Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was really close to DNFing this book at the beginning but decided to press on. I found that none of the characters were overly likeable or developed enough for this story. I struggled with knowing who was who at a given moment. This book is also extremely heavy & I was glad that the author included trigger warnings at the beginning. I really wanted to like this more than I did because of the content discussed but I just couldn't really get into it.

Definitely make sure to heed the trigger warnings! In my notes, I made sure to put that the originality of the story added to the thriller feel of the plot. The author understood how to draw you in and makes you uncomfortable. It's a good uncomfortable because you want to save. Lyra before it's too late! I found it to be a touchy subject but would be a good topic for high schoolers.


Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book.

I was really hopeful about this one…

Honest review: it’s not for me. It’s written in almost a stream of consciousness style that is difficult to follow. One second you’re in the present and the next you’re five summers ago. Or two months ago. Or 13 years ago. It would confuse me trying to figure out what was happening, who was there, and how it’s all connected.

I also found it to be a little unrealistic at times. There were some situations/thoughts/quotes described by the protagonist that just weren’t developmentally appropriate for the age she was in the scenarios. It was trying a little *too* hard.

Just because I didn’t love it doesn’t mean you won’t. So, if you want to give it a shot, please do!

Thank you to the publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Five friends, who used to be the closest that friends could get, became five people, alone, with many secrets between them. Virginia tells us her side of the story, during their last summer before senior year, where friends fight, betrayal happens, secrets get told, and healing occurs.

This book was beautiful, real, devastating, hard, and healing. I loved how absolutely real the author made these characters. I also love how the ending was written. I’m not going to go into details because I think l, if you can handle the trigger warnings, everyone should read this book. 4/ 5 stars for me.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group & Rocky Pond Books for the ARC through Netgalley!!

First time reading from this author and just like a story also from Nina LaCour, liked her writing style. EVER SINCE by Alena Bruzas is a powerful and emotional YA contemporary that will leave the reader with much to think about, The author does a good job of dealing with a story about abuse. A girl who finds her voice and gains her power back.

Really give this story a chance...

A heartbreaking debut. This emotionally charged narrative delves deep into difficult and triggering subject matter, and it is precisely this emotional intensity that makes the book impactful. The narrative leaves a lasting impression on the reader's heart and mind. Its difficulty that adds depth and authenticity to its storytelling. For those able to embark on this emotional journey (please check trigger warnings before delving into this), the novel offers a unique and thought-provoking experience.

This is such a raw and beautiful book that makes you think about growing up I think every woman should read this I was crying throughout the whole time it was achingly beautiful but so heart wrenching easy five star read for me

another book that absolutely hurt my soul. it’s really dark so be careful. now i was expecting a very heavy book which this is but in a way it also wasn’t. i kept reading because i needed to know, needed to see virginia get better even when she was only doing worse. this story is a universal tale of abuse on women which the author highlights with similar stories from mythologies to create a parallel with our main character. overall i absolutely loved this book, a sad kind of love, yes, but love it anyway. 5⭐️

This book left me speechless. It made me reflect deeply on how everyone handles and responds to situations, especially trauma, differently. Actions that seem one way on the surface, usually have a much deeper meaning that you may not understand or be aware of. I thought this book really emphasized that and the audiobook was done incredibly well. I enjoyed the interwoven fairy tale/mythology pieces as well.

There is magic in telling your story.

Please read the content warnings before starting this book.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

Ever Since was a deep read I found quite enjoyable. I thought the plot was quite original and fascinating. That being said, there were a few problems.

1. The beginning did not hook me. It was boring and felt like the author was dumping background information on me without actually weaving it into a story

2. The characters were not dimensional enough. As much as I wish I could say I enjoyed the characters, their personality was very "telly". I was fed information on their character instead of having the joy of actually trying to figure the characters out and getting to know them

I am SOBBING this was so good 😭

Words can't adequately explain how much I loved this heartbreakingly beautiful book 🤍

#EverSince by @alenabeee is such a powerful, intense and emotional story of abuse and trauma and though it was definitely hard to read at times, I loved every second of it. It is so painful to watch what Virginia goes through, that she goes through it alone and doesn't have anyone to help her. She unfortunately turns to unhealthy cooking mechanisms until she finds her voice, and eventually learns there are other ways to deal with trauma.

Ever Since is a contemporary book about five girls who got to tell their own story. Five princesses, five witches, five goddesses.

The reader follows the thoughts of Virginia, a 17 year old girl. Virginia isn't the typical 'good girl'. She drinks, she smokes pot, she has sex. She is that-kind-of-girl. But what that even means?

Alena Bruzas writes excpertly about how it is like to be a survivor of sexual abuse. All the feelings that crush in you like waves, the numbness, the pain, the void of feelings. Everything. She lets the reader go along with Virgina to this soul searching journey.

A contemporary Medea, a girl who finds her voice and gains her power back.

Ever Since is a story written with so much love and truth. It is tender, but raw. It is what a story should be: true to its core.

Thank you Net Galley, Penguin books and Alena for providing me with an ARC. The opinions in this review are mine.

First, this cover is beautiful.

Second, wow. This was just amazing. I am extremely impressed with how Bruzas handles SA, because it is so well done. I felt so much while reading this and that's exactly what I want from a book, to feel all the things and feel like this story will always live with me.

TWs for this book: sexual assault, CSA, suicidal ideation

Wow, what a powerful and intense young adult novel.

Bruzas doesn't shy away from tough topics with this novel (see the trigger warnings before reading the novel), and you can feel her passion for these topics through her writing. I absolutely recommend reading the author's note at the end of the novel to better understand Bruzas's personal connection to the material.

Everything about this book hit hard because of how real it felt. The dialogue and relationships between Virginia and her friends were painfully realistic for teenagers, the trauma Virginia and her friends experienced was unfortunately too realistic, and the pain Virginia felt was tangible.

I also really enjoyed how there was a romance aspect to this book, but it wasn't the focus: Virginia's relationship with her friends was so central to the story, and I adored that.

The ending was a bit faster-paced than I would've liked to see, but the resolution itself was satisfying and a good fit for the story, so the pacing isn't a dealbreaker for me.

I definitely recommend this book, but please be aware of the trigger warnings before you dive in, as the material is heavy and may be triggering for some.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Raw and emotional; painfully real. The last summer of highschool for Virginia and her friends starts out normally, hanging out and partying, making the most of their time together... But things quickly fall apart. Poppy, Virginia's closest friend leaves overnight, without a word. Virginia's used to relying on Poppy when things get too hard at home, and she doesn't really know where she stands without her. Poppy's boyfriend, Rumi, has also been left behind without a word. So it just makes sense that they would come together, though it could be seen as troubling pattern forming with Virginia and her friends' boyfriends. As Virginia starts to get closer to Rumi, she also forms a connection with his younger sister, Lyra. When she realizes that Lyra is being groomed by an older man, Virginia has to confront events from her past which she had tried to bury with drugs and alcohol, partying and meaningless sex. Setting this secret free will upend Virginia's life, but may help save Lyra.

Wow. What a visceral story. You see the world through Virginia's eyes, and boy is it hard. From the start, you know that something traumatic has occurred, and she's just struggling to to get by, not prepared to confront it yet. You yearn for her to come forward, but it's so clear why she doesn't feel that she can. As the past is unveiled bit by bit, your heart will break further and further for Virginia. There's so much pain here, but the ending gives you hope. Stories like these are so important, and reading the author's note on this one really helps to solidify the realness of this narrative. Not an easy read, but definitely worth it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

It's amazing, one of my favorites books of the year and probably of the life, it's heartbroken at the same time but it left me with a feeling of hope and friendship.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC.

This book was a hard read in the way it was supposed to be. It tackles hard topics, but in an important way. These topics are important to discuss and read about and are meant to be tough to do. This book was everything I hoped it would be.

What a powerful novel. I was not familiar with Alena Bruzas when I initially request this title, but she has an amazing voice and writing style. She handled difficult topics with grace. Will be recommending this to friends and mature students.

Oh, my god. What a debut. I'm still reeling with this, but one thing I can say with total certainty: this is some of the best writing I have ever read, ever. Lyrical and searing and true in such a beautiful, raw, heart-shredding way. It hurts and hopes and I have a feeling it just might change the world.

Alena Bruzas is an incredible new talent. This is a must-read for everyone.

Virginia hears the gossip about her, the rumours that follow her everywhere she goes about how promiscuous and easy she is. When her best friend Poppy unexpectedly goes away for the summer, she begins to hang out with Poppy's boyfriend, Rumi. Breaking her norm, she does not sleep with him, in respect to Poppy. But as they spend more time together, she begins to realize that she may be falling in love with him. As she grows closer to Rumi, she also grows closer to his younger sister, Lyra, who tells her about a "special friend". As Lyra confides in her more, she begins to feel uncomfortable as the details of this friend are far too familiar to what happened to her.

This book was intense, and so heartbreaking. It covers some difficult topics, such as sexual abuse, grooming, addiction and suicidal ideation. The trauma that Virginia went through as a child, and had to relive in order to help Lyra was hard to read. I know Virginia is meant to be unlikable, but I couldn't help but want to comfort and hug her. She felt like such a real person, and it hurt to watch her turn to alcohol and sex as a coping mechanism because of that trauma. I like how this showed how sexual assault and abuse affects not only the person who it happened to, but also those around them as well and how these effects can last a lifetime. I also loved how it ended on a more hopeful note, when Virginia chooses to speak up.

This does not feel like a debut in the slightest, and I can't wait to read more of this author's work as soon as it comes out.