Let me just say…

HOLY FUCKING SHIT! MIND BLOWN!

This is my first book by Ann Aguirre, and I loved every minute of it. Like Never and Always offered a bit of everything! Suspense? Yes! Intrigue? You bet! Romance? Yep! Heartache? So much! Best part? Every bit of this story is blended seamlessly.

Like Never and Always is an engrossing-fast-paced story that delves into the world of secrets, crime and friendship. With many mysteries for a girl in the wrong body to solve, a conflicting romance that equally excites and thrills, and a resilient heroine hellbent on making the best of her new life, you won’t be able to put it down!

For a story with an intricate premise, and with a slight supernatural flair of soul transferring it read beautifully! Aguirre’s wrote and handled the subject matter so skillfully she skipped any and all things outlandish and instead presented a novel so incredibly engrossing it had me hooked from the first page. I devoured Like Never and Always and fell in love with everything it had to offer. I was truly captivated by every twist and turn thrown at Liv/Morgan. All-in-all this book made for a compelling and quick summer read!

This book immediately had me hooked. What is going on?! Liv died but now she's in Morgan's body? And all these secrets Morgan had - wow. This book can serve as a reminder that everyone has their own story, we shouldn't judge or jump to conclusions. I liked the characters. The story was never boring - one thing snowballed into a lot of dirty secrets coming out and Morgan/Liv found strength and courage to keep her head held high. I liked how she no longer took the little things for granted and that she also found out who her true friends were. A compulsive and interesting read for me.

WOW Like never and always had me hooked from the first chapter and I couldn't put it down. This book took me by surprised and I fell in love with Liv/Morgan and Clay from the start what I wild ride. I can't wait to read Ann's next book. This one is a must read for all!!!!

I’m on the fence about this book because I really wanted to love it. The synopsis sounded so interesting, but the execution fell short. I'm not actually sure what the genre of this book is, and I got the feeling that the author was afraid of going too dark with the plot and writing on account of keeping it YA.
In my opinion the strongest thing about this book are the characters. The writing style is decent and easy to consume, but there are a few odd choices made when it comes to the flow of the plot that frustrated me a little. Again, this synopsis sounded so promising to me, I expected to be blown away.
I’m not sure if I recommend this book. It depends on what kind of reader you are. You might enjoy it a lot, I found it meh.

I received a free copy of Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre in exchange for an honest review. I am a fan of Ann Aguirre’s science fiction and post-apocalyptic series. This book steps outside these genres; it’s a supernatural romance. Morgan and Liv, Frost/Burn, have been best friends their entire lives, so it seems natural that they would date brothers. Coming home from one of their double dates, there’s a terrible accident. While both brothers are practically unscathed, the same is not true for the best friends. When Liv awakens from her coma, she’s surprised to find the wrong brother at her bedside and the wrong parent coming to her door. The doctors could not possibly have mistaken her for Morgan; after all, Morgan is six inches taller. This is odd and alarming. When the bandages are removed from Liv’s face, she finds out she isn’t herself, she’s Morgan. With her own body buried, Liv has no choice but to assume Morgan’s life, which is troubled in ways Liv never suspected.

I enjoyed this book and think that you will, too, if you are a fan of suspenseful supernatural romances.

#LikeNeverAndAlways #NetGalley

am definitely a lover of YA fiction. Something about the problems faced by teens is a bit of an escape from real-life. I mean some of the problems faced are trivial compared to being a grown up and there is always the fall back of having an adult sort everything out. Whilst Like Never and Always has trivial issues, there are also some very grown up and adult problems faced by the protagonist and some of the supporting characters.

I really enjoyed most of this book and story, apart from one rather large plot point. Something that was mentioned reasonably early on in the story turned out to be an incredibly disturbing, if small, plot point. I don’t want to spoil too much but it was unnecessary (in my opinion).

The ending is a tiny bit farfetched but at the same time felt believable (in terms of where the protagonist ends their story). It is also incredibly twee. But sometimes I think that one of the reasons I come to YA fiction is for the resolution they tend to bring. The endings are generally satisfying and most plot points are tied up with a bow. Call me whatever but there’s something that I find comforting about that!

The writing is solid – I’d be inclined to read more of Aguirre’s work. I’d rate this a 4.5/5.

Book provided free of charge by the publisher in exchange for an honest review (through Netgalley).

Like never and always is one of the strangest books I have ever read, both enjoyable and very very weird!

Even though the main plot of the novel is quite sci-fi and out of this world it deals with a lot of real world problems like identity, abandonment and coping after grief really well.

I found it difficult to understand the premise of waking up in someone else's body at the start but I very rarely read sci-fi so that would be on me. That being said the plot was definitely interesting as Liv has to come to terms with both being her and her best friends at the same time.

The romance element in Like Never and Always was quite sweet and the reader can tell that the boy truly cares about the person she has become. The main love interest isn't the stereotypical bad boy but has layers.

Liv the main character is easily likable and goes through a lot of change throughout the plot trying to make her way through the life Megan has left for her.

I would recommend Like Never and Always for anyone looking for a sci-fi book that has a sweet romance in it.

*ARC received from publisher in exchange for an honest review via netgalley*

After dying in a car crash, Liv wakes up in her best friend's (Morgan's) body. She views the aftermath of her grieving family and boyfriend, along with trying to walk in Morgan's shoes and navigate her life which she realizes is different than she assumed. She learns that although Morgan is rich and popular, thanks to the company her dad founded, her life is very lonely. She comes home to an empty house, except for the presence of a housekeeper, her dad is always at work, and most of the school creates gossip about her. The only solace she receives is from Morgan's boyfriend Clay. When secrets seep through the cracks regarding her best friend's hidden life, Liv vows to solve the mysteries and make things right for the both of them.

I loved the message of this story. Liv realizes that she has a second chance at life in Morgan's body so she makes the most of it. She understands that things are different and she can't go back to her old life and comfort zone, but as Morgan she can make adjustments to compliment and honor both of them as she travels through life.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

Disclaimer: I received this ARC courtesy of Tor/Forge and Netgalley. I am grateful for the opportunity to review an ARC for my readers, but this will not influence my final rating. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and based solely on the book. The copy I am reviewing is an Uncorrected Digital Galley.

If you follow my reviews, you’ll know I’m not big on romance. Do I hate love? No. But I find that too many YA books (which I adore and read almost exclusively) rush couples to the point that readers end up with insta-love, cliché meet cutes, and the corniest break-up/makeup moments. My eyes are basically rolling all over the floor. Obviously this isn’t the end of the world; it’s YA, and sooooo many young adults (no shame to it!) adore the fluff. My lovely co-blogger Mandy loves the fluff!! But I’m just like, “Ew. No. What is this? Stop.” What I’m saying is: Give me a solid relationship or GIVE ME DEATH.

You can imagine my curiosity going into a book that pitched not one but two romances (ya know, a love triangle, sure to be rife with drama). Will I abhor? Or will I adore? To put you out of your misery now, I’ll tell you: I was on the edge my seat, wide-eyed, drooling, because the love interest (like, the one the main character chooses at the end) is SWOON WORTHY. THE MAN OF MY DREAMS PEOPLE. I COULD NOT GET ENOUGH AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY. (In as vague of a way as I can because dang I can’t spoil the love triangle for you!) He is respectful, kind, aware of the main character’s needs WITHOUT TELLING HER what she wants (think Twilight, where Edward is like, Yes, Bella, you are cold now, go put on a sweater), hard-working, and selfless. I’m sobbing just thinking about it. GET ME A MAN LIKE THIS.

As for the other love interest, was he terrible? Um, no. I totally got why he was a valid options for the main character, and then I understood why she didn’t choose him. It wasn’t a simple case of “Option A is better” but also “Option B doesn’t need me/isn’t good with me.” Other love interest is fully developed, a viable option, and um, they totes had chemistry too — but Ann Aguirre did not exploit that chemistry and throw in a bunch of “will they/won’t they” for shits and giggles. Aguirre made clear from pretty early in the book who our MC, Liv, would be choosing. (Ugh, I can’t stand when the MC just wobbles back and forth between guys. Like, if you seriously can’t choose, then maybe the answer is neither? And it’s all just lust? But that’s a problem for another day, because NONE of that hot mess was here!)

Clearly romance was a strong aspect of the book, but Like Never and Always included aspects of mystery and thriller (and some maybe paranormal). I did snoop some reviews on Goodreads, which I actually generally refuse to do before my own reviews. This is so you get 100% my own thoughts untainted by what others think. BUT I saw on Goodreads some reviewers disliked the book because they felt the genre was too unclear. IMHO: This is first a romance, second a mystery, and the softest hint of paranormal. Aguirre is VERY clear on what direction she wants to take with her book, so not once are you like, “Wait, what happened to the romance aspect? Why are we suddenly focusing on paranormal?” I only include paranormal because … duh, Liv wakes up and she’s in Morgan’s body. That’s some out of this world business. But Liv does her best to explain this (and other creepy events) away with science (as she is a massive science lover), so paranormal stuff? Not very strong in this book. It felt very grounded and realistic, despite a body swap kicking things off.

Okay. Mystery element. This gave the book its plot. I loved how some of the mystery turned out to be a complete red herring, and some parts Liv needs to accept will never truly be solved/she has to keep “her little secret.” Honestly, this book had me up until 3 AM on a WORK DAY because I needed to know everything as soon as possible. Now I need everything Ann Aguirre ASAP.

One little disclaimer/spoiler/warning for readers who are sensitive to sex scenes in books, there is a little something that happens between Liv and one of the love interests near the end of the book (no page numbers and I’m afraid I don’t pay attention to the Kindle percentage count!) It’s faaar from explicit but still there, so if you’re like, NOT FOR ME, then well, now you know. It actually surprised me, since I did not see the book going there, but like I said, if you are not aware of these things from experience/learning, then you might not even know what just happened, it’s that subtly described.

I could ramble about love for this book forever. The characters were so well-developed. Everyone was aware of their flaws, their strengths and weaknesses. People could develop throughout the book. I feel blessed to have read this, not even kidding. Please excuse me while I read it again now?

Five crowns because I want to read it again immediately and this never happens with me. Also Aguirre NAILED it with a respectful and caring boyfriend which we need more of in books (like, please, stop with giving MCs BFs/GFs who disrespect them and then readers are all SWOON. NO SWOON!) I also want to buy an actual copy to own and hold and lovingly embrace.

Review on my blog (same with images added) coming July 22 2018

I truly loved this book. It has everything! Suspense, intrigue, danger, romance, heartbreak – and it’s all in a story seamlessly told.

Again and again, the author surprised me – sometimes with something that make me extremely happy (like Oscar) and other times when she broke my heart.

This was one of those reads that I didn’t want to look away from – and it had me reaching for a tissue more than once.

Aguirre knows how to tell a story that simply captivates the reader.

Five well deserved stars!

I am a HUGE fan of this author and this novel did not disappoint! I do not want to spoil it with more than what is already written in its description, so I will simply say THIS BOOK IS AMAZING, It is incredibly original, filled with wonderful characters and it leaves the reader guessing, hooked until the very end. Fans of this author and of the YA genre do not want to miss this wonderful book.

As soon as I read the synopsis - specifically the portions relating to identity swapping and criminal secrets - I knew that I had to read Like Never and Always. By the end of the second chapter, I was already formulating hypotheses as to how the mistaken identity occurred so I was surprised (and slightly disappointed) when this story played out in an entirely different way than expected.

I haven't read any of Ann Aguirre's works before, though Enclave has been on my TBR for what feels like forever. There's something about her writing that immediately immersed me in the story; perhaps it was the use of first-person narration, which allowed me to more closely identify with our protagonist, Liv. The pacing was excellent and I was able to finish Like Never and Always in a single sitting.

While Like Never and Always provided plenty of intrigues and an unexpected plot twist, the final reveal fell short for me. There were a number of potential plotlines that were mentioned on multiple occasions (i.e. the friendship bracelet) but were never brought to a resolution; rather than serving as red herrings, they felt like portions of a greater and more interesting story that remains untold. The explanation for the mistaken identity also felt underwhelming when compared to the extravagant (and very incorrect) conclusions that I had drawn early on in the reading process.

I really enjoyed Liv as a protagonist. She was resilient, fiercely loyal, and determined to make the most of her new life, which is a far cry from how I would react if I were placed in similar circumstances. I was less enamoured with her romantic endeavours; I can completely understand how her partner is seen as desirable, but the romance itself just didn't make me feel anything.

Overall, Like Never and Always was a fast-paced, fairly enjoyable read with plenty of twists. I likely won't read it again, but I will definitely read more from this author.

After a car accident, Liv wakes up, wondering why everyone is calling her Morgan. Then she sees her face in the mirror, and she is Morgan, although she has all of Liv’s memories and none of Morgan’s.

At home, Liv begins to realize just how many secrets Morgan had that she, Liv, supposedly her best friend, knew nothing about. And at least one of those secrets is very dangerous.

This is one of those novels that is almost impossible to put down. Not only is the story so compelling with the mystery that falls into Liv’s lap, but also the mystery that is Liv. I was semi-afraid while reading that some less than satisfactory summing up for what occurred after Liv died would be used. I was, however, pleased with the reasoning and explanation.

Also, I loved the relationship between Liv/Morgan and Clay. At the outset of the novel, I presumed that Clay was going to be one of these irresponsible bad boys that seem to be inundating YA reads, but Clay was perfect. Even the slightly steamy scenes between Liv/Morgan and Clay were perfect.

There are so many surprises in Like Never and Always that definitely make this one a page-turner.

If you’re a fan of Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall or Gayle Forman’s If I Stay, add Like Never and Always to your TBR pile or read it now!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 1/2 stars

**4.5 Stars**

Like Never and Always is a uniquely intriguing story that delves into the world of secrets and friendship. With many mysteries to solve for a girl in the wrong body and a conflicting romance that equally excites and thrills, you won’t be able to stop turning the pages from the moment Liv wakes up as Morgan and has to come to terms with the fact that she—and the life she had—died in that accident.

For a story with an intricate premise, I was surprisingly quick to feel and understand the despair and grief of a girl who was no longer herself and struggling to adapt to a world so unlike her own as the best friend she thought she knew. The slight supernatural flair of a soul transferring bodies had the chance to create so many problematic issues but it was written and handled so skillfully that it skipped outlandish and instead became incredibly engrossing from the very start. I loved that every element blended smoothly to create one full-figured story; that the loss of the life she had—from family to college plans to boyfriend—took time to overcome and accept while still being confronted with reminders of that life at every turn; and that the life she was now living was unraveling at every turn with it being up to her to finish what was started. And the romance, both captivating and full of crackling tension—sexual and emotional—, was amazing beyond expectation and rounded the story off perfectly.

I devoured Like Never and Always in one evening and, though I wish there had been a bit more meat to the last few chapters, I fell in love with everything it had to offer. There wasn’t a slow moment where the pace or plot dragged or was too hard to grasp, and I was beguiled through every twist and turn thrown at Liv. With a resilient heroine hellbent on making the best of her new life, it made for a truly compelling read.

"Liv Burnham thinks nobody knows Morgan Frost like she does, but a terrible accident pushes her down the rabbit hole where Morgan's secrets hide and she'll be lucky to make it out alive....

On a hot summer night, Liv, Morgan, Clay and Nathan are on the way home from a party in Clay's convertible. Best friends dating brothers? It doesn't get better than that. But the joyride ends in sudden impact, a screech of brakes, and shattering glass. On that lonely country road, four lives change forever.

Liv wakes in the hospital. At first she's confused when they call her Morgan, but she assumes it's a case of mistaken identity. Yet when the bandages come off, it's not her face in the mirror anymore. It's Morgan's.

Morgan always seemed to have the perfect life. But as Liv tries to fit herself into Morgan's world, she discovers endlessly disturbing secrets of the criminal and murderous variety and a dark task to finish...if she doesn't lose her mind first.

Forced to confront the disturbing truths that Morgan kept hidden in life, Liv must navigate a world of long-buried murder, a dangerous love affair―and a romance that feels like a betrayal."

This sounds like something Wes Craven would make into a film...

Starting out, I wasn't sure how I was going to like "Like Never and Always," but, as I continued reading, the story grew on me. I wanted to know how Liv ended up in Morgan's body, but more importantly I wanted to learn more about the best friend that Liv suddenly realizes she hardly knew. It was interesting to see how Liv adapted to having to live Morgan's life and to see her character change her viewpoint on the people around her. The story was disturbing at times, and many times I questioned how either girl could be so stupid, but overall I enjoyed it.

This is my first time reading any of Ann Aguirre's books and I'm highly impressed. The story was so unique and had me so intrigued. I could not stop reading. Now the hard part is going to be reviewing it!! I have no clue how to do this without giving anything away. It's like this pretty little package where if I say one wrong thing, it's going to unwrap. Okay, so here's the deal, you know from the blurb that Liv wakes up in Morgans body, so imagine how you would feel if everyone believes your dead but you are not. Watching those grieve for her especially her parents was so hard because she was right there! I also adored Clay and liked seeing how his relationship with Liv evolved. Man the ending blew me away. When everything came full circle it was jaw dropping. There is a part close to end that had me in tears. I guess you can call it a reunion of sorts. It was beautiful to see Liv get what she had been wanting from the beginning when she was in the hospital.

This is one of those books that just has you keep flipping until you get to the end.

Arc provided by Netgalley for an honest review. Thank you.

Great book. Couldn't stand to put it down once I picked it up and ended up finishing it around 4:30am within two days of starting.