Isle of Ever takes the idea of a game to win an inheritance and moves to the next level–adding in a fascinating fantastical element that brings in history as well. This genre-bending aspect of this book makes it truly a stand out in this type of book.

I also loved the cast of characters. Everyone was so interesting and played their perfect part in the story. Benny, specifically, is a character that all readers will connect with because she truly just wants to do right by her mom who has struggled and tried the best for her. It is a lot of pressure for her, but it adds suspense to the read because you are rooting for her the whole time!

Isle of Ever by Jen Calonita is a delightful mystery with fantastical elements and readers will be clamoring for book 2 because this one ends with a cliffhanger!
Everly Benedict, or Benny, would love nothing more than to settle down in one place and not worry about paying the bills - and one day, the answer to her hopes and dreams lands right in front of her. Benny is the heir to a huge fortune, including a beautiful house, but there's a catch - she has just two weeks to locate clues left to her by her ancestor Evelyn, which will lead to a mysterious island that isn't on any maps! Benny gradually allows two new friends to help her in her quest, as she learns more about her community and her family through the discovery of each clue.
Benny is a character readers will be rooting for, with her clever mind and kind heart. The action is fast-paced, and full of twists and turns. Many of the clues will be picked up on by astute readers, but just enough to make it a fun read.
I'm excitedly awaiting book 2 to find out what happens next!

An amazing mystery action thriller! a treasure hunt, a series of clues and a race against time :) I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Isle of Ever by Jen Calonita is the first book about Everly "Benny" Benedict who has two weeks to find a disappearing island or lose an inheritance. Benny has to follow clues in her ancestor's diary and find the island, in the process, finding friends to help her. The mystery is engaging and the characters are well drawn. The only thing wrong with the book is the cliffhanger ending with no sequel in sight!

This book has all the good hallmarks of a fantasy mystery. There is someone who can see the future, immortals, a crafty intelligent lead, a high stakes game and characters you will root for. This is a good middle school read, for those that like to follow clues and play games.
There are only a few downsides for me. Since it is part of a series it ends on a cliff hanger, you will find yourself dangling at the end. You may also need a notebook or board to track what twists and turns are happening and who the suspects are. This book would therefore be frustrating for younger readers, even though it might appeal to them. I would not recommend it to anyone younger than 5th grade as even advanced readers might have some struggle with understanding this plot.

Benny wants a place to call home and to not have to worry about bills needing to be paid. Out of the blue a lawyer finds her and says she has a large inheritance but only if she plays a game. She unravels mysterious circumstances from when her grandmother was her age.

This book had a whole lot of nothing going on leading up to a very big cliffhanger to get you to read book two. It was very annoying. The characters were a bit annoying...I know they're kids, but the seemed sketchy, and the situation with the main character and her mom moving to a new place and mom dating a new guy immediately was weird.

I can't say enough about this book! I loved every word from first to last page! Treasure, Lost Island, Pirate, Wonderful Characters and nail biting suspense! Fast past and I devoured it! One of the best books I have read in along time. This was my first by Jen Calonita, but it will not be my last!!! I can't wait for more! Thanks to #Netgalley for the ARC!!!!
By the way five.....ten stars is just not enough

Jen Calonita does it again. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend to patrons that come into the library.

This review is based on an ARC.

I was hooked from the start. It stacked up with other mysterious inheritance game books, such as The Inheritance Games. I was rooting for her the whole time, and the stakes felt real. I love the nods to classic adventure literature, such as Treasure Island.

Isle of Ever is an exciting adventure and mystery with so many twist and turns! Told through journal entries from a past timeline and the current timeline of Benny unraveling a mystery left just for her, this book was impossible to put down. Jen Calonita builds out both timelines and writes such intriguing characters that are still relatable. This is a must have for my middle school library and I cannot stress how much I need a sequel right now!

The Isle of Ever is an adventure story with hidden treasure and a puzzle to solve that jumps in time between the 1820s and today. It is an okay book, but there are other books I've enjoyed more.

The characters feel one dimensional, the adults are not at all concerned about their children running around the town, the timeline feels both rushed and inconsequential, and the finding of the clues is too easy.

This is written for kids and maybe kids will be more forgiving than me. This is the first book in the series, but I'm not really interested in reading more.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Young Readers for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is such a good book! This is a very good author and this new book of hers did not disappoint. A must read for adventure and mystery lovers! I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Young Readers for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is such a good book! This is a very good author and this new book of hers did not disappoint. A must read for adventure and mystery lovers! I can’t wait for the next one!

This super fun mystery book is about Benny, a girl who is often very lucky but sometimes, not so much. The story starts with Benny and her mom living in a small apartment above a diner, trying to make ends meet. A stranger comes to the diner and explains that he has been trying to find Benny for quite some time because she is the heir to a fortune (a really big fortune), but she only has two weeks to solve the mystery. So she and her mom take off to live on the estate that she will inherit to try to solve the mystery. This is fun ride, with the action split between the present time and 200 years in the past. There are pirates and treasure and magical islands. I think the kids are going to love this one. Strongly recommend for middle grade libraries.

Isle of Ever is another magical, fast-paced adventure from Jen Calonita—an author who continues to deliver the perfect blend of heart, humor, and high-stakes storytelling. Everly “Benny” Benedict is an instantly lovable heroine: clever, determined, and just the right amount of skeptical when she finds out she's the heir to a mysterious fortune. But of course, nothing comes easy—especially not when curses, vanishing islands, and a two-week ticking clock are involved.

Calonita’s signature charm shines in the book’s whimsical world-building and clever clues that lead Benny on a treasure-hunt-style quest. The plot moves briskly, and the mystery at the heart of the story unfolds with just enough twists to keep readers guessing without becoming overly complex. The stakes feel real, but never overwhelming, making this a perfect middle-grade read for fans of adventure, magic, and fierce but relatable protagonists.

What elevates Isle of Ever is its deeper message about family, legacy, and bravery—not just in the face of danger, but in figuring out who you are and what you're willing to fight for. While some side characters could have been more fleshed out, Benny’s voice is so strong and endearing that she carries the story with ease.

If you’re already a fan of Jen Calonita, this latest book won’t disappoint. It’s clever, empowering, and full of just enough mystery and magic to make you believe in legends—and in yourself.

Jen Calonita’s THE ISLE OF EVER is a fun, fast-paced mystery with plenty of intrigue. Benny and her family are shocked to learn that Benny will be the recipient of a large inheritance that includes an elegant estate—if she can follow the clues left by a relative long ago to solve a riddle. The catch is the deadline for solving the riddle is fast approaching with the arrival of a rare blood orange moon. Told from Benny’s point of view, with old journal entries and news articles interspersed throughout that bring readers to the past, readers follow Benny’s quest to unravel the clues with a pair of new friends she meets while grappling with the puzzle.

The blend of mystery with both historical fiction and magical realism is well paced. Clever puzzles highlight Benny’s problem-solving skills and persistence while also showing her internal struggle with allowing others to help her out. A stunning cliffhanger will have readers anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next installment.

I really enjoyed this story! It was a fun and refreshing mystery that hooked me in right away. The riddles had me trying to figure out the clue or location right along with Benny and her friends. I loved the ending and am on the edge of my seat for the next book. I’m sorry this one sat on my TBR for as long as it did because I inhaled it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the published for an advance electronic copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

LOVED this smart adventure, part historical fiction, part fantasy. Perfect for the puzzle addict, and tailor-made for fun summer reading.

This is such a wonderful and thrilling book! Perfect for middle school readers who enjoy mystery, thrills and adventure. Strong, captivating characters make the book easy to read and the great plot makes it impossible to put down. It was easy to get lost inside the story for my tween reader and to see the joy in reading through her eyes is magical. Such a well thought and well written book. These days middle schoolers need to read books the keep them engaged and still spark their imagination and this book hits that mark! Cannot wait for the sequel!