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A review by melbsreads
Never Forget You by Jamila Gavin
adventurous
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Trigger warnings: war, antisemitism, death, racism, death of a loved one, torture, espionage, gun violence, blood, concentration camps, animal death
The second half of this was fantastic. It was gripping and tense and I really enjoyed seeing the vastly different ways in which the girls live out the war. That being said, there was absolutely no reason for this book to be a fraction under 500 pages long, and basically everything that happens before 1940 - which was a good 150-odd pages of the book - didn't contribute much to the story other than showing us the girls becoming friends. And honestly? That could have been done in flashbacks or "do you remember?" conversations.
I also ultimately found myself wishing that this were JUST Noor's story or JUST Vera's story etc etc. I honestly think I would have liked to read four interconnected 200 page novels about these four girls than one 500 page book. There were extensive time jumps and I feel like the overall plot and character development suffered as a result.
The second half of this was fantastic. It was gripping and tense and I really enjoyed seeing the vastly different ways in which the girls live out the war. That being said, there was absolutely no reason for this book to be a fraction under 500 pages long, and basically everything that happens before 1940 - which was a good 150-odd pages of the book - didn't contribute much to the story other than showing us the girls becoming friends. And honestly? That could have been done in flashbacks or "do you remember?" conversations.
I also ultimately found myself wishing that this were JUST Noor's story or JUST Vera's story etc etc. I honestly think I would have liked to read four interconnected 200 page novels about these four girls than one 500 page book. There were extensive time jumps and I feel like the overall plot and character development suffered as a result.