Then the bird said ‘Nevermore’

BOOK REPORT for EVERMORE by Alyson Noel

BFF Charm: Yay Swoonworthy Scale: 5 Talky Talk: Straight up Bonus Factors: Earshot, Tulips Relationship Status: Hotel Rendezvous

The Deal:

Ever since Ever (I know, with the names! Let's just pretend Ever and her friend Haven had hippy parents.) was the sole survivor of a car crash that killed her family, her life has sucked. Royally. Oh, sure, she lives pretty much rule-free in a huge ocean-side house with her rich lawyer aunt in sunny California, but not only is she eaten through with survivor's guilt, she now hears things. Like, people's thoughts kind of things, and also see the brightly colored auras we all give off--apparently her gift after the 'near death' experience in the crash. So she tries to shut it all out and be invisible. Her only friends are the designated 'school losers' goth girl Haven, and gay boy Miles. Oh, and the only thing she looks forward to? Her daily visits from her dead sister. Yeah.

Then a new boy shows up at school, and everyone is gaga for him, including Ever's two best friends. Ever herself? Well, funny thing: she can't hear him. She likes that. A lot. But she's not sure she likes him, what with his devastating good looks and undeniable charm. Plus, she's trying to be a good friend, so what ever is she to do? (Sorry, I'll only pun the once.)

BFF Charm: Yay

I would def. give my charm to Ever, if she'd let me. She spends so much time trying to keep people out and punishing herself for being alive that she really needs a friend, and I'd be a way better friend than Haven and Miles combined, because those two are so lost and selfish and teenagery that they don't see what's really going on with Ever at all! At least Ever tries to be straight with herself, and is not opposed to giving herself a good talking to when she needs it, or at least acknowledging to herself when she's probably being wrong-headed or needy, even if it's not going to change her behavior. I gotta give a girl props for being realz. Plus, when the chips fall, Ever is strong and stands by her convictions.

Swoonworthy Scale: 5

The swoon in this story is all about the mystery. Who is Damon? Why can't Ever hear his thoughts or see his aura? What does he want with Ever? And he is pretty dreamy, in that devil-may-care-oh-but-I'm-actually-really-intense--about YOU boy thing. This story get points for the fact that when the mystery starts unravelling, and the girl finds out the truth about the boy, she is totes proactive, and not all, 'okay, that's a lot to take in, but it's okay 'cause you're so dreamy'. No she's like 'get ye gone, boyo!' At least until she figures stuff out.

Talky Talk: Straight up

I think Alyson Noel does a bang-up job writing teenagers. All of these characters were lost kids, some of them looking for attention, like you do, and in Ever's case, meaning. I liked that although Haven was a sweet girl, she and Ever were not members of the sisterhood of the traveling black nail polish, because let's face it, few teenage BFFs are able to see outside their own crazy emotions enough to be a truly good friend. I enjoyed the mystery unfolding, and felt she did the story a solid. There is a teensy bit of fate-ish stuff in it, but Noel gives her heroine a brain and choice.

Bonus Factor: Earshot

Although it might be really helpful come test-time, hearing people's thoughts would probably be crazy making. I mean, all those secrets and painful emotions and silent cries for help? We'd be wishing all we heard was how our mom thought Giles was like a stevadore when she had sex with him.

Bonus Factor: Tulips

Okay, so this may be a weird bonus factor, but they are mentioned in the book so much, and my godmother was from Holland, and we used to plant tons and tons of tulips, and even though I'm not much of a flower person, per se, tulips are, hands down, my fave.

Casting Call:

"Alison Lohman as Ever"

I love this actress! Why do I not cast her in more things? Plus, since she can handle battling a crazed gypsy in a parking garage, this role would be easy peasy for her.

"Ian Somerhalder as Damon"

Pretty. Plus this dude can ACT! He would be able to bring more to the character of Damon than is in the story, (and we know he makes a good 'Damon' from watching Vampire Diaries). And he's so, so pretty. Like, I feel bad for whoever he dates, because he will always be prettier than her, pretty.

Relationship Status: Hotel Rendezvous

I was recently in London for a class for work, and near the end of my trip, I was feeling pretty tired and a little homesick, so after walking around all day taking pictures, I met this book in a Waterstone's. Later that evening I intended to go out in search of some live music at a good pub, but this book seemed so nice (plus it was pretty cute) that I invited it back to my hotel room with me to hang out and relax for a bit. Now, you might think that a rendezvous in a hotel in London would be scorching, and I won't deny we had our moments, but we started the evening off together with a cheese and celery sandwich, bottle of Famous Grouse and year's, (um, night's) supply of British chocolate bars between us, and we had an easy, pleasant (if not long-lasting) connection. While I was with it, I wanted to know more about it, and when the rendezvous was over, after I said goodnight (or good morning, as the case may be) I realized that it had cured my home-sickness. And we never did leave the hotel that night.