Evermore by Alyson Noel
- paranormal, YA, romance -
reviewed by Tara SG
bought eBook via Amazon.com
Book Order (Immortals)
- Evermore * * 1/2
- Blue Moon
- Shadowland
- Dark Flame (June 22, 2010)
- Night Star (Nov 16, 2010)
- To Be Named (2011)
Links
Author’s Website : www.alysonnoel.com
Add To Your GoodReads TBR List
This book in 6 words:
perhaps I’m too old for this
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
I first added Evermore to by TBR pile after reading a review at Smart Girls Read and then really wanted to read it after reading the interview with Alyson Noel at Tynga’s Reviews (she still has a contest for a signed copy of Dark Flame going on!). Unfortunately, I can’t say I’m glad I read it. It was just too cliche teen for me. I was hoping for a fresh, fun break from BDB (I love my brothers, but I needed something a little less dark) and all I ended wanting to do was skip to the back and see how it ended (no I didn’t do that, I read the whole book in order). I read the blurbs for the rest of the series and don’t think I’ll be reading them. A LOT of people love these books so maybe I’m just missing something :/
Brief Summary
Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…
Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.
- Via GoodReads.com
Plot/Pacing/Writing Style
I will say that I liked the idea behind the story a lot. This actually made me want to look for more immortal (non-vampire) based books or rewatch Highlander (There can be only one!). I just felt like it was too “teen” for me personally. I couldn’t get over the pop references and teenish speak.
There were so many overlooked weird things that the kids just blew off (um hello flowers appearing out of nowhere?) and it just seemed a little off that all the sudden Ever has a huge house, tons of money, and no adult supervision. Perhaps, it was the whole “be careful what you wish for” lesson teens are supposed to get from this? You’ll miss your parents and not care about going to school where the OC is filmed?
The pacing seemed a tad slow, but picked up near the end. I will say that I kept reading because I had to know how it ended.
Slight Spoiler Alert!
I wonder if part of why I was so disappointed is because I feel like I just read this. There were way to many similarities to Fallen (which I also didn’t love).
Characters
I didn’t like Ever, but I LOVE her name 
I just couldn’t connect with her. She came off selfish. She didn’t question things nearly as much as she should have! Anytime she was thinking about things that should really bother her I would think “finally!” and then she would brush it off. Her and her friends did make me giggle some and I do love that in a book.
Damen, however, I could like. He’s smart, funny, confident, artistic, charming, cute… I feel like him and Ever didn’t really get to know each, but really in YA books do they ever? I feel like he acted immature for someone his age and played games that end up hurting Ever… even after all that I still was hoping she’d forgive him :/
Recommendations
If you liked Fallen then I would recommend this. I’m having a hard time with this because I’ve seen so many great reviews for the books that I don’t want someone to not try them just because it didn’t fit with me…
I love the name Ever too.
I didn’t notice a lot of the teen speak and I thought that ignoring the obviously weird stuff because a boy was cute was an accurate portrayal of a teenage girl (at least how I was as a teen). I see a lot of teens in books and TV that act like they’re in their thirties or older, and this just seemed a little more authentic to me.
If I had been a teen when I read it, I probably would have given it a perfect score. Reading as an adult, yeah, there were some things that bugged me – like the drinking. I don’t mind drinking in YA, but purposely attempting to develop a drinking problem to avoid reality is not a message I like seeing in books. But as a teen, would have totally related.
I’m sorry you didn’t like it more. I guess we all really do notice different things in books. Since I just reviewed this, I almost feel like I tricked you into reading it.
Same as Jennifer, I didn’t like that Ever decided to go alcoholic on purpose. It kind of made me roll my eyes, actually.
And yes, in YA they never seem to get an appropriate amount of time to fall in love! I couldn’t get on board with the romance–I must be too old for this stuff, too.
I think I will skip this one. Sometimes YA novels are just a bit to YA for me (however not being their focus group–that is quite ok). Thanks for the honest review.
Thanks for the shout-out =)
I still need to read the third book in that series, I really didn’t like how the second book ended so I’m sulking lol
I agree though, I also have the feeling it’s more for younger readers. I’ll see if I’ll keep reading after I read the third one, eventualy lol
@ Jennifer : I think by “teen speak” I meant teen attitude (I shouldn’t drink wine while writing reviews…). I think if I was younger this would have gotten a MUCH higher rating! I do think that being cute makes girls overlook a lot (I sure did in high school) and I bought into that in the beginning of the story, but as it went on it got to be too much. I agree that these teenagers tended to act more their age than those in a lot of YA books.
The drinking is something I didn’t mention in my review, but bothered me as well. I do not mind drinking in YA books, but purposely trying to become an addict with no repercussions was too far for me.
You have recommended soooo many books that I’ve ended up loving that it was only a matter of time before I didn’t like one that you did
I think I was little harsh when I said I wasn’t glad that I read it because I’m glad that I gave the series a chance.
@ Tiger (All-Consuming Books) : Sometimes I feel too old for it and sometimes it works for me. Unfortunately this time I didn’t fall in love with the characters :/
@ Felicia : Yeah I wouldn’t recommend this one for you :/
@ Tynga : I’ve heard that the sequels just get worse and that Ever keeps making the same mistakes over and over. I’m actually a little relieved that I didn’t want to continue the story
I think younger readers probably relate to this much more than I could. I hope you like the rest of the series!
I reviewed this one sometime last summer, and pretty much felt the same way. I didn’t care for it, and Ever really got on my nerves.
I’m not going to lie, I’m a little scared that you compared this to Fallen. I haven’t read that one yet, but I won a copy and it’s sitting on my shelf. I’ve read a lot of mixed reviews, but the idea sounds so intriguing (and the cover’s gorgeous!), so I’ve been hoping that I would like it. But our tastes in books seem to be pretty similar. Oh well. If I go in with low expectations, maybe I’ll like it more? Lol!
@ Natalie : I think going into Fallen with lower expectations would be best. I am glad I read it and I’m looking forward to the sequel in the hopes that it keeps with the action/pacing of the end of the first book