Review: This Can Never Not Be Real by Sera Milano

CW: Suicide, terrorism
This Can Never Not Be Real is as fast-paced as a book can be. If you’re looking for something to completely immerse
yourself into, then this YA thriller is the one for you. Sera Milano’s YA debut follows a group of teenagers from a village where nothing really ever happens — until at their local festival, it’s tormented by a terrorist attack. It’s written in a great style, told through interview style questions for each of the characters as they recount the events of
that horrible day.

I love the way it unfolded because you were always ready to turn to the next page, I am always on the edge of my seat. It’s certainly a novel that grips your attention from the first page, and one with characters that burst from the pages with their personalities and discussions about such important topics.

The pace started off a bit slow, but once the story really began there was no turning back. Milano writes with such purpose and ease, and it was quite admirable how well she crafted these scenes with such tense atmospheres, I really felt like I was within the story myself as a reader. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of the storytelling
technique in Daisy Jones and the Six, as well as the infamous Breakfast Club.

Ross Kelly