Book Review: Everywhere, Always by Jennifer Ann Shore
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Everywhere, Always by Jennifer Ann Shore from the author herself in exchange for a fair and honest review. No lie, I’ve been dying to read a @Shorely for ages. However, my penchant for reading NYC books has kept her books a bit out of reach for me. Lo and behold, dreams do come true because Everywhere, Always is set in you guessed it, N…Y…C!!! Finally, I could experience what a Shorely is all about. Surely, it would be something special, right? Let’s find out…
Summary of Everywhere, Always by Jennifer Ann Shore
Seventeen-year-old Avery and her single mom scrape by to make ends meet while living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Despite their tough circumstances, the bond they have and Avery’s mom’s upbeat attitude keep them going. Until one day when Avery’s world comes crashing down on her when her mom tragically dies in a car accident.
After the crash, Avery mysteriously wakes up in a hospital in New York City. How did she get from Pennsylvania to NYC? If that isn’t crazy enough, all of a sudden Avery is being introduced to a brand new family she had no clue about. Hello, disorientation, no I don’t know what day it is, I don’t even know what city I’m in…is how I imagined Avery’s thoughts in that sitch. Avery gets to meet her father, stepmom, and her overeager brother who arrives in her hospital room with an “IT’S A GIRL!” balloon in hand. Oh, brother!
Determined to get back to her old life, Avery decides to deal with her new family temporarily until she turns 18 and can escape back to the life she knows. Her temporary situation isn’t half bad since she now lives in a luxurious penthouse in New York City with her new wealthy family that wants to do nothing but shower her with designer bags…well, it’s not too shabby.
However, Avery is still grieving and has a lot to work through. Luckily, she gets help from the boy who lives in the apartment below. Avery and Ethan form a solid friendship that is a great foundation for…romance, perhaps?
Thoughts
I felt like I was put into the mindset of Avery’s grieving process while reading. We watch her as she goes about her life as best she can, one day at a time, moment to moment. It feels like she’s a little disconnected from her grief and I felt that way too. When it caught up to her, it caught up to me too. The emotion I felt took me by surprise. I got to a pivotal point while reading on the train and had to put the book down so I could read it in privacy. This unexpected rush of emotion made me realize just how expertly crafted this story is told.
To me her grief process felt so real but, of course, we know that grief follows no rules and everyone grieves differently. Avery seems to go through the motions learning how to navigate her new life. We get subtle reminders throughout her story that Avery is grieving and I thought Jennifer Ann Shore did a beautiful job with that.
I loved all the characters in this book. I don’t know if there’s any other book where I can say that. Usually, there is some antagonist that helps to drive the story. This book had no antagonist but that did not stop the story from moving along beautifully.
Avery’s overbearing brother, Benjamin, with no boundaries, at first, I was a bit put off by him but in the end, I might have loved Benjamin most of all. How the heck did that happen? Sneaky Shorely found a way for Benjamin to worm his way into my heart and I don’t know how she did it.
The family dynamic, the friendships in this book drove this story and I fell in love with it. And the romance…I would like a 37-48yo version of Ethan, please. He knows Shakespeare! I’ll show him my rescued complete works of Shakespeare collection and we can recite our favorite lines to each other. I’ll say to him, “…from my weakness draws My very soul of counsel! Stop my mouth (Troilus and Cressida).” Kiss me, Ethan! l definitely was a fan of this romance. It was sweet to see how it evolved.
A special story indeed.
Highly recommend Everywhere, Always by Jennifer Ann Shore!
Buy the book: Bookshop | Amazon
Everywhere, Always Literary Date
In addition to sending me the book, Jennifer sent me a list of all the literary date spots I could hit. That’s a first for Literary Dates and I think it’s pretty cool she did that.
I’m dying to go on another literary date and I want to go on this one when the time is right. I am fully vaccinated but it seems like the U.S. is climbing another hill at the moment, hopefully, a small one. So I will wait until we’re on the other side of it. Maybe just a few weeks. Crossing my fingers! I’m also keeping a close eye on what’s going on in other parts of the world, so I think it’s best to hold tight for a little while longer. Hopefully not too long!
Until my next literary date, here are a few pics for you to enjoy from past literary dates. I chose these pics because Everywhere, Always is also set in these spots.
New York, Actually Tour
I love a good excuse to go to Central Park to enjoy the atmosphere and the stellar dog-watching opportunities.
And I passed this spot during my very first ever literary date, My Breakfast at Tiffany’s Tour. *This pic was featured in my book review post and sneak peek into my literary date.
In other Jennifer Ann Shore News…
I’m very excited because Jennifer has another book set in NYC coming out on April 22nd. It sounds like an AWESOME romance book. A famous guy and an adorable dog are in it. Sounds like enemies to lovers, which is one of my favorite romance tropes.
Learn more about it and pre-order by going to this link: This is Your Life
Also, Jennifer writes about 500 books per minute, I don’t know how she does it. Head to her website to see everything she has going on and to learn all about her other books: JenniferAnnShore.com.
Happy Reading!!
I’ve never heard of this author before, but this book sounds really good! And even though I don’t like NYC, I do kinda like stories set there because then I know some stuff, haha. I can’t wait to see your literary date(s) for this one! When one can travel safely, as you said.
Also, I love that you have a rescued set of Shakespeare. You’re awesome. I love Shakespearean insults. I’ve had various mugs emblazoned with them over the years. “I do desire we may be better strangers” is one of my favorites because of how lovely it sounds. Almost like a compliment, then you’re like, wait, WHAT? hahaha Oh, Will. You’re hilarious. I want to plonk a mug with that line on my office desk, whether I’m drinking something from it or not. And especially when my “favorite” authors come in for the day. *rolls eyes*
And, for the record, I don’t think there will ever be a better way to describe lips than as the “doors of breath.” SWOON.
Lastly…did you design a new logo?? I feel like I’m seeing it for the first time. Maybe because I so quickly scroll to your awesome reviews once I get to your site? I guess I’ve never really taken the time to look at it before. But I love it!! The book, the skyline, the woman with the fantastically curly hair…it’s so perfect. <3 (Ugh, you've probably had this logo for, like, 5 years, and I'm just now cottoning on to it. Forgive me.)
Oh my gosh those Shakespearean insults! I’m cracking up. I’ve never thought of that before. That mug sounds perfect.Could you imagine giving that as a gift to a coworker that you don’t like? Terrible! Terribly amazing! 😉 Doors of breath does sound good as long as it’s good breath. Hehe!
Don’t worry at all! It is still newish so it’s not you. Definitely hasn’t been 5 years. Hahaha! I can’t believe I never posted it on the ‘gram. I should still do that because I want more people to know who designed it. I love it! It came out perfectly.
Thank you for reading my post! You’re the best!
Absolutely loved this review as I felt the same way. Such a great book and Jennifer wrote it beautifully.
I’m really looking forward to this literary date! Also, hope Coney Island is one of your stops. Only because I haven’t been there since I was a child. My mom used to take me and my little brother there every summer. I have a ton of good memories there.
Hope you get to go soon!
Thank you Kathy for reading! She did such a great job with it. I love that we’ve both read it. I’m really looking forward to going on this literary date too! Friends are starting to make plans with me again so I’m starting to think maybe it’s time to get back out there. The numbers here continue to decrease so that’s good! Hope it’s the same where you are.
Coney Island definitely has to be a stop! I may need to do this literary date over a few days. But oh my god, I’ve been on the Cyclone many years ago, I love roller coasters, but I said I would NEVER go on that one again. Ha! We shall see! Sounds like you have great memories there. I will think of you all when I go. I wouldn’t mind walking along the beach. Being by the ocean is the best.
Thanks again for reading!!
I’m intrigued by the way the character’s grief is expressed! I’ve definitely had many moments where I’ve had to set a book down, so I could wait to read in the comfort and privacy of my own room because I just knew that a deluge of tears were on the way. Those books are always pretty special x