REVIEW: EVERMORE

Author: Alyson Noel
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
UK Release date: 2009
Genre: YA, paranormal

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste . . .
Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies. (Goodreads)

I found Evermore to be a very pleasant read, and the pages just skipped through my fingers with ease and enjoyment. The concepts and ideas weren’t unique - good looking, rich boy with mysterious talents and a young girl with new psychic abilities - however I really enjoyed reading this book. The plot was filled with mystery, especially around Damen, and there was lots of action and intrigue.

Since the accident, Ever has developed psychic gifts which allow her to read people's minds. She's really struggling to cope with these gifts as well as her grief and guilt, and her best solution is to pull up her hood and drown out the world with her music. I did like seeing her change and develop throughout the story, even if a lot of this was prompted by Damen. Her denial and attempts to block her gifts lead her down a few wrong paths, but essentially she is a good person and I couldn't help but root for her.

Damen is the new kid at school, and completely surrounded in mystery. There was plenty of build up to find out who or what Damen really is, and I liked guessing and trying to put together the little clues. Whilst I liked him, I was a little perturbed and dubious of the way he would give a flower to Ever one day and then a flower to popular Stacie the next day. It felt a little like he was playing with both their affections regardless of the reason. Having said this, the eerie mystery shrouding Damen made him intriguing and interesting.

I loved Riley. I won't say who she is, but her part in the book is a little heartbreaking and sad but also warming. Her character brought an interesting and humorous dynamic to the story, and I loved the different costumes she dressed up in each day.

An enjoyable and easy read, Evermore is the first in a series of six books. Although I can't imagine what will happen for all other five books, I'm looking forward to finding out.

Rating: 4*