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codysmovingcastle's review against another edition
3.0
I read this in one sitting so I can start by saying that I really enjoyed this one! It's a quick read and I couldn't put it down.
That said, this is probably sitting at a 3.5 stars for me: the plot gripped me more than the characters did (I thought Maya's character was well written and a great example of an imperfect victim, but the dialogue and other characters were a bit two dimensional) but the pacing didn't lull and that's where the writing really paid off. The ending didn't feel totally wrapped up to me, but the pacing was so clean that it didn't feel lacking until I started to write this review.
Worth saying: there is a lot of emotional abuse. For those who have had toxic friendships or relationships, please be aware of this going into the book. Alana is pretty much textbook emotional abuse and with no redeeming qualities and is horrible to Maya throughout - just when you think it can't get worse, it does. I'm not sure how to word this, but if the relationship was a bit less black and white and Alana was portrayed to have a few redeeming qualities, I'm not sure I'd have been able to handle it as it'd have been a bit too close to a few relationships/friendships I've been in. The story was about breaking free from an emotionally abusive relationship and, especially for a YA audience, does exactly what it set out to do.
2024 seems to be the year of sapphic YA stories and this is another one that I'd recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for the ARC.
That said, this is probably sitting at a 3.5 stars for me: the plot gripped me more than the characters did (I thought Maya's character was well written and a great example of an imperfect victim, but the dialogue and other characters were a bit two dimensional) but the pacing didn't lull and that's where the writing really paid off. The ending didn't feel totally wrapped up to me, but the pacing was so clean that it didn't feel lacking until I started to write this review.
Worth saying: there is a lot of emotional abuse. For those who have had toxic friendships or relationships, please be aware of this going into the book. Alana is pretty much textbook emotional abuse and with no redeeming qualities and is horrible to Maya throughout - just when you think it can't get worse, it does. I'm not sure how to word this, but if the relationship was a bit less black and white and Alana was portrayed to have a few redeeming qualities, I'm not sure I'd have been able to handle it as it'd have been a bit too close to a few relationships/friendships I've been in. The story was about breaking free from an emotionally abusive relationship and, especially for a YA audience, does exactly what it set out to do.
2024 seems to be the year of sapphic YA stories and this is another one that I'd recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for the ARC.
meighree_andreez's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
amanduhhhpls's review against another edition
I’m not connecting with this main character, and I think it’s because she’s an irresponsible teenager with no backbone. The abusive relationship is a bit much to take in, considering these characters are 17/18. Normally I love a good haunting/ghost story, but this one is very on-the-nose about the ghosts being up to no good and it’s not landing with me.
Maybe I’ll return to this in the future, but for now it’s not for me.
Maybe I’ll return to this in the future, but for now it’s not for me.
smilesgiggle's review against another edition
5.0
A love song to healing, vibrant with rage and recovery.
Alana - a perfect ghost of that person always in our ear. Tearing us down. Voicing our self hate.
Maya - isolated, desperate for freedom, a reconnection to her self; the painfulness, brutal truth of recovery and discovering your strength and survival
Just so beautifully done.
Alana - a perfect ghost of that person always in our ear. Tearing us down. Voicing our self hate.
Maya - isolated, desperate for freedom, a reconnection to her self; the painfulness, brutal truth of recovery and discovering your strength and survival
Just so beautifully done.
emeryl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amysrrls's review against another edition
5.0
OBSESSEDDDDDDDD. Kennedy’s ability to capture love in all its forms is incredible. Discussions of mental illness and emotional abuse are hard topics but I felt this book perfectly balanced the seriousness and the actual realities of someone experiencing both those things. Ugh I love this so much. Lesbians and hauntings and grief altogether in one story is my perfect combo. Love love love
starlitlullaby's review against another edition
3.0
I Will Never Leave You is about the relationships that continue to haunt us, sometimes it involves a toxic ex-girlfriend; sometimes troubled family dynamic; sometimes, it's the mental wars that were waged and lost against ourselves. Of course, there's also literal haunting going on.
Kennedy handled these topics with deftness and grace. Her writing just simply flowed so beautifully, coupled with a charged pacing from the get-go -- I was flying through the book. Even though Maya (1) frustrated me too much (might or might not skim through parts of the book because of this... ugh) (2) wasn't my favourite (Rowan, hello!!), her character growth was admittedly compelling. It was absolutely carthatic watching her transform and come to terms with the things that she'd been through. Being our sole narrator, it's fair that everything was centered around her development, but I still found myself craving more dimensions from our supporting cast -- Rowan (a little too MPDG for me), Maya's dad (unhelpfully sarcastic) and sister (doing her best, which, fair), even Alana (please give me something more than
Kennedy handled these topics with deftness and grace. Her writing just simply flowed so beautifully, coupled with a charged pacing from the get-go -- I was flying through the book. Even though Maya (1) frustrated me too much (might or might not skim through parts of the book because of this... ugh) (2) wasn't my favourite (Rowan, hello!!), her character growth was admittedly compelling. It was absolutely carthatic watching her transform and come to terms with the things that she'd been through. Being our sole narrator, it's fair that everything was centered around her development, but I still found myself craving more dimensions from our supporting cast -- Rowan (a little too MPDG for me), Maya's dad (unhelpfully sarcastic) and sister (doing her best, which, fair), even Alana (please give me something more than
Spoiler
Blatantly Evil, my girls Heather and RG would not fail me like thischelcy's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
booksofastoria's review
4.0
I will never leave you was a really haunting book (pun halfway intended because there are literal ghosts in the book lol) and kind of scary without fully intending to be. First and foremost, It shows the effects that toxic relationships can take on someones entire life. Maya was a prime example, she had very little self esteem, self confidence, her mental health was suffering, her grades, relationship with her family, and no friends all because Alana had slowly made it that way and then made Maya think that it was for her own good. This was the story of Maya realizing all of this, of coming to terms with the fact that none of this was normal and that maybe what the people around her have been telling her about Alana was true. Unfortunately it happens AFTER Alana is already dead and gone but she's not really gone yet in the story and even STILL she continues to be cruel and demean Maya after she's dead, there was literally no end. It was great to finally see Maya stand up to her and call her out on things that had happened and actually tell her no for once. I think that is definitely where this book shines because somewhere out there somebody needs a book like this to show them that what they might be experiencing isn't ok at all and that there is a way out.
Otherwise, I did like the plot outside of that. Im ngl the police were a little weak lol they didn't seem to do a whole lot. But I mean police never seem to do much of anything anyways. It just seems like they could've been doing a lot more, it took them so long to actually catch on to the fact that Alana was abusive and connecting the dots there despite literally everybody knowing it.Watching Jazmine and Maya's sisterly relationship be repaired was sweet and very welcomed, you could see that she would protect Maya no matter what even though they hadn't been very close recently. Rowan was chaotic but also a nice refresher in how she treated Maya, very differently than Alana did and how she deserved to be treated all along anyways. The twist at the end was halfway expected because I had a feeling about part of it but no idea about the other part. Would've loved some more time spent on that but i'm ok with what it was left at. I will also say the pacing was a little weird, it switched between being fast and slow and if I hadn't been listening on audio I probably would've had a harder time with it. Overall, it was a solid book that had its points that shined and made up for the parts that maybe didn't as much.
Otherwise, I did like the plot outside of that. Im ngl the police were a little weak lol they didn't seem to do a whole lot. But I mean police never seem to do much of anything anyways. It just seems like they could've been doing a lot more, it took them so long to actually catch on to the fact that Alana was abusive and connecting the dots there despite literally everybody knowing it.Watching Jazmine and Maya's sisterly relationship be repaired was sweet and very welcomed, you could see that she would protect Maya no matter what even though they hadn't been very close recently. Rowan was chaotic but also a nice refresher in how she treated Maya, very differently than Alana did and how she deserved to be treated all along anyways. The twist at the end was halfway expected because I had a feeling about part of it but no idea about the other part. Would've loved some more time spent on that but i'm ok with what it was left at. I will also say the pacing was a little weird, it switched between being fast and slow and if I hadn't been listening on audio I probably would've had a harder time with it. Overall, it was a solid book that had its points that shined and made up for the parts that maybe didn't as much.