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Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever Been Punished For What I Have Done . . .
Sam is doing well in her career, she has a husband and a baby and life is going well. That is until she gets the note through her door that stops her heart in her chest. Never Have I Ever Been Punished For What I Have Done.
Sam is catapulted back to those teenage years spent with her best friends, teasing out each other's secrets by announcing things they had Never, ever done. Pushing each other's boundaries, growing closer and growing up.
If only they had stopped there. But they added their own rules. They went from sharing secrets to sharing firsts. First kisses, first drinks, first fake IDs. And that was before it all went spiraling out of control. Before that day in the woods ended it all.
Because no matter how far it goes, you have to obey the rules of the game. Even if what you've never done should stay that way. And now Sam is about to discover that the game isn't over . . .
Sam is doing well in her career, she has a husband and a baby and life is going well. That is until she gets the note through her door that stops her heart in her chest. Never Have I Ever Been Punished For What I Have Done.
Sam is catapulted back to those teenage years spent with her best friends, teasing out each other's secrets by announcing things they had Never, ever done. Pushing each other's boundaries, growing closer and growing up.
If only they had stopped there. But they added their own rules. They went from sharing secrets to sharing firsts. First kisses, first drinks, first fake IDs. And that was before it all went spiraling out of control. Before that day in the woods ended it all.
Because no matter how far it goes, you have to obey the rules of the game. Even if what you've never done should stay that way. And now Sam is about to discover that the game isn't over . . .
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2019
63 people are currently reading
563 people want to read
About the author
Lucy V. Hay
22 books174 followersLucy V. Hay script editor and blogger who helps writers via her Bang2write consultancy. She is the associate producer of Brit Thrillers DEVIATION (2012) and ASSASSIN (2015), both starring Danny Dyer. Lucy is also head reader for The London Screenwriters' Festival. Lucy is also an author, writing both screenwriting books and crime fiction. Check out her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
January 3, 2020
EXCERPT: I think briefly about screwing up the letter, shoving it in the recycling box; even burning it. But I know curiosity alone won't allow me to do that, and it could be nothing. I am probably overreacting again. I find myself muttering 'I reject fear,' just like Lindy does.
There must be a logical explanation.
Perhaps someone from school has seen me in town. Or maybe they even live near my new house, have seen me coming and going? But why not come up to me, like Michael had? Maybe they were shy. Or maybe they weren't sure it's me. But if they'd recognized me from afar in the street, they could recognize me online, even with my SJ Scherer pseudonym. Why not send me a message on Facebook? Why go to the trouble of putting something through the door? It's so old fashioned.
Unable to take it any longer, I rip the envelope open. A thin slip of paper flutters to the floor. I lean down to grab it, eager to read what it says. Once I have, I wish I'd never set eyes on it.
'Never Have I Ever been punished for what I have done.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Sam is doing well in her career, she has a husband and a baby and life is going well. That is until she gets the note through her door that stops her heart in her chest. Never Have I Ever Been Punished For What I Have Done.
Sam is catapulted back to those teenage years spent with her best friends, teasing out each other's secrets by announcing things they had Never, ever done. Pushing each other's boundaries, growing closer and growing up.
If only they had stopped there. But they added their own rules. They went from sharing secrets to sharing firsts. First kisses, first drinks, first fake IDs. And that was before it all went spiraling out of control. Before that day in the woods ended it all.
Because no matter how far it goes, you have to obey the rules of the game. Even if what you've never done should stay that way. And now Sam is about to discover that the game isn't over . . .
MY THOUGHTS: Never Have I Ever lacks a few things, including cohesion and momentum. And I am not overthinking (one of the author's favourite words, along with 'maybe') this. I was tempted, multiple times, to abandon this read, but how could I abandon my first read of the year? Of the decade? I stuck with it and stumbled through the read.
This book is repetitive....we hear the same things repeated over and over. And mundane.....there is a lot of 'filler' in there. I didn't find Never Have I Ever even remotely suspenseful or thrilling. One thought was running through my mind from early on in the book - 'Just get on with it, will you?'
And when I finally got to the climax? Doubtful... and really not worth wading through all the dross for.
Beautiful cover!
Reading is a personal and subjective experience, and what appeals to one may not please another. If you enjoyed the excerpt from Never Have I Ever by Lucy V Hay, and the plot outline appeals, please do go ahead and read it. You may well enjoy it as have many other readers.
😒😒
#NeverHaveIever #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Lucy V. Hay script editor and blogger who helps writers via her Bang2write consultancy. She is the associate producer of Brit Thrillers DEVIATION (2012) and ASSASSIN (2015), both starring Danny Dyer. Lucy is also head reader for The London Screenwriters' Festival. Lucy is also an author, writing both screenwriting books and crime fiction.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Never Have I Ever by Lucy V Hay for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
There must be a logical explanation.
Perhaps someone from school has seen me in town. Or maybe they even live near my new house, have seen me coming and going? But why not come up to me, like Michael had? Maybe they were shy. Or maybe they weren't sure it's me. But if they'd recognized me from afar in the street, they could recognize me online, even with my SJ Scherer pseudonym. Why not send me a message on Facebook? Why go to the trouble of putting something through the door? It's so old fashioned.
Unable to take it any longer, I rip the envelope open. A thin slip of paper flutters to the floor. I lean down to grab it, eager to read what it says. Once I have, I wish I'd never set eyes on it.
'Never Have I Ever been punished for what I have done.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Sam is doing well in her career, she has a husband and a baby and life is going well. That is until she gets the note through her door that stops her heart in her chest. Never Have I Ever Been Punished For What I Have Done.
Sam is catapulted back to those teenage years spent with her best friends, teasing out each other's secrets by announcing things they had Never, ever done. Pushing each other's boundaries, growing closer and growing up.
If only they had stopped there. But they added their own rules. They went from sharing secrets to sharing firsts. First kisses, first drinks, first fake IDs. And that was before it all went spiraling out of control. Before that day in the woods ended it all.
Because no matter how far it goes, you have to obey the rules of the game. Even if what you've never done should stay that way. And now Sam is about to discover that the game isn't over . . .
MY THOUGHTS: Never Have I Ever lacks a few things, including cohesion and momentum. And I am not overthinking (one of the author's favourite words, along with 'maybe') this. I was tempted, multiple times, to abandon this read, but how could I abandon my first read of the year? Of the decade? I stuck with it and stumbled through the read.
This book is repetitive....we hear the same things repeated over and over. And mundane.....there is a lot of 'filler' in there. I didn't find Never Have I Ever even remotely suspenseful or thrilling. One thought was running through my mind from early on in the book - 'Just get on with it, will you?'
And when I finally got to the climax? Doubtful... and really not worth wading through all the dross for.
Beautiful cover!
Reading is a personal and subjective experience, and what appeals to one may not please another. If you enjoyed the excerpt from Never Have I Ever by Lucy V Hay, and the plot outline appeals, please do go ahead and read it. You may well enjoy it as have many other readers.
😒😒
#NeverHaveIever #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Lucy V. Hay script editor and blogger who helps writers via her Bang2write consultancy. She is the associate producer of Brit Thrillers DEVIATION (2012) and ASSASSIN (2015), both starring Danny Dyer. Lucy is also head reader for The London Screenwriters' Festival. Lucy is also an author, writing both screenwriting books and crime fiction.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Never Have I Ever by Lucy V Hay for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 14, 2019
Never Have I Ever is a really solid mix of captivating, sinister storyline, it reminded me a lot of books such as The Chalk Man although not quite as accomplished, and non-taxing, easy to follow and race through narrative; a great combination for the masses to devour for sure. It centres around a game of yep, you guessed it, Never Have I Ever that resulted in a twisted set of circumstances occurring amongst a group of friends many years ago when they were all young and feckless. Then Samantha, one of the girls who had played the twisted game on that fateful day over two decades ago decides to return to her childhood town of Ilfracombe, Devon, in which she spent her formative years along, with her husband and baby boy. But she receives a chilling note through her door stating: Never Have I Ever Been Punished For What I Have Done, and she knows instantaneously that her past has come back to haunt her.
One of my main issues was that, at times, it was quite slow-moving but that didn't bother me enough to stop me continuing an interesting, drama-laced story that I had already gotten my teeth into. It's well written and one of the easiest psychological thrillers to read with literally anyone being able to keep up and follow along without any problems whatsoever. However, if you require a likeable protagonist to cheer for in your crime fiction then this may not be for you as Sam is at the very least abrasive and difficult to relate to throughout the entirety of the book; I feel this was intentional on the authors part, though. The beautiful Devon location was the perfect backdrop and contrast against the disturbing incidents and the descriptions made the setting into a character in its own right. Recommended to those who enjoy women's fiction/chick-lit tinged drama. Many thanks to Hodder Paperbacks for an ARC.
One of my main issues was that, at times, it was quite slow-moving but that didn't bother me enough to stop me continuing an interesting, drama-laced story that I had already gotten my teeth into. It's well written and one of the easiest psychological thrillers to read with literally anyone being able to keep up and follow along without any problems whatsoever. However, if you require a likeable protagonist to cheer for in your crime fiction then this may not be for you as Sam is at the very least abrasive and difficult to relate to throughout the entirety of the book; I feel this was intentional on the authors part, though. The beautiful Devon location was the perfect backdrop and contrast against the disturbing incidents and the descriptions made the setting into a character in its own right. Recommended to those who enjoy women's fiction/chick-lit tinged drama. Many thanks to Hodder Paperbacks for an ARC.
December 15, 2019
Sam returns to the hometown she left when she was a teenager. Shes it a successful author looking for a fresh start after a few tough years with her husband and baby son. But then the anonymous letters start, bringing up the mistakes she was desperate to leave behind.
The story is set in Ilfracombe, Devon. I did not like Sam. She came across as a bully. We don't get a ,ot of information on her husband. Sam and her friends had played the game never have I ever when they were teenagers. The dares just got nastier. Then Sam moves away with her family, thinking everything will now be fine. The plotline had so much potential but the pace seemed slow and dragged on I parts. This story shows how your past can never leave you. One day, it will eventually catch up with you.
I would like to thank Netgalley Hodder & Stoughton and the author Lucy V. Hay for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story is set in Ilfracombe, Devon. I did not like Sam. She came across as a bully. We don't get a ,ot of information on her husband. Sam and her friends had played the game never have I ever when they were teenagers. The dares just got nastier. Then Sam moves away with her family, thinking everything will now be fine. The plotline had so much potential but the pace seemed slow and dragged on I parts. This story shows how your past can never leave you. One day, it will eventually catch up with you.
I would like to thank Netgalley Hodder & Stoughton and the author Lucy V. Hay for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2020
So this started out so well then settled slightly losing momentum and then the ending kind of rescued things a tad, so mixed bag from me really.
So this story is told from sams Pov a successful author who moves back to Ilfracombe her childhood stomping grounds with her husband and son.
I liked that it was set in Devon and the author has done their homework well, I recognised many place names from our family holidays including the Wetherspoons pub, which was nice.
So there's really two-story threads happening here, fan-mail from an anonymous person that is kind of freaking Sam out that she's been having for a while and after she moves home Never Have I Ever Letters, a game she used to play with her friends when they were teenagers.
A game she would rather forget they ever played.
So the story here was interesting and I kept reading because I wanted to know the outcome and who was behind it all terrorising Sam.
My issue was there was a tad too much of the mundane everyday thrown in to keep my attention wholly and I got to be honest without that ending that pulled it out the bag my rating would probably be lower.
I also couldn't stand Sam herself she was narcissistic and Selfish and plain mean to her poor hubby, who was lovely by the way, so that also put a damper on the whole thing.
So yeh I did enjoy this to a point, it was a good read, it just didn't manage to blow me away, but as I said I did love the finish.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Never Have I Ever.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
November 13, 2019
20 years ago
4 girls played ‘Never have I Ever’
It started as fun
A laugh, a joke
It ended in death
Present day and Sam, one of the 4, returns to Ilfracombe, hoping the past is the past and no ghosts linger
Of course, its not and of course they do
She soon starts to receive cryptic ‘Never have I/you ever’ notes and her life starts to become another game, but this time a game of survival
I loved the setting in Devon, fab descriptions of Ilfracombe and the surrounding areas, especially pleasing was the part about ‘little Switzerland’, the reference to the 90’s throughout were great and any book that mentions ‘Teddy Ruxspin’ gets a plus point!
Interesting that Sam was an author and the references to her fans and people who read and also stalkers of authors were at times maybe a bit too throwaway in their brashness towards readers and what kind of people we are!!
The characters were in the main relatable although Sam ( as quite a few leading characters seem to ) had ‘ a rush of adrenaline’ sometimes twice in a page, overuse of a description loses its shock value sometimes and did for me in this case
The story itself is fast paced and exciting and the writing ( for me ) was clear and easy and the finale was well done and pretty scary
All in all a good read, enjoyable and passed all the red flags that make a good psychological edgy thriller
8/10
4 Stars
December 25, 2019
Ah, this book pulled and pushed me outta the prose continually. I felt like a castaway, trying to swim the waves. The suspense to waxed and waned in different pages.
A childhood game played between 4 teenage girls had disastrous results which was hinted at throughout the book by Sam, a writer who had shifted back home with her husband and baby boy. Notes started appearing and her mind kept going to the past which her mind had blanked out.
My first book by author Lucy V. Hay, I was so attracted to the story initially. The suspense had the right amount of malice in it. But soon the main character lost her steam with illogical accusations. I was not shown a gradual progress or links to the past. Hence she came across as hysterical most times. Boy, she needed therapy.
But the story and writing in most parts were delicious, the pace was slow for a thriller yet the last few pages with the big reveal had me gasping at the wickedness of a mind.
Overall a fun read...
A childhood game played between 4 teenage girls had disastrous results which was hinted at throughout the book by Sam, a writer who had shifted back home with her husband and baby boy. Notes started appearing and her mind kept going to the past which her mind had blanked out.
My first book by author Lucy V. Hay, I was so attracted to the story initially. The suspense had the right amount of malice in it. But soon the main character lost her steam with illogical accusations. I was not shown a gradual progress or links to the past. Hence she came across as hysterical most times. Boy, she needed therapy.
But the story and writing in most parts were delicious, the pace was slow for a thriller yet the last few pages with the big reveal had me gasping at the wickedness of a mind.
Overall a fun read...
January 3, 2020
I had to DNF this.
The tenses are all over the place, something typical of a first, self-published book, and I'm baffled this has slipped by an editor's desk. The main character Sam is repeatedly all over the place. Multiple times each chapter we had to read of her decision to not tell her husband the truth of what was going on, and while I was mildly curious about what was going on, it was clear we were never going to get there. She's pretty awful to her husband without a reason.
The inner dialog was unexciting, repetitive, and went in circles that weren't engaging. There is an inordinate amount of time spent telling the day to day of this women's life, it's incredibly repetitive and is more of a space filler than actually moving the story along. Perhaps if it was properly edited it would be worth revisiting.
The tenses are all over the place, something typical of a first, self-published book, and I'm baffled this has slipped by an editor's desk. The main character Sam is repeatedly all over the place. Multiple times each chapter we had to read of her decision to not tell her husband the truth of what was going on, and while I was mildly curious about what was going on, it was clear we were never going to get there. She's pretty awful to her husband without a reason.
The inner dialog was unexciting, repetitive, and went in circles that weren't engaging. There is an inordinate amount of time spent telling the day to day of this women's life, it's incredibly repetitive and is more of a space filler than actually moving the story along. Perhaps if it was properly edited it would be worth revisiting.
November 7, 2020
I read this book quite quickly, compare to the last book I read it was a lot more intriguing. I've actually been wanting to read this one for a while, and for the most part it didn't disappoint.
Samantha, Aimee, Maddie and Ruby. Close friends as teenagers. Aimee a typical mean girl, a bully. Aimee makes the friendship group play 'Never Have I Ever'. For the most part they wanted to play it, until it obviously got very out of control. Something bad happened on the last night they were all together, and now someone saw and wants Samantha to pay.
I loved the twists that flowed quite regularly, though at parts I did wish the story would speed up. I didn't really care about Mike and Kat, Kat was an annoying character and she was only in the odd few times! It comes up in the book that Samantha is a fantasist, that she changes things that have happened to suit herself and ends up believing them. Honestly towards the end I'm actually quite confused by that... was she actually more of a mean girl and leader than she thought? Did she break her word and move the rope, and then not let herself think about it?
I loved the book but honestly I still have questions that I don't quite think have been fully answered. Really good book though, very suspenseful mystery read!
Samantha, Aimee, Maddie and Ruby. Close friends as teenagers. Aimee a typical mean girl, a bully. Aimee makes the friendship group play 'Never Have I Ever'. For the most part they wanted to play it, until it obviously got very out of control. Something bad happened on the last night they were all together, and now someone saw and wants Samantha to pay.
I loved the twists that flowed quite regularly, though at parts I did wish the story would speed up. I didn't really care about Mike and Kat, Kat was an annoying character and she was only in the odd few times! It comes up in the book that Samantha is a fantasist, that she changes things that have happened to suit herself and ends up believing them. Honestly towards the end I'm actually quite confused by that... was she actually more of a mean girl and leader than she thought? Did she break her word and move the rope, and then not let herself think about it?
I loved the book but honestly I still have questions that I don't quite think have been fully answered. Really good book though, very suspenseful mystery read!
November 30, 2019
All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
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This review will appear on my site on December 3, 2019.
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The book description and gorgeous cover is what pulled me to this book. And then the protagonist Samantha (Sam) was a teenager in the 1990s like I was (though Sam is just a couple of years older than me.) I identified with Sam on that part and enjoyed the 90s references that were used in the novel.
Now an adult and published author writing under a pseudonym, Sam and her family move back to her hometown then she starts receiving notes. She and her friends played “Never Have I Ever” when they were teens and now that Sam is back, it seems like the game is continuing despite Sam not wanting to play.
Over the course of the novel, Sam thinks she has it figured out and then the final act was significant to read: This is where the past and the present collide together to form the climax of the novel and we finally find out what happened over 20 years ago.
Though a good novel, a few parts of it did not work for me: Sam really was not that likeable and it was just hard for me to think of someone having a huge high school grudge 20+ years later.
I really did enjoy reading about the town of Ilfracombe. With Hay’s vivid descriptions I felt like I was in that town with Sam. I will be reading more from L.V. Hay in the future.
Many thanks to the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for granting me an arc copy.
~~~~
This review will appear on my site on December 3, 2019.
~~~~
The book description and gorgeous cover is what pulled me to this book. And then the protagonist Samantha (Sam) was a teenager in the 1990s like I was (though Sam is just a couple of years older than me.) I identified with Sam on that part and enjoyed the 90s references that were used in the novel.
Now an adult and published author writing under a pseudonym, Sam and her family move back to her hometown then she starts receiving notes. She and her friends played “Never Have I Ever” when they were teens and now that Sam is back, it seems like the game is continuing despite Sam not wanting to play.
Over the course of the novel, Sam thinks she has it figured out and then the final act was significant to read: This is where the past and the present collide together to form the climax of the novel and we finally find out what happened over 20 years ago.
Though a good novel, a few parts of it did not work for me: Sam really was not that likeable and it was just hard for me to think of someone having a huge high school grudge 20+ years later.
I really did enjoy reading about the town of Ilfracombe. With Hay’s vivid descriptions I felt like I was in that town with Sam. I will be reading more from L.V. Hay in the future.
Many thanks to the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for granting me an arc copy.
January 26, 2020
Lucy V. Hay's début is an engrossing and entertaining, gripping drama-style thriller of deceit, lies, fecklessness, and hidden truths.
Based on the game of Never Have I Ever, the book focuses on a macabre set of circumstances that occurred amongst a group of friends years ago when they were all young and thoughtless. Samantha (Sam), a successful author, is also one of the girls who played the twisted game on that fateful day over two decades ago. She decides to return to her childhood town of Ilfracombe, Devon, along with her husband and baby boy. Sam's life is going well until she gets a note through her door that chills her to the bone.
Never Have I Ever is a compelling and cracking story that I revelled in all the way through and that had me reading well into the night. Everything was competently wrapped up in the fabulous and satisfying finale. I would love to read more from Lucy V. Hay and I am delighted to recommend this début novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Hodder and Stoughton via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Based on the game of Never Have I Ever, the book focuses on a macabre set of circumstances that occurred amongst a group of friends years ago when they were all young and thoughtless. Samantha (Sam), a successful author, is also one of the girls who played the twisted game on that fateful day over two decades ago. She decides to return to her childhood town of Ilfracombe, Devon, along with her husband and baby boy. Sam's life is going well until she gets a note through her door that chills her to the bone.
"Never Have I Ever Been Punished For What I Have Done."Told through the eyes of Sam over almost twenty years, Lucy V. Hay delivers this unrestrained and exuberant story of drama in this toxic concoction of long-held secrets, peer pressure, vindictiveness and deception.
Never Have I Ever is a compelling and cracking story that I revelled in all the way through and that had me reading well into the night. Everything was competently wrapped up in the fabulous and satisfying finale. I would love to read more from Lucy V. Hay and I am delighted to recommend this début novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Hodder and Stoughton via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
March 2, 2020
I thought I had figured it all out and that the finale was predictable, until it wasn't and I was proven way WAY wrong.
Fun, quick read, intriguing characters, entertaining story.
Fun, quick read, intriguing characters, entertaining story.
November 20, 2019
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Sam and her friends used to play a game called never have I ever which is a game of dares. The game goes wrong on Sams last day in Ilfracombe and she thinks she can leave it all behind. However when she returns to Ilfracombe 23 years after she left her past catches up with her.
Sam and her friends used to play a game called never have I ever which is a game of dares. The game goes wrong on Sams last day in Ilfracombe and she thinks she can leave it all behind. However when she returns to Ilfracombe 23 years after she left her past catches up with her.
June 14, 2025
This book was just okay for me. I need a faster paced book and a likable protagonist helps. I know a lot of people love a slow burner and can handle unlikable people but I just need someone to relate with in some kind of way.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!
May 20, 2020
This had a lot of potential but fell flat too many times. The surprise and slightly shocking ending saves it though... 3.5 stars!
September 22, 2019
Twenty years ago, four teenagers discover a new game and add their own rules. The game spirals out of control.
Now a woman gets a note through her door which chills her blood,
'Never have I ever been punished for what I have done.'
The premise of this story reminds me of ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. But it is an intriguing premise. After all, haven’t we all done things in the past that we wish would stay in the past?
At the outset of the book, I liked Sam. As the book continues though, I begin to question whether Sam is mentally unwell. Could she be doing these things to herself? What did she do in the past that was so terrible that someone would taunt her about it 20 years later?
Sam’s husband Mo initially seemed like a pushover. As the book continues and we reach the conclusion, the author has done a great job of turning the table and making you see we have an unreliable narrator in Sam.
When Sam meets her ex-boyfriend, Mike, I expected that the book would at some point result in Sam and Mike reuniting, particularly given Sam’s desire to keep meeting Mike a secret from her husband. But Mike is the opposite, being very open and honest with his wife. I can’t quite determine whether that was because he was so frightened of losing Kat or whether he genuinely was such an honest person.
Kat certainly doesn’t seem entirely honest - one face for Mike, another for Sam. But is that unexpected? When we come towards the conclusion of the book and Sam is doing everything she can to save her child, isn’t Kat really just doing the same thing for her marriage when she confronts Sam? That is arguable, but I am still not entirely convinced by the character of Kat.
The actual Never Have I Ever which has resulted in this whole tale was not entirely a surprise. I had worked out that this might be what the author was leading up to but there were still aspects of the ending I was surprised by. And I have to admit, I am still unsure of whether what Sam did was what resulted in the death - or whether someone else had played a part.
By the end of the book, we’ve discovered that Sam isn’t mentally unwell, just an unreliable narrator and someone who has twisted the past - intentionally or unintentionally - to suit herself. I didn’t like her as much by the end!
Overall, well worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley who provided me a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Now a woman gets a note through her door which chills her blood,
'Never have I ever been punished for what I have done.'
The premise of this story reminds me of ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. But it is an intriguing premise. After all, haven’t we all done things in the past that we wish would stay in the past?
At the outset of the book, I liked Sam. As the book continues though, I begin to question whether Sam is mentally unwell. Could she be doing these things to herself? What did she do in the past that was so terrible that someone would taunt her about it 20 years later?
Sam’s husband Mo initially seemed like a pushover. As the book continues and we reach the conclusion, the author has done a great job of turning the table and making you see we have an unreliable narrator in Sam.
When Sam meets her ex-boyfriend, Mike, I expected that the book would at some point result in Sam and Mike reuniting, particularly given Sam’s desire to keep meeting Mike a secret from her husband. But Mike is the opposite, being very open and honest with his wife. I can’t quite determine whether that was because he was so frightened of losing Kat or whether he genuinely was such an honest person.
Kat certainly doesn’t seem entirely honest - one face for Mike, another for Sam. But is that unexpected? When we come towards the conclusion of the book and Sam is doing everything she can to save her child, isn’t Kat really just doing the same thing for her marriage when she confronts Sam? That is arguable, but I am still not entirely convinced by the character of Kat.
The actual Never Have I Ever which has resulted in this whole tale was not entirely a surprise. I had worked out that this might be what the author was leading up to but there were still aspects of the ending I was surprised by. And I have to admit, I am still unsure of whether what Sam did was what resulted in the death - or whether someone else had played a part.
By the end of the book, we’ve discovered that Sam isn’t mentally unwell, just an unreliable narrator and someone who has twisted the past - intentionally or unintentionally - to suit herself. I didn’t like her as much by the end!
Overall, well worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley who provided me a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2020
Started off okay - liked the mystery, liked the flashbacks. Somewhere towards the middle it got very samesie and I couldn’t stand Samantha, so whiney and frustrating! Ending was super rushed and just a shambles really. Red herrings galore which were so obvious that they really detracted from what started off as a decent read. 2 stars - Only recommend if you have nothing left in your bookshelf during Covid!
January 22, 2021
I enjoyed this. Clever, crisp writing and a solid plot with enough character info and twisty bits to keep my attention (which unfortunately doesn't happen often). I will seek out more books by this author.
December 10, 2019
I absolutely enjoy the Mystery/Thriller genre. This book not so much. The premise for this book is fantastic. A group of teen girls twisting the game, Never Have I Ever, with dire consequences. What is there not to love? Unfortunately for me, a lot. This book was not my exact cup of tea.
The main character, Samantha, is manipulative, self-absorbed, and infantile. She is unhappy with how she treats her husband and continues to treat him badly. She adores her son, yet he is with her mother through most of the book so she can "write", when in fact she is running around the countryside trying to find someone that may or may not exist.
I will admit that the book was not half bad after deciding to skim through the filler material. The ending had a major twist I was not expecting which was a bonus. I do hope this book has one more read through before being released. I believe with further editing and proofreading, this okay book could become a rather good read. I would also like to say that this book is still worth a read. So check it out! Although, not for me, you may find it to be right up your alley.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the availability of the ARC.
The main character, Samantha, is manipulative, self-absorbed, and infantile. She is unhappy with how she treats her husband and continues to treat him badly. She adores her son, yet he is with her mother through most of the book so she can "write", when in fact she is running around the countryside trying to find someone that may or may not exist.
I will admit that the book was not half bad after deciding to skim through the filler material. The ending had a major twist I was not expecting which was a bonus. I do hope this book has one more read through before being released. I believe with further editing and proofreading, this okay book could become a rather good read. I would also like to say that this book is still worth a read. So check it out! Although, not for me, you may find it to be right up your alley.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the availability of the ARC.
July 13, 2020
Never Have I Ever
The gripping psychological thriller about a game gone wrong
by Lucy V. Hay
Hodder & Stoughton
Hodder Paperbacks
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 12 Dec 2019
I am reviewing a copy of Never Have I Ever through Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley:
In Never Have I Ever four teenagers discover a new game, a game that they add their our own rules, they go from sharing secrets to sharing firsts. But things soon go spiraling out control.
Soon a woman gets a note stuck through her door, the note terrifies her. The note reads: /Never have I ever been punished for what I have done./
She thought the game was over, but now it seems like it’s her turn to play. No matter how far it goes you must follow the rules, and the game is never over, not really.
If you are looking for a great suspenseful read, one that draws you in, and doesn’t let you go, I highly recommend Never Have I Ever.
Five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
The gripping psychological thriller about a game gone wrong
by Lucy V. Hay
Hodder & Stoughton
Hodder Paperbacks
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 12 Dec 2019
I am reviewing a copy of Never Have I Ever through Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley:
In Never Have I Ever four teenagers discover a new game, a game that they add their our own rules, they go from sharing secrets to sharing firsts. But things soon go spiraling out control.
Soon a woman gets a note stuck through her door, the note terrifies her. The note reads: /Never have I ever been punished for what I have done./
She thought the game was over, but now it seems like it’s her turn to play. No matter how far it goes you must follow the rules, and the game is never over, not really.
If you are looking for a great suspenseful read, one that draws you in, and doesn’t let you go, I highly recommend Never Have I Ever.
Five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
June 4, 2020
Never have I ever... read a book by Lucy v Hay. This may be my first experience with this author but it won't be my last.
The story flashed back and forth between present and the narrator's childhood. It centres around a game of
Never Have I Ever, which the narrator and her friends used to play during their teen years, however, they had added their own twist to the game, which escalated until it got out of hand.
I found the story to be enjoyable, and it keep me interested throughout. However, I didn't find the characters particularly likeable, which is a shame, as I find that i am more empathetic to likeable characters.
The ending contained an unseen plot twist, and the last few chapters had me on edge, hoping for the best outcome.
Definitely worth a read, and I would look for more books by this author.
The story flashed back and forth between present and the narrator's childhood. It centres around a game of
Never Have I Ever, which the narrator and her friends used to play during their teen years, however, they had added their own twist to the game, which escalated until it got out of hand.
I found the story to be enjoyable, and it keep me interested throughout. However, I didn't find the characters particularly likeable, which is a shame, as I find that i am more empathetic to likeable characters.
The ending contained an unseen plot twist, and the last few chapters had me on edge, hoping for the best outcome.
Definitely worth a read, and I would look for more books by this author.
February 10, 2020
If you’re an 80s baby who grew up in the 90s then this book is full of nostalgia which I really enjoyed. The plot was good and fast paced , I felt quite let down with the ending & expected more after enjoying the majority of the storyline. There was only so many time’s the reference “twenty three years ago” I could read before it became really annoying.
Read
November 4, 2019DNF
January 19, 2020
Well this is an interesting read. With an unreliable narrator and the knowledge that something happened in her past, if not the exact what, author LV Hay keeps readers guessing to the very end as to just what may have happened in protagonist, Samantha's, misspent youth. I don't think anyone is a stranger to the concept of the 'Never Have I Ever' game, although I don't recall ever having played it. This time around though Sam and her school friends ramp it up into a kind of jeopardy laden truth or dare, a game that will have lasting repercussions for all of them.
Sam isn;t necessarily the easiest to liekprotagonist. I found her prickly and evasive, even with people she was supposed to love. The more time I spent with her, the more her actions started to come into question, and the less I trusted what she had to say. That said, it was clear from the outset that she had some form of stalker, a Number 1 fan who was unnaturally drawn to her and seemingly very obsessive. But how far does that obsession extend and how does it feed into the main narrative.
The story has two distinct threads - the present day in which Sam, now an author, receives a series of increasingly strange and eventually threatening letters - and her last summer in her home town in North Devon before her family packed up and moved to London. The past comes as a series of memories, ones that Sam has put to the back of her mind and which are slowly recalled throughout the course of the novel. We learn more about Sam as each memory resurfaces, but nothing to the extent that would explain how her life it being slowly undermined and destroyed in the present.
Sam's past is dominated by her friendship with Aimee, Ruby and Maddy. Far from being close knit, you get the sense of the toxic nature of this particular foursome, driven by an large by Aimee, a girl used to getting her own way. She challenges and unsettles the other girls, driving them to act in ways they would ordinarily not have dreamed of. It is interesting to see how the author has explored this group dynamic and made it play out on the page, and I recognised the dark side of female friendships that lurks behind the gloss and the solidarity that others may see. The author has a real knack for exploring human nature and portraying the atypical in her works, and it is never more apparent that we see here.
There is a lot of tension in the story, a clear underlying threat, but perhaps because I didn't warm to Sam, I perhaps didn't feel as on edge as I might have liked. It's not that what was happening to her was acceptable, but there was much about her character that was completely objectionable, particularly the way she treated her husband, that made it hard to be too upset about how her life was unfolding and made me wonder if it wasn;t just a little bit deserved. It is clear from the interactions she has with former friends, from the memories she recounts, that she is far from perfect. But does that not just make her human?
The ending was surprising, the ultimate reveal perhaps not entirely unexpected. There are many ides thrown around as to who could be targeting Sam, some are discounted, others serve to make Sam look paranoid and unstable, not that she needs much help in that quarter. Overall it was a well paced and intriguing novel, but as much for its examination of peer pressure and the impact of badly made decisions as a teenager as for the question of who might be targeting Sam and why.
Sam isn;t necessarily the easiest to liekprotagonist. I found her prickly and evasive, even with people she was supposed to love. The more time I spent with her, the more her actions started to come into question, and the less I trusted what she had to say. That said, it was clear from the outset that she had some form of stalker, a Number 1 fan who was unnaturally drawn to her and seemingly very obsessive. But how far does that obsession extend and how does it feed into the main narrative.
The story has two distinct threads - the present day in which Sam, now an author, receives a series of increasingly strange and eventually threatening letters - and her last summer in her home town in North Devon before her family packed up and moved to London. The past comes as a series of memories, ones that Sam has put to the back of her mind and which are slowly recalled throughout the course of the novel. We learn more about Sam as each memory resurfaces, but nothing to the extent that would explain how her life it being slowly undermined and destroyed in the present.
Sam's past is dominated by her friendship with Aimee, Ruby and Maddy. Far from being close knit, you get the sense of the toxic nature of this particular foursome, driven by an large by Aimee, a girl used to getting her own way. She challenges and unsettles the other girls, driving them to act in ways they would ordinarily not have dreamed of. It is interesting to see how the author has explored this group dynamic and made it play out on the page, and I recognised the dark side of female friendships that lurks behind the gloss and the solidarity that others may see. The author has a real knack for exploring human nature and portraying the atypical in her works, and it is never more apparent that we see here.
There is a lot of tension in the story, a clear underlying threat, but perhaps because I didn't warm to Sam, I perhaps didn't feel as on edge as I might have liked. It's not that what was happening to her was acceptable, but there was much about her character that was completely objectionable, particularly the way she treated her husband, that made it hard to be too upset about how her life was unfolding and made me wonder if it wasn;t just a little bit deserved. It is clear from the interactions she has with former friends, from the memories she recounts, that she is far from perfect. But does that not just make her human?
The ending was surprising, the ultimate reveal perhaps not entirely unexpected. There are many ides thrown around as to who could be targeting Sam, some are discounted, others serve to make Sam look paranoid and unstable, not that she needs much help in that quarter. Overall it was a well paced and intriguing novel, but as much for its examination of peer pressure and the impact of badly made decisions as a teenager as for the question of who might be targeting Sam and why.
March 21, 2022
1.5 stars rounded up.
I’m not sure where things went wrong for me with this one, nothing beyond the premise really worked. I powered on and read through till the end because this isn’t really the type of book that I would DNF (and it wasn’t that bad either). I did like what was promised on the blurb, and the way that the dual timeline was laid out – I was hoping there would be a nice contrast between the 4 teenagers and the grown women 20 years later, but they felt just as immature and selfish throughout.
Time jumps are indicated with italicised text, rather than having separate chapters, I did wonder why this was the case when it happened the first time. The reason became obvious quite quickly i.e. . As such, I didn’t feel like I actually got to know any of the younger selves, which really didn’t help the flow of the story.
Even though I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing, nor any of the characters if I’m honest, for most of the book there was the possibility of it being rescued by a good ending. Perhaps have been good whether or not it was what I had guessed it to be (it wasn’t, for reasons outlined below).
Unfortunately, the ending didn’t manage to hold up either. As such, overall I found the ending very lame. I had thought something along the lines of .
I’m not sure where things went wrong for me with this one, nothing beyond the premise really worked. I powered on and read through till the end because this isn’t really the type of book that I would DNF (and it wasn’t that bad either). I did like what was promised on the blurb, and the way that the dual timeline was laid out – I was hoping there would be a nice contrast between the 4 teenagers and the grown women 20 years later, but they felt just as immature and selfish throughout.
Time jumps are indicated with italicised text, rather than having separate chapters, I did wonder why this was the case when it happened the first time. The reason became obvious quite quickly i.e. . As such, I didn’t feel like I actually got to know any of the younger selves, which really didn’t help the flow of the story.
Even though I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing, nor any of the characters if I’m honest, for most of the book there was the possibility of it being rescued by a good ending. Perhaps have been good whether or not it was what I had guessed it to be (it wasn’t, for reasons outlined below).
Unfortunately, the ending didn’t manage to hold up either. As such, overall I found the ending very lame. I had thought something along the lines of .
January 11, 2020
Sam, her husband Mo and their son Caleb have relocated from London to Ilfracombe, Sam's childhood home. Once there, Sam's past returns to haunt her. When she was a teenager her gang of friends were obsessed with Never Have I Ever - a game where players dare one another to do something they've never done before. It started fairly innocuously with dares to shoplift or kiss a boy, but teenage girls being what they are, the game soon got out of hand becoming increasingly vindictive and bullying. And now she's back, someone else who remembers the game is sending Sam anonymous and threatening letters starting Never Have I Ever...
Lucy V. Hay gets Ilfracombe just right with its mix of faded Victorian grandeur, up-and-coming gentrification, and the crushing poverty and deprivation of a small rural town.
Sam herself is a pleasingly unreliable narrator, and not always that likeable. Confident in her memories, she tracks down some of her old school friends but their versions of events don't always seem to chime with hers. She jumps to conclusions, fires off accusations without a single thought for the consequences and shuts out her husband, driving a wedge through their relationship.
From about halfway through, I was convinced I knew where this was going but gratifyingly I was totally wrong.
Never Have I Ever ticks all the boxes for a psychological thriller for me with a complex central character, a great location and a believable plot that keeps you turning the pages.
Lucy V. Hay gets Ilfracombe just right with its mix of faded Victorian grandeur, up-and-coming gentrification, and the crushing poverty and deprivation of a small rural town.
Sam herself is a pleasingly unreliable narrator, and not always that likeable. Confident in her memories, she tracks down some of her old school friends but their versions of events don't always seem to chime with hers. She jumps to conclusions, fires off accusations without a single thought for the consequences and shuts out her husband, driving a wedge through their relationship.
From about halfway through, I was convinced I knew where this was going but gratifyingly I was totally wrong.
Never Have I Ever ticks all the boxes for a psychological thriller for me with a complex central character, a great location and a believable plot that keeps you turning the pages.
April 19, 2024
Rounded up from 2.5
Another book that's been gathering dust on my NetGalley shelf that I've finally gotten around to reading.
Never Have I Ever is a psychological thriller that follows Samantha, now a well-known author, who moves back to Ilfracombe with her family where she lived until she was a teenager. Things start to go wrong when a note is pushed through her door, alluding to the never have I ever game she used to play with her friends as a teen and threatens to expose a secret she's been keeping all that time. Tension grows, and she feels more and more unsafe. She is determined to find that person responsible and will stop at nothing to protect her family.
Another book where I was drawn in by the beginning and it just seemed to peter off somewhere in the middle.
I will say, though, it had a good fast-pace with plenty of tension at the beginning of the story. The characters, while not entirely likeable, were flawed and realistic.
I also liked the setting of Ilfracombe in Devon, which was so well described I could almost picture myself there.
The problem came from the repetitiveness of it. She got so obsessive and hyper fixated on certain things that it got frustrating to read.
The ending was shocking, but it didn't make up for the saggy bit in the middle.
I will still recommend this if you love a thriller with 90s references, old grudges and not so likeable characters.
Another book that's been gathering dust on my NetGalley shelf that I've finally gotten around to reading.
Never Have I Ever is a psychological thriller that follows Samantha, now a well-known author, who moves back to Ilfracombe with her family where she lived until she was a teenager. Things start to go wrong when a note is pushed through her door, alluding to the never have I ever game she used to play with her friends as a teen and threatens to expose a secret she's been keeping all that time. Tension grows, and she feels more and more unsafe. She is determined to find that person responsible and will stop at nothing to protect her family.
Another book where I was drawn in by the beginning and it just seemed to peter off somewhere in the middle.
I will say, though, it had a good fast-pace with plenty of tension at the beginning of the story. The characters, while not entirely likeable, were flawed and realistic.
I also liked the setting of Ilfracombe in Devon, which was so well described I could almost picture myself there.
The problem came from the repetitiveness of it. She got so obsessive and hyper fixated on certain things that it got frustrating to read.
The ending was shocking, but it didn't make up for the saggy bit in the middle.
I will still recommend this if you love a thriller with 90s references, old grudges and not so likeable characters.
August 11, 2022
I was so disappointed by this book. So much about it seemed to be just my thing, set in an area I grew up in, with a similar sort of friendship group, and moving away as an older teen. Not that I would go back, and while there were shenanigans in the fields I don’t think anyone died. But anyway. I found the observations on the town and locals quite narrow minded and rude. Random relatives of Aimee kept popping up to fulfil parts of the plot, and then Jess came from nowhere which was strange. It felt like the plotting was missing huge chunks, but filled it instead with the mundane life of someone constantly popping out to run around the countryside. Sam was just awful, she treated everyone like they were beneath her. At times the author described the behaviour of a child much older than 13 months and then went back to him lying and kicking at a mobile like a baby. That grated on me, as did the constant dumping of him on her poor mum. So I couldn’t warm to this woman who was supposedly so dedicated to her child and husband yet got shot of them at every opportunity. Finally, if it was mentioned once that she’d been away for 23 years, it was mentioned 23 times… per chapter. Should have stayed away longer I think.
February 10, 2020
Complex - and therefore interesting - female characters are very much to the forefront of films and fiction at the moment. So refreshing! Samantha, the protagonist (one would hesitate to say 'hero', I feel) seems to function at several levels: mother, wife and successful crime novelist who seems to have it all, yet she is inexorably drawn back to the Ilfracombe of her teenage years and her difficult friendship group, ruled over by the local queen bee...
The past is indeed another country as Sam navigates memory and her own sense of moral turpitude. The author evokes powerful images from the nineties and an equally impactful picture of how it is to doubt one's own sanity when the truth is a long-buried thing.
This is a real page-turner, especially the last chapter and kept me guessing right to the end. What a fabulous series this would make, especially with the different timelines. Ilfracombe is a character in its own right, reinventing itself in recent years with the advent of Verity in the harbour. The novel is infused with the melancholy sense of those we leave behind and vividness with which our teenage years leave their mark. A triumph.
The past is indeed another country as Sam navigates memory and her own sense of moral turpitude. The author evokes powerful images from the nineties and an equally impactful picture of how it is to doubt one's own sanity when the truth is a long-buried thing.
This is a real page-turner, especially the last chapter and kept me guessing right to the end. What a fabulous series this would make, especially with the different timelines. Ilfracombe is a character in its own right, reinventing itself in recent years with the advent of Verity in the harbour. The novel is infused with the melancholy sense of those we leave behind and vividness with which our teenage years leave their mark. A triumph.
May 3, 2020
Told entirely from Sam's point of view this a psychological suspense novel that focuses on the darkness that hides within a person ready to strike given the right set of circumstances. Sam should be happy with life, but she isn't. Her husband has let her down with his business failures. Sam's worn out from fertility treatments, both financially and physically, even though it gave her Caleb, her much-cherished son. Now she's the victim of a stalker too. A successful crime writer, she dismisses the letters at first, until they drag her back to her teenage and the darkness she left behind.
Sam is an unreliable protagonist. She is hard to empathise never seeing the best in anyone. As the stalker threats increase, so do the flashbacks to her last summer in Ilfracombe, and what happened. Is she losing her mind? Is someone manipulating her? It's hard to tell despite the clues along the way.
This story gives a new interpretation of the teenage dare and danger theme. There are surprising plot twists with a dark and twisty ending that is chillingly believable.
I received a copy of this book from Hodder and Stoughton via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Sam is an unreliable protagonist. She is hard to empathise never seeing the best in anyone. As the stalker threats increase, so do the flashbacks to her last summer in Ilfracombe, and what happened. Is she losing her mind? Is someone manipulating her? It's hard to tell despite the clues along the way.
This story gives a new interpretation of the teenage dare and danger theme. There are surprising plot twists with a dark and twisty ending that is chillingly believable.
I received a copy of this book from Hodder and Stoughton via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
January 24, 2020
I had some high hopes for this book after reading the synopsis. The theme seemed to be something that would keep your attention from start to finish. Unfortunately, the book fell a little short for me. It was not a bad read, but was not something I couldn’t put down.
The story line was fine and the author did a good job of giving you insight in to the main character. One issue for me was that the main character was not like able. I didn’t care to root for her and honestly did not get concerned when things did not go her way. She was very much an unhinged brat. This for me made the book difficult.
It was slow starting, but I will day it picked up towards the end. Had the first 75% been as good as the last 25% my review would have been very different. At the end of the day it was a good plot, but it is possibly overdone at this point.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The story line was fine and the author did a good job of giving you insight in to the main character. One issue for me was that the main character was not like able. I didn’t care to root for her and honestly did not get concerned when things did not go her way. She was very much an unhinged brat. This for me made the book difficult.
It was slow starting, but I will day it picked up towards the end. Had the first 75% been as good as the last 25% my review would have been very different. At the end of the day it was a good plot, but it is possibly overdone at this point.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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