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I Never

Name: I Never
Item: I Never
Rating: 3
Author: Mary Cosola

Book review by

Mary Cosola, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 16+

(i)

Steamy teen romance is heavy on sex, light on story.

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Kids say

age 14+

Based on 1 review

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Educational Value

Issues around teen sex are discussed in depth in a nonjudgmental way by all the other characters in the book. Details on track and field events, training, and strategy figure into the story. Information on how high school debate teams work.

Positive Messages

Much of I Never centers on the importance of open and honest communication in all relationships: family, friends, and boyfriends and girlfriends. Other messages include: Learn to love yourself. If you feel jealous, it probably stems from your own insecurities. Friends should always be there for each other, even when times get tough.

Positive Role Models & Representations

All the characters are good people. Conflicts happen, but the characters address them in a good, productive way. Janey is a good friend who learns a lot about herself over the course of the story. Her friends want what's best for her, even though they sometimes have disagreements and jealousies. Luke is a positive teen male role model: respectful, mature, and kind. Janey's parents are determined to keep their divorce respectful and are highly attuned to Janey's mental well-being.

Violence

Sex

Sex, sexual longing, and attraction is a major part of the book. Lots of frank, sex-positive discussions about sex: how long to wait, being in a committed relationship vs. hooking up, using protection, the actual mechanics of sex, and the emotional effects of sex. The descriptions of sex, making out, and kissing are vivid and detailed, and there are several extended sex scenes. Portrayals of what girls do to make themselves attractive to boys, including clothing, hair, makeup, and flirting behavior. Discussion of how hot various boys and girls are physically.

Language

Little swearing in the book: "s--tty," "crap," "ass," "God," "bitch," and "boobs."

Consumerism

Products and media mentioned for scene setting, including Sprite, Toyota RAV4 and FJ Cruiser, Jeep, Nike, Converse, Reebok, Instagram, FaceTime, iPad, Starbucks, Gatorade, Call of Duty, Cheetos, Hot Tamales, M&M's, 7-Eleven, Rocky Mountain Candy Factory, Suave, and Dove.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Parents shown having a glass of wine at dinner and putting out champagne for a party. Reference to a teen having a beer on a trip.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that I Never tells the story of a teen girl's first romance and sexual experiences. Despite being a track and debate star, high school junior Janey King has always flown under the social radar. When a popular and handsome boy asks her out, her world shifts dramatically. Much of the book deals with sex: how long to wait, what it's like, using protection, and how it changes a relationship. The story has many highly explicit descriptions of sexual encounters. It often treads the line between romance and erotica, and it's definitely for older teens. All the sex discussed and depicted is consensual and safe. Some readers might take issue with Janey discovering her beauty only when she sees it from a guy's point of view. The characters hardly swear -- "s--tty" is used once -- and don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. Janey's parents are going through a separation, so some of the story highlights the ways divorce affects families. The book offers many discussion points regarding sex, family communication, and how friendships change as teens mature and introduce other people into their lives.

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Teen, 14 years old Written byMayberry June 17, 2018

age 14+

I Never

Very sexual. Good story line.

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What's the story?

In the teen romance I NEVER, Janey King's nice, unassuming life undergoes a lot of change quickly when her parents tell her they're separating and a cute, popular boy starts paying attention to her. A junior in high school, Janey has her hands full focusing on track, debate, keeping up her grades, doing well on her standardized and AP tests, and hanging with her friends. When she makes room in her life for her boyfriend Luke, her friendships and her relationship with her parents are put to the test. And because Luke's the first boy she's ever dated, they encounter some romantic problems along the way. For one, her insecurities threaten her relationship with him. The biggest issue for Janey is sex. Is she ready? What will it be like? Things get hot and heavy quickly as her romance with Luke blossoms. She learns a lot about herself as she tackles these life changes in the few months between winter and summer break.

Is it any good?

Explicit teen sex features heavily in this otherwise light high school romance: a fast, fun read with a relatable main character in Janey. Unfortunately, most of the other characters in I Never are drawn in broad strokes and don't have a lot of depth. Author Laura Hopper does an excellent job of presenting the issue of sex in a positive way. Kids and adults discuss the pros and cons of having sex, the value of being in a committed relationship vs. hooking up, and abstinence. The sex in the book is extremely graphic, so much so that it makes the blandness of the rest of the book stand out in comparison.

On a positive note, Janey grows as a character through the course of the story. She learns how complicated adulthood can be, improves her communication with her parents, and learns how to be a better friend.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the way teen sex is discussed in I Never. Books and movies portray a range of approaches, from open and supportive conversations with parents to disapproving anger and name-calling. Do any of these portrayals seem realistic to you?
How much of your personal life do you share with your family? What do you think are fair lines between total honesty and privacy? Would you be comfortable talking to your parents about sex?
Do you find balancing friendships, dating, activities, and school a challenge? How do you deal with it?