Happy Thursday my lovely readers. First post of the week as I’ve pretty much escaped in books which I’ve loved. Today I’m reviewing a book I finished last night, Forever Ends on Friday by Justin A. Reynolds. I was on blog tour on Monday but I hadn’t quite finished and I wanted to do the review justice. This is an amazing, surprising YA contemporary. So before my review, here is a little more about the book.
Forever Ends on Friday by Justin A. Reynolds Published by Macmillan Children's Books on January 21, 2021
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Magical Realism
Amazon | Book Depository | Waterstones
Goodreads
Justin A. Reynolds, author of Opposite of Always, delivers another smart, funny, and powerful stand-alone YA contemporary novel, with a speculative twist in which Jamal’s best friend is brought back to life after a freak accident . . . but they only have a short time together before he will die again.
Jamal’s best friend, Q, doesn’t know he’s about to die . . . again.
He also doesn’t know that Jamal tried to save his life, rescuing him from drowning only to watch Q die later in the hospital. Even more complicated, Jamal and Q haven’t been best friends in two years—not since Jamal’s parents died in a car accident, leaving him and his sister to carry on without them. Grief swallowed Jamal whole, and he blamed Q for causing the accident.
But what if Jamal could have a second chance? An impossible chance that would grant him the opportunity to say goodbye to his best friend? A new health-care technology allows Q to be reanimated—brought back to life like the old Q again. But there’s a catch: Q will only reanimate for a short time before he dies . . . forever.
Jamal is determined to make things right with Q, but grief is hard to shake. And he can’t tell Q why he’s suddenly trying to be friends with him again. Because Q has no idea that he died, and Q’s mom is not about to let anyone ruin the miracle by telling him. How can Jamal fix his friendship with Q if he can’t tell him the truth?CAWPILE - 9.14
My Review
He blames his former best friend Quinn for causing the crash that took away his parents. Two years later, Jamal is pulling out Q’s body after an accident out to sea, only to find he passes away at the hospital. Jamal along with Q’s mum, Mrs B are bereft, their lives torn apart. They are then approached by the Centre at hospital, who can reanimate, bring back loved ones to give them time to say goodbyes, to have extra time. Stunned, Jamal doesn’t want to have this toxicity and anger between each other. It’s his opportunity to make things right even only for short time.
Our MC, Jamal needs control in his life he wants to blame everything and defy everyone for his parents death. But he wouldn’t be who is without the fight of his sister Whit, his girlfriend Autumn and most importantly his best friend Q. So this second chance, this extra time gives him the strength and redemption to be one with himself. All of them have this strength that is hard to explain. It’s… extraordinary. That’s why I really love these cast of characters, it was like I already knew them on some level. It’s like you’re inside their heads, like you there with part and you’re part of that family.
This book puts a whole new meaning to a YA Contemporary. This book reminded me strangely of Soulmates by Holly Bourne. You all know I love her. The magical realism and science-fiction woven into the premise really sets this book apart. Whilst it isn’t the focus of the book, the outcome of the reanimation of Q really heightens the characters and the emotions of the book. It’s like this shining light that puts everything in perspective especially for Jamal.
During the whole of the book, it’s like you’re heart it’s beating faster because you know the end, it’s inevitable but it’s all the emotions that really get to you. Friendship and family being the biggest that makes you heart swell. I knew this book was going to be emotional. It just simply overwhelms you. I haven’t cried this hard from a book in a while and I always think that at the skill of creating such realistic cast of characters and plot line. Justin’s has a poignant and original way of writing, it conveys such emotion, both happy and sad. I loved the banter between the characters, which is why I whizzed through this book and couldn’t stop reading it.
I have no problem saying this is a thought-provoking, emotional and truly exceptional YA novel that will make you think go you own life and making every moment count. This is my first Justin A. Reynolds book and I will certainly be bumping up Opposite of Always to my TBR. I urge you all to read this book, as it certainly took me by surprise as a reader and emotionally so make sure you bring those tissues.
Thank you to MacMillan Children’s Books/MyKindaBook for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
