Parents' Guide to

I Never

By Mary Cosola, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

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

Book Laura Hopper Romance 2017
I Never Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
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Kids say (3):

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.

Book Details

  • Author: Laura Hopper
  • Genre: Romance
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Publication date: November 7, 2017
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 16 - 18
  • Number of pages: 304
  • Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
  • Last updated: February 2, 2018

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