Book Review: Evermore by Alyson Noel (SPOILER- it wasn't good)

Plot Synopsis: After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact to suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school — but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.

Damen is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head - wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is - or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

My Rating: 2/5. It's a no from me.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3975774-evermore

---

Let me begin by clarifying that I did not read the entire book. For reasons you *probably* expect, I stopped midway. I'm all for second chances, but reading this was a form of bookish torture that I wanted no part of. Now on to the actual review.

The first part of this novel was...disappointing, to say the least.

Even from the perspective of a teenage girl, whom I'm assuming is the target audience, this is nothing short of a published Twilight fan fiction. Based off the movie though, since I couldn't stand to read the novel version of it anymore than i could read this. *wink wink*

Yes, yes she does.

I'm all for a cliche, slightly dark romance with a little teen angst mixed in. This, however, completely misses the mark. It's like the author sat down and brainstormed everything they *think* a teenage girl might like and out came this. All the way from dead parents to a hot vamp-but-not-a-vamp male love interest. But for now let's focus on the main character.

---

Flaw #1: her personality...or lack of it

Need I even mention how sour i am that the death of her entire family was used merely as a source of pity? I don't want to minimize the situation, as in real life it is no joking matter. But the way Evermore uses it as a crutch is a little more than distasteful. Done right, it could've been a real turning point for the character. Instead we are forced to see her roll around in her lack of family induced depression mean whilst throwing hissy fits at her ghost sister.

Come. On. The 'devastation' of gaining powers must have outweighed any impact losing your family had, seeing how short fused you are with your DEAD 12 YEAR OLD sister but easy to give yourself in to the *misfortune* of having superhuman abilities. And here's where the crutch comes in; when your not pitying her powers, which seem to be the central point of concern for her, there's the fact that her family is dead. There's no reason for them dying, except that now lil ole angsty Ever can slip in a few "Why them, not me?" lines for some bonus pity points with the audience. If you're going to seal the deal on a character by killing off their family, please do it right. By that I mean don't just throw it in for the sake of it. Ever could've got her powers without watching poor Buttercup disappear into a cloud of fog.

Your pity party has been cancelled, dear.

Let me remind you again that this story has an unprecedented amount of teenage angst in it, mostly from our MC. I found Haven, the self acclaimed 'Princess of Darkness' to be more likeable than her.

Ok, your family died. Ok, you see colors and hear peoples thoughts. Both of which nobody knows of unless you tells them. Does that make you an outcast, or someone who pities herself so much that she's willing to lower herself down in order to get it from other people? Forgive me for being hyper critical, but there is nothing about Ever that would render her an 'outcast' aside from the fact that she's positioned herself there. Yet she still has the audacity to pity herself. Hell, I can name numerous times where other characters have called her incredibly gorgeous. An outcast is someone who's been forced out of society. Nobody forced Ever out. She did so herself.

Double hell, on page 19 she calls herself a traumatized teen! One that's first thought when she sees her dead sister is "Why are you wearing my sweater?"? Oh pleeaasseee.

If you need more evidence Ever is a phony, check page 22 where she says, "It's not like I've confided my new aura-spotting/mind reading abilities, or how it's changed me, including the way I dress." How the frick frack does having an ability leave you no choice but to dress like a garbage bag?

To wrap this up, characters family is dead but it has little to no impact on her character or significance to the story except to pity her some more. I hate to see novels targeted at teens hit at touchy areas like losing a family member without having a clear message to back it up, except to promote self degration. Her position as an outcast is by her own choice, leaving me with absolutely nothing to like about her. Not the best way to start a story.

What is this teaching a young impressionable audience except that it's ok to be an outcast and drown yourself in your own pity? And how to write a bloody bad book I guess.

Leave your gifts at the harbor, 'cause this pity party boat is sinking.

And oh, did i mention she's boring and dull asf? Author must think pitiful is a solid standalone personality trait.

Flaw #2: Her name

I love a quirky character name. As a matter afact I initially liked the name Ever. Until i found out her last name is Bloom. Yes, friends. On top of a shitty personality, our main characters full name is Ever Bloom. I think I've heard that same name in about 20 different series, all of which was on Wattpad written by happy-go-lucky middle schoolers. Not a compliment, by the way. Let me ramble for just a second.

I understand the appeal of a pretty fairy name like Ever Bloom. The name however is entirely unfitting in the context of the story. I don't know if the author did this to be ironic or genuinely thought that this pre-puebesent mystical princess-esque name fit the character we're working with. It's not the biggest problem in the world (believe me, i've read worst). It's just the story itself loses some integrity. How exactly do you pitch this book to someone without sounding like you're describing a children's book?

"Yes, well. The main characters name is Ever Bloom. She can see how people feel based off the color they shine. Oh, and she has a super hot boyfriend on the side as well!"

Ouch.

---

For the sake of not rambling myself silly, I'll stop the criticism at the main character. Can't say too much about the plot since I didn't read the whole story, but the underlying flaws in the main character is enough to have me running the other way, screaming for someone to save me from this cliche, cringefest of a book.

Please don't take this as a personal attack on Alyson Noel. This is all just my true opinion. I have no doubt she is a skillful writer, this just wasn't the book for me.

Or maybe I'm just salty that the dog died in the crash too. Poor baby :(

Given the amount of cheesy references Evermore has, I think it's only fair I get to use one to close out too.

All I gotta say (about this book) is (with pleasure)

Thank u, next.