I loved this twist on immortality stories, where Gracie suddenly realises her life is much shorter than she originally thought.

Gracie is part of the Perpetuals community, a group of humans who live very long lives (centuries as opposed to decades). In fact, her grandfather was a Viking. So when Gracie falls and breaks her ankle, she only worries about normal humans finding out how fast she heals. Except she doesn’t heal. Because Gracie is a Neverlast, someone born into a Perpetual family but who has a human lifespan. They crop up in families from time to time, and now Gracie has to adjust her expectations. Parkour is suddenly scary when dying is a reality. To add to that, her boyfriend Arty breaks up with her, right before they and their friends are about to go on holiday together. But Arty is hiding a dangerous secret, one that could threaten Gracie’s life.

I loved seeing Gracie’s reaction to her immortality and how she cycled through the different stages of grief before she finally came to accept it. I thought she was a strong character and powerfully written. I loved the dynamic between her and her cousin and the other pets. I also liked how her relationship with Arty evolved. That wasn’t what I expected, but it was all the better for it.

The plot is fast-paced and action-packed. It read like a 00s paranormal YA but with a refreshing update. If that’s your vibe, definitely check it out.

Sue Cunningham has fast become one of my must-read authors, and this latest speculative YA did not disappoint. It felt so filmic, with its parkour and climbing scenes, its pacy heist-based plot, and the various gorgeous international locations - a film producer must surely pick this one up?! As well as all the action, however, there is also Sue’s trademark emotional depth combined with witty dialogue and believable teen angst. I loved the wider cast of characters, who felt well-rounded and great fun to hang out with. It reminded me of Joss Stirling’s Savant series a little, which I’d loved.
Many thanks to the publisher for this early read.

A clever speculative fiction with heart, humour, and peril!

When Gracie discovers she's a Neverlast, a mortal born to a near immortal family, it turns her high-risk life upside down. But when her now ex-boyfriend gets himself in trouble that could expose the entire secret Perpetuals community, Gracie must learn to be brave without a safety net, as she might be the one who can save them all.

"Neverlast" by Sue Cunningham is a really original speculative YA novel. I loved the concept, following the main character (and her family) as she grapples with her new reality, the heist element (very cool), the humour, and the ending that pleasantly surprised me.

I will be sure to check out more books by this author!

4.5 stars
Really enjoyed this one. It's funny, has engaging (and enraging) characters and a storyline a bit outside the norm for teen reads. I can see that as netflix type series, the dialogue is punchy and there is plenty of action, but also a lot of emotional beats. Definately one for the library shelves.