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Vždycky Jane
Láska se nestará o to, co máte v plánu.
Jane vyrůstala mezi zaměstnanci bohatého hudebního producenta – na dosah milovaných kapel, ale nikdy jedna z nich. Každé léto jezdí s tátou do hor, pracovat v producentově sídle u Kondořího jezera, kde se koná hudební festival – a Jane se konečně povedlo upoutat pozornost Eddieho, syna Sarafianových, kteří ho pořádají. Ale když se vrátí k jezeru a znovu se setká s Eddieho tajuplným bratrem Fenem, začne o svých citech pochybovat. Který z bratrů je pro ni ten pravý? A jaká tajemství skrývá minulost?
Jane vyrůstala mezi zaměstnanci bohatého hudebního producenta – na dosah milovaných kapel, ale nikdy jedna z nich. Každé léto jezdí s tátou do hor, pracovat v producentově sídle u Kondořího jezera, kde se koná hudební festival – a Jane se konečně povedlo upoutat pozornost Eddieho, syna Sarafianových, kteří ho pořádají. Ale když se vrátí k jezeru a znovu se setká s Eddieho tajuplným bratrem Fenem, začne o svých citech pochybovat. Který z bratrů je pro ni ten pravý? A jaká tajemství skrývá minulost?
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2022
52 people are currently reading
7963 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Bennett
26 books4,928 followersJenn Bennett is the author of over a dozen books for children and teens, including: ALEX, APPROXIMATELY; STARRY EYES; and GRUMBONES. She also writes romance and fantasy for adults. Her books have earned multiple starred reviews, been Goodreads Choice Award nominees, and have been included on annual Best Book lists for both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. She lives in a haunted house near Birmingham with one husband and two dogs. Visit her at www.jennbennett.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
April 7, 2022
this story makes me think that JB is trying to enter her own ‘reputation’ era. but instead of writing an edgy, mature YA novel, it just comes across as problematic and super cringey.
thats way harsh, i know, but i really did not like this. i just found so much wrong with it.
the “love triangle” is a joke. eddie is missing for nearly the entire story, fen is an obsessive creep, and jane is just there to do nothing. there is absolutely no plot. the cheating is horrible. there is no development for anyone. and the dialogue is weird.
this is nothing that i would ever expect to come from JB so im totally shocked at how much i disliked everything. the only positive is the aphasia visibility. thats something new for me to read about so that was interesting. but everything else was just a massive disappointment for me.
↠ 2 stars
thats way harsh, i know, but i really did not like this. i just found so much wrong with it.
the “love triangle” is a joke. eddie is missing for nearly the entire story, fen is an obsessive creep, and jane is just there to do nothing. there is absolutely no plot. the cheating is horrible. there is no development for anyone. and the dialogue is weird.
this is nothing that i would ever expect to come from JB so im totally shocked at how much i disliked everything. the only positive is the aphasia visibility. thats something new for me to read about so that was interesting. but everything else was just a massive disappointment for me.
↠ 2 stars
March 20, 2022
As a devoted fan of the author, I get used to give my five shining stars before reading her books because they’re absolutely sweetest romance reads with adorable characters!
But this time I have to give less than five stars!
I’m sadly saying I even thought to give it three stars when I was reading some chapters of the book.If you ask me why I can honestly say: there’s too much going on at this book. Actually there is enough material to write three different books: Dysfunctional families, too much angst, triggering issues, love triangle, enemies to lovers, music, brain trauma etc.
Normally I’m not big fan of live triangles but there’s no real triangle at this book: because Jane has unrequited feelings for Eddie from the beginning. He didn’t care enough of her, never returning to her messages or showing any affection! Then she finds herself drawn to younger and badass musician brother!
Interestingly I loved Fen more than Jane: the black sheep of the family, passionate for two things: Jane and music! He’s keeping too much inside, bottling up frustrations, resentments, unresolved issues! He’s so close to burst out!
I loved Fen and Jane’s enemies to friends and friends to lovers steps and their connection via their musical interests!
The supporting characters including Jane’s father and Fen’s mom were lovely!
The characters’ self growth, evolving were well written!
But the book a little exhausted me by telling too many things at the limited space! I felt like I ran 7 hours long marathon ( I finished it in seven struggling hours)
I’m still rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 pinky, musical, sibling rivalry, class differences, true love against the obstacles stars!
I didn’t love this book as much as the other works of the author! But she’s still brilliant storyteller! I still go blind and read everything she writes before thinking any further!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster’s Children’s Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
But this time I have to give less than five stars!
I’m sadly saying I even thought to give it three stars when I was reading some chapters of the book.If you ask me why I can honestly say: there’s too much going on at this book. Actually there is enough material to write three different books: Dysfunctional families, too much angst, triggering issues, love triangle, enemies to lovers, music, brain trauma etc.
Normally I’m not big fan of live triangles but there’s no real triangle at this book: because Jane has unrequited feelings for Eddie from the beginning. He didn’t care enough of her, never returning to her messages or showing any affection! Then she finds herself drawn to younger and badass musician brother!
Interestingly I loved Fen more than Jane: the black sheep of the family, passionate for two things: Jane and music! He’s keeping too much inside, bottling up frustrations, resentments, unresolved issues! He’s so close to burst out!
I loved Fen and Jane’s enemies to friends and friends to lovers steps and their connection via their musical interests!
The supporting characters including Jane’s father and Fen’s mom were lovely!
The characters’ self growth, evolving were well written!
But the book a little exhausted me by telling too many things at the limited space! I felt like I ran 7 hours long marathon ( I finished it in seven struggling hours)
I’m still rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 pinky, musical, sibling rivalry, class differences, true love against the obstacles stars!
I didn’t love this book as much as the other works of the author! But she’s still brilliant storyteller! I still go blind and read everything she writes before thinking any further!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster’s Children’s Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Want to read
August 17, 2022Jenn Bennett does this thing where she writes a book,, and I somehow end up becoming obsessed with it. It's crazy I know
Want to read
May 18, 2022I am a simple woman: jenn bennett writes, I read.
Want to read
June 12, 2020I can feel the Camp Rock vibes ✨
December 25, 2023
3.5
2023 reads: 387/350
every summer, jane and her father go to the sierras with their boss, a rock producer. the town they go to has a major music festival put on by the sarafians. jane has always had a crush on eddie sarafian, though his brother fen isn’t sure why, given that eddie caused the accident that led to jane’s aphasia years ago. this summer, eddie isn’t in town, but jane and fen get pretty close.
jane presents with a mild form of aphasia which manifests itself as jane experiencing anomia (word retrieval difficulty) and difficulty following long stretches of dialogue. i think this representation is important because it shows that just because it’s been years since the onset of aphasia and progress has been made, difficulties can still persist. however, it’s important for me to reiterate that jane exhibited a mild form of aphasia and people with aphasia you might meet will often present with more difficulty. just as jane’s business card read, make sure you speak clearly and slowly and give the other person extra time.
as for the book itself, it was a bit dull at times. it was good enough for me to keep reading, but didn’t really blow me away or anything. i did like jane’s personal growth, though!
2023 reads: 387/350
every summer, jane and her father go to the sierras with their boss, a rock producer. the town they go to has a major music festival put on by the sarafians. jane has always had a crush on eddie sarafian, though his brother fen isn’t sure why, given that eddie caused the accident that led to jane’s aphasia years ago. this summer, eddie isn’t in town, but jane and fen get pretty close.
jane presents with a mild form of aphasia which manifests itself as jane experiencing anomia (word retrieval difficulty) and difficulty following long stretches of dialogue. i think this representation is important because it shows that just because it’s been years since the onset of aphasia and progress has been made, difficulties can still persist. however, it’s important for me to reiterate that jane exhibited a mild form of aphasia and people with aphasia you might meet will often present with more difficulty. just as jane’s business card read, make sure you speak clearly and slowly and give the other person extra time.
as for the book itself, it was a bit dull at times. it was good enough for me to keep reading, but didn’t really blow me away or anything. i did like jane’s personal growth, though!
March 25, 2022
3.5 stars.
I won this book in a giveaway.
TANGLED THOUGHTS.
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I have had a hard time deciding where I lie on this read. I felt it was a true page turner and within 50 pages I was rather curious how this was going to unfold. Buuuuut there’s some aspects I didn’t love and had a hard time looking past.
The setting was one of my favorites. I love a good lake side story and this small town filled with wealthy people causing all sorts of drama was a good side piece. I didn’t feel like this drama overwhelmed the love story or make me want to roll my eyes repeatedly.
What I mostly struggled with were the cheating aspects. This is a love triangle between two brothers. The love triangle honestly wasn’t what bugged me, it was everything else. I don’t like cheating even when it “makes sense”. I wish a more official break-up had happened prior.
I liked how dark and brooding Fen was. Also how dang passionate this man was about Jane. Wow did he care for her with an intensity that’s been unmatched in my recent reads. I really liked this aspect of his personality and thought it fueled the desire and chemistry.
While it might have been a mixed bag of a read I can’t deny I’m always entertained by Bennett’s books. I was so excited when I won this giveaway and can’t wait for her next enthralling book!
Overall audience notes:
- NA Contemporary Romance
- Language: strong
- Romance: closed door
- Trigger/Content Warnings: substance abuse, near drowning, extreme family dysfunction, side character going to rehab, loss of a parent (prior, but discussed), being kicked out of home, aphasia
I won this book in a giveaway.
TANGLED THOUGHTS.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I have had a hard time deciding where I lie on this read. I felt it was a true page turner and within 50 pages I was rather curious how this was going to unfold. Buuuuut there’s some aspects I didn’t love and had a hard time looking past.
The setting was one of my favorites. I love a good lake side story and this small town filled with wealthy people causing all sorts of drama was a good side piece. I didn’t feel like this drama overwhelmed the love story or make me want to roll my eyes repeatedly.
What I mostly struggled with were the cheating aspects. This is a love triangle between two brothers. The love triangle honestly wasn’t what bugged me, it was everything else. I don’t like cheating even when it “makes sense”. I wish a more official break-up had happened prior.
I liked how dark and brooding Fen was. Also how dang passionate this man was about Jane. Wow did he care for her with an intensity that’s been unmatched in my recent reads. I really liked this aspect of his personality and thought it fueled the desire and chemistry.
While it might have been a mixed bag of a read I can’t deny I’m always entertained by Bennett’s books. I was so excited when I won this giveaway and can’t wait for her next enthralling book!
Overall audience notes:
- NA Contemporary Romance
- Language: strong
- Romance: closed door
- Trigger/Content Warnings: substance abuse, near drowning, extreme family dysfunction, side character going to rehab, loss of a parent (prior, but discussed), being kicked out of home, aphasia
January 4, 2022
I wanted to like this SO BADLY, but the main love interest was just too much of a "dark-horse." Some of his lines made me physically cringe.
December 27, 2021
It took me about 40 seconds to figure who was our narrator and which brother was which when I started reading Always Jane. And then it took me about .02 seconds to fall in love with Fen. Completely and for always. But, by the end of the book it was the author Jenn Bennett to whom I felt the need to confess my undying love, for writing such a beautiful and powerful novel.
In true Jenn Bennett fashion, Always Jane is a compelling and addictive contemporary YA novel, a find-your-voice-and-own-way coming of age novel, with steamy romance, and delightful and complicated family dynamics.
Two years ago, Jane sustained a head injury when she fell off the dam wall at the lake. Fen rescued her and saved her life, but Jane doesn’t remember that. Instead, she believes it was Fen’s brother who was the rescuer and Jane is currently dating Eddie, lured by his charming ways and good looks. When Jane returns to the lake for the summer, she comes face to face with Fen. He’s shocked she doesn’t know the truth about that night two years ago and they trade sharp words. Jane is tempted by the truth Fen can reveal about the secrets Eddie has been keeping from her. Jane offers the solution to the burden Fen has carried since that night. As they spend more time together and get closer, they know they are perilously close to crossing a dangerous line.
Jane and her father work for and live in with a famous musician and music producer. It means constant access to a luxurious life but never really being part of it. Jane is working as a PA and dog sitter for Mad Dog’s daughter throughout the summer. Fen, son of an equally famous and rich music businessman, has been forced to leave home over his feud with his brother and father. Both are unsure about their future and haunted by their pasts.
The chemistry between Fen and Jane is just divine. Fen has been in love with Jane from afar for years and this was only further complicated when he saved her life. Hearing she is dating his brother (who he hates) is maddening. Jane is amazed that someone like Eddie would want to date her, but after only a few interactions with Fen, she starts to realise that Eddie has been lying to her, a lot, and their relationship is not as it seems. Fen and Jane don’t set out to have a romantic relationship, it’s the furthest thing from Jane’s mind, but they share an undeniable connection. So, yes, this book does include activity that one might call cheating, but I was one hundred percent behind it and Jane tries very hard to be upfront with Eddie. There is lots of drama and complications and I was exhausted by the end of the book. But it is all so worth it.
This book is not just about the romance. It’s also about Fen and Jane each finding their place in the world and following their dreams. I loved that the author gives them the time to do this, to chase their dreams, both inside snd outside of their relationship.
Jane’s brain injury is an important part of the story. Jane has worked hard in speech therapy to recover the ability to talk. She still struggles with some words and sometimes can’t find the right word. Her recovery also made graduating from high school hard and she’s not sure what she wants to do with her future.
I also really liked Jane’s relationship with her dad. There are some questions about her linage which could have been a whole thing in the book but Jane never goes there and I think that was really sweet.
Just try to put this book down once you’ve started reading, I dare you. Beautiful.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Wait… Jenn Bennett… that Jenn Bennett? *Screaming* Jenn Bennett has a new book coming!!
In true Jenn Bennett fashion, Always Jane is a compelling and addictive contemporary YA novel, a find-your-voice-and-own-way coming of age novel, with steamy romance, and delightful and complicated family dynamics.
Two years ago, Jane sustained a head injury when she fell off the dam wall at the lake. Fen rescued her and saved her life, but Jane doesn’t remember that. Instead, she believes it was Fen’s brother who was the rescuer and Jane is currently dating Eddie, lured by his charming ways and good looks. When Jane returns to the lake for the summer, she comes face to face with Fen. He’s shocked she doesn’t know the truth about that night two years ago and they trade sharp words. Jane is tempted by the truth Fen can reveal about the secrets Eddie has been keeping from her. Jane offers the solution to the burden Fen has carried since that night. As they spend more time together and get closer, they know they are perilously close to crossing a dangerous line.
Jane and her father work for and live in with a famous musician and music producer. It means constant access to a luxurious life but never really being part of it. Jane is working as a PA and dog sitter for Mad Dog’s daughter throughout the summer. Fen, son of an equally famous and rich music businessman, has been forced to leave home over his feud with his brother and father. Both are unsure about their future and haunted by their pasts.
The chemistry between Fen and Jane is just divine. Fen has been in love with Jane from afar for years and this was only further complicated when he saved her life. Hearing she is dating his brother (who he hates) is maddening. Jane is amazed that someone like Eddie would want to date her, but after only a few interactions with Fen, she starts to realise that Eddie has been lying to her, a lot, and their relationship is not as it seems. Fen and Jane don’t set out to have a romantic relationship, it’s the furthest thing from Jane’s mind, but they share an undeniable connection. So, yes, this book does include activity that one might call cheating, but I was one hundred percent behind it and Jane tries very hard to be upfront with Eddie. There is lots of drama and complications and I was exhausted by the end of the book. But it is all so worth it.
This book is not just about the romance. It’s also about Fen and Jane each finding their place in the world and following their dreams. I loved that the author gives them the time to do this, to chase their dreams, both inside snd outside of their relationship.
Jane’s brain injury is an important part of the story. Jane has worked hard in speech therapy to recover the ability to talk. She still struggles with some words and sometimes can’t find the right word. Her recovery also made graduating from high school hard and she’s not sure what she wants to do with her future.
I also really liked Jane’s relationship with her dad. There are some questions about her linage which could have been a whole thing in the book but Jane never goes there and I think that was really sweet.
Just try to put this book down once you’ve started reading, I dare you. Beautiful.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Wait… Jenn Bennett… that Jenn Bennett? *Screaming* Jenn Bennett has a new book coming!!
March 13, 2022
I used to love this author and her earlier books, but this one was a bit of a let down for me. There was a lot happening that made it hard to focus on the actual story, but at the same time I felt the story was lacking. The author introduced multiple issues through this story that at times it was confusing to keep up with the character and I felt that it never added growth or developed the characters because it never was fully developed or explored. There were times while there was such a disconnect with the story I felt bored while reading.
I didn’t enjoy the romance either. It felt messy and toxic. There’s an underlying “obsessive” feel to their “love story” that didn’t feel organic and I had a hard time connecting or even understanding Jane and Fen. I felt that the author's approach to this storyline felt much weaker in delivery than her other stories in the past.
I really wanted to love this story, but this was just not a good match. There were a lot of issues with this book that made it feel underwhelming and confusing. I didn’t think at all the cover matched the darkness of the story, so if you are thinking this is a lighthearted YA romance, this is not that book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this ARC.
I didn’t enjoy the romance either. It felt messy and toxic. There’s an underlying “obsessive” feel to their “love story” that didn’t feel organic and I had a hard time connecting or even understanding Jane and Fen. I felt that the author's approach to this storyline felt much weaker in delivery than her other stories in the past.
I really wanted to love this story, but this was just not a good match. There were a lot of issues with this book that made it feel underwhelming and confusing. I didn’t think at all the cover matched the darkness of the story, so if you are thinking this is a lighthearted YA romance, this is not that book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this ARC.
May 29, 2025
I loved Jane, Fen and their unorthodox families...
May 1, 2022
1.5/5 Stars
I was looking forward to reading a new YA contemporary by Jenn Bennett 'cause they usually work their magic and put me in such a good mood, but unfortunately this book disappointed me so much. The characters were flat, the story was slow and the love triangle was just pretty weird since one of the people involved was almost never present on the page. I would have preferred just reading about Fen and Jane without the Eddie drama, that honestly didn't add anything to the story and was very useless overall.
I'm very sorry to say this, but this book definitely did not work for me.
I was looking forward to reading a new YA contemporary by Jenn Bennett 'cause they usually work their magic and put me in such a good mood, but unfortunately this book disappointed me so much. The characters were flat, the story was slow and the love triangle was just pretty weird since one of the people involved was almost never present on the page. I would have preferred just reading about Fen and Jane without the Eddie drama, that honestly didn't add anything to the story and was very useless overall.
I'm very sorry to say this, but this book definitely did not work for me.
March 7, 2022
3.5/5
Honestly not my fave from Jenn Bennett but I still enjoyed Jane's story of dealing with aphasia and finding herself falling for the brother of the person she thought was her boyfriend. I especially liked how this story ended.
RTC
nevermind
January 14, 2023DNF at 28%
Boring and annoying characters.
Boring and annoying characters.
March 14, 2022
Rating: 4.5 Stars
It had been two years since Jane suffered a head injury, and her return to the scene of the crime came with many complications. Among them, developing feelings for Fen.
• Pro: This is a Jenn Bennett book, so I was throughly entertained. The dialog was on point, and there were lots of messy things going on to hold my interest.
• Pro: There was an adorable romance at the center of the story between Jane and Fen. They were such a great fit, and I adored listening to their conversations that ranged from Seinfeld-esque to really deep. They had chemistry galore, and everything I learned made that little love triangle non-existent in my mind.
• Pro: Fen, oh my heart! He was so wonderful and owned me. As if I was not dazzled enough by his musical knowledge, he just said and did all the right things. In a nutshell, he was a soft and wonderful unicorn boy.
• Con: I will admit that it took me a long time to find the focus of this story. There was a lot going on, however, I never found my interest waning and I devoured this book.
• Pro: Amazing supporting characters and a great setting added to my enjoyment of this story. Two standout characters who stole the page when they appeared where Jane’s dad and Fen’s mom. They were really special, and so were their relationships with their respective children.
• Pro: This story all came together for me, and I saw that this was about Jane and Fen figuring out who they were outside of their family or employer. It was about them finding their way on their own and blazing their own path on their own terms. I really appreciated this aspect of their story and enjoyed taking this journey with them.
You know what always makes me happy? A Jenn Bennett book. This tale included some complicated family dynamics, a bit of a messy romance, and two teens figuring out their futures while coming to terms with their pasts. I found myself lost in this story, and as expected, wearing a big grin at the end.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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It had been two years since Jane suffered a head injury, and her return to the scene of the crime came with many complications. Among them, developing feelings for Fen.
• Pro: This is a Jenn Bennett book, so I was throughly entertained. The dialog was on point, and there were lots of messy things going on to hold my interest.
• Pro: There was an adorable romance at the center of the story between Jane and Fen. They were such a great fit, and I adored listening to their conversations that ranged from Seinfeld-esque to really deep. They had chemistry galore, and everything I learned made that little love triangle non-existent in my mind.
• Pro: Fen, oh my heart! He was so wonderful and owned me. As if I was not dazzled enough by his musical knowledge, he just said and did all the right things. In a nutshell, he was a soft and wonderful unicorn boy.
• Con: I will admit that it took me a long time to find the focus of this story. There was a lot going on, however, I never found my interest waning and I devoured this book.
• Pro: Amazing supporting characters and a great setting added to my enjoyment of this story. Two standout characters who stole the page when they appeared where Jane’s dad and Fen’s mom. They were really special, and so were their relationships with their respective children.
• Pro: This story all came together for me, and I saw that this was about Jane and Fen figuring out who they were outside of their family or employer. It was about them finding their way on their own and blazing their own path on their own terms. I really appreciated this aspect of their story and enjoyed taking this journey with them.
You know what always makes me happy? A Jenn Bennett book. This tale included some complicated family dynamics, a bit of a messy romance, and two teens figuring out their futures while coming to terms with their pasts. I found myself lost in this story, and as expected, wearing a big grin at the end.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
May 21, 2024
Based on the synopsis, it sounded like this would be a retelling of Sabrina? I’m not sure if that’s what it was supposed to be, but it definitely was not that.
I didn’t like Fen at all. He was weirdly infatuated with Jane even though they had a grand total of one interaction (which happened before the start of the book). He came on way too strong (even getting a tattoo meant to symbolize Jane….and can we talk about the tattoo??? Ophelia, really??? She’s such a tragic character that that came across as more insulting than anything else).
Jane wasn’t much better. A love triangle isn’t great anyway, but a love triangle between brothers is just plain gross. I didn’t like the cheating aspects either, even though Eddie was barely in the story.
I really didn’t like the casual references to drug use either.
Overall there wasn’t much about this that I enjoyed which is sad because the cover is so cute.
I didn’t like Fen at all. He was weirdly infatuated with Jane even though they had a grand total of one interaction (which happened before the start of the book). He came on way too strong (even getting a tattoo meant to symbolize Jane….and can we talk about the tattoo??? Ophelia, really??? She’s such a tragic character that that came across as more insulting than anything else).
Jane wasn’t much better. A love triangle isn’t great anyway, but a love triangle between brothers is just plain gross. I didn’t like the cheating aspects either, even though Eddie was barely in the story.
I really didn’t like the casual references to drug use either.
Overall there wasn’t much about this that I enjoyed which is sad because the cover is so cute.
Read
April 12, 2022dnf
June 18, 2022
My hopes and expectations for a Jenn Bennett book are high, which is I think the problem here. There was a real... emotive feeling & charm missing from this (particularly the romance). I found Jane a really underwhelming main character, and Fen didn't feel fleshed out enough to connect with either of them.
March 28, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary earc to review. All opinions are my own.
I’ll start the review by saying that I just never connected with the book in any way, whether that be characters, plot, the tropes, etc. This was very much different than her other work that I have read and maybe that is partly to blame for my disconnect from this story. I was expecting a cute, summery read. It also is written for more upper YA, or even NA, which is not what I am used to from this specific author.
Fair Warning: This review will include spoilers.
The book is told from two point-of-views: Fen and Jane. Fen’s starts off first and we catch a glimpse of the past and his first interaction with Jane. Once Jane’s pops up after that it is a two year jump. She is no longer in high school and dating the brother of Fen.
None of the characters really piqued my interest besides Fen’s mother Jasmine. She was a kind soul and I liked her. Jane felt really oblivious to what was going on behind the scenes with Eddie. Although her actions and thoughts on the situations are understandable, it still felt like she and others let Eddie off the hook rather easily. Sure, he needed help with his addiction but that doesn’t excuse the fact he was two years older when they met (which Fen thought was weird at the beginning and kept it from his mother) but also he took advantage of her accident.
The last point brings me to the love triangle. To Jane, it was a love triangle. To the reader, it was predictable to know who she would end up with. He has his own point-of-view. There is no pull from the reader to believe either is a viable option because Eddie is a dillweed with a ton of issues and Fen is a weird stalker that only met her once and felt a connection from the moment he pulled her out of the water. It’s kind of delusional. If I am going to read about a love triangle sure, one guy can be a bad boy but don’t make him so bad that he is poop and don’t make the other the black sheep of the family who has a soft side but doesn’t even know her and wants her. It kind of just feels like payback when Eddie did Fen dirty and got his first girlfriend taken away and out of the picture.
As for the plot, it was dramatic but also simplistic as some of the character’s issues happen off page and Eddie isn’t truly around much.
Overall, this just wasn’t for me. I didn’t find enjoyment and continued to read only to see if something would click. If you do tend to pick up this book, go in with an open mind especially if you have read this author’s previous books.
I’ll start the review by saying that I just never connected with the book in any way, whether that be characters, plot, the tropes, etc. This was very much different than her other work that I have read and maybe that is partly to blame for my disconnect from this story. I was expecting a cute, summery read. It also is written for more upper YA, or even NA, which is not what I am used to from this specific author.
Fair Warning: This review will include spoilers.
The book is told from two point-of-views: Fen and Jane. Fen’s starts off first and we catch a glimpse of the past and his first interaction with Jane. Once Jane’s pops up after that it is a two year jump. She is no longer in high school and dating the brother of Fen.
None of the characters really piqued my interest besides Fen’s mother Jasmine. She was a kind soul and I liked her. Jane felt really oblivious to what was going on behind the scenes with Eddie. Although her actions and thoughts on the situations are understandable, it still felt like she and others let Eddie off the hook rather easily. Sure, he needed help with his addiction but that doesn’t excuse the fact he was two years older when they met (which Fen thought was weird at the beginning and kept it from his mother) but also he took advantage of her accident.
The last point brings me to the love triangle. To Jane, it was a love triangle. To the reader, it was predictable to know who she would end up with. He has his own point-of-view. There is no pull from the reader to believe either is a viable option because Eddie is a dillweed with a ton of issues and Fen is a weird stalker that only met her once and felt a connection from the moment he pulled her out of the water. It’s kind of delusional. If I am going to read about a love triangle sure, one guy can be a bad boy but don’t make him so bad that he is poop and don’t make the other the black sheep of the family who has a soft side but doesn’t even know her and wants her. It kind of just feels like payback when Eddie did Fen dirty and got his first girlfriend taken away and out of the picture.
As for the plot, it was dramatic but also simplistic as some of the character’s issues happen off page and Eddie isn’t truly around much.
Overall, this just wasn’t for me. I didn’t find enjoyment and continued to read only to see if something would click. If you do tend to pick up this book, go in with an open mind especially if you have read this author’s previous books.
March 12, 2022
Really don't want to spent a lot of time ragging on this book, it's simply not worth it. Far too much going on, had no clue what the hell was going on most of the time. Fen, what on earth was his deal? And Jane, boy she felt kind of infantilized and then was Fen's manic pixie dream girl. If Alex, Approximately was reminiscent of CW/WB teen dramas from the 2000's, Always Jane is like a daytime soap opera that's already way too deep into the story line. Bad.
July 9, 2022
I really did not enjoy this book and would not recommend. I found it incredibly hard to finish, but decided to because of my reading challenge (lol). I also had some hope it would get better, but that never happened. Jane was unlikable and extremely naive while Fen's character did not make sense and was too obsessive. Eddie was just not around enough to make it a good love triangle.
July 12, 2023
Nikdy jsem si nemyslela, že bych knížce od Jenn Bennettové dala tak nízké hodnocení... ale stalo se - a nebýt toho, jak autorka zvládla napsat hrdinku trpící afázií, dala bych téhle knížce hvězdičku jen jednu.
Mezi problémy patří třeba premisa díla, která mi jde proti srsti (podvádění je prostě špatné a je úplně jedno, jaký je ten druhý kluk - pokud s někým nechcete být, tak se máte s dotyčným prostě rozejít), strašně rychlý konec, který je na mě až moc sluníčkový, a spousta nevyřešených věcí... jediné, co to jakžtakž zachraňuje je čtivost, kterou Jenn Bennettová prostě umí na jedničku.
Knížky od Jenn stojí za to... jen tahle ne.
Mezi problémy patří třeba premisa díla, která mi jde proti srsti (podvádění je prostě špatné a je úplně jedno, jaký je ten druhý kluk - pokud s někým nechcete být, tak se máte s dotyčným prostě rozejít), strašně rychlý konec, který je na mě až moc sluníčkový, a spousta nevyřešených věcí... jediné, co to jakžtakž zachraňuje je čtivost, kterou Jenn Bennettová prostě umí na jedničku.
Knížky od Jenn stojí za to... jen tahle ne.
June 27, 2023
I liked this book a lot
actually i think it's my favourite jenn bennett so far
really cool
actually i think it's my favourite jenn bennett so far
really cool
March 27, 2022
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Disability Rep: 3/5
Special thanks to Simon Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I love Jenn Bennett. I’ve read and loved all of her YA books, and though Always Jane isn’t my favorite of her books, it’s no exception.
There was a lot going on with this book. Jane is dealing with being back in the place where she had a serious injury, some familial stuff with her dad and Mad Dog (her employer), a absentee boyfriend who isn’t who she thought she was, and more. Fen has a whole bus load of familial baggage, and a fair share of unrealistic expectations of Jane.
I liked the book and the relationship in the sense that it was dramatic and fun and a good read, but it was also highly dysfunctional and toxic in a way that was never fully addressed. Fen was a tad melodramatic, and I think he made Jane out to be this dream girl destined for him—his living dead girl, his Ophelia—in a way that was… not healthy and never exactly called out. They danced around it, but I do wish it had been more directly addressed.
However, as dysfunctional as it all was, every character was loveable and relateable and so well written. I couldn’t help but enjoy the book, and I flew through it.
There is disability rep, too. Jane has aphasia from a near-drowning (or a drowning? She was dead for a second, I don’t know the technical term). It’s a side effect of her head injury that sort of makes words tricky for her to grasp. The book mainly focuses on the forgetting of words as she speaks. Jane calls it her word-pixie, who flits around in her head and steals words from her memories as she tries to speak them. I liked the way Jane addressed this and interacted with it. I think it felt realistic. The book also touched on having issues with understanding long strings of talking. How at the end of a long sentence or paragraph that someone was saying, the words started to lose meaning and it became hard to understand and remember, later on. She mentioned that this made written directions much more accessible than spoken ones. However, this is only touched on like, twice. Jane mentions it when she first explains aphasia to the reader, and it’s briefly mentioned one or two times in passing later in the book. We never get to see it play out, and that disappointed me a little, because I feel as if that would be a big part of living with that disorder, and seeing her have to accommodate that would have been nice. However, I’m not too put out that it didn’t happen.
My main issue with the rep were some throwaway lines here and there. People—Jane, Fen, friends, family—were constantly clarifying that Jane is “all there” and putting a lot of emphasis on the fact that she’s not “too intellectually disabled”, or something. And that is just… not helpful. It adds to the stigma against people with other mental disabilities such as autism, and makes it out like Jane is superior to people who have more intellectual challenges than her. There were a few other types of throwaway ableism—both against Jane and generally against people who are more disabled than Jane.
The book portrayed Jane in a good light, and as far as I can tell (I don’t have aphasia or a TBI, so please defer to own voices reviewers), had positive representation of her disability. It just also made some ableist remarks, as well. So I feel kind of conflicted on that point, because I doubt the author intended it. There is just so much casual ableism of this type in our world, and we need to point it out when we see it.
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Disability Rep: 3/5
Special thanks to Simon Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I love Jenn Bennett. I’ve read and loved all of her YA books, and though Always Jane isn’t my favorite of her books, it’s no exception.
There was a lot going on with this book. Jane is dealing with being back in the place where she had a serious injury, some familial stuff with her dad and Mad Dog (her employer), a absentee boyfriend who isn’t who she thought she was, and more. Fen has a whole bus load of familial baggage, and a fair share of unrealistic expectations of Jane.
I liked the book and the relationship in the sense that it was dramatic and fun and a good read, but it was also highly dysfunctional and toxic in a way that was never fully addressed. Fen was a tad melodramatic, and I think he made Jane out to be this dream girl destined for him—his living dead girl, his Ophelia—in a way that was… not healthy and never exactly called out. They danced around it, but I do wish it had been more directly addressed.
However, as dysfunctional as it all was, every character was loveable and relateable and so well written. I couldn’t help but enjoy the book, and I flew through it.
There is disability rep, too. Jane has aphasia from a near-drowning (or a drowning? She was dead for a second, I don’t know the technical term). It’s a side effect of her head injury that sort of makes words tricky for her to grasp. The book mainly focuses on the forgetting of words as she speaks. Jane calls it her word-pixie, who flits around in her head and steals words from her memories as she tries to speak them. I liked the way Jane addressed this and interacted with it. I think it felt realistic. The book also touched on having issues with understanding long strings of talking. How at the end of a long sentence or paragraph that someone was saying, the words started to lose meaning and it became hard to understand and remember, later on. She mentioned that this made written directions much more accessible than spoken ones. However, this is only touched on like, twice. Jane mentions it when she first explains aphasia to the reader, and it’s briefly mentioned one or two times in passing later in the book. We never get to see it play out, and that disappointed me a little, because I feel as if that would be a big part of living with that disorder, and seeing her have to accommodate that would have been nice. However, I’m not too put out that it didn’t happen.
My main issue with the rep were some throwaway lines here and there. People—Jane, Fen, friends, family—were constantly clarifying that Jane is “all there” and putting a lot of emphasis on the fact that she’s not “too intellectually disabled”, or something. And that is just… not helpful. It adds to the stigma against people with other mental disabilities such as autism, and makes it out like Jane is superior to people who have more intellectual challenges than her. There were a few other types of throwaway ableism—both against Jane and generally against people who are more disabled than Jane.
The book portrayed Jane in a good light, and as far as I can tell (I don’t have aphasia or a TBI, so please defer to own voices reviewers), had positive representation of her disability. It just also made some ableist remarks, as well. So I feel kind of conflicted on that point, because I doubt the author intended it. There is just so much casual ableism of this type in our world, and we need to point it out when we see it.
June 23, 2022
Personagens chatos e que não se comunicam
March 11, 2022
I was really disappointed by this book. I almost DNFed it several times but persevered in the end.
I'll start with the few things I liked before jumping into the nitty-gritty.
Jasmine, our love interest's mom, is so awesome! She's a meddler and I loved her for it. Also, there is a lot of really beautiful imagery in the writing. When Fen and Jane describe their feelings, it's very flowery and beautiful (almost poetic). I loved that!
Now, let's get into it.
There were a few tropes represented in this book that I thought were going to be really great. For example, falling for the wrong brother and bad boy love interest. I was so disappointed by them though. I mean, we hardly get any time with both brothers and while Fen is supposed to be the black sheep of the family, he still doesn't really feel bad boy to me. These weren't the real problems I had with the book, however.
The main thing that made me want to throw this book away and never look at it again was the fact that it seemed to have no plot. It was so boring and I had no idea what the end goal with the book was other than the two main characters falling in love. And even that didn't even stretch through the whole book. There were many times when I would jump ahead a few pages because I was so bored and just wanted to get to something interesting.
As per usual, the main characters in this book are a little strange and super quirky. Bennett creates very specific characters that are oftentimes easy often to like even if they're strange. I didn't fall in love with any of the odd characters in this book.
And just to touch briefly on a character, I'll speak about Jane. She's supposed to be working as a personal assistant for this young lady, Velvet, but I'm not convinced she actually did any work in this book other than watch the dog. It didn't make any sense.
Lastly, I'll point out that this book is upper YA/NA. It has lots of cursing and some material is probably not suitable for young YA.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I'll start with the few things I liked before jumping into the nitty-gritty.
Jasmine, our love interest's mom, is so awesome! She's a meddler and I loved her for it. Also, there is a lot of really beautiful imagery in the writing. When Fen and Jane describe their feelings, it's very flowery and beautiful (almost poetic). I loved that!
Now, let's get into it.
There were a few tropes represented in this book that I thought were going to be really great. For example, falling for the wrong brother and bad boy love interest. I was so disappointed by them though. I mean, we hardly get any time with both brothers and while Fen is supposed to be the black sheep of the family, he still doesn't really feel bad boy to me. These weren't the real problems I had with the book, however.
The main thing that made me want to throw this book away and never look at it again was the fact that it seemed to have no plot. It was so boring and I had no idea what the end goal with the book was other than the two main characters falling in love. And even that didn't even stretch through the whole book. There were many times when I would jump ahead a few pages because I was so bored and just wanted to get to something interesting.
As per usual, the main characters in this book are a little strange and super quirky. Bennett creates very specific characters that are oftentimes easy often to like even if they're strange. I didn't fall in love with any of the odd characters in this book.
And just to touch briefly on a character, I'll speak about Jane. She's supposed to be working as a personal assistant for this young lady, Velvet, but I'm not convinced she actually did any work in this book other than watch the dog. It didn't make any sense.
Lastly, I'll point out that this book is upper YA/NA. It has lots of cursing and some material is probably not suitable for young YA.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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April 4, 2022
I'm usually a huge fan of Jenn Bennett's novels, but Always Jane was just an okay read for me. I liked it but I wanted to love it. It definitely has some things I loved, like her cast of flawed, messy and very realistic characters, and I thought Bennett did a wonderful job her the Aphasia rep, but overall it just still felt like there was something missing or maybe just that there was too much going.
First, I was baffled by what exactly Jane's job was supposed to be. She works as a personal assistant for Velvet, the daughter of a famous person in the music industry, but for as much as the book talks about her work, all she ever seems to do is try to keep Velvet out of trouble and take care of Velvet's dog. The dog was adorable but the work situation mostly just felt in the way.
Second, there's a weird love triangle situation between Jane and two brothers, Fen and Eddie. I'm not a fan of love triangles so the main thing that kept me reading was that Eddie was clearly a jerk and their relationship seemed to be more wishful thinking on Jane's part than an actual relationship. It was definitely Fen that Jane had a connection with.
Third, I love drama, I really do. That said, it felt like there were too many dramatic things competing for my attention. Jane had a lingering injury caused by an accident that she was dealing with and I thought that would be the focus of the book, but then she also had drama relating to rumors that her dad wasn't really her dad. Then Fen and Eddie had major family drama in addition to having the same girlfriend. And even Velvet had drama going on.
In spite of those issues, I still did like the story overall. It was sweet watching Fen and Jane grow closer. They really did have lovely chemistry and I was rooting for them to find their way through all of the other drama to each other. As I said, not my favorite Jenn Bennett novel, but it's still a solid read.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
First, I was baffled by what exactly Jane's job was supposed to be. She works as a personal assistant for Velvet, the daughter of a famous person in the music industry, but for as much as the book talks about her work, all she ever seems to do is try to keep Velvet out of trouble and take care of Velvet's dog. The dog was adorable but the work situation mostly just felt in the way.
Second, there's a weird love triangle situation between Jane and two brothers, Fen and Eddie. I'm not a fan of love triangles so the main thing that kept me reading was that Eddie was clearly a jerk and their relationship seemed to be more wishful thinking on Jane's part than an actual relationship. It was definitely Fen that Jane had a connection with.
Third, I love drama, I really do. That said, it felt like there were too many dramatic things competing for my attention. Jane had a lingering injury caused by an accident that she was dealing with and I thought that would be the focus of the book, but then she also had drama relating to rumors that her dad wasn't really her dad. Then Fen and Eddie had major family drama in addition to having the same girlfriend. And even Velvet had drama going on.
In spite of those issues, I still did like the story overall. It was sweet watching Fen and Jane grow closer. They really did have lovely chemistry and I was rooting for them to find their way through all of the other drama to each other. As I said, not my favorite Jenn Bennett novel, but it's still a solid read.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2022
I first want to give mad props to Jenn Bennett for writing something different, and I tried to really respect that and not compare this to her other books when reading. But ultimately I didn't enjoy Always Jane. I think the marketing really didn't do it any favours. This is not a fun summer romp with a sparkling and adorable romance. It's a lot closer to literary fiction, and had I known that I probably would never have picked it up, as that's not my cup of tea.
I didn't really fall in love with any aspects of this book. The best I can liken it to is when your favourite band releases a new album that's a complete departure from the music that made you fall in love with them. You respect them, but you don't have to love the new music. The writing style in Always Jane really didn't do anything for me, whereas I couldn't put down Alex, Approximately or Starry Eyes. If someone from California can clarify for me whether it is a colloquial practice to just drop pronouns from sentences that would be much appreciated. It drove me a little bonkers in this novel.
I can really appreciate the journey that Jane went on in the book as a character, but I was never really drawn to her. One other comparison I will make to Jenn Bennett's previous books is her characters that come right off the page. They are so alive and real, with passions and quirks and definitive characteristics and interests. Jane was really lacking that for me. I felt like I didn't know her at all. As for the other characters, there were too many that we didn't spend enough time with to really develop attachments. Fen was way too intense for me, but he was the character that did come off the page the most, and I did feel that he was really well written.
The book really didn't have much of a plot, which is fine because it was character driven, but without a deep attachment to any one character I never really felt compelled to pick it up and read it.
I didn't really fall in love with any aspects of this book. The best I can liken it to is when your favourite band releases a new album that's a complete departure from the music that made you fall in love with them. You respect them, but you don't have to love the new music. The writing style in Always Jane really didn't do anything for me, whereas I couldn't put down Alex, Approximately or Starry Eyes. If someone from California can clarify for me whether it is a colloquial practice to just drop pronouns from sentences that would be much appreciated. It drove me a little bonkers in this novel.
I can really appreciate the journey that Jane went on in the book as a character, but I was never really drawn to her. One other comparison I will make to Jenn Bennett's previous books is her characters that come right off the page. They are so alive and real, with passions and quirks and definitive characteristics and interests. Jane was really lacking that for me. I felt like I didn't know her at all. As for the other characters, there were too many that we didn't spend enough time with to really develop attachments. Fen was way too intense for me, but he was the character that did come off the page the most, and I did feel that he was really well written.
The book really didn't have much of a plot, which is fine because it was character driven, but without a deep attachment to any one character I never really felt compelled to pick it up and read it.
October 10, 2021
Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss
Jenn Bennett is one of my favorite contemporary YA romance writers out there, but this book was a little different than her previous books, and I think it was weaker for these choices. Jane being split between brothers made the romance much weaker, and the narrative switching between Jane and Fen left the story lacking. Even the cover seemed off - I really have loved the cool photography of her previous releases, and this cartoony cover just made the book seem less dramatic as it really was.
Jenn Bennett is one of my favorite contemporary YA romance writers out there, but this book was a little different than her previous books, and I think it was weaker for these choices. Jane being split between brothers made the romance much weaker, and the narrative switching between Jane and Fen left the story lacking. Even the cover seemed off - I really have loved the cool photography of her previous releases, and this cartoony cover just made the book seem less dramatic as it really was.
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