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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
This is a re-read from my teenage years. Since I'm cleaning out my library, I figured I'd see if this was worth keeping. I first picked this up from a Walden bookstore when I was 14 or 15 specifically because I really liked the cover. It looked romantic and I've always been a massive sucker for romance.
Now, I remember really liking this book when I was 14/15. I liked the stakes the romance posited and I was also very drawn in by the more-mature nature of the book, since this book has sex in it and features 18 year old protagonists in their final year of high school. This was, of course, while I was still in my "I love every book I read" phase and I didn't really ever have any criticisms.
Looking back, this book was probably what made [b:Nevermore|7129598|Nevermore (Nevermore, #1)|Kelly Creagh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1294381693s/7129598.jpg|7391743] really appealing when I found the book during the 10th grade. It has that same "high school kids from different sides fall in love" plotline going on.
As a reread, it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Usually the contemporaries that I read again as an adult end up being very distinctly "oh wow I can't believe I ever liked this" because my more worldly self can see the bad that teenage me was blissfully oblivious to, but this was still a rather nice read. I think Simone Elkes does a good job at story telling and I think her use of dual points of view was a good choice to really get us in touch with the characters.
But I'm not completely sold on this book because I think it's not serious enough to really be tackling the issue of latinx youth in organized crime gangs. The way it boils down the seriousness of drug trafficking and murder and extortion simply to up the stakes for Alex's character don't feel as visceral as they should be. I also found his mom to be terrible and her actions inexcusable. Also! Alex's friends and he himself are a little too indifferent or for posting sex tapes of people online without their consent and Alex also makes a comment like "I could violate her here while she's passed out" and while he doesn't the fact that he considers it is... gross. And since this is from 2008 a lot of the book is now rather dated. CDs, talking on the phone, some of the slang... There's some casually tossed in stuff that isn't super great and is a clear reflection of the time.
As well, I'm not 100% on how well incorporated the Mexican culture was in this book or how faithfully/respectfully it was handled. It felt like a lot of stereotypes to me but since I'm not Mexican or even latinx, it's all outside opinions.
I'll leave it as a 3 star read for nostalgia and for it not being as bad as anticipated after nearly a decade. I think if it was revised in 2018 with a bit less of the standard gross stuff high school kids were known for in the early 2000s and perhaps Alex's edginess was either made more realistic or taken in another direction this could make for a rather nice teen lit read. I wouldn't really recommend it, but I wouldn't advise against it either. I much prefer the Nevermore trilogy, but if you really want realism without any fantasy/paranormal, then Perfect Chemistry has a similar vibe and wraps itself up in a single story. The following books in this series are with each of Alex's brothers, rather than a continuation of Alex and Brittany's story.
*I've been up for a long time so I may be back to revise this someday*
Now, I remember really liking this book when I was 14/15. I liked the stakes the romance posited and I was also very drawn in by the more-mature nature of the book, since this book has sex in it and features 18 year old protagonists in their final year of high school. This was, of course, while I was still in my "I love every book I read" phase and I didn't really ever have any criticisms.
Looking back, this book was probably what made [b:Nevermore|7129598|Nevermore (Nevermore, #1)|Kelly Creagh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1294381693s/7129598.jpg|7391743] really appealing when I found the book during the 10th grade. It has that same "high school kids from different sides fall in love" plotline going on.
As a reread, it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Usually the contemporaries that I read again as an adult end up being very distinctly "oh wow I can't believe I ever liked this" because my more worldly self can see the bad that teenage me was blissfully oblivious to, but this was still a rather nice read. I think Simone Elkes does a good job at story telling and I think her use of dual points of view was a good choice to really get us in touch with the characters.
But I'm not completely sold on this book because I think it's not serious enough to really be tackling the issue of latinx youth in organized crime gangs. The way it boils down the seriousness of drug trafficking and murder and extortion simply to up the stakes for Alex's character don't feel as visceral as they should be. I also found his mom to be terrible and her actions inexcusable. Also! Alex's friends and he himself are a little too indifferent or for posting sex tapes of people online without their consent and Alex also makes a comment like "I could violate her here while she's passed out" and while he doesn't the fact that he considers it is... gross. And since this is from 2008 a lot of the book is now rather dated. CDs, talking on the phone, some of the slang... There's some casually tossed in stuff that isn't super great and is a clear reflection of the time.
As well, I'm not 100% on how well incorporated the Mexican culture was in this book or how faithfully/respectfully it was handled. It felt like a lot of stereotypes to me but since I'm not Mexican or even latinx, it's all outside opinions.
I'll leave it as a 3 star read for nostalgia and for it not being as bad as anticipated after nearly a decade. I think if it was revised in 2018 with a bit less of the standard gross stuff high school kids were known for in the early 2000s and perhaps Alex's edginess was either made more realistic or taken in another direction this could make for a rather nice teen lit read. I wouldn't really recommend it, but I wouldn't advise against it either. I much prefer the Nevermore trilogy, but if you really want realism without any fantasy/paranormal, then Perfect Chemistry has a similar vibe and wraps itself up in a single story. The following books in this series are with each of Alex's brothers, rather than a continuation of Alex and Brittany's story.
*I've been up for a long time so I may be back to revise this someday*
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was amazing!!!
The start was okay but towards the end it got so much better and the ending was absolutely perfect !
Can't wait to read the second one
The start was okay but towards the end it got so much better and the ending was absolutely perfect !
Can't wait to read the second one
I haven't read a book that I was so eager to read in a long time. I could not put this book down. It was such an amazing book and made me swoon as I read it. The author is a really great writer and I cannot wait to read the sequels to this book - which I already have on reserve at the library. Everyone should read this book, you will not regret it, at all!
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation
I liked it. Compared to books I prefer reading, this had a very different plot. I normally don't read about gangs or drugs, but I wanted to keep an open mind and give it a chance.
More than the actual love story, I loved the whole affiliation with the gang! The way Alex had to be part of the gang or else he'd be dead was so intriguing. I appreciated the back story with Alex's dead father and what was eventually revealed at the end. There was a bit of mystery in here, so that was fun :)
What I did not appreciate was the language. Seriously, there's really no need to swear in every other sentence. Cussing doesn't contribute to the story at all, and my eyes only became more sore with each line. Personally, I like it when authors don't use swear words to express their characters' emotions because the writing sounds more sophisticated (to me), and I don't like to swear much either, but these days a lot of authors use cuss words in their writing, so I tend to overlook them. If they appear once or twice, fine, but when I can count ten per page, it's beyond frustrating.
Aside from that, the love story was average. There was a little bit of chemistry between the two, but everything seemed so rushed, especially the part at the end.
To sum it up, it was an okay book. I loved the gangs and the murder stuff, not the romance or the writing style.
Until next time!
More than the actual love story, I loved the whole affiliation with the gang! The way Alex had to be part of the gang or else he'd be dead was so intriguing. I appreciated the back story with Alex's dead father and what was eventually revealed at the end. There was a bit of mystery in here, so that was fun :)
What I did not appreciate was the language. Seriously, there's really no need to swear in every other sentence. Cussing doesn't contribute to the story at all, and my eyes only became more sore with each line. Personally, I like it when authors don't use swear words to express their characters' emotions because the writing sounds more sophisticated (to me), and I don't like to swear much either, but these days a lot of authors use cuss words in their writing, so I tend to overlook them. If they appear once or twice, fine, but when I can count ten per page, it's beyond frustrating.
Aside from that, the love story was average. There was a little bit of chemistry between the two, but everything seemed so rushed, especially the part at the end.
To sum it up, it was an okay book. I loved the gangs and the murder stuff, not the romance or the writing style.
Until next time!
2.5 at best
note to self: dont read books that mix ya romance and gang life. please. u know better then that. just do urself this one (1) favour.
the sad thing is, the writing itself could maybe have gotten three stars, but the sheer RIDICULOUSNESS of the book at times made it impossibly. i’m not talking about how realistic this is, but ->
(minor) SPOILER below
like bruh, they have sex and just when he’s inside her his inner dialog just goes: “For the first time since I saw my dad lying dead in front of me, a tear drops from my eye.” WTF (also do they mean to tell me this dude has not cried. in more than twelve years. sure bro i believe that.)
i am sorry but... why were there so many scenes like that??? it’s a romance book and the romance is...
note to self: dont read books that mix ya romance and gang life. please. u know better then that. just do urself this one (1) favour.
the sad thing is, the writing itself could maybe have gotten three stars, but the sheer RIDICULOUSNESS of the book at times made it impossibly. i’m not talking about how realistic this is, but ->
(minor) SPOILER below
like bruh, they have sex and just when he’s inside her his inner dialog just goes: “For the first time since I saw my dad lying dead in front of me, a tear drops from my eye.” WTF (also do they mean to tell me this dude has not cried. in more than twelve years. sure bro i believe that.)
i am sorry but... why were there so many scenes like that??? it’s a romance book and the romance is...
My students had been recommending this one to me for years, so I finally read it--and I couldn't put it down! I read the whole thing in one sitting. Elkeles' characters are well developed and believable, and I found myself liking both of the main protagonists. I will definitely book talk this!