Review: Never Eighteen

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
Publication Date: January 17th 2012
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 200
Bought: Book Depository
Goodreads

Summary

Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.
 
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.

But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

These last few months I've come to realize that life doesn't wait. If we stand still it passes us by, and by the time we understand that, it may be too late.

This book is a quick read that can be done in one sitting. From the moment you flip it open you'll be hooked, your heart strings tugged one by one with every word you read.

I've read many reviews about how this is a tear jerkier and I can see that but for me I didn't physically cry however on the inside my heart tore. What Austin does is sweet, he is there to listen, he wants to know the truth and hopefully help, with the luck of maybe making a difference in these peoples lives. For family, friends and even a person he wronged when he was younger. 

Maybe if we all just tried to put the pieces back together as soon as they fell out of place, the puzzles in our lives would feel more like an accomplishment than a chore.

Each character was unique and had their own stories to tell to a sickly boy, and I loved everyone of them. I'm not going to go into detail on any of them. It's for you to read and find out.

Along this quest to find meaning is, Kaylee, Austin's best friend and his secret love of his life. I loved his smitten thoughts towards her and I can see why he didn't want to tell her. A sweet little romance in the hopes. Though sometimes along this journey, Kaylee doesn't like some of Austin's decisions but no matter what...she's always there for him. 

By the title and by the summary we already know how this is going to end. But that's besides the point. What matters is the journey and I like to thank Megan Bostic for making it a great one, for making my first read about a main character sick/on deaths door one I'll remember for quite sometime. 

The ending (and me writing this part) was hard but loved the read. The details make me think about a old family friend whom is going through the same thing right about now, just as the main character. And it's scary, especially when they're the ones that are ready, but I understand. There's no point on living if there isn't hope. No point in living in that kind of pain when you know that there's a better place to move onto. 

Overall, this touches the heart and can make you think because we do only have one life, so why not live it. An original and unique story line (at least for me) it was a first. I give it,

"Yes. You have a chance to live and breathe. Take it. You never know when that life, that breath, is going to be snatched away."

"How many times is she going to change the name? That poor car is going to have an identity crisis."

*swearing/small sex scene*

Happy Reading Everybody!

Two birds, One stone