05/27/2019
Diving instructor Amy Whey, the unreliable narrator of this entertaining, if flawed, thriller from bestseller Jackson (The Almost Sisters ), enjoys a comfortable life as a devoted wife and mother in Pensacola, Fla. Then one night, a mystifying and charming new neighbor, Angelica Roux, arrives unannounced at Amy’s door to join her book club. Roux takes over the book club and shifts the focus to playing a scandalous version of the game Never Have I Ever, and that’s when Amy realizes that Roux knows her darkest secret. Nearly 30 years earlier, Amy was driving drunk and killed a neighbor, but a friend was convicted of the crime. Roux attempts to blackmail Amy, giving her five days to dissolve her trust and hand over the money. Determined to protect herself, Amy vows to dig up Roux’s own secrets. The stakes rise as this proves to be more difficult than Amy thought. Well-developed, memorable characters and an action-packed plot compensate only in part for some farfetched twists and an unconvincing ending. Hopefully, Jackson will do better next time. Agent: Caryn Karmatz Rudy, DeFiore and Co. (July)
[An] epic duel between two flawed women—it’s the perfect thriller to round out your summer.” — People
“Never Have I Ever becomes a tale of moral suspense in addition to a psychological thriller. Its several plot twists are surprising and effective, and there are gripping sequences involving Amy’s work as a deep-sea diver woven logically into the narrative. Many books claim to be the perfect beach read. This one doesn’t, but it certainly fits the bill.” — Wall Street Journal
"Jackson has been establishing herself as a master of domestic suspense for years, and her hyped latest should do little to change that. A carefree neighborhood evening of games, gossip, and wine gradually evolves into something much more sinister, as engineered by a woman harboring unsettling secrets." — Entertainment Weekly
“Bestselling author Jackson packs in dramatic reveals about the women’s complex histories.” — Time
“Bestselling Jackson successfully trades her usual quirky Southern lit for darker psychological suspense in this latest highly recommended novel. Her prowess at writing affecting, character-driven fiction is on full display, and readers will devour the twisty, consuming story.” — Library Journal (starred review)
“Several plot twists are surprising and effective, and there are gripping sequences involving Amy’s work as a deep-sea diver woven logically into the narrative... Perfect beach read.” — Wall Street Journal on Never Have I Ever
“Nail-biting suspense.… Jackson builds on her talent for creating imperfect, capable, and multi-layered characters to write smart suspense, driven by the intelligence and determination of the instigator and her prey… Never Have I Ever marks a new high in Jackson’s career.” — Booklist (starred review) on Never Have I Ever
“Wonderful—suspense and surprises, real characters, and a scary, ominous backbeat. This feels like the book Jackson was born to write.” — Lee Child, New York Times Bestselling Author, on Never Have I Ever
“A smart, original thriller with real, compelling characters and a chilling reveal. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” — Clare Mackintosh, New York Times bestselling author of I Let You Go, on Never Have I Ever
“The more Roux and Amy became obsessed with each other, the more obsessed I became with the book. Jackson is a master... Fans of Joshilyn Jackson and newcomers alike will eat this book up. I did, and I’m hungry again.” — Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants, on Never Have I Ever
“A heart-pounding tale of cat and mouse with twists you won’t see coming. Just when you think you couldn’t be more shocked, Jackson delivers a mind-blowing ending. Riveting!” — Liv Constantine, internationally bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish, on Never Have I Ever
“[A] nail-biter....Winner takes all in this addictive, heart-thumping read.” — Family Circle Magazine on Never Have I Ever
“Joshilyn Jackson’s newest novel weaves a wicked tale right from its opening pages...With excellent pacing, clever character development, fun plot twists and a palpable setting, Never Have I Ever is a binge-worthy read. Jackson brings her first thriller to the table this summer, and you don’t want to miss it.” — BookPage.com on Never Have I Ever
“Jackson’s novel is chock-full of dramatic reveals and twisty turns... Be warned: It’s a stay-up-all-night kind of book. Compulsively readable.” — Kirkus Reviews on Never Have I Ever
“If you’re streaming the second season of “Big Little Lies,” take a screen break to read Never Have I Ever by Atlanta author Joshilyn Jackson. The novel is a deliciously, twisty domestic suspense tale... It’s Jackson’s best yet.” — The Augusta Chronicle on Never Have I Ever
“We’re looking forward to Never Have I Ever bringing Jackson the credit she deserves. Jackson’s latest is a classic interloper tale—a woman named Roux enters the lives of a seemingly perfect family and of course, her disruption reveals all the family’s darkest secrets.” — CrimeReads, “The Most Anticipated Crime Books of Summer“
“Entertaining . . . Well-developed, memorable characters and an action-packed plot.” — Publishers Weekly on Never Have I Ever
“One of the most entertaining books you will read this summer.” — Brooklyn Digest on Never Have I Ever
“This book is well written and full of twists and turns that seem to keep unraveling until the end… It will keep you turning page after page and just when you think you have it all figured out, you’re left guessing even more. I would highly recommend this book and you won’t regret reading it.” — BookTrib.com on Never Have I Ever
[An] epic duel between two flawed women—it’s the perfect thriller to round out your summer.
Never Have I Ever becomes a tale of moral suspense in addition to a psychological thriller. Its several plot twists are surprising and effective, and there are gripping sequences involving Amy’s work as a deep-sea diver woven logically into the narrative. Many books claim to be the perfect beach read. This one doesn’t, but it certainly fits the bill.
Nail-biting suspense.… Jackson builds on her talent for creating imperfect, capable, and multi-layered characters to write smart suspense, driven by the intelligence and determination of the instigator and her prey… Never Have I Ever marks a new high in Jackson’s career.
Booklist (starred review) on Never Have I Ever
The more Roux and Amy became obsessed with each other, the more obsessed I became with the book. Jackson is a master... Fans of Joshilyn Jackson and newcomers alike will eat this book up. I did, and I’m hungry again.
A smart, original thriller with real, compelling characters and a chilling reveal. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
Several plot twists are surprising and effective, and there are gripping sequences involving Amy’s work as a deep-sea diver woven logically into the narrative... Perfect beach read.
Wall Street Journal on Never Have I Ever
Wonderful—suspense and surprises, real characters, and a scary, ominous backbeat. This feels like the book Jackson was born to write.
"Jackson has been establishing herself as a master of domestic suspense for years, and her hyped latest should do little to change that. A carefree neighborhood evening of games, gossip, and wine gradually evolves into something much more sinister, as engineered by a woman harboring unsettling secrets."
Bestselling author Jackson packs in dramatic reveals about the women’s complex histories.
Never Have I Ever becomes a tale of moral suspense in addition to a psychological thriller. Its several plot twists are surprising and effective, and there are gripping sequences involving Amy’s work as a deep-sea diver woven logically into the narrative. Many books claim to be the perfect beach read. This one doesn’t, but it certainly fits the bill.
This book is well written and full of twists and turns that seem to keep unraveling until the end… It will keep you turning page after page and just when you think you have it all figured out, you’re left guessing even more. I would highly recommend this book and you won’t regret reading it.
BookTrib.com on Never Have I Ever
[A] nail-biter....Winner takes all in this addictive, heart-thumping read.
Family Circle Magazine on Never Have I Ever
We’re looking forward to Never Have I Ever bringing Jackson the credit she deserves. Jackson’s latest is a classic interloper tale—a woman named Roux enters the lives of a seemingly perfect family and of course, her disruption reveals all the family’s darkest secrets.
“The Most Anticipated Crime Books of Summer& CrimeReads
One of the most entertaining books you will read this summer.
Brooklyn Digest on Never Have I Ever
A heart-pounding tale of cat and mouse with twists you won’t see coming. Just when you think you couldn’t be more shocked, Jackson delivers a mind-blowing ending. Riveting!
Joshilyn Jackson’s newest novel weaves a wicked tale right from its opening pages...With excellent pacing, clever character development, fun plot twists and a palpable setting, Never Have I Ever is a binge-worthy read. Jackson brings her first thriller to the table this summer, and you don’t want to miss it.
BookPage.com on Never Have I Ever
If you’re streaming the second season of “Big Little Lies,” take a screen break to read Never Have I Ever by Atlanta author Joshilyn Jackson. The novel is a deliciously, twisty domestic suspense tale... It’s Jackson’s best yet.
The Augusta Chronicle on Never Have I Ever
Bestselling author Jackson packs in dramatic reveals about the women’s complex histories.
"Jackson has been establishing herself as a master of domestic suspense for years, and her hyped latest should do little to change that. A carefree neighborhood evening of games, gossip, and wine gradually evolves into something much more sinister, as engineered by a woman harboring unsettling secrets."
null Entertainment Weekly on Never Have I Ever
[An] epic duel between two flawed women—it’s the perfect thriller to round out your summer.
People on Never Have I Ever
Bestselling author Jackson packs in dramatic reveals about the women’s complex histories.
Time on Never Have I Ever
Joshilyn Jackson is one the best writers of the new generation.
Jackson excels at weaving a wholly absorbing story with vivid characters… [she makes] some affecting points about the importance of the stories we tell to each other and to ourselves.
I was swept up by her inimitable voice from the very first page: she deftly combines such unexpected subjects as superheroes, single motherhood, race, and the impact of long-buried secrets. I love this book and can’t recommended it highly enough.
What a storyteller!
A vibrant, sharp and humorous read, brimming with relatable subplots, high-energy scenes and overt superhero references... The author deftly succeeds in writing a book within a book, each one beautifully complementing the other.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution on The Almost Sisters
In a story of incredible love and bravery, [Jackson] lasers through the weathered grace and mossy tradition of the contemporary south to explode its comic book dualism with blistering genius…Imagine Flannery O’Connor in a Wonder Woman suit, and you’ll get close to the big heart of this brilliant book.
Wonderful—suspense and surprises, real characters, and a scary, ominous backbeat. This feels like the book Jackson was born to write.
A heart-pounding tale of cat and mouse with twists you won’t see coming. Just when you think you couldn’t be more shocked, Jackson delivers a mind-blowing ending. Riveting!
We’re looking forward to Never Have I Ever bringing Jackson the credit she deserves. Jackson’s latest is a classic interloper tale—a woman named Roux enters the lives of a seemingly perfect family and of course, her disruption reveals all the family’s darkest secrets.
“The Most Anticipated Crime Books of Summer& CrimeReads
A smart, original thriller with real, compelling characters and a chilling reveal. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
This book is well written and full of twists and turns that seem to keep unraveling until the end… It will keep you turning page after page and just when you think you have it all figured out, you’re left guessing even more. I would highly recommend this book and you won’t regret reading it.
BookTrib.com on Never Have I Ever
One of the most entertaining books you will read this summer.
Brooklyn Digest on Never Have I Ever
What a storyteller!
Bestselling author Jackson packs in dramatic reveals about the women’s complex histories.
Time on Never Have I Ever
[A] nail-biter....Winner takes all in this addictive, heart-thumping read.
Family Circle Magazine on Never Have I Ever
Joshilyn Jackson’s newest novel weaves a wicked tale right from its opening pages...With excellent pacing, clever character development, fun plot twists and a palpable setting, Never Have I Ever is a binge-worthy read. Jackson brings her first thriller to the table this summer, and you don’t want to miss it.
BookPage.com on Never Have I Ever
Jackson excels at weaving a wholly absorbing story with vivid characters… [she makes] some affecting points about the importance of the stories we tell to each other and to ourselves.
If you’re streaming the second season of “Big Little Lies,” take a screen break to read Never Have I Ever by Atlanta author Joshilyn Jackson. The novel is a deliciously, twisty domestic suspense tale... It’s Jackson’s best yet.
The Augusta Chronicle on Never Have I Ever
Nail-biting suspense.… Jackson builds on her talent for creating imperfect, capable, and multi-layered characters to write smart suspense, driven by the intelligence and determination of the instigator and her prey… Never Have I Ever marks a new high in Jackson’s career.
Booklist (starred review) on Never Have I Ever
The more Roux and Amy became obsessed with each other, the more obsessed I became with the book. Jackson is a master... Fans of Joshilyn Jackson and newcomers alike will eat this book up. I did, and I’m hungry again.
[An] epic duel between two flawed women—it’s the perfect thriller to round out your summer.
People on Never Have I Ever
Several plot twists are surprising and effective, and there are gripping sequences involving Amy’s work as a deep-sea diver woven logically into the narrative... Perfect beach read.
Wall Street Journal on Never Have I Ever
Joshilyn Jackson is one the best writers of the new generation.
In a story of incredible love and bravery, [Jackson] lasers through the weathered grace and mossy tradition of the contemporary south to explode its comic book dualism with blistering genius…Imagine Flannery O’Connor in a Wonder Woman suit, and you’ll get close to the big heart of this brilliant book.
A vibrant, sharp and humorous read, brimming with relatable subplots, high-energy scenes and overt superhero references... The author deftly succeeds in writing a book within a book, each one beautifully complementing the other.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution on The Almost Sisters
I was swept up by her inimitable voice from the very first page: she deftly combines such unexpected subjects as superheroes, single motherhood, race, and the impact of long-buried secrets. I love this book and can’t recommended it highly enough.
Nail-biting suspense.… Jackson builds on her talent for creating imperfect, capable, and multi-layered characters to write smart suspense, driven by the intelligence and determination of the instigator and her prey… Never Have I Ever marks a new high in Jackson’s career.
Booklist (starred review)
Bestselling author Jackson packs in dramatic reveals about the women’s complex histories.
Best-selling author Jackson packs in dramatic reveals about the women’s complex histories.
Time Magazine on Never Have I Ever
2019-04-28 Amy Whey's sins come back to haunt her when she's extorted for money by a beautiful stranger in Jackson's (The Almost Sisters , 2017, etc.) first thriller.
It was supposed to be book club as usual: a group of suburban mothers gathering to talk over a glass of wine or two and then going home to bed. But when new neighbor Angelica Roux shows up at hostess Amy's door, it doesn't take long for all hell to break loose. The booze flows freely, and soon the women are engaged in a game: What is the worst thing you did today? This week? This month? In your life? There are many women in the gathering with secrets to protect, but none more than Amy, who, as a teenager, committed a terrible crime that almost destroyed her. Saved by her love for diving, and then by meeting her husband and stepdaughter, Amy has worked hard to build a normal, stable life; she even has a new baby. Angelica has come to threaten all of this; she clearly knows about Amy's past and will expose her to her loved ones if Amy doesn't pay her. As Amy tries desperately to outscheme Angelica, she also realizes just how much she has to fight for—and what she might be willing to do to keep her family safe and her secrets buried. Jackson's novel is chock-full of dramatic reveals and twisty turns, but she paces them out well, dropping them like regularly spaced bombshells. Just when the reader thinks they know what might lie at the heart of the novel, the ground shifts seismically, and the truth removes again to a distance. It's skillfully done. Amy herself is an openly flawed and relatable character fighting to keep sacred the one thing she values most: her normal, loving, messy life.
Be warned: It's a stay-up-all-night kind of book. Compulsively readable.