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Never
Wynn Harper spends her days trying to blend into the background. This isn't very easy, especially being the great granddaughter of the late Wendy Darling. Wynn used to love Great Gran's stories about her adventures in Neverland with Peter Pan and his lost boys, but that's all they were. Just stories, right? That's what Wynn keeps telling herself. But then she meets Peter, the beautiful boy with a voice to match, and when he whisks her off to Neverland, Wynn knows this is no fairy tale. The lost boys are a group of rebellious ex-pirates, young Hook has a soft side, and Peter Pan isn't as innocent as you might think.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2014
9 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
Shay Lynam
9 books111 followersShay Lynam is a writer, owner of a fandom-inspired candle business, mom, and wife. Whether writing a young adult thriller/romance or figuring out what scent would be perfect for a K-pop-inspired candle, she’s almost always finding ways to be creative. A NaNoWriMo rebel through and through, she usually tries to figure out unconventional ways to get to 50,000 words during the month, whether it be writing fanfiction, short stories, or choose-your-own-adventure novels. Shay has self-published multiple young adult books as well as contributed to a horror anthology. She lives near Seattle, Washington with her husband, three children, and about 36 houseplants. Follow her on Instagram @authorshaylynam
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 2, 2015
I absolutely fell head over heels for the darling Peter Pan retelling. Truthfully if I'm being all honest I think this is the second retelling I've ever read and they've both been Peter Pan! Maybe I should look into more retelling cause I loved both of the ones I've read so far. I hope to read more by this author. I saw this cover and about died it was so gorgeous. And then that synopsis outright sold me I seriously had a shut up and take my money moment after seeing it. Then finding out it was only 99 pennies! Oh my word it was like the thrift shop song and me were on sync cause it was purchased and dancing commenced. I've put off writing a review for this book just because as you can see it helps me in no way to for a coherent thought. Other then me boasting about every last little detail that was A-FREAKING-MAAAAAAAZING!. But here are a few thoughts about the book. I loved the characters they each had this quirkiness to them that was adorable. I kind of wouldn't be upset if the author decided to do more and I don't know make a book for each of the lost boys <3 Because each one stole a piece of my heart and ripped it out when I was finished...I'm still in mourning over finishing this book. I've been having separation withdrawals guys. But I've told myself its ok I'll read this story so many more times I'll be lovesick and over it. Which I don't think I could ever be over this story because its been a few days and I'm still thinking about all the characters. 3 Gushing aside if you love Peter Pan and want an adventure that in its own unique way follows the original then pick this one up! You wont be disappointed.
5 Stars hands down bowing to Shay and her great writing style.
5 Stars for a gorgeously done cover.
Definitely a fan of this and will be re-reading it to get my Pan fix and maybe itll take me to NeverLand <3
5 Stars hands down bowing to Shay and her great writing style.
5 Stars for a gorgeously done cover.
Definitely a fan of this and will be re-reading it to get my Pan fix and maybe itll take me to NeverLand <3
August 16, 2015
This book brought me to tears. I'm so in love I do not know how to go on. When I was a little girl I always had a huge crush on Peter Pan, and reading this story just brought back a lot of great memories for me. It's SO GOOD!! Definitely a new twist! I think this is probably my favorite Retelling I've ever read... PETER IM STILL WAITING FOR YOU TO SHOW UP AT MY WINDOW
October 11, 2014
WOW! ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!
I wasn't sure what to expect since I am so anti-fairy tale but I was absolutely hooked... all puns intended by this story. Wynn is a dancer that is grieving the loss of her great grandmother. She goes out to the club with her friend Marty and meets Peter. She then goes on an adventure that is so amazing and magical. She becomes entranced in Neverland. I found this story to be so orginal and inspiring. It was well written and beautiful. I truly am a fan of Shay Lynam's and this is such a great story. I cannot wait for others to be able to read it. I loved it so much.
I wasn't sure what to expect since I am so anti-fairy tale but I was absolutely hooked... all puns intended by this story. Wynn is a dancer that is grieving the loss of her great grandmother. She goes out to the club with her friend Marty and meets Peter. She then goes on an adventure that is so amazing and magical. She becomes entranced in Neverland. I found this story to be so orginal and inspiring. It was well written and beautiful. I truly am a fan of Shay Lynam's and this is such a great story. I cannot wait for others to be able to read it. I loved it so much.
October 12, 2014
I received an ARC copy of Never from the author in exchange for my honest review and honestly - I LOVED this book!
I've been a fan of Shay Lynam's since I read The Tree House, the first book in her Tree House series. Shortly before I read Never, I read Lynam's book Places I Never Meant to go and really enjoyed that as well. Needless to say, I went into Never with extremely high expectations. Well, Lynam didn't fail me at all.
When I first heard that she was writing a modern day Peter Pan, I was so intrigued. I have never read a book like this before and I'm really not into fantasy - well I wasn't - she may have convinced me to try mores books in this genre.
While devouring this book, I laughed, I got chills, I cried, and I was entertained throughout the entire story.
Peter is sly and even sexy, which is a way I never thought I would describe Peter Pan. The main character Wynn is a character that I think many of us can relate to, no matter what age you are.
The world that the author brings us into only goes to show what a creative and talented young lady she is.
I think that the author will have a very captivated audience with this book.
Bravo!
I've been a fan of Shay Lynam's since I read The Tree House, the first book in her Tree House series. Shortly before I read Never, I read Lynam's book Places I Never Meant to go and really enjoyed that as well. Needless to say, I went into Never with extremely high expectations. Well, Lynam didn't fail me at all.
When I first heard that she was writing a modern day Peter Pan, I was so intrigued. I have never read a book like this before and I'm really not into fantasy - well I wasn't - she may have convinced me to try mores books in this genre.
While devouring this book, I laughed, I got chills, I cried, and I was entertained throughout the entire story.
Peter is sly and even sexy, which is a way I never thought I would describe Peter Pan. The main character Wynn is a character that I think many of us can relate to, no matter what age you are.
The world that the author brings us into only goes to show what a creative and talented young lady she is.
I think that the author will have a very captivated audience with this book.
Bravo!
December 2, 2014
I loved this story.
When Wynn was growing up her Great Gran would tell her amazing stories of great adventure in Neverland with Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and the lost boys. She thinks these are just made up stories until she comes face to face with Peter. At first she thinks he is crazy because he thinks he is peter pan and he can fly. That soon changes once he wisks her off her feet (literally). Can Neverland be as amazing as her great gran says? Or it just fantasy?
When Wynn was growing up her Great Gran would tell her amazing stories of great adventure in Neverland with Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and the lost boys. She thinks these are just made up stories until she comes face to face with Peter. At first she thinks he is crazy because he thinks he is peter pan and he can fly. That soon changes once he wisks her off her feet (literally). Can Neverland be as amazing as her great gran says? Or it just fantasy?
November 8, 2014
Neverland has never sounded so good. I have read a lot of Peter Pan/Neverland stories through out my life. Very few have lived up to my standards...this is one of those few! I loved every minute of this book and will probably end up reading it over and over. Shay Lynman paints an amazing picture of adventure and love and not being afraid to just live your life! Thank you Shay for creating a Neverland I would never want to leave.
January 9, 2015
An enjoyable new spin on Pan!
First of all, I have never really liked Peter Pan. I picked this book solely because I know the author and enjoy her work. I was in for a very pleasant surprise. Not only do I like this Peter, I came to kind of love him by the end of the story. All of the characters are rich in detail. I actually came to love them all. Even Hook! :)
I think this book will be among the ones that I read again and again. Good job Shay!
First of all, I have never really liked Peter Pan. I picked this book solely because I know the author and enjoy her work. I was in for a very pleasant surprise. Not only do I like this Peter, I came to kind of love him by the end of the story. All of the characters are rich in detail. I actually came to love them all. Even Hook! :)
I think this book will be among the ones that I read again and again. Good job Shay!
December 14, 2014
This was so good!!!! I really loved how Shay brought Neverland back to life! It was exciting, romantic, very funny! I really enjoyed Wynn's character. The authors description of the lost boys (especially Peter) was a great new twist I was not expecting. Another book by Shay that I will tell all my friends to read.
August 8, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was good, quirky, and odd at times, but in a book with Peter Pan and all the characters we've grown up knowing, that is a good combination for me. I could imagine the characters and watch it play out in my head as I read it.
The things that made me pause in confusion were a some of the typos..
Overall, I would recommend this book :)
The things that made me pause in confusion were a some of the typos..
Overall, I would recommend this book :)
February 20, 2015
Love this book definitely going in my must read again favourite shelf!!!! ;) loved the author's interpretation of Peter Pan!!! Hoping maybe her next book will be about Hook's adventure or the Lost Boys!!!
December 22, 2014
I really loved how Shay brought Neverland back to life!!! I loved the author's interpretation of Peter Pan. I love the lost boys and Hook. I love Wynn and Peter, they were great.
This book was exciting, romantic, very funny. The characters were so, so good.
I recommend this book.
This book was exciting, romantic, very funny. The characters were so, so good.
I recommend this book.
December 9, 2014
Absolutely a fabulous retelling of a classic. Loved the sweet romance between Wynn & Peter.
April 1, 2015
Awww, I loved it so much. Will review soon.
November 15, 2017
Shay Lynam sent me an e-ARC for an honest review to post on Goodreads & my blog.
Full review to come October 11 @ www.livthebooknerd.blogspot.com
I really liked this book. It's been a while since I read a really great Peter Pan retelling. The beginning was a bit shaky and kind of predictable, but the middle was really solid and I absolutely loved it. The ending was also kind of disappointing to me... I didn't like [that Peter went back with Wyndy. I felt like that was really forced. Wyndy didn't even tell Peter what she was going to say before she was kidnapped by Hook!] The chapters were quite long too. Which wasn't bad, but because the book was so great, it was hard to put down ;). I also really loved the mask aspect to the story and I would love to have another story that takes place with Gran Gran (Wendy). I want to read Shay's version of Peter Pan!
The island was captivating! I wanted Wynn to stay! I was all for it!
EDIT:
Full review here: http://livthebooknerd.blogspot.com/20...
Hey, guys!
So, if you know me well or follow me on any of my social media, you would know that I'm kind of enchanted by Peter Pan. I absolutely love the story and I love the movies and retellings that people create. When Shay Lynam contacted me about reading her Peter Pan retelling I was so excited to read another retelling. I am so obsessed with retellings, especially retellings.
This book follows Wynn Harper, the great-granddaughter of the original Wendy Darling. When Wynn meets the real Peter Pan she is whisked off to Neverland where she encounters pirates, Indians, and learns that nothing is as it seems. I really enjoyed Never. It had been a while since I had read a Peter Pan retelling and I really enjoyed the main character's voice. This book had a lot of great qualities but there were a few issues that I had with it.
I really enjoyed Shay's writing style in this book. It was very whimsical and still quite dark like the original story. I had read Peter Pan before reading Never and I really loved how original the story was but it still incorporated the classic story really well.
The beginning of the story was kind of shaky, but it didn't stop me from continuing on with the story. Of course, the main character is different and dresses so much differently than the typical high schooler. The beginning was kind of cliche and you definitely knew where it was going. Some of the parts of the book were really predictable, but I looked past it because there were some elements that kind of made up for the cheese. The ending was really predictable, but Shay added some character depth towards the end that I really loved. I actually didn't want the end to happen. I wanted the opposite to happen. I actually didn't like how the ending was. I think that was the main thing that caused this book from not getting a higher rating.
Wynn was kind of annoying, but such a badass towards the end. I really loved the bits where she was taking care of herself. I absolutely love it when the character makes up for their whiney behavior with some great badassery. I hate it when YA books enforce the idea that girls need a guy to be happy...Girls! You don't need a man to be happy! Boys! You don't need a girl to be happy! Don't let anyone cause you to be unhappy. <3 b="">
Hook. Let's talk about Captain James Hook. I really wanted to like Hook's character, but he annoyed me too. He focused on stupid stuff rather than the important stuff. I mean I understand heartbreak. Trust me. I do. But, I really didn't like his whole revenge plot. His character at the very end of the book was really heartbreaking. I really liked him during the last few pages. I wish that I had liked him more, but I guess I was in a really irritable mood.
Overall, this was a pretty good retelling and I look forward to reading more of Shay Lynam's writing. She has a really promising writing career.
Books Mentioned In Review:
~ Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Other Great Peter Pan Retellings:
Peter & the Starcatchers series by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
The Sister's Grimm series by Michael Buckley (Fairy Tale Retelling mix)
The Never Girls series by Kiki Thorpe (Bailey's recommendation)
Hopefully, I have more time to read and review more. School is killing me!
Links to reviews for books mentioned can be found via the link to the full review
Full review to come October 11 @ www.livthebooknerd.blogspot.com
I really liked this book. It's been a while since I read a really great Peter Pan retelling. The beginning was a bit shaky and kind of predictable, but the middle was really solid and I absolutely loved it. The ending was also kind of disappointing to me... I didn't like [that Peter went back with Wyndy. I felt like that was really forced. Wyndy didn't even tell Peter what she was going to say before she was kidnapped by Hook!] The chapters were quite long too. Which wasn't bad, but because the book was so great, it was hard to put down ;). I also really loved the mask aspect to the story and I would love to have another story that takes place with Gran Gran (Wendy). I want to read Shay's version of Peter Pan!
The island was captivating! I wanted Wynn to stay! I was all for it!
EDIT:
Full review here: http://livthebooknerd.blogspot.com/20...
Hey, guys!
So, if you know me well or follow me on any of my social media, you would know that I'm kind of enchanted by Peter Pan. I absolutely love the story and I love the movies and retellings that people create. When Shay Lynam contacted me about reading her Peter Pan retelling I was so excited to read another retelling. I am so obsessed with retellings, especially retellings.
This book follows Wynn Harper, the great-granddaughter of the original Wendy Darling. When Wynn meets the real Peter Pan she is whisked off to Neverland where she encounters pirates, Indians, and learns that nothing is as it seems. I really enjoyed Never. It had been a while since I had read a Peter Pan retelling and I really enjoyed the main character's voice. This book had a lot of great qualities but there were a few issues that I had with it.
I really enjoyed Shay's writing style in this book. It was very whimsical and still quite dark like the original story. I had read Peter Pan before reading Never and I really loved how original the story was but it still incorporated the classic story really well.
The beginning of the story was kind of shaky, but it didn't stop me from continuing on with the story. Of course, the main character is different and dresses so much differently than the typical high schooler. The beginning was kind of cliche and you definitely knew where it was going. Some of the parts of the book were really predictable, but I looked past it because there were some elements that kind of made up for the cheese. The ending was really predictable, but Shay added some character depth towards the end that I really loved. I actually didn't want the end to happen. I wanted the opposite to happen. I actually didn't like how the ending was. I think that was the main thing that caused this book from not getting a higher rating.
Wynn was kind of annoying, but such a badass towards the end. I really loved the bits where she was taking care of herself. I absolutely love it when the character makes up for their whiney behavior with some great badassery. I hate it when YA books enforce the idea that girls need a guy to be happy...Girls! You don't need a man to be happy! Boys! You don't need a girl to be happy! Don't let anyone cause you to be unhappy. <3 b="">
Hook. Let's talk about Captain James Hook. I really wanted to like Hook's character, but he annoyed me too. He focused on stupid stuff rather than the important stuff. I mean I understand heartbreak. Trust me. I do. But, I really didn't like his whole revenge plot. His character at the very end of the book was really heartbreaking. I really liked him during the last few pages. I wish that I had liked him more, but I guess I was in a really irritable mood.
Overall, this was a pretty good retelling and I look forward to reading more of Shay Lynam's writing. She has a really promising writing career.
Books Mentioned In Review:
~ Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Other Great Peter Pan Retellings:
Peter & the Starcatchers series by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
The Sister's Grimm series by Michael Buckley (Fairy Tale Retelling mix)
The Never Girls series by Kiki Thorpe (Bailey's recommendation)
Hopefully, I have more time to read and review more. School is killing me!
Links to reviews for books mentioned can be found via the link to the full review
April 3, 2015
I wanted to give this 3/4 stars but the very end was at the height of cringe-worthiness (something the book doesn't lack of in the first place so it was the last straw). And, from the summary, I expected more and better.
This is a Peter Pan retelling and I haven't read the original material but, from what I can gather, the basics are similar enough. I enjoyed discovering Neverland : the way it is depicted was quite captivating and vivid. You can definitely feel its free, lively, fun and raw atmosphere. I particularly liked the bits about the mermaids and the fairies.
On the other hand, the plot is bland. It falls flat when everything is all nice, resolved and forgotten in the end. Also, the book is extremely cheesy and mushy, the dialogues between Peter and Wyndie in particular.
Don't get me started on how everyone is beyond good-looking, how the bad guys earn Wyndy's sympathy, the insta-love, the useless and cliché mean girl/bully or the fact that Wyndy is so special, original and misunderstood that she is emo/goth/alternative and dresses in striped stockings and what not.
Those last two points do bring Alyssa from Unhinged to mind. By the way, how original to name the main character Wyndy and Alyssa when they are versions of/related to Wendy and Alice.
Nothing great character-wise either. The lost boys were teenagers but acted like children or a litter of puppies. Peter and Wyndy were unremarkable - despite a couple of cute scenes between them (the first kiss scene mainly). I feel like Pal and Calliope's love story was more meaningful and interesting. I was unimpressed by Hook and didn't really care about his feelings for Wyndy's grandmother or his feud with Peter. They are all children with filmsy motives who act on a whim and somehow rally their followers to their cause.
Never isn't unbearable so I wouldn't recommend against reading it, just don't expect to be dazzled.
This is a Peter Pan retelling and I haven't read the original material but, from what I can gather, the basics are similar enough. I enjoyed discovering Neverland : the way it is depicted was quite captivating and vivid. You can definitely feel its free, lively, fun and raw atmosphere. I particularly liked the bits about the mermaids and the fairies.
On the other hand, the plot is bland. It falls flat when everything is all nice, resolved and forgotten in the end. Also, the book is extremely cheesy and mushy, the dialogues between Peter and Wyndie in particular.
Don't get me started on how everyone is beyond good-looking, how the bad guys earn Wyndy's sympathy, the insta-love, the useless and cliché mean girl/bully or the fact that Wyndy is so special, original and misunderstood that she is emo/goth/alternative and dresses in striped stockings and what not.
Those last two points do bring Alyssa from Unhinged to mind. By the way, how original to name the main character Wyndy and Alyssa when they are versions of/related to Wendy and Alice.
Nothing great character-wise either. The lost boys were teenagers but acted like children or a litter of puppies. Peter and Wyndy were unremarkable - despite a couple of cute scenes between them (the first kiss scene mainly). I feel like Pal and Calliope's love story was more meaningful and interesting. I was unimpressed by Hook and didn't really care about his feelings for Wyndy's grandmother or his feud with Peter. They are all children with filmsy motives who act on a whim and somehow rally their followers to their cause.
Never isn't unbearable so I wouldn't recommend against reading it, just don't expect to be dazzled.
Read
January 22, 2015Wyndy (Wynn) Harper grew up on her Great Gran’s stories of fairies and flying boys in Neverland. Great Gran was Wendy Darling and when she passes Wynn feels a big hole in her heart. When she was little Wynn believed all her Great Gran’s stories, but as she grew she realized they were only stories. Before she passed, Great Gran’s mind started to go and she was mentally transported back to Neverland, barely recognizing her own family. Now Wynn is trying to get back into her routines a month after her Great Gran’s passing and her best friend Marty wants her to go out dancing. At the club Wynn meets Peter, a boy whose songs touch her soul and whose beauty lifts her spirits. Wynn goes with Peter to Neverland and realizes her Great Gran’s stories were right all these years. NEVER has a good concept, however, the timeline seemed a little hurried especially as the time in Neverland flows differently than in ‘reality’. It also seems Wynn, who grew up on tales of Neverland, is too easily surprised by all of the people, places, and things in Neverland. Perhaps this is because she grew out of believing in the stories? While Peter was fun, he seemed one-dimensional and I think it was really James Hook who ended up stealing the spotlight. I’d have liked to have seen more of a focus on Hook to make NEVER stand out from J.M. Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan’. I do think NEVER will appeal to tweenagers and those who enjoy YA romance with fantasy elements, plus it does have an absolutely gorgeous cover.
April 3, 2016
Peter and Wendy is one of my favorite classics, so when I see a retelling, I must pick it up. Never presented an enticing synopsis--a modern day Peter Pan whisking away Wendy Darling's great granddaughter, Wyndy, to Neverland. I simply could not resist.
Unfortunately, this book was not what I hoped for it to be. The important aspects of the story felt rushed, which cloaked the plot and made it non-existent. For example, Wyndy was in Neverland by chapter three, and she had very little doubts about everything being real. On top of that, all of the boys on Neverland were, supposedly, extremely attractive. This made the characters come across flat and unrealistic.
The majority of the story from there was adventures between Wyndy and Peter, along with the lost boys. The land of Neverland and the creatures that inhabited it were interesting to read about, but the relationship between all of the characters felt forced due to the lack of depth.
The idea for the plot of Never was a great idea, and the way the characters were intertwined was fantastic. If the characters would have held more layers and depth, this story would have ranked higher for me.
Unfortunately, this book was not what I hoped for it to be. The important aspects of the story felt rushed, which cloaked the plot and made it non-existent. For example, Wyndy was in Neverland by chapter three, and she had very little doubts about everything being real. On top of that, all of the boys on Neverland were, supposedly, extremely attractive. This made the characters come across flat and unrealistic.
The majority of the story from there was adventures between Wyndy and Peter, along with the lost boys. The land of Neverland and the creatures that inhabited it were interesting to read about, but the relationship between all of the characters felt forced due to the lack of depth.
The idea for the plot of Never was a great idea, and the way the characters were intertwined was fantastic. If the characters would have held more layers and depth, this story would have ranked higher for me.
December 20, 2016
I've known Shay for a while, and have loved everything she's written. And this was no exception.
It was a magical adventure that made me loud out loud and scream and just seem like a crazy person while reading, my heart both flew and ached. Hook needed a hug, and Peter at the end. Oh my heart, how it swelled!
I loved it.
But I gotta say, I think I'd be too tempted to stay in Neverland.
It was a magical adventure that made me loud out loud and scream and just seem like a crazy person while reading, my heart both flew and ached. Hook needed a hug, and Peter at the end. Oh my heart, how it swelled!
I loved it.
But I gotta say, I think I'd be too tempted to stay in Neverland.
August 20, 2015
I know it's cliché to say I couldn't put this book down, but I really couldn't and finished it in less than 24 hours. I love the twists and turns the story takes, the characters, and the details that let me see the story in my mind.
May 30, 2015
Best Peter Pan retelling I've read. SO good!!!
December 23, 2014
I wanted to like this, I really did - I certainly don't set out to hate a book. I made myself read every last word (including the song playlist), in the hopes that something on the last page could bring the rating higher. It didn't happen.
So, now your asking why I thought this only deserved one star, right?
I love fairy tales. I love original interpretations - Once Upon A Time is one of my favourite TV shows... This certainly wasn't an original interpretation. At best it was a lame attempt at a knock off. I'm getting ahead of myself - let me start a the beginning.
The cover. This was the reason I picked it up. It's pretty and I liked the colours. I think the designer did a good job - I just think the author gave a bad brief. The only connection I felt the story had to the cover were the crows. (Yes, I'm the person who likes the cover to show a scene. Sue me.)
Next up, this book desperately needed an editor. I found too many typos and silly mistakes that a trained eye should pick out. I could almost forgive the author if it was her first book, but apparently it's not. As such, I certainly won't be looking for any earlier work.
1) "It doesn't even matter than you don't get older here," I muttered.
2) "Right, right"
3) He seemed harmless. Shy a bit.
There were also a variety of ridiculous descriptions:
She gripped the strings and swayed from side to side with her eyes closed, making her look like a magical dancing pony. Maybe she was and I would get to see her in her true form tonight.
(Seriously, WTF?!)
And then there are the unbelievably long paragraphs:
(Yes this is it in its entirety, complete with the bad punctuation - see earlier points)
Peter beamed from ear to ear. "Alright!" He dipped his head toward the water sending us into a nosedive. I didn't even have time to scream before we came to a dead halt about eight feet above the water. I clutched Peter's arm like a cat above water and he laughed. Then he put his middle finger and thumb together and up to his lips and let out a shrill whistle. the water bubbled below us and I could see a big dark blob rising up below our feet. when it finally broke the surface, I was able to see how massive this thing really was. Peter lowered us until our feet were resting on the creature's slippery head and I tried my hardest to keep from getting sick. It felt like I was standing on a big beanbag chair packed tight with Jell-O. Its skin was slick and rubbery and I could see veins and dark spots below the violet surface. Just a few feet to my right a slit opened up revealing the big yellow eyeball again. I watched as the dark pupil rolled around before settling on us. With Peter's hand still clutched tightly in mine, I took a tentative step towards the eye, being careful not to slip on its mucus-y skin. I stopped right above it and peered down at the big round crater. the eye itself was actually beautiful, though it would have been even more beautiful if it weren't attached to a giant purple booger. The pupil was black as night and big like a manhole. like I could fall right down into it. Surrounding the black was a ring of bright orangey gold that seemed to glow with its own inner fire and around that was a ring of opal; blue with little bits of green and white and purple and pink. It reminded me of a ring Great Gran used to wear on the middle finger of her left hand. She said it belonged to my great grandpa a long time ago and that he had got it back when he had travelled around Europe in his younger days. Along side the stories of Peter Pan and Captain Hook, Great Gran liked to tell me stories about my great grandfather. I wondered is she had ever told him about Neverland and all her adventures there.
Yes, that is ONE paragraph. I wish I could say it was the only long one that really should have been edited into at least five. I wish I could say that it was me missing all those much needed commas out.
I can't.
Another thing an editor might have caught were the waste of space sections. I can't be bothered typing it, but there's is a small section where Wynn is at work (a job she hasn't been to in a month as it is) which really, really didn't need to be there.
By now we get to the plot. If you're still reading this review, this is how I felt about the book. If the problems with this story were related only with the spelling and grammar, I think I would have been more generous and awarded maybe three stars. (Okay, if it were possible, it would probably get 2.5).
The plot itself just took any remaining dignity away.
The relatively brief but not spoiler free summary: Wendy's American great granddaughter Wyndy, or Wynn as she's commonly known (I'll come back to the name in a bit) was brought up listening to her Great Gran's tales of Peter and Neverland. She goes to a club (more to follow on that) and meets Peter. He whisks her away to Neverland. The spend a couple of days exploring. She gets kidnapped by Hook, who wants revenge on Peter for driving Wendy away. The day is saved, Peter and Wynn return to America.
So here's where my problems with the plot start to appear.
According to Wynn herself, she has grown up with tales of Peter Pan, read the book by Barrie, and watched the Disney movie of it. Yet everything seems like such a surprise to her. Peter's shadow is trying to get away from him? Did Wynn think, oh yes, that's why Peter was in Wendy's bedroom in the first place? Hell no, her reaction is that it's a ridiculous idea and only a look Peter gives her changes her of that.
The plot of Never is actually very similar to Peter Pan too. Hear me out. Wendy / Wynn arrive in Neverland. They're introduced to the Lost Boys. They play. They have fun. They both visit the mermaids (and both refuse to go in the water). They both go to Skull Rock. They both meet Tiger Lily. They both get a bit jealous. Seriously, the point I made earlier about ORIGINAL interpretations - this is what was lacking.
Also, the whole nightclub scene bugs the hell out of me. I work in a nightclub. I have done for a decade. I know how one works. Reading this, I wouldn't believe the author had ever stepped foot in one. Bands, when playing in nightclubs will play way more than one song before having a break. A DJ... You know what, I can't even. Let's just say, as a scene that was supposed to be realistic - set in a club in America - the fantasy sections with flying boys and mermaids, that was more realistic.
Characters.
I'd like to say my biggest gripe was with Wynn, but I can't. I was annoyed by most of the characters. But as Wynn is the main character, let's start with her. Let's start with her name. Wynn. Wyndy. Right, Barrie created the name Wendy for Peter Pan in the original story. I don't blame Lynam for creating a name for this interpretation. The problem comes that Win is short for Windy. I couldn't stop myself from calling her Farty. I've fought valiantly to refrain from calling her Farty in this this review.
I feel like, in order to make her a little more interesting, Lynam decided to make her a ballerina. Apart from the start of the novel where she's going to dancing class, and the odd reference to Wendy also being a dancer, this was completely glossed over. I actually expected this to be a key point of the story. Nope. Not at all. If you told me Lynam was a dancer / ballerina herself, I wouldn't believe you.
Tiger Lily became a bitch and a tramp. There was an opportunity there to have a strong female character... Nope. Heaven forbid that someone pretty could be nice (cue the school nemesis, who also seemed like a way to stick a couple of extra hundred words into the story and had no real point).
Peter... Man, I wanted to fall in love with Peter. I like a hero I can crush on. Peter was a disappointment. I didn't feel like his character was very 3-dimensional. Actually, he kinda reminds me of Edward Cullen. Twilight fans won't find that a problem, I guess. If you like Twilight with it's flowery, desperately needed edits and the two dimensional character, yeah, you're gonna like this. Actually, you could probably cast Kristen Stewart as Wynn and the plank of wood acting skills would be comparable to the depth of Wynn.
I started to like James / Hook. He had something of a motive - he blamed Peter for losing his love, and he had regretted his decision not to leave Neverland all those years ago. But instead of remaining such a good villain, Lyman must have taken a look at Once Upon A Time and thought, yeah, I should make him a good guy, or at least, an anti-hero. Or she tried. This was plot I was looking for. This was the originality. This was a guy I could have a literature crush on. A guy who had some backstory to him. And his role lasted less than ten percent of the story. Team it up with Russ (totally called him being the traitor the moment I saw him and his smug glare), and Lynam could have been onto a real gem here.
To top it all off, it felt like the story ended about a chapter before the book did.
Man, this review had made me realise just how annoyed and disappointed with this story I was. If it were possible, I'd be putting a lower rating. I should have trusted my gut and given up after the first chapter, but I wanted t give it a real chance. The plus side was this was purchased for free. I haven't lost any money, just a few hours of my life reading this.
So, now your asking why I thought this only deserved one star, right?
I love fairy tales. I love original interpretations - Once Upon A Time is one of my favourite TV shows... This certainly wasn't an original interpretation. At best it was a lame attempt at a knock off. I'm getting ahead of myself - let me start a the beginning.
The cover. This was the reason I picked it up. It's pretty and I liked the colours. I think the designer did a good job - I just think the author gave a bad brief. The only connection I felt the story had to the cover were the crows. (Yes, I'm the person who likes the cover to show a scene. Sue me.)
Next up, this book desperately needed an editor. I found too many typos and silly mistakes that a trained eye should pick out. I could almost forgive the author if it was her first book, but apparently it's not. As such, I certainly won't be looking for any earlier work.
1) "It doesn't even matter than you don't get older here," I muttered.
2) "Right, right"
3) He seemed harmless. Shy a bit.
There were also a variety of ridiculous descriptions:
She gripped the strings and swayed from side to side with her eyes closed, making her look like a magical dancing pony. Maybe she was and I would get to see her in her true form tonight.
(Seriously, WTF?!)
And then there are the unbelievably long paragraphs:
(Yes this is it in its entirety, complete with the bad punctuation - see earlier points)
Peter beamed from ear to ear. "Alright!" He dipped his head toward the water sending us into a nosedive. I didn't even have time to scream before we came to a dead halt about eight feet above the water. I clutched Peter's arm like a cat above water and he laughed. Then he put his middle finger and thumb together and up to his lips and let out a shrill whistle. the water bubbled below us and I could see a big dark blob rising up below our feet. when it finally broke the surface, I was able to see how massive this thing really was. Peter lowered us until our feet were resting on the creature's slippery head and I tried my hardest to keep from getting sick. It felt like I was standing on a big beanbag chair packed tight with Jell-O. Its skin was slick and rubbery and I could see veins and dark spots below the violet surface. Just a few feet to my right a slit opened up revealing the big yellow eyeball again. I watched as the dark pupil rolled around before settling on us. With Peter's hand still clutched tightly in mine, I took a tentative step towards the eye, being careful not to slip on its mucus-y skin. I stopped right above it and peered down at the big round crater. the eye itself was actually beautiful, though it would have been even more beautiful if it weren't attached to a giant purple booger. The pupil was black as night and big like a manhole. like I could fall right down into it. Surrounding the black was a ring of bright orangey gold that seemed to glow with its own inner fire and around that was a ring of opal; blue with little bits of green and white and purple and pink. It reminded me of a ring Great Gran used to wear on the middle finger of her left hand. She said it belonged to my great grandpa a long time ago and that he had got it back when he had travelled around Europe in his younger days. Along side the stories of Peter Pan and Captain Hook, Great Gran liked to tell me stories about my great grandfather. I wondered is she had ever told him about Neverland and all her adventures there.
Yes, that is ONE paragraph. I wish I could say it was the only long one that really should have been edited into at least five. I wish I could say that it was me missing all those much needed commas out.
I can't.
Another thing an editor might have caught were the waste of space sections. I can't be bothered typing it, but there's is a small section where Wynn is at work (a job she hasn't been to in a month as it is) which really, really didn't need to be there.
By now we get to the plot. If you're still reading this review, this is how I felt about the book. If the problems with this story were related only with the spelling and grammar, I think I would have been more generous and awarded maybe three stars. (Okay, if it were possible, it would probably get 2.5).
The plot itself just took any remaining dignity away.
The relatively brief but not spoiler free summary: Wendy's American great granddaughter Wyndy, or Wynn as she's commonly known (I'll come back to the name in a bit) was brought up listening to her Great Gran's tales of Peter and Neverland. She goes to a club (more to follow on that) and meets Peter. He whisks her away to Neverland. The spend a couple of days exploring. She gets kidnapped by Hook, who wants revenge on Peter for driving Wendy away. The day is saved, Peter and Wynn return to America.
So here's where my problems with the plot start to appear.
According to Wynn herself, she has grown up with tales of Peter Pan, read the book by Barrie, and watched the Disney movie of it. Yet everything seems like such a surprise to her. Peter's shadow is trying to get away from him? Did Wynn think, oh yes, that's why Peter was in Wendy's bedroom in the first place? Hell no, her reaction is that it's a ridiculous idea and only a look Peter gives her changes her of that.
The plot of Never is actually very similar to Peter Pan too. Hear me out. Wendy / Wynn arrive in Neverland. They're introduced to the Lost Boys. They play. They have fun. They both visit the mermaids (and both refuse to go in the water). They both go to Skull Rock. They both meet Tiger Lily. They both get a bit jealous. Seriously, the point I made earlier about ORIGINAL interpretations - this is what was lacking.
Also, the whole nightclub scene bugs the hell out of me. I work in a nightclub. I have done for a decade. I know how one works. Reading this, I wouldn't believe the author had ever stepped foot in one. Bands, when playing in nightclubs will play way more than one song before having a break. A DJ... You know what, I can't even. Let's just say, as a scene that was supposed to be realistic - set in a club in America - the fantasy sections with flying boys and mermaids, that was more realistic.
Characters.
I'd like to say my biggest gripe was with Wynn, but I can't. I was annoyed by most of the characters. But as Wynn is the main character, let's start with her. Let's start with her name. Wynn. Wyndy. Right, Barrie created the name Wendy for Peter Pan in the original story. I don't blame Lynam for creating a name for this interpretation. The problem comes that Win is short for Windy. I couldn't stop myself from calling her Farty. I've fought valiantly to refrain from calling her Farty in this this review.
I feel like, in order to make her a little more interesting, Lynam decided to make her a ballerina. Apart from the start of the novel where she's going to dancing class, and the odd reference to Wendy also being a dancer, this was completely glossed over. I actually expected this to be a key point of the story. Nope. Not at all. If you told me Lynam was a dancer / ballerina herself, I wouldn't believe you.
Tiger Lily became a bitch and a tramp. There was an opportunity there to have a strong female character... Nope. Heaven forbid that someone pretty could be nice (cue the school nemesis, who also seemed like a way to stick a couple of extra hundred words into the story and had no real point).
Peter... Man, I wanted to fall in love with Peter. I like a hero I can crush on. Peter was a disappointment. I didn't feel like his character was very 3-dimensional. Actually, he kinda reminds me of Edward Cullen. Twilight fans won't find that a problem, I guess. If you like Twilight with it's flowery, desperately needed edits and the two dimensional character, yeah, you're gonna like this. Actually, you could probably cast Kristen Stewart as Wynn and the plank of wood acting skills would be comparable to the depth of Wynn.
I started to like James / Hook. He had something of a motive - he blamed Peter for losing his love, and he had regretted his decision not to leave Neverland all those years ago. But instead of remaining such a good villain, Lyman must have taken a look at Once Upon A Time and thought, yeah, I should make him a good guy, or at least, an anti-hero. Or she tried. This was plot I was looking for. This was the originality. This was a guy I could have a literature crush on. A guy who had some backstory to him. And his role lasted less than ten percent of the story. Team it up with Russ (totally called him being the traitor the moment I saw him and his smug glare), and Lynam could have been onto a real gem here.
To top it all off, it felt like the story ended about a chapter before the book did.
Man, this review had made me realise just how annoyed and disappointed with this story I was. If it were possible, I'd be putting a lower rating. I should have trusted my gut and given up after the first chapter, but I wanted t give it a real chance. The plus side was this was purchased for free. I haven't lost any money, just a few hours of my life reading this.
August 12, 2018
Never is a continuation of the story of Peter Pan, told from the perspective of Wendy Darling's great-granddaughter. When Wynn Harper sees a gorgeous boy singing on the stage at a concert, she can't help but be swept off her feet - literally and figuratively! Lynam weaves a splendid tale about the continued life in Neverland beyond the story we're all familiar with. And as much as some things change, some things stay quite the same. I seriously enjoyed reading this book and will look for other work by Shay Lynam.
January 9, 2019
What a disappointing book. Started off good and then turned into a Peter Pan version of Twilight. This book is for 13yr olds. Not what I was expecting at all. Lots and lots of eye rolling. Oh and I almost forgot to mention smirking. Everyone does it constantly. So annoying!
Want to read
July 24, 2019we all know Peter Pan ain't an innocent child but why, for the love of all things Neverland, IS HOOK ALWAYS BEING PUT ON A PEDESTAL BY RETELLINGS??? All I ask for is a decent balance between him and Peter but nooooooo tis seemingly not to be
*grumbles in annoyance while shoving book onto tbr*
*grumbles in annoyance while shoving book onto tbr*
October 30, 2017
great book an amazing version of peter pan
June 9, 2021
It was very predictable followed the format of a teen romance to a T 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2015
Reviewed at: http://queenofteenfiction.blogspot.co...
I love modern retellings of classic stories, so Never was definitely a story that caught my attention. Never is a modern retelling of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, and it follows Wynn Harper, the great granddaughter of Wendy Darling.
The book starts soon after Wendy’s death, and we see Wynn struggling to cope. At a night out with her best friend, she meets Peter and realises Wendy’s ‘crazy’ stories of Neverland were real. The events of the story all seemed to unfold quite quickly to me. I would’ve liked to have seen a little more of Wynn’s life in LA before she was flown off to Neverland.
As we follow the pair to Neverland, we meet the Lost Boys. I adored the Lost Boys. They were definitely one of my favourite things about the story. I especially liked Pal, because his story had a little more depth to it. From there, we get the all the sights and people that Neverland has to offer: the mermaids, the fairies, Tiger Lily, etc.
Who I really liked was Captain Hook. He was probably one of my favourite characters in the story. I just wish we’d gotten to know more about him. I felt like there was a lot more to his character that we could’ve learnt. The same goes for Russ. His story was definitely one that could’ve been expanded, but wasn’t.
I wanted to like Peter and Wynn more than I did. Peter made a statement at the start of the story as to how Wynn shouldn’t judge him by the Disney movie, but he then went on to act almost the same. I would’ve preferred it if maybe he was a little different, just something to make him less cliché.
I had conflicting emotions about the ending. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Now, I love happy ending. I really do. But I didn’t want Peter to go with Wynn back to LA and for the two of them to have a simple, happy ending. What I felt it lacked was some sort of explanation as to why Peter was in Neverland. Was it like the original story? Was he there because he didn’t what to grow up? And if he was, then why wasn’t there a conversation about it? I wanted a moment in the book where Peter faces why he doesn’t want to grow up, and why that’s changed because of Wynn.
Although I never judge a book by the cover, and the cover for this book is very beautiful, it doesn’t really reflect the story. It made me feel like the story should have been darker than it was, more a twisted retelling, where Neverland isn’t what it seems. But it was actually rather calm, and I didn’t feel like there was any big threat throughout the story. Even the scenes with Hook didn’t seem as dangerous as they should have.
Never is a pleasant story to read and anyone who loves fairy tales will definitely want to give it try. There were parts of the story I enjoyed, and parts that I felt let the story down. But overall, I’m glad I took the time to read it, and Lynam has a beautifully descriptive writing style.
I love modern retellings of classic stories, so Never was definitely a story that caught my attention. Never is a modern retelling of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, and it follows Wynn Harper, the great granddaughter of Wendy Darling.
The book starts soon after Wendy’s death, and we see Wynn struggling to cope. At a night out with her best friend, she meets Peter and realises Wendy’s ‘crazy’ stories of Neverland were real. The events of the story all seemed to unfold quite quickly to me. I would’ve liked to have seen a little more of Wynn’s life in LA before she was flown off to Neverland.
As we follow the pair to Neverland, we meet the Lost Boys. I adored the Lost Boys. They were definitely one of my favourite things about the story. I especially liked Pal, because his story had a little more depth to it. From there, we get the all the sights and people that Neverland has to offer: the mermaids, the fairies, Tiger Lily, etc.
Who I really liked was Captain Hook. He was probably one of my favourite characters in the story. I just wish we’d gotten to know more about him. I felt like there was a lot more to his character that we could’ve learnt. The same goes for Russ. His story was definitely one that could’ve been expanded, but wasn’t.
I wanted to like Peter and Wynn more than I did. Peter made a statement at the start of the story as to how Wynn shouldn’t judge him by the Disney movie, but he then went on to act almost the same. I would’ve preferred it if maybe he was a little different, just something to make him less cliché.
I had conflicting emotions about the ending. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Now, I love happy ending. I really do. But I didn’t want Peter to go with Wynn back to LA and for the two of them to have a simple, happy ending. What I felt it lacked was some sort of explanation as to why Peter was in Neverland. Was it like the original story? Was he there because he didn’t what to grow up? And if he was, then why wasn’t there a conversation about it? I wanted a moment in the book where Peter faces why he doesn’t want to grow up, and why that’s changed because of Wynn.
Although I never judge a book by the cover, and the cover for this book is very beautiful, it doesn’t really reflect the story. It made me feel like the story should have been darker than it was, more a twisted retelling, where Neverland isn’t what it seems. But it was actually rather calm, and I didn’t feel like there was any big threat throughout the story. Even the scenes with Hook didn’t seem as dangerous as they should have.
Never is a pleasant story to read and anyone who loves fairy tales will definitely want to give it try. There were parts of the story I enjoyed, and parts that I felt let the story down. But overall, I’m glad I took the time to read it, and Lynam has a beautifully descriptive writing style.
November 2, 2015
Admittedly I could not put this book down until I finished it. It had a great canvas when the book went into details of Neverland and I did want Peter and Wynn to end up together what can I say I am a sucker. But the problem that kept surfacing was the unanswered questions like Peter had a band but where did that come from? Peter had human clothes specifically a diner shirt how did that come to be? SPOILER ALERT: Peter and Hook were torn apart by Wendy yet the actual details just barely scratch the surface. It felt too rushed for me the story and the backstories of the characters are barely touched which bothered me. If this is a retelling then it needs to be retold as a whole. Wynn lacked depth as did the story. There needed to be more back story in order to bring the story full circle. And though the ending was bittersweet it just didn't seem too realistic for me. Peter in spite of his love for Wendy stayed in Neverland as did Hook. Yet when Wynn enters the picture he changes his mind. For a person that has been there hundreds of years I can understand the land may start to wear on a person. But because of a single character that they watched they decide to leave that entire life behind I don't know it just didn't seem to fit quite right when Peter decides to leave. Then the ending skips to a dance but never explains how he got a suit for it or where Peter is going to stay now that he is remaining in LA...
April 14, 2019
Why can't I give books more than five stars? This has been the creme de la creme of retellings thus far (yes, even beating out the Lunar Chronicles). What really sold me on this Peter Pan retelling was the detour it took with the characterizations: Wyn (proto Wendy) is the rebellious outsider (I think I owned at least 90% of what she and Marty were wearing when I was a teenager), with this jaded streak about her. Peter was mischievous and a bit stubborn (necessary for any retelling) but as you read on, anyone with sense could tell he deeply loved his lost boys, and Wyn. I felt like this was kind of a mash-up of the Bat Out of Hell musical (the motorcycle/rock star bits), with a dash of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (outsider teens who lived for rock clubs). Shay Lynam does the thing all retellings should strive for, but always overlook: be true to aspects of the original tale, while making it truly your own. So many retellings get the origin wrong, or give us characters completely out of left field in the modernization simply to fit in with the times. I do kind of wish that we'd gotten an epilogue to the story: Wyn and Peter years down the line, telling their great granddaughter all about their adventure in Neverland and how they fell in love. I hope the other Peter Pan retellings live up to the bar set in Never, they've got some big shoes to fill.
September 12, 2019
Completely Charming Update to the Peter Pan Story
An utterly enchanting modern day twist on Peter Pan, the Lost Boys and Neverland. Though this is written as a YA book, I would recommend to any audience, including the YA audience it is written for. Admittedly YA is not my favorite genre, but with a 12 year old daughter with a very high reading level, I have found myself reading more and more of it in the last few years either to preview for her, or to be able to discuss what she's read with her. This is one of very few I've read that I thoroughly enjoyed and could hardly put down. Plenty of action and suspense, fantastically written characters, a touch of my favorite guilty pleasure - the rock star romance, some sci-fi/fantasy - so seamlessly written it is easy to overlook the impossibilities. Sweet enough that I am completely comfortable letting my 12 year old read it - I've already loaded it on the kindle she is getting for Christmas, but exciting enough to keep this 40 something turning pages madly, and enough romance to make me smile as well. I want to taste a suava, and enjoy some more time in Neverland with Wynn and all of the wonderful characters within!
An utterly enchanting modern day twist on Peter Pan, the Lost Boys and Neverland. Though this is written as a YA book, I would recommend to any audience, including the YA audience it is written for. Admittedly YA is not my favorite genre, but with a 12 year old daughter with a very high reading level, I have found myself reading more and more of it in the last few years either to preview for her, or to be able to discuss what she's read with her. This is one of very few I've read that I thoroughly enjoyed and could hardly put down. Plenty of action and suspense, fantastically written characters, a touch of my favorite guilty pleasure - the rock star romance, some sci-fi/fantasy - so seamlessly written it is easy to overlook the impossibilities. Sweet enough that I am completely comfortable letting my 12 year old read it - I've already loaded it on the kindle she is getting for Christmas, but exciting enough to keep this 40 something turning pages madly, and enough romance to make me smile as well. I want to taste a suava, and enjoy some more time in Neverland with Wynn and all of the wonderful characters within!
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