UGH! Always Never by Jordi Lafebre is one of those books that I loved and hated all at once!
The story is simple, with a few twists as it is told from the end of our main character story to the start of it. Our two lovers unwind their love story from finally seeing each other after years, to how their fateful and slightly humorous first encounter. We see how they got to a bridge back in their hometown that symbolizes their decades long affair. Literally, as our female lover is married. However, is this cheating? If not physically, emotionally? We then have our sailor, our main male lover. He has a girl in every port. He never married, but loved them all. And boy did they love him. In fact one loved him so much he had to hide on the balcony ledge so he wouldn’t feel her wrath. There is also a bookstore that plays an interesting role and a forty year long dissertation in the making.
These people are good, kind, selfish, and foolish. Emotions fly around (the characters and yours the reader). I think you’re supposed to find things romantic, star crossed lovers and all that, but I had a lot of thoughts, questions and did not always like our two main characters or their actions that made that scenario. The supporting cast of characters are real and it makes sense why they are the way they are. Ana, our woman who has become the long serving mayor of the city, and her daughters strained relationship. The husband, the neighborhood people, even the father of the main male character who is only heard from at his funeral in a note.
The illustrations are a combination of simple and complex. Colors give a classic feeling, details vary. They are both strong and silent and have a few loud shouts. For the most part, however, they are there for support and try to not push their way too hard into the action. If you read this graphic novel, try to have no preconceived notions about what it is about. I mean you’ve read this review but forget that. Everyone needs to experience this book for the first time without knowing much about it.
