Ever Bloom, a high school student, is the main protagonist struggling with a secret she can't tell anyone. After a tragic car accident on a bridge leaves her orphaned from her parents, younger sister, and the family dog, she is forced to move from her home in Eugene, Oregon to live with her distant aunt Sabine who works as an attorney on the California coast. Ever has lost everything, but gained a secret ability to hear people's thoughts, see visions of their lives, and the color of their aura; she can tell no one about this, not even her closest friends, which has left her angry and confused. She struggles with blaming herself for the accident and develops survivor's guilt wondering why she survived and her wonderful family was taken.
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In her former life, Ever was popular and fun, but she now hides under a hoodie with headphones plugged in at all times to protect herself from her secret and the freak she feels she has become. Despite making a few friends, Ever becomes depressed, hiding her thoughts, shutting everyone out, afraid to be near anyone or to touch them for fear of the consequence when she does. How can a human being develop a magical power? What could have caused this? How do you cope with something otherworldly when you were once a simple girl? She has a buzzing in her head that only music can drown out, and her over-sized hoodie protects her skin from what happens when she touches another human.
This is all true for Ever at first, but then a mysterious new boy joins her school and her life changes forever. Everyone swoons over the wealthy, good-looking, new boy, finding him irresistible, and Ever tries to ignore him, but finds his lack of an aura intriguing. Alas, she is unsuccessful, becoming more and more drawn to him. Damen is the only person who can silence the world; he's the only person she can touch that doesn't make her feel like a freak. Who is Damen and why is he different?
Ever falls madly in love with Damen, despite his unexplained actions of sometimes being a jerk. She learns the truth that Damen knows all about her visions, ability to hear people's thoughts, and she learns he's an immortal. Life becomes even harder than she ever imagined when Damen's ex Drina, shows up to torture Ever. The truth unfolds like falling petals from the tulips Damen produces from thin air. Ever has lived past lives, each falling in love with Damen, only to be killed every time by Drina. This isn't the first time in Ever's life that Drina has tried to kill her, and when Ever learns that Drina was responsible for the car accident, she becomes intent on surviving.
Best part of story, including ending:
The emotional trauma the character faced was handled very much in a real way. I think anyone who has been through a harrowing experience could relate to it. I love that a homosexual character was included, although I think he may have been too stereotypical.
Best scene in story:
There's a great fight scene with Ever fights Drina that you won't want to miss! Ever sees a veil of light, desperate to get away from Drina, she steps through, and falls into a field of flowers on the otherside in a place called Summerland.
Opinion about the main character:
This story is much like others in this genre. A teen girl that falls madly for a boy. I wish these teen girls would have more strength for themselves! It's not all about a boy. Ever's character has a way of sapping the reader of energy. I grew tired of hearing about how incredibly good-looking Damen was and thought it was over the top. Seriously, no one is THAT beautiful.
