Book Review - Never Ever

Synopsis
Erin's father has gone bankrupt and so her family have moved to the local council estate. Erin is horrified and can't stand living without a phone, being away from her friends and having to share a room with her sister. Liam, on the other hand, loves life on the estate. Everyone respects him and wants to be his friend. Liam really likes Erin and is convinced it's just a matter of time before she succumbs to his charm - but Erin has other ideas. She can't stand Liam and thinks he's all brawn and no brain. They say opposites attract - but can these two really get along? 


My Review
I read a book by Helena Pielichaty a couple of years ago called 'Accidental Friends' and loved it, i have been looking for others ever since, i have read some in the meantime, but then i saw this book come in. It was a brand new book in the library so i borrowed it.
Erin has to move with her family to an estate when her father goes bankrupt, but she doesn't fit in and hates how small and cramped everything is,but mostly she hates Liam, the self-centered show off that lives on the estate. He seems to be in love with Erin, but she can't stand the sight of him.
I thought this book sounded promising from the blurb, sort of opposites attract, Romeo and Juliet, young peoples struggles to adapt to change, but finding love in unexpected places, with a bit of high school drama thrown in. Well i was right about the drama, this book crams in practically every issue a teenager could ever have a problem with, including periods, virginity, teen pregnancy, drugs, smoking, alcoholism, bankruptcy, abusive parents, illness, suicide, peer pressure, school work and annoying siblings. I don't think there was anything she didn't cram in to this book and inflict on this group of teens. It was a bit too over the top for my liking, i find it is better if the author picks an issue and runs with it but in detail, this sort of just glazed over all of them. I never really felt a true connection with the characters and couldn't always remember who was who. She gives the main character about four different names: 'Erin', 'Ernie', 'Blondie', and 'Mackiness' I had to remember they all referred to the same person.
I also have to confess i had read this before, but it took me to get about half way through before i began to remember it, as they cover has been changed in the reprint and the facct i read so many books, it didn't register straight away, but once i did start to remember it seemed really predictable.
I'm not saying it's bad, it just seemed very jumbled and quite rushed, i think it could have been better if just focused on one issue and more about the main two characters. I was quite disappointed seeing how much i loved her other books.
If you're looking for a easy read on a wet day, pick it up, but i wouldn't put it at the top of my list.


My Rating
I would give this book 4.5/10