Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera is a modern retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with Afro Latinx characters. If you don't know the myth, you could probably still read this book as a standalone, but I think you would miss some nuances.
Pheus is a talented young musician who goes to visit his father in the Bronx where he meets Eury, the new girl whose traumatic past includes surviving a natural disaster and an abusive parent. There's an attraction there, but Eury keeps Pheus at a distance as she navigates her mental health.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. But the book is a bit scattered for my taste. Is Eury in the middle of a psychotic break or is the figure she's seeing real? Also, it seems like the main conclusion is that true love will heal mental illness. *sigh* As a retelling, the happy ending felt forced and wrong.
There were things I did like. I liked Eury's portrayal of Puerto Rico and her love for her home really came through the pages. I liked Pheus's father - it was so nice to see a father figure in YA that was supportive and nurturing. I liked the background of Bronx told from the perspective of a young person.
But, in general, I was not on board with this book. Disappointing.
2.5/5 stars
Lines I Highlighted:
"Guys always trying to win over a girl like she's a prize. As if this life is a contest." (page 106)
"It's funny how cruel time can be. When you are at school, the clock just toys with you, its seconds slowly moving. In the summer, it's a joke how quickly time flies." (page 159)
