Never Enough by Denise Jaden

Never Enough by Denise Jaden

Review of Never Enough

Title & Author:
Never Enough by Denise Jaden
Publisher:
Simon Pulse
Publication Date:
July 10, 2012
Pages:
400
Source:
Publisher via GalleyGrab

From the author of Losing Faith, a novel about two sisters and the eating disorder that threatens to destroy their family.

Loann’s always wanted to be popular and pretty like her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend starts flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it takes to feel special… even if that means betraying her sister.

But as Loann slips inside Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s quest for perfection is all-consuming, and comes at a dangerous price. As Claire increasingly withdraws from friends and family, Loann struggles to understand her and make amends. Can she heal their relationship —and her sister—before it’s too late? – Goodreads

I loved Denise Jaden’s first book, Losing Faith, but Denise Jaden has grown so much as a writer with Never Enough. Never Enough was so well written and so heartbreaking in a brilliant way.

First of all – the family dynamic. The family in Never Enough was so screwed up and broken, but I could tell they all loved each other and just didn’t know how to come together as a family to deal with Claire’s eating disorder. Like with Losing Faith, Denise Jaden was really able to spotlight how differently people handle tough situations.

And Denise Jaden did such an amazing job portraying Claire’s eating disorder. Claire didn’t come off as some spoiled teenager trying to lose a few pounds – she was very clearly battling with some sort of mental illness, which I really appreciated because that’s what it is. And the way the family reacted to it was so accurate. I loved Loann’s little barbs and pokes before she realized how serious it was because that is such a sister thing to do.

I loved how Never Enough was about Claire and her eating disorder, but it also wasn’t. Loann had her own life and her own friends and I love the focus on her and Marcus. I thought their side story was very well done and a crucial part to Never Enough. Loann came off as a little selfish at some points, but it never really bothered me – she just seemed like a typical teenage girl who never really got enough attention and struggled with being in her sister’s shadow.

I read all 400 pages of Never Enough by Denise Jaden through the cracked screen of my iPad (which felt oddly appropriate). Never Enough is a compelling and heartbreaking story that had me sobbing by the end.

Other Books by Denise Jaden

Losing Faith by Denise Jaden

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