Always Never Yours

Shouldn't a girl get to star in her own love story?

Seventeen-year-old Megan Harper is about due for her next sweeping romance. It's inevitable—each of her relationships starts with the perfect guy and ends with him falling in love . . . with someone else. But instead of feeling sorry for herself, Megan focuses on pursuing her next fling, directing theater, and fulfilling her dream college's acting requirement in the smallest role possible.

So when she’s cast as Juliet (yes, that Juliet) in her high school’s production, it’s a complete nightmare. Megan’s not an actress, and she’s used to being upstaged—both in and out of the theater. In fact, with her mom off in Texas and her dad remarried and on to baby #2 with his new wife, Megan worries that, just like her exes, her family is moving on without her.

Then she meets Owen Okita, an aspiring playwright inspired by Rosaline from Shakespeare's R+J. A character who, like Megan, knows a thing or two about short-lived relationships. Megan agrees to help Owen with his play in exchange for help catching the eye of a sexy stagehand/potential new boyfriend. Yet Megan finds herself growing closer to Owen, and wonders if he could be the Romeo she never expected. - excerpt from book.

Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka is about a teenage girl finding love in many aspects of her life. With a cute cover attracting your attention, do you think it will be a good book or just meh? Having two authors co-write a book can be quite difficult but this was just seamless as there isn't a sign of different writing style. Each chapter starts with a quote from Shakespeare which made it fun and then we're reading the point of view Megan. I have to say Shakespeare is not the key element of this book but Megan's belief. 

The main character is a complicated person, she may seem easy but the more you read about her interactions with others and her thoughts, you'll discover the real her along with the story progressing. I love how the side characters influence her life and how the bond with another key character forms. You'll definitely love her when she's with this certain character because he brings out a side that not many will see. Her reactions to other's actions were getting more and more realistic as the plot advances which makes it quite a page turner.

For the plot I think it had a good pace, when you feel like things might start to get boring then something happens to capture your attention. I was impressed that a marketed young adult love story had so much more meaning and life challenges that were highlighted. There were some funny moments as well which is my favourite parts of the book. I would conclude that this book is more of a slice of life and targetting issues such as changes, family dynamics and of course feeling not loved. Incorporating real life issues into a cutesy young adult book is simply perfect, there was one feeling of Megan's that I can relate too and seeing how it was overcame was just touching for me. 

Pick this book up as it's not your typical teenage romance, the common cliche love at sight does not happen here which definitely gives it more points. Your main heroine seems like the mundane, typical bitch but I assure you there's always more to a person that you can see. What you can't see, others might be able to. So learning some life lessons is also included in this contemporary genre.