Never Look Back

Reviews / Votes

A revitalized and layered retelling that expertly blends reality and fantasy to explore what's behind love and loss, what it takes to heal. * Randy Ribay, author of National Book Award Finalist PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING * Haunting and richly detailed, this is a beautiful re-imagining that will hurt and heal, sometimes on the same page. * Mark Oshiro, author of ANGER IS A GIFT * Never Look Back reimagines the Orpheus myth into a bold creation that only Lilliam Rivera could breathe into life. A strange, unsettling love song of a book. * Elana K. Arnold, Printz Honor-winning author of DAMSEL * Seamlessly blends Caribbean and Greek myth into a contemporary teen novel, exploring realistic aspects of identity, stereotypes, trauma, and romance. * School Library Journal, starred review * Honors the Afro Latinx music, language, heritage and history of its characters. . . . Defying expectation and categorization, Never Look Back is a book not to be read with the mind but to be experienced with the soul. It is a revelation. * BookPage, starred review * This isn't a note-for-note retelling. It's something else altogether: a pensive exploration of the deep trauma historically suffered by colonized and enslaved peoples and how that entwines with more recent hardships, like Hurricane Maria, whose damage is worsened by the remnants of those same institutions. . . Never Looks Back sings its own love song to the world. * NPR * One of the most anticipated books of 2020. * Women's Health * This fresh reworking of a Greek myth will resonate. * Kirkus Reviews * If you wanted to hold on to those rollercoaster beach-side romances a little bit long, we highly recommend this one. * Girls' Life * Combines realism with magic along with an exploration of the critical need for better mental health care. . . . An emotionally challenging journey filled with peril and truth-telling. * School Library Connection * An absorbing supernatural romance. * BCCB * Rivera masterfully intertwines ancient and modern lore, leaving readers gasping for breath by the authentic but satisfying conclusion. * Shelf Awareness Reader * This detailed reimagining of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice mixes contemporary realism with fantasy. * The Horn Book Magazine * As brutal as it is beautiful, Dealing in Dreams pulls no punches, launching us on a wild, relentless ride through the cutthroat streets of this brilliantly-realized dystopian world. * Daniel Jose Older, author of the New York Times bestselling series Shadowshaper Cypher, on DEALING IN DREAMS * Introducing Lilliam Rivera, one of the most unique and exciting new voices in YA.The Education of Margot Sanchez is funny, poignant, compelling and authentic. * Matt de la Pena, acclaimed author of LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET, on THE EDUCATION OF MARGOT SANCHEZ * Shatters the myth of assimilation by exposing the loss and ache that comes with it. Instead, Lilliam Rivera tells the reader that there is nothing more powerful and beautiful than staying true to oneself. * Isabel Quintero, author of GABI: A GIRL IN PIECES, on THE EDUCATION OF MARGOT SANCHEZ * Taking cues from Judge Dredd, Mad Max, and The Hunger Games, Rivera . . . has created a uniquely brutal hellscape. . . . Readers are left with a more ambiguous--and ambitious--tale that will have them questioning what kinds of people they'd be if freed from society's mores. * Booklist, starred review, on DEALING IN DREAMS * Rivera effectively presents the complexity of female relationships, which will resonate strongly with readers. . . . A novel exploration of societal roles, gender, and equality through the eyes of captivating lead. * SLJ, starred review, on DEALING IN DREAMS * A debut of great candor, depth, and empathy. * Booklist on THE EDUCATION OF MARGOT SANCHEZ *