Never Have I Ever by L.V. Hay
Never Have I Ever
Author: L.V. Hay
To Be Published: December 12, 2019
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: November 12-24, 2019
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars
Book Description:
Twenty years ago:
Four teenagers discover a new game. They add their own rules, going from sharing secrets to sharing firsts. And then it all goes spiraling out of control.
Now:
A woman gets a note through her door which chills her blood:
‘Never have I ever been punished for what I have done’
She thought this was over. But it looks like it’s her turn to play.
Because no matter how far it goes, you have to obey the rules of the game. And the game is never really over.
Jessica’s Review:
The book description and gorgeous cover is what pulled me to this book. And then the protagonist Samantha (Sam) was a teenager in the 1990s like I was (though Sam is just a couple of years older than me.) I identified with Sam on that part and enjoyed the 90s references that were used in the novel.
Now an adult and published author writing under a pseudonym, Sam and her family move back to her hometown then she starts receiving notes. She and her friends played “Never Have I Ever” when they were teens and now that Sam is back, it seems like the game is continuing despite Sam not wanting to play.
Over the course of the novel, Sam thinks she has it figured out and then the final act was significant to read: This is where the past and the present collide together to form the climax of the novel and we finally find out what happened over 20 years ago.
Though a good novel, a few parts of it did not work for me: Sam really was not that likeable and it was just hard for me to think of someone having a huge high school grudge 20+ years later.
I really did enjoy reading about the town of Ilfracombe. With Hay’s vivid descriptions I felt like I was in that town with Sam. I will be reading more from L.V. Hay in the future.
Many thanks to the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for granting me an arc copy.
Blog Blitz: The Lynmouth Stories by L.V. Hay
Today I am helping in the Blog Blitz for The Lynmouth Stories by L.V. Hay. I share my review for this three story collection of short stories that all have one thing in common: Lynmouth!
Book Description:
Beautiful places hide dark secrets …
Devon’s very own crime writer L.V Hay (The Other Twin, Do No Harm) brings forth three new short stories from her dark mind and poison pen:
– For kidnapped Meg and her young son Danny, In Plain Sight, the remote headland above Lynmouth is not a haven, but hell.
– A summer of fun for Catherine in Killing Me Softly becomes a winter of discontent … and death.
– In Hell And High Water, a last minute holiday for Naomi and baby Tommy becomes a survival situation … But that’s before the village floods.
All taking place out of season when the majority of tourists have gone home, L.V Hay uses her local knowledge to bring forth dark and claustrophic noir she has come to be known for.
Did You Know …?
Known as England’s ‘Little Switzerland’, the Devon village of Lynmouth is famous for its Victorian cliff railway, fish n’ chips and of course, RD Blackmore’s Lorna Doone.
Located on the doorstep of the dramatic Valley of The Rocks and the South West Cliff Path, the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth have inspired many writers, including 19th Century romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who honeymooned there in 1812.
The Lynmouth Stories
Author: L.V. Hay
Published: December 3, 2018
33 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: June 7, 2019
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Jessica’s Review:
The Lynmouth Stories is free on Amazon and I had gotten myself a copy then had the opportunity to join the one day blog blitz for it, so I jumped on it! I have been on a few tours for LV Hay, but this is the first of hers that I have read and it will not be the last! These short stories show the talent she possesses as a writer and her knowledge of the real town of Lynmouth.
The Lynmouth Stories is comprised of three short stories that can be read within an hour. They are ‘dark’ stories that have suspense and all take place after tourist season is over for the town of Lynmouth. Even though tourist season is over, things still happen in this town and they may not be pleasant…..
I had not heard of Lynmouth before (possibly because I am an American), so I looked it up once I was finished reading. I was shocked to learn that there had been a flood in 1952, which made the final story feel even more real. This final story Hell and High Water was my favorite of the three: It was a complete story and had a satisfying ending.
After reading The Lynmouth Stories which served as an ‘introduction’ for me to Hay’s writings, I WILL be reading more from her!
Buy The Lynmouth Stories here! It’s currently FREE!
About the Author:
Lucy V Hay is a script editor for film and an author of fiction and non-fiction. Publishing as LV Hay, Lucy’s debut crime novel, The Other Twin, is out now and has been featured in The Sun and Sunday Express Newspaper, plus Heatworld and Closer Magazine. Her second crime novel, Do No Harm, is an ebook bestseller. Her next title is Never Have I Ever for Hodder Books.
Contact L.V. Hay:
Twitter @LucyVHayAuthor
Instagram
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