Never Let You Go

Never Let You Go

Emma Carlson Berne

229 pages

Released: December 4, 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: swapped for

★★★★★

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Never Let You Go would be the perfect teen suspense movie.  It's got a charming setting - beautiful summer weather on an idyllic farm where a bunch of young adults are spending their summer working and learning - topped off with suspense, deceit, and one very, very unhinged young lady.  Megan has been invited by Anna to work with her on her uncle's farm this summer.  This is a relief to Megan considering the fall out the two girls had a year ago when Megan kissed Anna's boyfriend.  She's spent the year trying to win Anna back as a friend and now things are going to be back to normal.

Or are they?  Anna's met a boy at the farm whom she's falling for.  She wants Jordan more than anything, but despite her plentiful advances, Jordan seems to have eyes for Megan and she for him.  Things around the farm start going wrong quickly, too, when a newborn foal keeps escaping the barn... and that's just the beginning.

It was clear from the beginning of the novel that Anna was a little bit unhinged.  Clearly she hadn't gotten over what happened the year before and I knew it was only a matter of time before she did something nuts.  When Anna really did start to lose it, I was completely enthralled with the book.  Turning the pages quickly, I couldn't wait to see what she would pull next.  By the end of the book, she had be shocked.  I mean, I knew she was crazy, but I didn't know she was that crazy!  And the last three words of the book really got me.  Really got me.

One part of the plot I wish had been developed more was Anna's relationship with her aunt and uncle.  She despises her aunt, but is overly friendly towards her uncle.  I kept thinking there was something salacious going on behind the scenes, but nothing ever came of it.  But that's okay, the ending of the novel completely threw me for a loop and shocked me, so how could I not love this book?  I may or may not have hugged it when I finished.  (Hint: I did.)

Five stars!  If you take a look at the ratings on Goodreads you'll notice not a lot of people have read this book, let alone given it five stars (19 out of 165 as of this post going live) but I cannot understand why!  This book was a quick, easy read that takes place during the summer, campfire and barn dance included - so to me it's the perfect read for this time of year, but on top of that it was utterly suspenseful and captivating.  I was on the edge of my seat just waiting for Anna to become completely unhinged.  I really do recommend this one, go check it out!