fan but I always think the synopsis' of these type of books sound good and ultimately end up requesting them. Never Ever You kept my attention with the audiobook narration clear and concise. Around halfway through the book though, I found myself thinking the story wasn't really going anywhere. Sadly the ending was rushed as well. Considering this isn't my favorite trope, this book actually showed promise. I will definitely read what this author writes next.

Backwards Groundhog Day meets Benjamin Button meets Looper (without the added violence).

This is a story of someone that finds out about her husband’s cheating in a backwards time loop. It is a story of heartbreak and love in the unlikeliest of events. She eventually grasps the concept of navigating this warped reality and comes to terms with her life as she finds out.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jennifer Aquino. The narration brought everything to life. It was an easy listen. I found myself wanting more when it was finished and I couldn’t wait to listen to it when I had to stop.

I wouldn’t mind a series of books about the other characters, especially Poppy. I’d like to know more about her and her love story.

Now, if only I could go back in time…

The opinions written are my own. Thanks to #NetGalley and #BrillianceAudio for the #ARC to review.

#NeverEverYou #SarahEchavarre #Romance #Love #GroundhogDay

Ridiculousness. This book will certainly find its readers, but I am not one of them. Extremely low stakes (what can the stakes be? The heroine knows everything will be great ahead of time), very predictable and repetitive story.

The characters constantly "swell with emotion," find their jaws on the ground, and watch someone’s eyebrows hit their hairline. “A hard swallow,” I kid you not, moves down someone’s throat at least three times.

I listened to the audio version, and the narrator somehow made the book even worse. She might be great elsewhere, but this was not a good collaboration. The really bad English accent is distracting and goes away and comes back randomly. In the first chapter, it sounds like the MC mocks her British husband's accent. It is very difficult to "hear" different characters.

Cliches, anyone?

In the first ten minutes of the book, we get breakfast in bed on a wooden tray, followed by a sex scene. One love interest has “alabaster skin” and the other “mahogany eyes.”

MC is very happy that her husband was able to “fit her in his schedule” (on their wedding anniversary), so he must “really care.” The man made her a coffee and got her three plastic daisies.

(He is allergic to flowers - a clear sign this guy is the villain of the story and a better man is coming, who will gift her a row of peonies.)

Mentioning the cost of the gifts they give each other?
Being a lingerie model is “how she got her husband?”
“I think I’m ready to pop my pet cherry” is said at one point about finally agreeing to get a cat. 🤢

Thank you, NetGalley, for sharing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. The book is out on September 17.

This was definitely interesting. I enjoyed the plot and the characters.
I don’t like Tristan but I am happy Riley found Milo

I feel as if this story as been told before. There wasn't much original idea here to differentiate it from other "time travel/wake up to a new life" stories.

I really really wanted to love this one. The premise is so interesting. It starts off great with Riley waking up on her one year anniversary to her husband. The next day she finds herself in a relationship with her husband's cousin Milo and time is going backward instead of forward. She has so many questions. About half way through the story just kind of fell apart for me and I really struggled to get through it. The writing lacked depth causing me to never get invested in the characters. The author portrayed Riley to be such a victim. She just reacted to everything happening to her. It had so much potential.
I thought the narrator was pleasant to listen to and did a good job reading the story.

Thanks to Brillance Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to listen and review this story.