Author: Jessa Russo
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publishing Date: September 20, 2012
Pages/Format: 296, Kindle
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Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.
Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.
Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.
Some girls lose their hearts to love.
Some girls lose their minds.
Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.
Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: LIKE
What originally intrigued with me Ever was its premise: a girl in love with her dead--albeit still there, as a ghost--best friend, who ends up falling for the hot boy next door? Oh, and she could lose her soul? Yes, please! While Ever wasn't quite what I thought it would be, it was still an enjoyable read that I didn't mind.
I had quite a few issues with this book (but they don't make me dislike it. In fact, I like this book more than I disliked it). Most of my problems resided with the writing and the story itself. The writing wasn't bad, but I wasn't a huge fan of it, either. I feel like some things weren't explained enough, while some things were overly explained. I didn't need to know every little minuscule thing that happened and how it happened. With that, the timeline of the book had me a little confuddled. Things--i.e., relationships, and what people in them did--happened a little too quickly, and several events would happen within a mere couple of days. However, while the story was fast-paced, it didn't always feel that way--too fast, too rushed--and that was really nice. (I hate feeling rushed.) As for the story itself, my main complaint (besides what has already been mentioned) was that some things were a little too unrealistic. I get that the concept itself--a ghost--isn't realistic, but there were still other things that nagged me a bit. (I'd get more in-depth, but I'm trying not mention spoilers.) And there were a lot of overused words and phrases, which drives me crazy. Besides that, there were a few errors (like, someone's standing, but then they stand up again in the next paragraph; when did they sit down?), but otherwise, it was good.
I didn't have huge connections or fall in love with the characters, but they were, the for most part, good characters. (There's a certain character named after a Greek goddess who is a total you-know-what. Hate her.) For one, I love the name Ever (and I don't mind her birth name of Eleanor, either). But, poor girl, no wonder she's always so confused. Something happens to her and everything involves someone she cares about, and it all gets put her on shoulders. She breaks down a couple times, but otherwise she's pretty strong. Ever has feelings for two guys: Frankie, her best-friend-turned-ghost that lives in her house and can't touch her, and Toby, the mysterious, twenty-two-year-old hot boy next door. I usually wanted her with Frankie, but I was never full sure, for there were things I liked and dislike about each guy. Ever's parents weren't bad parents (as in, readable and bearable, unlike her best friend's psycho mom), and she had a great best friend--Jessie. As a best friend, Jessie was a great--although sometimes overbearing--character.
One of the things I really liked about this book was how light and fun it was. On more than occasion I'd find myself smiling, and some lines made me want to giggle. I like how human and real the humor and sarcasm the characters expressed was. It's also nice how I was never really sure what was going to happen. Sure, I had ideas, but I don't know that anything played out quite like I thought it would. Like some of the characters, the story was a mystery. (In a good way.) This book also does well in the romance department--or should I say steam department? Russo doesn't shy away from kissing...and other things. While some of the romance scenes were kind of heavy and steamy, they didn't fill the whole book. (Not a bad thing.) And if Ever thought she was blushing--well, she should've seen me as I read what was happening!
At the end of the book, I enjoyed and liked Ever. It was a nice and fun story, with all sorts of elements--drama, mystery, romance, humor, etc. Oh, and the ending? I'd call that a cliff hanger! By the time I reached the last page, I had questions answered...and still had questions unanswered, which brings me to the next book Evade, a book that I will not be evading. (I don't know that I'd rush to read it, but I'd like to read it.)
Did I like it? Yes.
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.
Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.
Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.
Some girls lose their hearts to love.
Some girls lose their minds.
Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.
Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: LIKE
What originally intrigued with me Ever was its premise: a girl in love with her dead--albeit still there, as a ghost--best friend, who ends up falling for the hot boy next door? Oh, and she could lose her soul? Yes, please! While Ever wasn't quite what I thought it would be, it was still an enjoyable read that I didn't mind.
I had quite a few issues with this book (but they don't make me dislike it. In fact, I like this book more than I disliked it). Most of my problems resided with the writing and the story itself. The writing wasn't bad, but I wasn't a huge fan of it, either. I feel like some things weren't explained enough, while some things were overly explained. I didn't need to know every little minuscule thing that happened and how it happened. With that, the timeline of the book had me a little confuddled. Things--i.e., relationships, and what people in them did--happened a little too quickly, and several events would happen within a mere couple of days. However, while the story was fast-paced, it didn't always feel that way--too fast, too rushed--and that was really nice. (I hate feeling rushed.) As for the story itself, my main complaint (besides what has already been mentioned) was that some things were a little too unrealistic. I get that the concept itself--a ghost--isn't realistic, but there were still other things that nagged me a bit. (I'd get more in-depth, but I'm trying not mention spoilers.) And there were a lot of overused words and phrases, which drives me crazy. Besides that, there were a few errors (like, someone's standing, but then they stand up again in the next paragraph; when did they sit down?), but otherwise, it was good.
I didn't have huge connections or fall in love with the characters, but they were, the for most part, good characters. (There's a certain character named after a Greek goddess who is a total you-know-what. Hate her.) For one, I love the name Ever (and I don't mind her birth name of Eleanor, either). But, poor girl, no wonder she's always so confused. Something happens to her and everything involves someone she cares about, and it all gets put her on shoulders. She breaks down a couple times, but otherwise she's pretty strong. Ever has feelings for two guys: Frankie, her best-friend-turned-ghost that lives in her house and can't touch her, and Toby, the mysterious, twenty-two-year-old hot boy next door. I usually wanted her with Frankie, but I was never full sure, for there were things I liked and dislike about each guy. Ever's parents weren't bad parents (as in, readable and bearable, unlike her best friend's psycho mom), and she had a great best friend--Jessie. As a best friend, Jessie was a great--although sometimes overbearing--character.
One of the things I really liked about this book was how light and fun it was. On more than occasion I'd find myself smiling, and some lines made me want to giggle. I like how human and real the humor and sarcasm the characters expressed was. It's also nice how I was never really sure what was going to happen. Sure, I had ideas, but I don't know that anything played out quite like I thought it would. Like some of the characters, the story was a mystery. (In a good way.) This book also does well in the romance department--or should I say steam department? Russo doesn't shy away from kissing...and other things. While some of the romance scenes were kind of heavy and steamy, they didn't fill the whole book. (Not a bad thing.) And if Ever thought she was blushing--well, she should've seen me as I read what was happening!
At the end of the book, I enjoyed and liked Ever. It was a nice and fun story, with all sorts of elements--drama, mystery, romance, humor, etc. Oh, and the ending? I'd call that a cliff hanger! By the time I reached the last page, I had questions answered...and still had questions unanswered, which brings me to the next book Evade, a book that I will not be evading. (I don't know that I'd rush to read it, but I'd like to read it.)
Did I like it? Yes.
Did I love it? Not quite.
Would I reread it? Not too likely.
Would I reread it? Not too likely.
Would I purchase it? Maybe, but I already have the Kindle edition.
Would I recommend it? Depends. It's not a book I'd shove in your face.
The Author
An unashamed super fan of all things paranormal romance, Jessa Russo reads, writes and breathes paranormal YA, rarely straying from her comfort zone. When not writing or reading, Jessa enjoys making memories with her awesome family and amazingly supportive friends, while secretly planning her next trip to New Orleans. She's won a few flash fiction contests and had a short story published, but feels her greatest accomplishment is raising the coolest kid ever--a little girl with a Tim Burton obsession and a desire to save every animal she sees.
Jessa will always call Southern California her home, where she lives with her husband Jon, their daughter Faith, Bronco the Great Dane and Lola the Chihuahua.
To learn more about Jessa, please visit her website or Twitter.
To win a signed copy of Ever and its sequel Evade--you know you want to!--go here to enter on Jessa's website!
Would I recommend it? Depends. It's not a book I'd shove in your face.
The Author
Jessa will always call Southern California her home, where she lives with her husband Jon, their daughter Faith, Bronco the Great Dane and Lola the Chihuahua.
To learn more about Jessa, please visit her website or Twitter.
To win a signed copy of Ever and its sequel Evade--you know you want to!--go here to enter on Jessa's website!
Great review! I feel like sometimes these are the books that we maul over the most. The ones that we almost like...
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