Book Highlight: Never Say No by Elizabeth Neep

Title: Never Say No

Author: Elizabeth Neep

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: September 4, 2020

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Hailey is freaking out.

She keeps telling herself that thirty is just a number. But right now it doesn’t feel that way. It seems like everyone else spent the last decade partying up a storm, going on ten first dates a week and climbing the career ladder. While she’s spent her evenings at home on the sofa with Netflix, her high school boyfriend and has only just managed to decide what job she definitely doesn’t want to be doing for the rest of her life.

But all of that is about to change. Because life is too short to keep missing out. This year she will say yes to anything, no matter what it is, and then finally Hailey will have it all.

Turns out, this is easier said than done.

She’s been relegated to Assistant Number Two at her new job and is pretty sure her boss doesn’t even know her name.

There are four weeks left to get in shape for the marathon she’s signed up for and she can’t remember where she last saw her running shoes.

Then she finds something hidden in her boyfriend’s wardrobe. It’s platinum, sparkly and comes in a small velvet box. This should be the easiest yes she’s ever said, but are they really ready for this?

Saying yes sounded simple in practice. But it turns out Hailey still has some big decisions to make after all…

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Why This Book

Never Say No follows Hailey as she tries to figure out what she wants in life. Inspired by The Devil Wears Prada, it has her jumping ship career-wise to become a high powered attorney like her new boss to the point where she nearly pushes her friends and loved ones out the door. But of course things are not as rosy as she would have thought and her personal life ends up in crisis.

I’ll admit I wasn’t a fan of this book, but I also have to admit there’s a good deal of drinking that goes on in this novel as Hailey attends classy events where the alcohol flows freely. And, as I’ve found in a lot of books set in the UK (this is set in London), there’s a lot more social drinking going on than I’m used to as a completely dry American. Still, it was amusing to watch her get herself into trouble.

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Reviews

My review: “Never Say No felt too self-absorbed and I got the feeling the characters were more interested in playing with each other and drinking than actually doing something good and useful. Still, the characters weren’t cardboard but 3D living, breathing people I could believe and the story actually moved at a decent pace. It just didn’t reveal too much good in most of the characters”

A Little Haze Book Blog said “Overall this book is so well worth the read. It’s a brilliant exploration into issues of loyalty and friendship, and dares to ask should we never say no to our desires despite the possible impact on other people’s lives and happiness”

Berit Talks Books said this is “An engaging story with a Devil Wears Prada vibe. Elizabeth Neep once again completely entertained me with her fabulous storytelling”

Amy’s Booket List gave this 4 stars, saying “The story wasn’t predictable at all and I loved, loved, loved the format. It was original but didn’t feel forced in the least. I honestly enjoyed reading Never Say No and looked forward to the moments I was able to tuck into the pages”

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Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Walmart | Waterstones (UK) | Booktopia (Australia) | Audible | Google Books | Apple Books | !ndigo (Canada) | Book Depository | Flipkart (India) | imusic (Denmark) | Wordery

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