The Never List by Koethi Zan

Best friends Sarah and Jennifer faced death as children and managed to survive. Jennifer's mother did not. As they grew older, the two concocted lists meant to protect them from anything that could cause them harm. But as careful as the girls were, nothing could protect them from Jack Derber. Sarah and Jennifer were abducted and kept captive in a basement for over three years along with two other girls. When Sarah and the other girls were finally saved, Jennifer was already dead. Now, with Jack Derber up for possible parole, Sarah must face the demons she's fought so hard to overcome.

So a big Happy Book Birthday to Koethi Zan today! The Never List has made many a summer reading list this month and it's finally out in stores! I was lucky enough to get an early copy and spent part of this past weekend buried in this book.

Koethi Zan has a freaking scary imagination! The Never List hit like a ton of bricks. My reaction here was similar in a lot of ways to my reaction upon reading Elizabeth Haynes's debut, Into the Darkest Corner. A few warnings, though, in reading either or both books - don't start them late at night unless you're prepared to stay awake to the very last page and lock your doors! The Never List is most definitely one of those books that will make you look over your shoulder at night.

Without giving too much away, Sarah is the kind of heroine that you definitely root for but hasn't quite faced up to all of the things that she's been forced to face. This becomes clear very soon in the book and makes you want to stand by her even more.

Zan's book isn't perfect but any flaws are quickly forgotten. Not only does the book begin with Sarah and Jennifer's abduction, kicking it off with a bang, but Zan manages to throw in new twists and surprises throughout the story, each one possibly more chilling than the last.

Strangely - or not - there are a slew of thrillers concerning kidnappings due out this summer as per this post from BookPage's The Book Case. (In addition to Never List I've got two more of the four books listed in my TBR right now.) I say or not because some of the best thrillers out there play on the things that scare us most and trust me when I say that this is one scary plot.

Rating: 4.5/5