Review: Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

Image & description from goodreads.com

Best friends Dave and Julia were determined to never be cliché high school kids—the ones who sit at the same lunch table every day, dissecting the drama from homeroom and plotting their campaigns for prom king and queen. They even wrote their own Never List of everything they vowed they'd never, ever do in high school. 

Some of the rules have been easy to follow, like #5, never die your hair a color of the rainbow, or #7, never hook up with a teacher. But Dave has a secret: he's broken rule #8, never pine silently after someone for the entirety of high school. It's either that or break rule #10, never date your best friend. Dave has loved Julia for as long as he can remember. 

Julia is beautiful, wild and impetuous. So when she suggests they do every Never on the list, Dave is happy to play along. He even dyes his hair an unfortunate shade of green. It starts as a joke, but then a funny thing happens: Dave and Julia discover that by skipping the clichés, they've actually been missing out on high school. And maybe even on love.

My Thoughts:  
A book that perfectly illustrates the complexity of emotions when it comes to love.  Whether young or old, love is never simple.  Even parent/child love can have its entanglements.  Dave & Julia seem to have their emotions tangled up like the chain of a thin, delicate necklace.  One yank too hard & it will break for good.  Dave has loved Julia so long that I think he's in love with the idea of being in love with her.  She's like the only flavor of ice cream he's ever tried.  His Rocky Road.  If he'd tried Mint Chocolate Chip earlier, he might find he likes it too.  Gretchen is Dave's Mint Chocolate Chip.  When he finally realizes he can love both, but maybe not in the same way, things are a complete mess.  Julia has always had Dave.  She's never had to miss or pine for him.  He's been her constant while she's yearned for a relationship with her biological mother who keeps her strung along with empty promises.  She's been so busy trying to live up to what she THINKS her absentee mom would want, that she's missed out on the things that give some great life experience.  As they complete the "Nevers" list they discover more than they could have possibly imagined.  The ending was as delicious as a crispy waffle cone with 3 of your favorite flavors & sprinkles on top!  What I took away from this book, and what I hope others will too, is NEVER say "Never", ALWAYS keep your heart & mind open and SOMETIMES the route may have to change, but the scenery is just as beautiful and the destination is the same.

Recommended for readers 15 & up.
Mild language & sexual content.