Evermore by Alyson Noel

Let me begin by saying I will not be reading the sequel. Even though I didn’t have high hopes when I began reading, Evermore was a big disappointment. The similarities to Twilight are appalling not just because Noel uses similar ideas (that’s okay in my book. There’s nothing new under the sun, right?) but because she took Stephanie Meyer’s originality and twisted it, making some stupid scenes in the process. For instance, Edward and Bella share Wuthering Heights as do Noel’s romantic couple but they don’t discuss it, it’s just there to make them interact. The story is written in first person from the unassuming and vulnerable girl’s perspective. It was just one knock-off after another. And it bugged me. The romance between Ever and Damen felt completely superficial partly because Ever knows virtually nothing about Damen but that he’s good looking. Supposedly they are destined for each other but I didn’t get that vibe at all. There was nothing intellectually and little emotionally shared between them, just physical attraction. It was, oh my gosh he’s totally hot and I can’t stop thinking about him for 300 pages. Damen is a terrible influence on Ever, getting her to ditch classes on multiple occasions so she will “live the good life” gambling at a race track (illegally since they’re both under aged). The text seems to assume via the characters that everyone will inevitably lose their virginity during high school (even though Ever does wait for now). And when Ever and Damen take a hiatus she decides getting into her Aunt’s vodka stash is a good way to deal, gets suspended for drinking, then continues to get wasted the entire week away from school. Ever sucks. And somehow she’s the protagonist we’re supposed to like.

Paranormal stories can take a myriad of forms, Evermore taking on the psychic mind-reading, ghost seeing realm. I couldn’t really get into the plot. I felt Noel didn’t create a very believable world for the immortals she creates. There were too many questions that were inadequately answered like, why are the immortal beautiful. The concepts were alright but their execution lacking. As to the prose, it was just so-so. Half way through the book swearing, mostly the “f” word, set in and it felt odd since in the first half none of the characters were into using such foul language. In my opinion, there are way too many good books to read to waste your time on this one.
Publisher: St. Martin’s, 2009     Source: IC Public Library
Rating: 1 star                            Pages: 306