I can't even express how much I adored reading Only Ever Yours. It captivated me from the first page, my eyes and mouth were wide open in shock after reading each chapter.
Freida and Isabel have been the best of friends for the whole of their lives, and were absolutely inseparable. They are 'eves', who are perfectly designed to satisfy a man, once reaching the age of seventeen. They can become a 'companion,' to a young inheritant, (bearing all of their sons), or they can become a 'chastity.' But the eves could become a concubine, which is a horrible lifestyle for some…
Each eve has standards to reach, their faces must be perfect and radiant, and they must also hit a certain target weight to appeal to the inheritants. After countless years of preparation Freida and Isabel's final year falls and the pressure to be perfect is mounting up and becoming too much. Who has all of the secrets? Who will crack?
O'Neill can grab and hypnotise her readers making them fall into a trance, until they finish the last word. I couldn't even guess or expect what would happen, as the writing and the plot together take you on a roller coaster ride with twists and turns that make your stomach shudder. Only Ever Yours, hits a soft spot for many, as it is a realistic interpretation of what could happen to the world, in the not so distant future...
Overall, I rate this book 5/5 as it has me hooked the whole way through, with a remarkable, quirky plot and riveting characters. Honestly I would advise you to buy it right now, as it is one I am going to treasure on my bookshelf for sure. It really takes YA in a fresh, gritty and dark direction.
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
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