Book Review : Never Enough by Denise Jaden

Release date: July 10th 2012

Loann’s always wanted to be popular and pretty like 
her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend starts 
flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it 
takes to feel special…even if that means
betraying her sister.

But as Loann slips inside Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s quest for perfection is all-consuming and comes at a 
dangerous price. 

Never Enough is the sophomore novel from Contemporary YA author Denise Jaden.  Never Enough is the coming-of-age story of Loann, a junior in high school who wants nothing more than to be like her pretty, popular older sister. As Loann starts to see her sister through a new lens she learns Claire’s life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

The book has a powerful story to tell and gets progressively more intense as we learn about Claire’s eating disorder and the sister’s relationship. Jaden is a vivid storyteller and at points, you can feel the tangibility of the strain between the sisters.
 Jaden’s depictions of Loann’s insecurities felt real and authentic. I like how through photography Loann is able to find herself a niche where she is comfortable. However, I had a hard time relating to Loann I wasn’t able to see her existence outside of the people who came into her life.

Aside from Loann’s issues with her sister, we also follow Loann as she begins a relationship with her new school friend, Marcus. At first I wasn’t a big fan of their storyline, it felt to cliched. However, it grew on me as it went along and I found myself becoming very sympathetic for Marcus.

Never Enough is a great addition to the contemporary genre. It tells the all-important story of perceptions vs. reality, losing control and the things love can and can’t save us from.

*Thank you to Denise Jaden for allowing us to read an advanced copy

 

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