The characters are stock and cliched and I really didn’t like any of them. I especially hated the protagonist, Ivy Rose (how’s that for a cutesy name???) She’s nine months pregnant with a much wanted child, she’s had several miscarriages, BUT she does dumb things that endanger her own and her baby’s health. She’s wimpy and doesn’t stand up for herself. Yup, she’s TSTL (too stupid to live). At one point she goes to an empty creepy house, walks in and proceeds to find a dead body! Oy, I was waiting for Jamie Lee Curtis to come screaming out of the closet. Don’t even get me started on the ending, Ivy (nine month PG!) and dumbwaiter!

The basic plot is, Ivy and her hubby decided to clean out their old Victorian House and have a rummage sale.  Another very pregnant woman comes up to Ivy and introduces herself as Melinda. Does Ivy remember her from high school? Well, sort of – see Melinda has changed. She’s not the schlub  as in high school. Melinda tells Ivy she used to play in the Victorian as a child because her mother worked there. She asks to see the inside of the house . Ivy’s husband, Dave, agrees to take Melinda inside and….no one ever see her come out. Have you figured out the plot? Not too hard, I know.

I was very irritated when Ivy and her best friend, Jody got together. They reminisced about things that happened in high school and….third grade! Please, these women are in their 30’s! Well, maybe they do remember – this all takes place in Massachusetts after all, where people grow up with six friends, don’t want anymore and never leave the area.  Sorry, got off on a rant. I lived in Mass for nine years and could tell you SUCH stories!!

But back to “Never…..” – it just wasn’t very good! I have to tell you, I believe the ONLY reason this book got published is because the “author’s” name is Ephron. “Nut said.

Want to read some GOOD books? Check out my EIGHT published books at www.carlenedater.com – then buy one. You won’t be sorry!