Like It Never Happened by Emily Adrian | Book Review

Like It Never Happened by Emily Adrian 

I got this picture of the cover off of Amazon and I don't know why the top of the cover is on the bottom

Reading Group: High School

Personal Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: Stereotypes, sexuality, and destructive rumors collide in this smart YA novel for fans of Sara Zarr’s Story of a Girl, Siobhan Vivian’s The List, and E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.

When Rebecca Rivers lands the lead in her school’s production of The Crucible, she gets to change roles in real life, too. She casts off her old reputation, grows close with her four rowdy cast-mates, and kisses the extremely handsome Charlie Lamb onstage. Even Mr. McFadden, the play’s critical director, can find no fault with Rebecca.

Though “The Essential Five” vow never to date each other, Rebecca can’t help her feelings for Charlie, leaving her both conflicted and lovestruck. But the on and off-stage drama of the cast is eclipsed by a life-altering accusation that threatens to destroy everything…even if some of it is just make believe.

Cover: The cover of this book show a boy and a girl sitting on bleachers.  This doesn't really have anything to do with the actual book except that the boy and girl could be Rebecca and Charlie and the bleachers may represent high school, but they didn't even go to a normal high school so I think it would have made more sense if they were sitting auditorium seats.

My Review: I gave this book 3 out of 5 Stars because I didn't hate it and I thought it was really well written, but it didn't do a whole lot for me.  I didn't find myself wanting to sit down and read it all in one go.  To me it felt like everything happened and was dealt with very quickly and it could have been drawn out a little bit more and maybe had a few more plot twists in it.  It also creeps me out when people have actual crushes on their teachers.  Like acknowledging that your teacher is attractive is one thing, but a planning on kissing him is weird to me, especially if he was in school with your sister.  There's an age gap between me and my siblings and the idea of kissing one of their friends or even someone in their grade is so weird to me.  But I know that's a personal preference thing, so I understand how people could give this book a 5 out of 5.  I really wanted Charlie and Rebecca to work out and I was so sad when he turned out to be a jerk.  However, I did enjoy the storyline with her sister, but again I wish there was more to it.  There was so much Rebecca could have learned about her sister and her life in New York and California before she came back home.  Obviously there was the twist with her running away to be with her girlfriend, but that's why she went to New York.  She went to California when they broke up, but it's been ten years since Mary's been back.  I wish her artwork was talked about a little bit more.  Part of me felt like Rebecca could have been an only child and the story wouldn't have changed much.  Mary's story was interesting, but it didn't really have a huge effect on the actual storyline.  So in general, I liked this book, but I think there could have been more to it to make it more interesting. 

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