Now or Never

Jessie Walters #3

by Carole Hart, Bruce Hart

The perfect relationship, the one you always dream about...I thought I had it once. Three years ago. When I was just turning fourteen.

His name was Michael. Michael Skye. He was beautiful and talented and seventeen.

And gone. After he said he loved me. And, "Whatever happens, we go on forever." After we made love. Sweet sweet love. Michael was gone.

Off to California. To become a rock star. With a hit record on the radio. And a hot video on MTV. And everything he ever dreamed of. And more than he could handle.

And now he's back. Crashed and burned and back. Just when I thought I'd finally gotten him out of my mind and out of my heart, Michael's back.

Back in town and back in my life.

If I let him.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

248 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1991

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you can guess from its cover, Now or Never is hardly great literature, but it is a juicy read. This is a highly satisfying conclusion to the story of two teenage lovers. I'm not a fan of romance novels, but I do enjoy a good love story, and this ranks as one of the best as far as I'm concerned. Especially if you're tired of reading about sexually active teenage girls as victims. I am very grateful for authors like the Harts, Judy Blume, and Norma Klein for depicting teenagers in love as thoughtful, intelligent people instead of moronic, amoral dupes.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read all the books and was sad to see this one come to an end. Def not my fave but still very good. Whats sadder yet is Bruce Hart has died and now there will never be a 4th book. Was really hoping that somehow we would finally get a happpy ever after for Jesse and Michael.

[Lo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh Jessie. Michael left you almost preggers to go be a superfantastic rock star! And now, four years later he's back and a drunk and his career is on the skids.

Yay! The third installment of the "Sooner or Later" saga and like Return of the Jedi it's only good in so far as it's needed to complete the story. The execution (like Jedi) is quite disappointing.

Don't let the 80 dollar price tag on Amazon (for a used copy as this went out of print ages ago) fool you. This book asks more questions than it answers and as yet, the Harts haven't sought to answer any of them.

[Laura L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading this, very disappointed in the ending. Don't read any more if you have not read the book yet as this is a spoiler alert. I mean the ending was just too stupid in my opinion. They go to say goodbye and go their separate ways for several years I guess but still keep in touch and they cannot bear to leave each other. He had to get to work and she had to go home so what ended up happening? Just kind of lame. At least was able to get the book at a semi reasonable price at least a lot cheaper than what most places are selling it for. I will put it with the other two and hang on to them.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the few books from my child/teen days that still reads well. (I'm not saying it's high literature, but the story still grabs me).

[Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did that really just happen? I'm at a loss for words. The ending was sweet, bitter, beautiful, and so damn ambiguous! That can't be the end!!!!!!!! Jesse and Michael forever! Waaaaaaaaa!

[Marie Porciuncula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ive loved this book series back then and I still cherish it now.
3rd / final book - Im glad this 3rd book came along. Now or Never is my second favorite. I agree with the others that the ending was ambiguous, but I can live it, it is open to happy possibilities in the reader's imagination. I choose to imagine that they did live happily ever after. :)

[Diane Cupples]

I am trying to find this book to read it, but so far no luck,is their any way to get this book???

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad I was finally able to get this book and read it's conclusion. Just wish it had a better ending.

[Tracy Greenwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unsure about going forward and reading the third part of this story but I wanted to see where it went. This book Now or Never, fasts forward to Jessie's Senior Year of high School. She has been dating and Michael has been a hit on radio, top 40, MTV, etc. Jessie has remained close to Skye band members and doesn't seem to think much about Michael. She is actually angry, which I found confusing because SHE told Michael "goodbye". But when Michael returns to NJ she let's him have it.Then she feels bad and wants to apologize and follows him where she finds out he has been used up by the music industry and then spit out. Jessie continues dating others (all are good looking). The Hart's then describe Jessie's looks and it isn't our little Denise Miller, which kinda sucks. There is cursing in this book but I'm assuming they took into consideration that the readers were also seniors in high school now..Any ways back to the story, it shows the true turmoil of someone trying to get and stay sober and those around him. It ends ambiguously.....we know they are together but at what capacity ? Just friends (which Michael needs in his first year of sobriety) or are they starting over? Would love to see another author pick up here and take us well into adulthood. Would love to see a Rex and Denise back together but the story would have to take us into their 50s NOW!! Worth the Read but not worth the hundreds they are charging for it.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title Now or Never is accurate after completing this series. I gave this book 4 stars because I enjoyed the characters and liked the story from the beginning. However, the ending was anticlimactic and left a lot of unanswered questions. I was looking forward to a more happy and promising ending.

I was hoping Jessie would wake up and move on from her relationship with Michael and find someone more trustworthy, especially since he didn't keep his word about not drinking and doing drugs to both her and himself. Not to mention all the girls he randomly hooked up with in this book while was pursuing Jessie again. Adam and Harry weren't held to the same standard as Michael and that bugged me. Michael basically took advantage of Jessie and his band mates just so he could get what he wanted. Jessie why did you let him get away with it? You deserve better!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie Walters #3, the long awaited end to the trilogy.

Jessie is finishing high school when Michael Wagner comes back into her life and changes things for her. Jessie is the same but older, Michael has gone through a lot of differences.

I read book #1 and #2 in the spring of '82 and I loved them. For 28 years, I didn't even know Bruce and Carole Hart had written a book #3. It was not popular like "Sooner or Later" and "Waiting Games" and subsequently there are not a lot in circulation. The edition I bought is a 1st edition (and probably the only one) and it was very expensive. But I really wanted to read the third book so I got it. And it was worth it. The book was written the same way the other Jessie Books were written.

[Tina StJean]

I can't find this book anywhere. I've read the first 2. Does anyone know where to get it