“Wonderful—suspense and surprises, real characters, and a scary, ominous backbeat. This feels like the book Jackson was born to write.” —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling authorNamed a Best Book by USA Today • People • The Wall Street Journal • Time • Entertainment Weekly • Bustle • and many more!From New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson, a twisting novel of domestic suspense … Journal • Time • Entertainment Weekly • Bustle • and many more!
From New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson, a twisting novel of domestic suspense in which a group of women play a harmless drinking game that escalates into a war of dark pasts
In this game, even winning can be deadly…
Amy Whey is proud of her ordinary life and the simple pleasures that come with it—teaching diving lessons, baking cookies for new neighbors, helping her best friend, Charlotte, run their local book club. Her greatest joy is her family: her devoted professor husband, her spirited fifteen-year-old stepdaughter, her adorable infant son. And, of course, the steadfast and supportive Charlotte. But Amy’s sweet, uncomplicated life begins to unravel when the mysterious and alluring Angelica Roux arrives on her doorstep one book club night.
Sultry and magnetic, Roux beguiles the group with her feral charm. She keeps the wine flowing and lures them into a game of spilling secrets. Everyone thinks it’s naughty, harmless fun. Only Amy knows better. Something wicked has come her way—a she-devil in a pricey red sports car who seems to know the terrible truth about who she is and what she once did.
When they’re alone, Roux tells her that if she doesn’t give her what she asks for, what she deserves, she’s going to make Amy pay for her sins. One way or another.
To protect herself and her family and save the life she’s built, Amy must beat the devil at her own clever game, matching wits with Roux in an escalating war of hidden pasts and unearthed secrets. Amy knows the consequences if she can’t beat Roux. What terrifies her is everything she could lose if she wins.
A diabolically entertaining tale of betrayal, deception, temptation, and love filled with dark twists leavened by Joshilyn Jackson’s trademark humor, Never Have I Ever explores what happens when the transgressions of our past come back with a vengeance.
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Hoo-whee! What a thriller! It’s fraught with tension triple times! I almost could not read it as it starts out so scary and spine chilling. Just the thought of someone you do not know entering your life and knowing your deepest, darkest secrets and evilly willing to use them against you is chilling enough.
Great read for all you psychological reader buffs.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book starts off with a bang and never lets up! I was sucked in from the very beginning when Roux shows up for the neighborhood book club. What is her agenda, really? Not to talk about books, that’s for sure.
As Roux’s reasons for showing up in the community starts to come out, so do the secrets. And how much are others going to be willing to pay to keep those secrets hush-hush? I don’t remember the last time I had such strong negative feelings for a character as I had for Roux. Her part is so well written and she is so evil and conniving—you are going to love to hate her.
Never Have I Ever is a fast-paced, exciting page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat to the very end. I loved everything about it and may just be my my new favorite Joshilyn Jackson story. I highly recommend it and I’m excited for others to read it!
Wow! Never Have I Ever really grabs the reader from the very first chapter taking twists and turns on every page. There is an odd darkness that is completely believable & an ending that will surprise. Highly recommend.
I received this book from Early Readers, through The Librarything. This is the first book I have read by this author. It took me a little bit to get into this book and I can’t say that is was “couldn’t put down”, but I did enjoy this book. Roux blackmails Amy over something happened 20+ years ago and threatens to destroy the life that Amy built. Amy hits back but Roux always seems to be one step ahead. I couldn’t figure out who Roux was or how she found out about Amy’s past. And although I’m not sure we really find out who she is, you can’t help but be hooked.
This is my first Joshilyn Jackson novel, but it won’t be the last! I quickly discovered why her books are so popular! This psychological thriller is unpredictable, original and believable. This author pulls out all the stops toward making the reader experience numerous emotions throughout the entirety of this novel. My heart rate and respirations increased as events unfolded. The cast of characters is strong and convincing. My heart ached as I experienced Amy’s story through her first person narrative of the destructive events in her young life. What doesn’t kill us strengthens us, as evidenced by Amy’s harrowing story. There is much more to reveal about this compelling and original story, but I won’t spoil it for those of you who decide to experience this thrilling psychological drama on your own. I highly recommend Never Have I Ever! It’s like nothing I’ve read before! Don’t miss it!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through the Goodreads Giveaway program. All expressed opinions are honest and my own.
Never Have I Ever by author Joshlyn Jackson will have you reading non-stop until the last page! Amy lets her best friend Charlotte use her home to host the neighborhood book club. One night a new neighbor drops in and stirs up so much more than the plot of the current book! Angelica Roux is a mystery to Amy and Charlotte. When Roux threatens Amy with a secret from her teenage past, a deadly game begins. Amy realizes that Roux is evil and could possibly break up her family and even cause her to be sent to prison. As the psychological struggle between Amy and Roux becomes more serious, the balance between truth and lies shifts dramatically.
Never Have I Ever has a shocking twist as the power game between the two women is brought to a close.
Publication Date July 30, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I received the ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
This is a new author for me, and typical I love suspense/thrillers, having said that I found this to be a good read but not a great read. The book started out slow and I found it a little far fetched a new neighbor shows up getting everyone drunk to spill their secrets. I am sure many will enjoy the book greatly it just wasnt for me.
A secret from her past and someone who happens to show up that may ruin everything.
During their regular, monthly book club meeting a knock on the door brings a new member who as the evening wears on definitely isn’t welcome.
Roux knows something about Amy and innocently suggests they play a game called Never Have I Ever.
What dark secret could Amy be hiding, how does Roux know about it, and how did Roux find Amy?
Roux demanded money, and Amy had it.
Who would have thought after all this time someone would find out and take the time to look into what Amy did as a fifteen-year old?
Roux did just that, and she was pretty clever, but Amy was pretty clever too so the game gets intense for both of them, but who has the most to lose?
Both women are strong and determined. Both know how to play games, but will the winner take all or will both players lose?
A tiny bit on the slow side at first, but not for long. Ms. Jackson took a nightmarish incident that could very well happen and turned it into a story line that will grab you and will have you wondering how someone would even think about doing something like this to someone and how they were able to acquire the information they found or how they even found the person.
You will be on the edge of your seat as you turn the pages and anxiously await how this game goes. 5/5
This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Amy has a comfortable life with her loving husband, stepdaughter Maddie, and baby Oliver. Then one night at the monthly neighborhood book club meeting a stranger threatens her life as she knows it. Amy has a secret that she has kept hidden…until now. Roux knows what she did and wants retribution. But Amy has too much to lose so she fights back. But as it says on the cover of the book “In this game, even winning can be deadly.”
This book is a departure from Joshilyn Jackson’s usual Southern women fiction. However, Jackson brings to her debut thriller aspects of her previous novels that her fans love – the strong female friendships, the witty bantering, and the characters you love to hate. She brings us two equally strong women who are ready to do battle – a battle of wits. Both with secrets they will do anything to keep hidden. Her mastery of this genre-flip may well attract readers not familiar with her previous works.
The story quickly grabbed me and took me on an exhilarating ride. It kept me on the edge of my seat as their cat-and-mouse game was played out. I do hope she will write more books of this genre.