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Jessica Chem's debut novel “This Never Happened” is an electrifying and riveting narrative of deceit, manipulation, jealousy, and revenge. It delivers a high-stakes psychological thriller that keeps readers engrossed right to the last page. As characters face mental and emotional issues, their unpredictable, erratic behaviors create dangerous situations. It's a dark novel with an addictive plot that's hard to put down.
Rebecca and Sam (Samantha) meet in college. As their friendship develops, Rebecca continues to manipulate Sam, wanting their friendship to be exclusive. Rebecca seems obsessed with Sam, and sexual tension emerges between them, especially when classmates Dani and Alyssa vie for Rebecca's attention. Obsession becomes a powerful theme as destructive choices spiral out of control. After graduation, Sam realizes the relationship is toxic and moves away to start a new life. Ten years later, Rebecca and Sam reconnect at their college reunion. They decide to repair their fractured relationship. But when Adam, Sam's former boyfriend, emerges as Rebecca's love interest, the story takes a sinister turn. Sam vows to keep it a secret so as not to fracture their newly mended bond. Loyalty is challenged as Sam struggles between lust for Adam and Rebecca's manipulation. The scenes are set for revenge as mind games are played out, increasing psychological tensions.
I found the story's pacing effective. It intensified toward the end as tensions rose between the main characters. Several times during my reading, shocking twists reshaped the story and forced me to rethink what happened before. The author did a great job balancing mystery, tension, and ulterior motives. The climactic ending was superbly written. Jessica Clem has given her readers a well-written psychological thriller with complex characters who wrestle with their own fears, secrets, and psychological demons.
You may find yourself at the end of reading exploring the question, What if?
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ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR
horror novel In Lieu of Flowers (coming in 2027). Her work has appeared in The Stygian Lepus Magazine, Creation Magazine, Macabre Magazine, Ms Magazine, Literally Stories, on the Creepy Podcast’s Patreon page, and in the horror anthologies Down with the Fallen from Franklin/Kerr Press, D is for Demons from Red Cape Publishing, and After Dark from Rowan Prose Publishing. She is a 2026 Next Step Fund grant recipient, a project made possible by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council through a grant from the McKnight Foundation.
She is also a marathoner, vocalist, and a volunteer with Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota Action Fund, serving as a Super Advocate. Her husband is David Quady, a Minneapolis oil painter who focuses on figurative and plein-air work.
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