The Never List — Spoiler-Free
The Never List - Spoiler-Free
Author: Jade Presley. Genre: Fantasy Romance / Why Choose.
Series: The Never List #1
SJR Quick Take
⭐ Rating: 5/5
🌶️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5)
💔 Emotional Impact: ❤️❤️❤️ (3/5)
📚 Genre: Fantasy Romance / Why Choose
🔁 Would I Read Again? Absolutely
➡️ Next:Read myCover to Cover Conversationif you’ve already finished the book and want to dive into spoilers, favorite moments, theories, and discussion questions.
What the Book Is About
I started off being drawn into this book by the cover. I went in blind, read the jacket cover, and thought, sure, why not?
This is my first Why Choose romance novel, and it did not disappoint.
I have to say, I love the book design. Sorry, but in another lifetime, I wanted to design books when I was studying copywriting. Anyways...
We are thrown right into the mix with Rylee Grey. She is on her way to the Choosing, and we see just a glimpse of what she has had to deal with.
We meet her friends Lacey and Ivy, who help her get into the event and help her get dressed to impress while still blending in, of course.
However, Rylee is not a quiet, blend-in type of woman. She is driven by the loss of her sister, and nothing will stop her from getting answers.
We get to the party and are submerged into the lavish life of the Kings and upper class. It’s almost sickening to see how much money and food they have compared to where Rylee is from, but the girls have a plan and enjoy themselves before Rylee starts sleuthing.
And, of course, Rylee’s mouth is the first thing that gets a certain person’s attention.
She sneaks off to look for information but is still no closer to the truth of what happened to her sister.
Then, surprise! Someone is chosen!
If you read the jacket cover, you know it’s Rylee.
She is flabbergasted and shook. She has no idea why they chose her.
And the gentleman she was flirting with? Well, he turns out to be one of the handsome princes in a mask.
Now she has to play the game to win their hearts, fight for her life, and find the truth about her sister.
My Overall Reaction
We are immediately given a glimpse of the Kings, how they feel about everything, and a hint at the princes.
Rylee isn’t sure she can win, but she is not a quitter.
She starts with the prince of Ruby Aire, and then we follow it up with Sapphire Cove, Emerald Woods, and Obsidian City.
I don’t want to go too much into the princes because I think discovering each of their personalities and their part to play in Rylee’s story is part of experiencing the book.
However, I WILL say I was side-eyeing those Kings a bit like...
Mhm, you sure you want the best for your sons? 👀
And what is the true story behind the Queens?
It was all side-eye for me, and a few characters mentioned it too. So maybe we’ll learn more about that backstory.
What I Loved
I love the buildup as Rylee makes each jump to learn more about these charming devils—or is there more to the story?
With each test, we see a bit of the charm and glamour of the society around them and realize maybe all is not as perfect as it seems. Rylee also has to learn to maybe curve her thoughts a bit more as she learns more.
I love the challenges, the emotional growth, and the pushback some characters had. They all have their own issues, struggles, and challenges, and I love how we get to peek inside their heads too.
I also love how they always—and I do mean always—give her an out. They do not force her to do anything, and she can always say stop.
That was something I really appreciated, especially with this being my first Why Choose romance.
Final Verdict
I was really, honestly blown away by this book.
This was my first Why Choose romance novel, and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed it immensely and can’t wait for Book 2.
I want to give more, but that’s going to have to wait for Cover to Cover next!
Who Should Read This?
Readers who enjoy fantasy romance and Why Choose romance.
Fans of strong female characters.
Readers who enjoy multiple perspectives.
Readers who like mystery mixed with their romance.
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely.
This was my first Why Choose romance novel, and it did not disappoint.
Would I Read It Again?
Yes.
Especially before continuing the series. There are definitely things I questioned while reading, and now that I know certain things, I’d like to go back and see what I may have missed.
If you’ve read The Never List, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments over on Cover to Cover!
And if you’re still deciding whether to pick it up, I hope this review helped you find your next great read.
— SJR Writes & Reads
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Until the next chapter,
Happy Reading,
S. J. Robinson
Grab the book here at Amazon.com or here at Bookshop.org .
