Never Never: The Complete Series
by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher
Published by Hoover Ink
"How odd to be made of flesh, balanced on bone, and filled with a soul you've never met."
Charlize Wynwood and Silas Nash have been best friends since they could walk. They've been in love since the age of fourteen. But as of this morning...they are complete strangers. Their first kiss, their first fight, the moment they fell in love...every memory has vanished.
Charlize and Silas must work together to uncover the truth about what happened to them and why. But the more they learn about the couple they used to be...the more they question why they were ever together to begin with.
Age Recommendation:
14+
Genre:
Mystery
Young Adult
Romance
Never Never: The Complete Series, is a combination of three novellas written by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher. It centers on eighteen year olds Charlie and Silas, childhood best friends, and first and only loves. Until one morning in the middle of class, they both lose their memories. They can remember odd things, like song lyrics, and how to drive a car, but memories of people - of each other - are gone. In order to figure out what is going on, Charlie and Silas need to work together to uncover the truth ... no matter how damaging that truth is.
Oh, ladies and gents. Have you ever read a book, been totally invested in the plot, the character arcs, the twists and turns, only to be let down by the ending? ***cough***Game of Thrones final season***cough*** This is what Never Never did to me. The writing it great. The characters are very human in their reactions to everything that goes on in their lives. The mystery was enthralling, and I found myself developing theory after theory. I was excited to get to the end ... until I wasn't. Don't get me wrong - this story is good. It's different, and interesting. For a young adult book, this 33 year old was entertained. My only issue with this book was the ending, and a couple of clues Charlie and Silas dug up that we never get answers to. Some weird things that happened that ended up being insignificant. Like ---------spoilers---------> why was there mud and blood on Silas's bedsheets the night before his memories disappeared? We never get an answer to this I don't believe. And that whole thing with Charlie's father's mistress keeping Charlie captive and drugged for days, and just chalk it up to whatshername punishing Charlie for how her daughter was being treated? Are we supposed to ignore the fact that this woman has a room SET UP, and drugs available to do this? And how did she know about their memory problems? I mean, if it was just an attempt to throw readers off, I feel like there are more settle ways to do this. The plotline with the mistress is a huge plot hole. <----------------
Despite the plot holes and that ending -------spoiler--------> I mean, the universe is punishing them for breaking up because they are soulmates? Really? <----------------, this story is good. While I enjoyed the mystery, and theorizing over the why, I really loved their character growth. The more they learned about themselves, the more they discovered things they didn't like about themselves. The more they wanted to change. Their memory loss was like pressing a giant reset button, and all the crap that happened in their lives that shaped them into who they were, disappeared. I liked it. But that ending? Really? UGH!
Silas challenging himself to get Charlie to fall in love with him again
Silas taking pictures of their "firsts"
Silas getting handsy because he can't see lol
Their "first kiss"
Their letters
Silas says
Silas and Charlie's day of falling in love. "Get in the pothole, Silas." LOL
Their memories coming back, remembering their first kiss
How odd to be made of flesh, balanced on bone, and filled with a soul you’ve never met. Charlie spits out her drink with a burst of laughter. I glance over at her, and her smile is huge. It lights up her entire face, somehow even making the brown of her eyes seem less dark. I may not remember anything about her, but I would bet her smile was my favorite part of her. Silas: “I was wondering how the old Silas ever broke through your hard exterior.”
She laughs.
Charlie: “What makes you think he did?”
I would smile again, but I don’t think I’ve stopped.
Silas: “You saw the video, Charlie. You loved him.”
I pause for a second, then rephrase.
Silas: “Me. You loved me.”
Charlie: “She loved you. I’m not even sure if I like you yet.”
I shake my head with a soft laugh.
Silas: “I don’t know myself very well, but I must have been extremely competitive. Because I just took that as a challenge.”
Charlie: “Took what as a challenge? You think you can make me like you again?”
I look over at her and give my head the slightest shake.
Silas: “No. I’m gonna make you fall in love with me again.” Charlie: “You’re talking about us like we’re body invaders.”
Silas closes his eyes and tilts his head back.
Silas: “You have no idea how many times a day I think about invading your body.” We stand among a group of onlookers, and Silas reaches for my hand. For the first time, I don’t pull away from him. I let his warm fingers intertwine with mine. With his free hand, he takes a picture of the violinist, then he looks down at me.
Charlie: “So I can remember the first time I held your hand.” Charlie: “Oh, God,”
she says, turning toward me. She fists my shirt in her hand and presses her forehead against my arm.
Charlie: “That guy just flashed me,”
she says, laughing into the sleeve of my shirt.
Charlie: “Silas, I just saw my first penis!” Silas: “We’re branded. You and me. We are so in love, Charlie. You feeling it yet? Do I make your heart go pitter patter?”
Charlie: “These aren’t our tattoos,”
. I shake my head.
Silas: “Branded,”
I repeat. I raise my index finger as if I’m gesturing over her shoulder.
Silas: “Right there. Permanently. Forever.”
Charlie: “God. Shut up and eat your damn burger.”
I eat it. I eat the entire thing with a shit-eating grin. Silas: “What is it?”
Her eyes narrow.
Charlie: “I don’t want you to make a smart-ass comment in response to what I’m about to suggest.”
Silas: “No, Charlie. We aren’t eloping tonight. The tattoos are enough commitment for now.” Silas: “I don’t care what our real first kiss was. That’s the one I want to remember.” Never forget that I was your first real kiss. Never forget that you’ll be my last. And never stop loving me between all of them. Never stop, Charlie. Never forget. Charlie: “So what’s the deal with us? Are we like…in love and shit?”
I laugh out loud for the first time since yesterday morning.
Silas: “Yeah. Apparently I’ve been in love and shit with you for eighteen years now.” Charlie: “Who wants to spend their life not knowing who they are?”
Silas: “I could spend every day getting to know you all over again, Charlie, and I don’t think I’d get sick of it.” Charlie: “If this is true…you only have thirty-six hours to make me fall in love with you.”
I don’t know if we’re on to something, or if we’re about to spend the remainder of our time chasing a dead end, but I smile, because I’m willing to sacrifice the next thirty-six hours for this theory. I walk over to the bed and fall onto it beside her. We’re both staring up at the ceiling when I say,
Silas: “Well, Charlie Baby. We better get started.”
She throws an arm over her eyes and groans.
Charlie: “I don’t know you very well, but I can already tell you’re gonna have fun with this.”
I smile, because she’s right.
Silas: “It’s late. We should try to get some sleep, because your heart is going to get a serious workout tomorrow.” Passage from novel: “IT MADE ME WANT TO MARRY HER! MADE ME WANT TO BUY HER A MAGIC AIRPLANE AND FLY HER AWAY TO A PLACE WHERE NOTHING BAD COULD EVER HAPPEN! MADE ME WANT TO POUR RUBBER CEMENT ALL OVER MY CHEST AND THEN LAY DOWN ON TOP OF HER SO THAT WE’D BE STUCK TOGETHER, AND SO IT WOULD HURT LIKE HELL IF WE EVER TRIED TO TEAR OURSELVES APART!” Silas: “Fate is the magnetic pull of our souls toward the people, places, and things we belong with.” Charlie: “Where’s my book?”
I hoist the backpack over my shoulder.
Silas: “I didn’t buy that book for you. I bought it for me.”
She huffs and follows after me as I make my way down the street.
Charlie: “That’s not a good move, Silas. You’re supposed to be thoughtful. Not selfish. I want to fall in love with you, not become irritated with you.”
I laugh.
Silas: “Why do I feel like love and irritation go hand in hand with you?” Charlie: “Trust your gut. Not your heart, because it’s a people pleaser, and not your brain, because it relies too heavily on logic.”
He nods slowly, never taking his eyes off of me.
Silas: “Charlize, it’s really sexy when you get deep and say stuff like that. So unless you want to play another round of Silas Says, you might want to lay off the deep thinking.”