Never Have I Ever

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.

First I want to say thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

I want to say this is a solid 4/5 stars, in my opinion at first it was slow but once everything was set up it was a fast track towards the end! I was on the edge of my seat, literally, and at the end of the book, I was punching the air.

Never Have I Ever by Harker Jones was a good YA whodunit.
I could not put it down. It was such a good storyline and the characters were fantastic. Such a good book.

This was a good read.

Eight teens start recieving text messages and it starts a game of horror and mystery.

The author was good at making me think the plot was going to go one way and then totally taking me in another direction. I did not guess what was going to happen next.

It is a superb tale and just perfect for the upcoming Halloweeen event. It is scary......
I loved the characters, every one had something to offer the story and I really enjoyed reading about the who whats and whys ..

This was a fun read! Quite slow on the start, and I got irritated at all the hints at secrets yet to be revealed, but I loved the trope and the setting and although the twists were just fair, the ending was great and took me by surprise. This is set at Halloween time and that increased my enjoyment of it. It was a bit hard to keep track of who was who tho….had to skip back a couple of times to refresh my memory. Would make a great movie after some of the excessive time spent on hinting about unrevealed secrets was cut. Thanks for the opportunity to read. I enjoyed it.

Loved this book! Loved the plot and it kept me hooked highly recommended. Was a quick read for me and hoping to read more from this author.

Still having nightmares about the old lady. Throughly creeped out. What a great read............
Do you believe the rumors?

Having grown up near Manchester and been there many times for the chicken broil, this was really neat to read! It definitely gives off small town vibes and was entertaining through the end!

This was fantastic! Such a great listen for October and spooky season TBR I couldn’t put this down and I wanted to finish this so I could know what happened at the end!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Never Have I Ever by Harker Jones is a gripping young adult thriller that masterfully blends suspense, mystery, and the complexities of teenage life. Set in a small Michigan town, the novel follows eight teenagers who find themselves ensnared in a deadly game of “Never Have I Ever,” receiving ominous texts that force them to confront their darkest secrets.

The story begins with a chilling premise: a year after a girl goes missing, the teens start receiving texts urging them to play the game. As the game progresses, they realize that someone is targeting them, and the stakes are life and death. The tension escalates when they discover that the person behind the texts might be connected to the missing girl, and the school bully takes it upon himself to uncover the truth in hopes of redeeming his past actions and staying alive.

Jones’s writing is sharp and engaging, capturing the angst and drama of teenage life while weaving a suspenseful and unpredictable plot. The characters are well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations that add depth to the story. The dynamics between the characters are complex and realistic, making their interactions and conflicts feel authentic.

Never Have I Ever explores themes such as guilt, redemption, and the impact of past actions on the present. Jones delves into the psychological aspects of the characters, providing a nuanced portrayal of how they cope with fear and uncertainty. The novel touches on issues of bullying, peer pressure, and the desire for acceptance, making it a thought-provoking read for young adults.

The pacing of the novel is brisk, with plenty of twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The suspense builds steadily, leading to a climactic and satisfying conclusion that ties together the various threads of the story. Jones’s ability to maintain tension and keep readers guessing is a testament to his skill as a storyteller.

Never Have I Ever is a must-read for fans of young adult thrillers and mystery novels. Harker Jones has crafted a compelling and suspenseful tale that will keep readers hooked.

Harker Jones’ Never Have I Ever is a chilling thriller that takes the classic high-school party game to terrifying new levels. Set in a small Michigan town, the novel plunges readers into a suspenseful game of secrets and survival as eight teenagers find themselves being stalked by a killer dressed as a scarecrow. At its heart, the book explores the consequences of secrets and past actions, creating a palpable tension as the characters’ buried wrongdoings are brought to light.

The premise of receiving ominous texts urging them to play “Never Have I Ever” sets the stage for an eerie atmosphere that captures the fear and paranoia of being hunted. With each chapter, the stakes grow higher as the teens are picked off one by one, and the identity of the killer remains shrouded in mystery. Jones does an excellent job of building suspense by blending horror elements with a psychological edge, making readers question every character’s motives and backstory.

The book’s central character, the school bully, offers an interesting twist on the “final girl” trope commonly seen in slasher stories. His quest for redemption adds layers to the plot, especially as he struggles to atone for his past while racing against time to uncover the killer. This moral complexity enhances the story, making it more than just a typical survival tale.

While the scarecrow costume adds a creepy, almost supernatural element to the killer, Jones keeps the mystery grounded in reality, leaving readers questioning whether the killer is human or something else entirely. This ambiguity heightens the suspense, particularly as the plot draws connections to a girl who went missing the previous year, hinting at a deep and possibly supernatural connection to the past.

However, the novel does have some familiar tropes of the slasher genre that could feel predictable to seasoned readers of thrillers, such as the isolated setting, the group of teens with hidden sins, and the deadly game motif. That said, Never Have I Ever still manages to carve its own identity with a unique antagonist and a redemptive arc for the protagonist.

In summary, Never Have I Ever by Harker Jones is a tense, well-paced thriller that will appeal to fans of horror and psychological suspense. The book’s exploration of guilt, redemption, and fear adds depth to a familiar premise, making it an engaging read from start to finish. With unexpected twists, a high body count, and a relentless sense of dread, Jones delivers a novel that keeps readers guessing until the final page. Perfect for the Halloween Season