Review: Ever by Jessa Russo

Title: Ever
Author: Jessa Russo
Series: Book One in the Ever Trilogy
Published By: Curiosity Quills (Oct. 1, 2012)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Paranormal
My Rating: 4 Stars!

Goodreads Description:
Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.

Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.

Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.

Some girls lose their hearts to love.

Some girls lose their minds.

Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.

My Review:

I have to start off by mentioning the cover of this book because it is simply gorgeous! If the synopsis wouldn't have lured me in, this cover most certainly would have. I couldn't help but be drawn into the ethereal beauty and mystery of the girl and the faint ghostly outline of a boy.

Thankfully this just wasn't a pretty cover, the story inside was just as fabulous as the alluring cover of the outside.

And while this is a story about a girl and a ghost, this isn't your typical YA ghost love story. It is so much more. This book really took me by surprise. I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into when I started this but what a great surprise it was. It is different and original and completely compelling.

Ever (what a fabulous name!) was a great character. She wasn't perfect, in fact she was downright awkward and clumsy at times and made some serious mistakes along the way and yet some how, that just made me like her all the more.

Frankie was amazing. I love how he called Ever Doll, something about it was just so sweet and made me smile every single time he said it to her. I apparently have a thing for guys giving girls pet names.

Toby was just as wonderful as Frankie, but not in the same way. He too was full of hotness and was slightly mysterious but you could tell that he really cared for Ever and wanted to be with her.

I don't always like love triangles, in fact I get tired of them but I didn't mind it in this one. Yes the love and emotions going on in this one were like being trapped in a tornado, Ever bouncing back and forth between who she liked more, who she was loyal too and who she wanted to love, but again, it just worked.

This really was one of those love triangles were it wasn't easy picking a favorite and I didn't envy Ever at all.

I even liked Ari, I think she was a fun addition. A little bit of the evil naughty that this storyline needed. The evil that you love to hate. You can sympathize with her a little because, she was after all in love, but at the same time, she is so nasty you just can't quite bring yourself to like her either.

Greg and Jessie were fun and great secondary characters. I loved Jessie, she was a great friend to Ever and always had her back.

This really was a fun new take on souls and ghosts and other things I won't get into because I don't want to ruin anything for anyone.

There were a lot more twists and turns in this than what I was expecting and the ending does leave you hanging but it also leaves you really anxious for the next installment because you want to know what happens next. What it means for Ever and Frankie and Toby. What Ari's bomb shell means for them all really.

I think Russo has created a wonderful story with loveable characters and I can't wait to see where she takes it from here.

I think this is a fabulous debut novel for her and what I am sure will be a very fun trilogy that I can see lots of people really enjoying and loving.