I requested this book because of the interesting synopsis. I will admit that I struggled with this one. The writing was so broken up, and I feel like the plot was not as strong as it could have been. The idea behind the book was good, but I feel like it could have been written better. I will read more from this author to see how they progress with their novels.

Thank you Net Galley ARC

I dare you to read this at home alone at night, next to a dark window. It was so spooky, I wanted to stop before the next gruesome death, but I couldn't put it down until the end!

I hate when I can easily guess the culprit of a whodunit, and by now it's hard to find mysteries I can't guess. But Jones masterfully drops clues and misdirection that led me right into his trap. I did guess the culprit at one point, but immediately fell for the misdirection Only in retrospect can I see the clues that gave me a fair shot at unraveling the mystery, and it all makes perfect sense.

Never Have I Ever by Hawker Jones, I really like this book except for the fact I thought they were way too many people in the book but a Halloween horror story is right up my alley and with the teens trying to figure out who is texting them and why was something I really enjoyed. It a small town in Michigan, eight friends and a killer or at first a potential killer on the loose. I do want to mention I really was surprised as to who the culprit was and think I may be losing my discernment because that has been happening a lot lately. As far as this book goes, I would definitely recommend it for a fast fun horror story.#NetGalley, #HawkerJones, #NeverHaveIEver,

I found the premise of this to be so exciting but the writing itself was so choppy I couldn't get into it.

This book wasn't my favorite read. The writing was very choppy and all over the place. The writer spent so much time on description that I got bored getting to the plot of the story. It felt as if a teenage girl had written it.

Wow! What a good YA whodunit! Absolutely loved this read- couldn't put it down!
Teen games and secrets! Everyone has them! You can't trust no one

Once captivated into the story it took you for a thrill ride. By far one of the best reads. Kept me on the edge of my seat the more I read!

Set in the small town of Willow Creek, Michigan, "Never Have I Ever" transforms a classic party game into a deadly challenge when eight teenagers receive anonymous texts demanding they reveal their darkest secrets. As players begin dying one by one, what starts as a threatening game evolves into a fight for survival.
The Good
Engaging Premise
The novel's central concept cleverly modernizes classic teen horror tropes by incorporating social media and text messaging into its narrative framework. The "Never Have I Ever" game provides an effective vehicle for exploring themes of secrets, trust, and teenage relationships.
Pacing and Suspense
The story hits its stride around the halfway mark, maintaining a gripping momentum through to its conclusion. The gradual unveiling of secrets creates genuine intrigue, while the mounting body count adds urgency to the narrative.
The Challenges
Character Overload
The early chapters suffer from introducing too many characters too quickly, making it difficult for readers to keep track of the large cast. This initial confusion eventually settles, but it creates a rocky start for readers.
Language Inconsistencies
A notable issue appears in the novel's vocabulary choices. The author's use of advanced vocabulary (particularly in the first fifth of the book) feels forced and unrealistic for teenage characters. While linguistic variety is admirable, the sophisticated word choices often break character authenticity and may alienate readers.
Plot Structure Issues
The narrative struggles with maintaining consistent character involvement. Key characters like Hikah inexplicably fade into the background after strong initial presence, while new characters appear late in the story with little explanation. The reveal of the killer's identity lacks proper foundation, leading to a conclusion that feels more confusing than satisfying.
Romance Elements
The romantic subplots tend toward the superficial, though this may be appropriate for the young adult target audience. These elements, while potentially appealing to younger readers, might feel underdeveloped to more mature audiences.
Writing Style
The author demonstrates skill in creating atmosphere and maintaining suspense, reminiscent of classic young adult horror series like Point Horror. The writing is generally polished and accessible, though occasionally marred by vocabulary choices that don't align with character voices.
Final Verdict
"Never Have I Ever" is a mixed success that will likely appeal to younger readers who enjoy thriller elements and don't mind some narrative inconsistencies. While the novel shows promise in its premise and ability to build tension, it struggles with character development and plot coherence.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Recommended for:

Fans of young adult thrillers
Readers who enjoy social media-integrated storytelling
Those nostalgic for 90s teen horror

May Not Appeal To:

Readers seeking complex character development
Those who prefer tightly plotted mysteries
Adults looking for sophisticated thriller elements

The novel ultimately reads like a modern take on classic teen horror, complete with both the genre's strengths (suspense, high stakes) and weaknesses (plot holes, character inconsistencies). While it may not satisfy more demanding readers, it provides enough thrills to entertain its target young adult audience.

The premise is promising. The execution is messy. I received a free eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC of this book.

The premise of this book sounded really interesting and it started out decent. Minus the fact that the author used at least 4 words in the first 19% that even I had to use my kindle dictionary for, and that teens, especially 3 or 4 separate ones, are highly unlikely to use. I get wanting to change up the words so you aren’t over using them, but they need to make sense for your characters. These just didn’t and so it felt a bit pretentious and alienating at those moments.

After that the first 40% or so was intriguing, but then it just started to drag out and become a bit convoluted.

Also, in the beginning Hikah was involved with the texts and then all of a sudden she was just a side person not part of it at all. Also, another random person is brought in at the last bit in passing.

Once we find out who the killer is it just makes no sense. Then two other side characters are randomly there, who knows why, and the ending just felt like a mess.

Never have I ever by Harker Jones
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

I love horror and YA so was really looking forward to reading this book, I was hoping it was going to be like ‘scream’ crossed with ‘I know what you did last summer’ and ‘pretty little liars’ and the description it should have been, that and the cover really drew me in. Sadly thats where the excitement ends. It’s 3rd person written, which I personally struggle with, so it took me a lot longer than usual to read. That coupled with the fact that it was overly descriptive to the point it ruined the flow of the book for me. Not much happens for the first 3rd of the book, unfortunately it was really slow to get to anything that made me want to continue.
I’ve never DNF’d a book in my life and I don’t intend to start now, that being said I was close to putting it down. I loved the concept, not so much the execution. I pushed through and it does get better.

It’s set during the autumn and Halloween which helps set the scene for the creepy things that happen. There’s a lot of mentions of secrets and lies to be unravelled and honestly that’s what kept me reading. The twists were good and the secrets revealed throughout were decent too. The author builds enough suspense to make the conclusion worth waiting for.

It brought light to teenage angst and the struggle to fit in with your peers and showed us just how fragile the teen ego is. Overall I enjoyed this read once I got past the first 30% the more I read the more I enjoyed it.

I read this and then took a step back having not realized that it was YA. So while I don't typically read YA, horror or otherwise, they definitely read differently meaning YA's typically don't have as much depth and characters to easily follow along. However, in this book there were a lot of characters and didn't seem like too much was going on and also didn't get any feeling of dread that I should from a horror book.

I enjoyed the story - it reminded me of the Point Horror series from my youth. In the first few chapters it felt like there were too many characters and it was difficult to keep up. I also found the story lines of teenage crushes and love interests a little shallow and juvenile though I appreciate this is tailored to the intended market. I also liked the way the secrets unravelled. There was good sense of drama - the injection of pace from about half way through that carried through to the end was particularly successful, as was the ending.

I struggled to follow this book. I love the cover and the premise is great, but the style didn't work for me. If the synopsis sounds interesting to you, give it a go. It's YA.

I had trouble following the multiple POVs which usually isn't a problem for me, but the character descriptions here are sort of info dumps and then action and my brain forgot who we were on by the time we got into the action. This could be a me issue. So, don't let my struggle stop you from giving this a go.

2.5 Rounded Up because ARCs aren't final drafts.

I was really excited to read this book, based on the synopsis it sounded everything I love. Unfortunately I struggled so hard with the beginning, and it didn’t get any better. My biggest issue was the fact that we had so many POVs but they were all the same, I couldn’t distinguish between them.

Story: In the small town of Willow Creek, Michigan, a group of eight teenagers find themselves entangled in a deadly game of "Never Have I Ever." After receiving anonymous texts daring them to confess their deepest secrets, the game takes a sinister turn as the players start dropping dead one by one. With each death, the stakes get higher, forcing the remaining teens to question their friendships, trust, and darkest secrets.

My Thoughts:

Engrossing and Suspenseful: Jones expertly weaves a tale of mystery and suspense that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The fast-paced narrative, coupled with the chilling atmosphere, creates a sense of tension that lingers long after you turn the final page.
Compelling Characters: The characters are well-developed and complex, each with their own hidden secrets and motivations. Their interactions are realistic and believable, adding depth and authenticity to the story.
Unique and Innovative: The use of the "Never Have I Ever" game as a central plot device is clever and original. It provides a unique framework for exploring themes of trust, betrayal, and the consequences of our actions.
Well-Written and Polished: Jones's writing is polished and engaging, making the story easy to read and follow. The descriptions are vivid and evocative, creating a strong sense of setting and atmosphere.
Overall:

"Never Have I Ever" is a thrilling and suspenseful young adult novel that will appeal to fans of the genre. With its engaging characters, unique premise, and fast-paced narrative, it's a must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling and unforgettable read.

I decided to give this book a try knowing it was a YA novel. I enjoy a good horror/slasher movie and the synopsis. I thought my pre teen son might enjoy it after I read it. Unfortunately I don’t think he would make it thru it. I found it hard to understand the story line and where it was. There was way too many characters to keep track of. I found it too be all over the place. The author should have stuck more to one character.
I unfortunately wasn’t a fan at all

A young student, Jess, disappears after a Halloween party at an abandoned farmhouse. A year later, she still hasn’t been found. In the run-up to the anniversary of her disappearance, the following Halloween, the nerves of the townsfolk, especially those of her classmates, are already strained.

When eight students, Chase, Kim, Beth, Johnny, Biff, Andy, Scott and Christa, receive an identical text from an unknown number, asking them to play the game, Never Have I Ever, or be prepared to face the consequences, at first they fear that Jess may have returned to wreak vengeance, though no one knows what grudge she might bear. Initially, the eight students take the threat lightly until one of them is killed by someone in a scarecrow costume. Or maybe it isn’t a costume?

For at the end of the town, on the edge of the forest, lives Susan Boyle, an old and nearly destitute hag who is rumoured to dabble in magic and who is accused of having murdered her own kids. Is it Susan killing the children of the town for the rhyme they all sing about her?

First one, then another of the eight students who received the text begin to get killed. As the numbers drop from 8 to 7, and then 6, then 5, nerves are frayed, and it seems that every one of them has secrets they are hiding.


The remaining students huddle together, hoping to find answers and stay alive. Will they figure out who is out to get them before the killer comes for them again?



The book, written in the omniscient past tense PoV, took a long time to get into the heart of the story. For far too long, the narrative remained caught up in the drama of the high school students’ lives.

Until the 19% mark, we were still getting to know the characters. Nothing had even happened yet. Even the Prologue, which had held out some promise, seemed like a waste of time.

Around the 24 percent mark, the author was still dishing out more inane high school drama—who is crushing on who, who is in a relationship, etc. The characters took too long to figure out that they had all received the same text. Things started becoming interesting only at the 25 percent mark.

Once the killings started, the author was on a surer footing, holding the pace fast and steady, and keeping us readers at the edge of our seats. I continued to read. The author’s confidence was evident in the quality of the writing. The dialogues improved, not hitting a false note. The descriptions, particularly those relating to the rural setting, got better.



What marred the reading experience for me was the large number of errors. The book needed better editing.

A boy was described as, “He was so shining.” In another instance, we see this line, “Why tempt fate of suspension?’ One character, we are told, “busted into laughter.” Another character feels an “alleviation of the heart.”

In Chapter 1, we meet Barrett ‘Biff’ Branigan. Then in Chapter 7, we meet Biff’s mother, Elizabeth Barrett, even though in Chapter 6, she had been referred to as Elizabeth Branigan. The author uses the word sphincter when perhaps the word, spectre, was more suitable.

At one point, the surviving students find a tiara in a grave, and the narrator tells us the name of the student that it belonged to. A few short paragraphs later, Johnny identifies the student who owned the tiara. Johnny’s statement is meant to be revelatory but isn’t as the narrator has already made the revelation.

The students also find another student’s cuff in the same place. The thought that the owner of the tiara and the owner of the cuff may be colluding together is raised, when one student wonders how the two objects could be found together. Once again, some chapters later, Kim comes up with the theory that the owners of the two objects might have been working together and Biff cries out, “Whoa, I never considered two.”

Two different characters, Kim and Christa, think of the school principal as creepy and weird respectively. But both think, individually, that he is not a ‘pedo’.

The fact that the school building was built in an H formation was repeated twice.

A good editor would have weeded out these issues.



Although I was drawn into the events of the plot, I didn’t actually relate to the characters, possibly because of the surfeit of information about each one of them. Too much is told to us about them. Despite all the information, they were all no different from high school students in any other book. The only character I would have liked to know more about was Susan.

There’s a subplot that seems to be making a big deal about Biff’s sexuality, when it is obvious from the beginning.

Other than Andy’s parents who show up at the fag end of a chapter, and Biff’s mother who makes an appearance, none of the other parents have any role to play.

I thought it was clever of the author to invoke the scarecrow, the scary creature that scares birds and people alike, while bringing in a reference to Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz.

I also appreciated the author’s attempt to bolster an unlikely hero.



Even though I don’t really enjoy the slasher-fest sub-genre of horror, this book held my interest. I hope the author intends to build on the momentum raised by this one. The only way I could settle for that ending was if there was a Book II coming up.

If you are a fan of 90’s slasher movies like Scream, I know What You Did Last Summer & Urban Legend then you are going to love this book, just like I did!

The book is based in a small town, Manchester Michigan, where 8 teenagers each receive the same text … Never Have I Ever which starts a deadly game of mystery & murder.

I was gripped from the first few pages of the premise, which told of a girl that had gone missing last Halloween & had never been found. This is a town with secrets.

The story kept me engaged, its twists & turns thrilling & irresistible. I needed to constantly know more! It is a fast paced story full of tension & suspense. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it!
Harker Jones has given us a perfect Halloween thriller, which I absolutely loved. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a long time! I am really hoping that there are more books like this one on the horizon from Harker Jones!
I need more!

DNF. Goodness, I hate saying that. From the description, title, and cover, I thought this book would be right up my alley. It was supposed to have everything I look for in a book---murder, masked killer, and/or teen detectives. That only means something if you can make it to when those things start happening.
From the beginning, I could tell this book would be a struggle. After a confusing prologue, the reader---I--- was bombarded with information about characters, that was unnecessary in a way that felt like the author was trying to fit as much as they could in a chapter. I could deal with that. I couldn't deal with the constant run-on sentences that the author tried fixing with commas bc there were too many of those.
I wish I could have made it further, but I didn't.