Happy Friday, friends! I’m here today to tell you about a book I really think deserves more hype. It was adorable, funny, bold and overall incredible and let me convince you why you should read it.
The book
Emily Wibberley,Austin Siegemund-Broka, Always Never Yours, Published by Speak, May 22th, 2018.
Megan Harper is the girl before. All her exes find their one true love right after dating her. It’s not a curse or anything, it’s just the way things are, and Megan refuses to waste time feeling sorry for herself. Instead, she focuses on pursuing her next fling, directing theatre, and fulfilling her dream school’s acting requirement in the smallest role possible.
But her plans quickly crumble when she’s cast as none other than Juliet–yes, that Juliet–in her high school’s production. It’s a nightmare. No–a disaster. Megan’s not an actress and she’s certainly not a Juliet. Then she meets Owen Okita, an aspiring playwright who agrees to help Megan catch the eye of a sexy stagehand in exchange for help writing his new script.
Between rehearsals and contending with her divided family, Megan begins to notice Owen–thoughtful, unconventional, and utterly unlike her exes, and wonders: shouldn’t a girl get to play the lead in her own love story?
I ENJOYED…
?
- LOOK AT THIS COVER. Okay. I’m supposed to talk about the inside of the book, but… that cover is totally my thing OKAY.
- Our main character in this story, Megan, has found her way in my favorite characters hall. She’s so different from the typical young adult main characters and I LOVED that so much. She is unapologetic, bold, she’s a flirt and does not apologize for it, nor does she mind. She’s quite popular, fierce, empowered and overall, AMAZING. You’ll love her.
- In addition to being GREAT, Megan goes through such a great character development in the story as she slowly learns that she can and should be the main character in her own life story and love stories, too.
- THE ROMANCE WAS ADORABLE and everything I loved. It was from strangers to friends to more than that, it was deliciously slow-burned and I SHIPPED THEM A LOT.
- It was clever and fun and had me smiling a whole lot.
- FAMILY! There was a complicated family situation here, with Megan trying to find her place in her new family with her dad and stepmom and new baby, while her mom has a new relationship in a whole other state. I really appreciated that included in the story and seeing Megan trying to find her footing here.
I HAD A HARD TIME WITH…
?
- Seriously, the only “bad” thing I could say about Always Never Yours was that it was a tiny bit predictable. BUT it’s a contemporary romance. I EXPECTED it to be predictable and I didn’t mind it one bit, I had such a great time reading it.
OVERALL
With amazing main characters carrying the story, and a swoon-worthy romance, Always Never Yours has everything to be your perfect summer read. If you don’t mind a bit of predictability here and there, I urge you to add this to your TBR, you will love it!
Final rating: 4,5 drops!
The biggest thanks to Penguin Random House International for sending me an ARC of this book. This did not, in any way, affect my opinion and this review.
Trigger warnings: let me know if you found some, so I can add them to this.
Do you want to read Always Never Yours? Why, or why not?
Do you know other stories with great, bold main characters and / or an adorable romance? Let me know in comments!
This is such a wonderful review, Marie! <3
I kept seeing this book on my Goodreads feed, but I was always hesitant to add it, because I'm such a picky YA contemporary (romance) reader. I'm actually really excited about it now, though. I love it when cute and fluffy reads have great character development and focus on family dynamics as well.
As for recommendations, Saving Francesca has great characters (one girl in particular, who's bold and sassy, and honestly iconic), as well as an adorable romance, though it's not the focus of the story.
Aw thank you so much, Lily, you’re so sweet! <3
I'm so glad that I could make you excited about this book, I really hope you'll give it a shot. It was such a wonderful contemporary and the main character was amazing 😀
Oh I'll have to check out that one, thank you SO much for the recommendation 😀
Of course. ? I really hope you love the book, if you get around to reading it!! ?
i want to read this book it is on my summer TBR i always love contemporary romance ?
Oh I’m so glad to hear it! I hope you’ll love it 😀
ooooh, that is a gorgeous cover! It sounds really cute! I love me a cute story for the summer time. I’ll have to check it out. I’m glad to see you enjoyed it 😀
-Amber
It was such a cute story – I really hope you’ll read and enjoy it 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Amber 😀
Great review, Marie! 🙂 Always Never Yours sounds like something I’d like.
Aw thank you, Ashley! I hope you’ll read and enjoy it 😀 <3
I have been meaning to read this, soonish!? I love all the bullet points you’ve made and I’m glad you loved it so much. I hope you have a wonderful day, Marie!!!?
Aw well I hope you’ll be able to get to it soon, it was a fantastic book, SO worth it 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Helena, I hope you’re having a wonderful day as well <3
Always, Marie!?
So so glad you enjoyed this one! It’s one of my most anticipated reads and I cannot wait to get my hands on it! I’m definitely going to try and read it during the summer because I’m so high on Fantasy right now, I cannot even think about Contemporaries! Bold characters and adorable romances are my absolute favorites! Thanks for sharing your review!
Oh I’m so glad to hear it – I really hope you’ll end up loving it, it will be a perfect summer read 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
Can it be Tuesday so I can have this book already! I cannot wait to read it and this review just made me even more excited!!
Ahhh this makes me so happy! Only a couple days to wait! I hope you’ll end up lovin it 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
Brilliant review for this book, and I will definitely be adding this one to my TBR list as well because it sounds amazing! 🙂 The fact that the only thing you had bad to say about it was that it was a tiny bit predictable (which I guess can be the case in some YA books right?) means it’s likely going to end up being a five star read for me. Also Megan sounds like a great character so I can’t wait to read her character development in this book. 🙂
Again great review, and I’m glad you enjoyed this one too. ❤️
Oh thank you, Beth! I really hope you will read it, I hope you’ll love it as much as I did. Really, when I thought back about it, I couldn’t think of a bad thing to say besides that?! I really loved it, it was such a fun read 😀
Thank you so much! <3 <3
Okay. Need to read this one this summer for sure now! It sounds cute!
It is a PERFECT summer read for sure 😀 I hope you’ll love it!
Thank you so much!! <3 <3
The cover is SO CUTE I might need to read it just because of the cover tbh
Hahaha yes the cover IS adorable – I hope you’ll read it, there is so much to love inside that book, too! 😀
Thank you for your comment! 😀
I have this on my TBR and the cover looks so cute! I’ve seen some mixed reviews but I’m so glad to hear that you loved it. It really sounds pretty good! I love adorable romance and great family dynamics! I’m planning to read it soon! Hope you enjoy your next read! 🙂
I’m so glad you’re still going to give this a chance – fingers crossed you will enjoy it as much as I did 😀
Thank you so much, Raven <3 <3
Sounds like a cute summer read! I’ll keep my eyes open for it ??
It really was! I hope you’ll give it a shot and that you will love it 😀
Thank you for your comment! 😀
Definitely sounds like a good read!
It was GREAT 😀 I hope you’ll read it someday!
Thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂
I’ve been seeing this book around and I really want to read it soon!! Great review!!
I hope you’ll be able to read it soon and that you will enjoy it 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
This looks adorable! I am a sucker for any contemporary romance, and I will most definitely be reading this book over the summer. Great review! ?
It WAS adorable. I hope you’ll read it, I’d love to know what you think 😀
Thank you so much Olivia <3
Hi Marie 🙂 It is great to hear that you enjoyed this novel. I don’t think I can remember reading about a bold and flirtatious female MC before- maybe it should happen more often! Great review <3
Agree – it was great to see a character like that for once, and she was so endearing, too <3
Thank you so much, Sophie! <3 <3
I have been seeing this book a Lot on Twitter. And its going to release on 22 of this month. So when I heard it’s based on Romeo Juliet I wasn’t sure I would read it. Because there story was a tragedy.
But after reading your review I really want to read this book. Slow burn romance ???
For me my favourite slow burn romance book is the wall of Winnipeg.
Thank you for your review ?
Oh I’m so happy I could make you change your mind! This book was so much fun to read, the characters were adorable and the slow-burning romance, ahhhhhhh it was everything I loved. I hope you’ll love it! 😀
Thank you so much for your comment! <3 <3
You are most welcome. ??
I am ok with predictable, as long as it’s an entertaining journey to the end of the story. I will admit, that it scares me authors try not to be predictable, because that usually ends with my ship being sunk or no HEA.
It really was entertaining all the way to the end, and I really LOVED everything about it. I hope you’ll be able to read this book soon and that you’ll enjoy it, I feel like you really could love it 😀
Thank you so much for your comment! <3
Ohhh this sounds like such a fun read! I’m surprised that I hadn’t heard of it before this close to the publication date. This sounds like the perfect contemporary read, especially with summer coming up 😛
It is the PERFECT summer contemporary read, for sure! I hope you’ll check it out sometime, Michelle! 😀
Thank you!! <3 <3
I’m so glad to hear you liked this one! I have been looking forward to this release, so hearing you give a good review is nice news (and definitely bumps it up on my to-buy list).
I agree about the cover though- it is the cutest thing!! I want it for the cover alone, haha!
Lovely post, thanks for reviewing! 🙂
Oh I’m so happy to hear it – I hope you’ll be able to buy it as soon as it releases. It’s such a wonderful read, it was adorable and made me smile, laugh and gave me ALL the feels. I hope you’ll love it 😀
Thank you so much for stopping by! 😀
I’ve seen this around a bit and you’ve completely convinced me haha! it sounds really cute for whenever I’m in the mood. I love contemporary romances at moments like this.
YES I DID IT hahaha 😛 I hope you’ll get to read it and that you will love it, it was such an adorable book 😀
Great. I swear, I end up reading all the contemporary books you throw at me, Marie. xD I mean, I already wanted to read this beforehand, but now that I know about the awesome, unique MC and the super cute romance?! SO MUCH NEED I’M GONNA CRY.
I’m… well I’m not even sorry, oops haha. I’m kind of proud of myself here hahaha. I hope you’ll read this wonderful book soon Aimee, IT WAS ADORABLE, I hope you will love it 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
Ahh, I love this review! I’m totally convinced to pick this one up Marie 😀 The cover really drew my attention, and then I read the blurb and was like “mehh,” but now I’m more excited to pick it up! Wonderful reviewww (and pictures, as always)!
Aww thank you so much, Aila, I’m so glad if I could convince you a little more! It was such a lovely contemporary <3
Really great Review like always ? I’ve been eyeing this book for a while now ever since (I think it was) Elise from thebookishactress mentioned it. Always Never Yours had not been on my radar until then but it is now and your Review just reinforces that I really need to read it ?
I’m so happy to hear it – I hope you will be able to read it soon and that you will love it. It was such an adorable story! <3
Thank you so much!! <3 <3
I’m definitely glad that I discovered this hidden Gem and I really hope that I can get around to reading it sometime ❤
I can’t wait to hear what you think of it <3
It totally sounds like a “ME” book 😀 Adding it to my TBR now. Sometimes, I really like to read books which are predictable, you know.. just for fun. There is fun in simple things too 🙂
YES agree, sometimes simple and fun reads like these end up being the BEST ones 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
Such a great short and sweet review, Marie ?
I’ve seen this book cover around and it honestly reminds me so much of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before that I simply had to add it to my TBR! I love that you loved it and I also lovr that it features great and different family dynamics and that it also has exciting character development. Megan seems like the total perfect character and I can’t wait to get my hands on this one!
OH thank you so much, Michelle! <3 It was such a lovely book and I hope you will love it just as much as I did 😀
I hope you're doing well! <3 <3
I really want to get my hands on this one now! Sounds fantastic!
It was AMAZING, really, I loved it! I hope you’ll get to read it soon 😀
Thank you so much, Nicole! <3
Fantastic review! I love that cover too! Love the sound of the mc and the character development. And the relationships sound so good. Fair enough about it being it being a bit predictable. I definitely want to check this out. Love how you did this review!
Aw thank you so much! I know, right, this cover is ADORABLE – and so is the inside of this book. I loved it SO much 🙂 I hope you’ll check it out 🙂
Thank you so much <3
Wow I literally saw this book at the bookstore and I was so tempted to buy it! But now seeing your review this sounds perfect! I don’t mind predictability as long as it gives me good characters and I enjoy it! I can’t wait to read this one! Great review! (Also I love the cover too. It’s my aesthetic)
AHHHH well that was DESTINY, now you have to get back there and buy it 😛 It was such a great book (and yes that cover is so gorgeous!) and the characters were all so endearing <3 <3
Yes definitely!! Next time I go I’m getting it for myself and treating myself! ?