Never Always Sometimes

July 13, 2015
Upon entering high school, best friends Julia and Dave wanted, more than anything, to avoid becoming cliché. To ensure that they have an "original high school experience," they created a list of things they must never do, like skinny dipping or going on a "life-changing" road trip. But now it's senior year, and they wonder what they might have missed out on. Julia and Dave decide that it's time to break their own rules and try, if only once, all the things they vowed not to do. Much to their surprise, they have some fun drinking at parties and dying their hair, and they discover that some classmates they had previously dismissed as stereotypes are worth knowing. Complications arise when David starts falling for a very conventional girl, and Julia simultaneously discovers that her feelings for David go deeper than friendship. Exploring universal feelings of friendship and love, Alsaid (Let's Get Lost) offers a colorful depiction of two teens discovering what they have in common with others. Their escapades and realizations will evoke laughter and empathy. Ages 14âup. Agency: Alloy Entertainment.

Starred review from May 1, 2015
Two best friends discover love during their last few months of high school. Dave and Julia have always been thick as thieves. Before starting high school, the pair concocted a list of things they promised to never do in order to fight becoming high school cliches. Now it's the end of their senior year, and Julia has decided to take out the Nevers list and break the rules, one at a time. Meanwhile, Dave has decided to set aside his longtime crush on Julia and date the sporty Gretchen. Sparks fly, hearts are broken, and love is found in this charming rose-colored depiction of the last few months of school. Peppered throughout this love story are amusing asides involving substitute-teacher seduction and prom escapades, but its beating heart lies in the friendship and romance between Dave and Julia, a pair of teens who are genuine, emotional, and sometimes too clever for their own good. There is a kernel of truth in every cliche, and Alsaid cracks the teen-lit trope of friends becoming lovers wide open, exposing a beautiful truth inside. He also perfectly captures the golden glow of senioritis, a period when teens are bored and excited and wistful and nostalgic all at once. Everything is possible in this handful of weeks, including making up for squandered time. A good romance is hard to come by. This is a great one. (Fiction. 12-16)

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July 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Before they started high school, best friends Dave and Julia made a list of things they'd never do: never go on an epic, life-changing road trip, never dye their hair a color found in the rainbow, and so on. But four years later, high school is about to come to an end and Dave and Julia decide to tackle every single item on the list. They learn that parties and running for prom king can actually be fun, though dyeing your hair can go either way. But while Dave has been violating one item on their list-"never pine silently after someone for the entirety of high school"-all along, someone else has started to catch his eye. Aside from a cringe-worthy subplot when Julia attempts to cross "never hook up with a teacher" off the list, this fun romp will appeal to students looking to push beyond the edges of their own comfort zones. VERDICT For fans of Stephanie Perkins, Jenny Han, and Jennifer E. Smith.-Stephanie Klose, School Library Journal

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2015
Grades 9-12 Alsaid's sophomore effort is every bit as effortlessly readable as his popular debut, Let's Get Lost (2014). Before beginning high school, best friends Dave and Julia create a list of cliches they plan to avoid: never run for prom king, never hook up with a teacher, etc. But after they get accepted to college, a slump sets in, and they decide to mix things up by tackling items on the list. For the characters, the challenges lead to some unexpected results. Readers, on the other hand, will likely anticipate most of the plot's turns, especially as Julia and Dave stumble recklessly into Never number 10: never date your best friend. Though a subplot with Julia stalking her math teacher strains credibility, Alsaid deftly handles Dave's complicated and longstanding feelings for Julia. The clever banter between the two best friends, along with pitch-perfect emotional resonance, makes this book more enduring in spite of its predictability. With all the fun of a classic teen movie, this one should fly off the shelves. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Alsaid's debut received wide acclaim, and he's getting a major promotional plan for his follow-up, including a tour.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

March 15, 2015

Normally, I don't preview YA titles, but Alsaid merits attention. Featured at LJ's PLA Author Party last year, he became a big favorite at BookExpo America and beyond with his charming debut novel, Let's Get Lost. His new book, one of the publisher's biggest of 2015, also has crossover potential. Best friends Dave and Julia make a list of all the cliched things you should never do in high school, e.g., never dye your hair a rainbow color and never date your best friend. Easy for free-spirited Julia to say, but Dave secretly cherishes her. So what happens when Julia impishly suggests that they try everything on the list?

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.