Never Have I Ever by Harker Jones Review (GIFTED/AD)

Hello Readers,

Thank you, NetGalley for giving access to an eBook copy of  Never Have I Ever by Harker Jones for free in exchange for an honest review. The eBook I received from NetGalley doesn't do the cover justice, so I am using a cover image I have found through google (Fair use under the copyright act sections 29 and 30 under use for a review).  Spoiler free review.
 
Title: Never Have I Ever
Author: Harker Jones
Genre: Horror, Teens & YA
Pages: 338
Cover Image:
 

Synopsis:
Trust no one. Because it could be anyone.
 
When eight teenagers in a small Michigan town start receiving texts urging them to play Never Have I Ever, they find themselves caught up in a deadly game of secrets, repentance and retribution that may be connected to a girl who disappeared the year before.
 
As they start getting killed by someone in a scarecrow costume or is it a costume? The school bully sets out to discover who’s playing the prank in hopes of redeeming his past behaviour.
And staying alive.
 
But will he figure it out before that past catches up to him?
 

Miniature Review

 
I requested this book from NetGalley because of this one section from the blurb “When eight teenagers in a small Michigan town start receiving texts urging them to play Never Have I Ever, they find themselves caught up in a deadly game of secrets, repentance and retribution that may be connected to a girl who disappeared the year before.”
 

This horror trope is my guilty pleasure I love horror books and movies like “Truth or Dare” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” This book was a brilliant page turner that had me on the edge of my seat from the first menacing passage to the astonishing final reveal. This book is a brilliant whodunit that transported me to small town Michigan in October.

Like most lovers of whodunits I hate when I can easily guess the culprit of a whodunit, and it ruins the whole experience of the book. Harker masterfully drops clues and misdirection that led me right into his misdirection trap and I kicked myself for falling into the misdirection.

 
The characters are well-developed and believable as they are remarkably human as each of them have their own flaws and hidden truths. This isn’t just an exciting whodunit this story explores themes of friendship and the consequences of our actions.

L x

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