Never Always Sometimes

The Bookworm says… Maybe. Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid is extremely disappointing. Dave and Julia are best friends. Entering their freshman year of high school, they make a list of clichés they would never do- be recognized by a lunch spot, dye their hair extravagant colors, and lots of other typical high school clichés. The most important thing on the list: never date your best friend. With only a few months left of their senior year, Julia and Dave decide to try to do every Never on the list. By doing the Nevers, Dave and Julia break out of their comfort zones and do things they never dreamed of doing. They get into trouble, and they get out of it. Most of all, they learn things about themselves, each other, and their feelings for each other that they wouldn’t know if not for the Nevers.

            I was so disappointed by this book. I was a huge fan of Let’s Get Lost (also by Adi Alsaid), and I had very high hopes for this book. I would go so far as to say that this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2015, and I was greatly let down. The writing was not bad, but it was not remarkable. While the concept is interesting, the way the plot unfolds is lackadaisical.  I got bored with it very fast. There was some notable character development, but some characters could have benefited from a little bit more.

Previously reviewed by Adi Alsaid: Let's Get Lost 

“Human beings are more or less formulas. Pun intended. We are not any one thing that is mathematically provable. We are more or less than we are anything. We are more or less kind, or more or less not. More or less selfish, happy, wise, lonely.”

DISCLAIMER: Review is based off of an unedited proof. Official release date is August 4, 2015.

Let's Get Lost

The Bookworm says... YES. Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid was a gorgeous book. Leila takes off on a 4,268 mile road trip from Louisiana to Alaska, with only her car, some clothes, her wallet, and her credit card. When passing through different places, it's outstanding to see how Leila and her red car effect other peoples lives. At the beginning of her trip, she decides she should probably get her car tuned up so it makes it all the way to Alaska. At the mechanics, she meets Hudson. Hudson takes her on an adventure, showing her all of the hidden treasures of plain old Vicksburg, Mississippi. Their final, late night destination, is Hudson and his friends secret island, the oxbow. They find Hudson's friends there, and join in a game. When the police arrive, Hudson and Leila lie low, not wanting to risk Hudson's pending scholarship. They end up falling asleep on the oxbow, and sleeping in. This caused Hudson to miss his meeting with the dean of University of Mississippi. He blames Leila, and tells her to leave. She continues on her road trip, but doesn't forget about Hudson. She keeps driving, and she comes across a young girl hitchhiking. Leila stops, and picks up a girl we come to know as Bree. Bree is just hitchhiking around the country after running away from her sister, post-death of her parents. Bree's philosophy is to "Seize the Tuesday". So, her and Leila rob a gas station. Then, they sweet talk a valet worker into letting them take a car for a while. This gets them sent to jail, where they are forced to call Bree's sister, Alexis, with whom Bree has not spoken in nine months. Alexis bails them out, and gets into a fight with Bree. Bree attempts to make up with her, and Leila continues on her trip. She is making good progress, until she nearly runs over a drunk boy named Elliot in the middle of the street. He has just been rejected by the love of his life in the middle of his senior prom. Leila takes it upon herself to make sure Elliot get hits perfect movie ending, and learns a few things about herself along the way. When his movie is over, whether the ending was a happy one or not, Leila keeps driving. When she comes out of a rest stop, she finds a sobbing Sonia leaning up against her car. She asks for a ride, and Leila is happy to oblige. Sonia explains that she lost her boyfriend to a heart disease, and then fell in love with his sisters fiancées brother. She feels awful because she isn't over Sam, so she leaves Sams sisters rehearsal dinner and asks Leila for a ride from Canada to the US. While at a rest stop, Jeremiah calls Sonia and tells her the jacket of his she took had the wedding rings in it. Leila and Sonia turn around to bring the ring back, only to find Sonia's passport stolen. Leila tries to go over, but border patrol dubs it a suspicious re-entrance. They then try to run through the woods, but get caught sent back. They manage to get smuggled across, and Leila leaves Sonia to sort out her relationships. When Leila arrives at her destination, she can only hope that the Northern Lights will be as fulfilling as hoped. This novel was absolutely outstanding, and a brilliant debut novel for Adi Alsaid. A must read for all lovers of John Green, Let's Get Lost is a fresh new story. 

"Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named Leila. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone most."