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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Ich habe absolut gemischte Gefühle gegenüber diesem Buch. Ich kann es nicht mal wirklich in Worte fassen. Eigentlich ist die Message eine tolle und auch der Schreibstil ist sehr leicht und schön zu lesen, aber irgendwas stört mich sowohl an Kyles als auch an Person. Darum keine vollen 5 Sterne, aber es war dennoch ein tolles Buch!
Man sollte sich nur vor Augen halten, dass es sich hier um Fiktion handelt :)
Man sollte sich nur vor Augen halten, dass es sich hier um Fiktion handelt :)
This one really took me by surprise. I originally picked it up because it was a list for best romance books with some others that I loved, but I didn't think I was going to like it based on the title, cover, and synopsis. Boy was I wrong.
Everything about it screams high-school-girl-teen-cliche-romance, but the writing in this was impeccable to the point where it turned what would have been a tired high-school drama with never ending annoying stereotypes and an overly used plot line into something much, much more.
The people in this book are incredibly real. The friendship between Cara and Val, right down to the heart breaking split, the way the popular kids aren't all snobby and rich, but a variety of types of people who are teasing and funny, and the way that Val interacts with her elderly boss liven up the story immensely. The only thing that I felt was a stretch was the way that Val's adoptive parents were hardly ever in the story- I mean realistically, who would let their teenage daughter go to a club in a miniskirt in LA on a school night?
Kyle. Amazing character who brings the book to life. I've read some reviews that say that the entire dialogue was flat, or even cheesy, but I actually found myself laughing out loud at a few of the things that he says, because they're both familiar and unexpected. Kyle's sexual challenges make this book happen, they keep it steamy and suspenseful. Again, the biggest complaint against Kyle is that he's sexually harassing her, but I don't think it ever gets that far. Additionally, for those of you who think this is superficial, WAKE UP! Passion doesn't have to have a foundation of knowing someone very well, it's an irrational and wild attraction! Haven't you ever met someone who made you shaky if you were physically close to them, so much so you almost forgot yourself and your clear-headed thinking? If not, well it's an experience. I also love that he's young and bullheaded and arrogant but still has moments of weakness, and Val knows it!
Unlike a ton of YA heroines, Val is confident, makes choices, and acknowledges the faults of the male lead- she doesn't blindly follow him because she can't help herself and her attraction is oh-so-strong *dramatic sigh* but figures out pretty quickly that he's bad news and actually makes an honest attempt to stay away from him when she thinks he's going to do something douchey. Most stupid heroines go, "Oh I probably should stay away from him, but I'm not going to because he has FANTASTIC abs!" but not Val Jenson! High-five Kelly Oram!
In fact, I like Val as the lead so much, that even though I think the entire premise of what she's doing is kind of silly, and that she should have compromised once he admitted and proved he loved her, I admire how strongly she believes in her principles and even root for her to cling to them.
Another amazing thing about this book was the timeline! Instead of being super-crammed and forced, filled with moments of extreme fortune where the main character magically stumbles over the one-in-a-million magic artifact they need or where interactions are repeatedly coincidental, this book gives room to breathe. It follows a handful of interactions over about a year, and doesn't give us all the details from in between.
The main thing that pissed me off about this book was the way it ended. In the epilogue, when Kyle reappears four years later and announces that he wants to wait for her, I nearly ripped my hair out. Not because of the suspense, but because I though that it gave too much of the next book away and was going to make it more boring (it did, it's like the first fifty pages). As soon as I read the last few pages, I knew what was going to happen, in general (and I was right, but the second book was still really good anyways, but I almost didn't bother because of this). Maybe I'm just being super picky, but I wish the book ended with both of them waking up four years later in separate places, not having seen each other since the night of the concert and kiss, still missing each other. It would have kept the mystery and intrigue alive and been much more tragically romantic. But that's just me for ya, a sucker for the sad and unsettling ones!
Everything about it screams high-school-girl-teen-cliche-romance, but the writing in this was impeccable to the point where it turned what would have been a tired high-school drama with never ending annoying stereotypes and an overly used plot line into something much, much more.
Spoiler
The people in this book are incredibly real. The friendship between Cara and Val, right down to the heart breaking split, the way the popular kids aren't all snobby and rich, but a variety of types of people who are teasing and funny, and the way that Val interacts with her elderly boss liven up the story immensely. The only thing that I felt was a stretch was the way that Val's adoptive parents were hardly ever in the story- I mean realistically, who would let their teenage daughter go to a club in a miniskirt in LA on a school night?
Kyle. Amazing character who brings the book to life. I've read some reviews that say that the entire dialogue was flat, or even cheesy, but I actually found myself laughing out loud at a few of the things that he says, because they're both familiar and unexpected. Kyle's sexual challenges make this book happen, they keep it steamy and suspenseful. Again, the biggest complaint against Kyle is that he's sexually harassing her, but I don't think it ever gets that far. Additionally, for those of you who think this is superficial, WAKE UP! Passion doesn't have to have a foundation of knowing someone very well, it's an irrational and wild attraction! Haven't you ever met someone who made you shaky if you were physically close to them, so much so you almost forgot yourself and your clear-headed thinking? If not, well it's an experience. I also love that he's young and bullheaded and arrogant but still has moments of weakness, and Val knows it!
Unlike a ton of YA heroines, Val is confident, makes choices, and acknowledges the faults of the male lead- she doesn't blindly follow him because she can't help herself and her attraction is oh-so-strong *dramatic sigh* but figures out pretty quickly that he's bad news and actually makes an honest attempt to stay away from him when she thinks he's going to do something douchey. Most stupid heroines go, "Oh I probably should stay away from him, but I'm not going to because he has FANTASTIC abs!" but not Val Jenson! High-five Kelly Oram!
In fact, I like Val as the lead so much, that even though I think the entire premise of what she's doing is kind of silly, and that she should have compromised once he admitted and proved he loved her, I admire how strongly she believes in her principles and even root for her to cling to them.
Another amazing thing about this book was the timeline! Instead of being super-crammed and forced, filled with moments of extreme fortune where the main character magically stumbles over the one-in-a-million magic artifact they need or where interactions are repeatedly coincidental, this book gives room to breathe. It follows a handful of interactions over about a year, and doesn't give us all the details from in between.
The main thing that pissed me off about this book was the way it ended. In the epilogue, when Kyle reappears four years later and announces that he wants to wait for her, I nearly ripped my hair out. Not because of the suspense, but because I though that it gave too much of the next book away and was going to make it more boring (it did, it's like the first fifty pages). As soon as I read the last few pages, I knew what was going to happen, in general (and I was right, but the second book was still really good anyways, but I almost didn't bother because of this). Maybe I'm just being super picky, but I wish the book ended with both of them waking up four years later in separate places, not having seen each other since the night of the concert and kiss, still missing each other. It would have kept the mystery and intrigue alive and been much more tragically romantic. But that's just me for ya, a sucker for the sad and unsettling ones!
Spoiler
WHAT??
just- thank god there's a second book. I really hope it doesn't dissapoint me omg. I have hope.
just- thank god there's a second book. I really hope it doesn't dissapoint me omg. I have hope.
————Minor Spoilers———
Nach cinder&ella musst ich unbedingt auch die nächste Reihe von Kelly Oram lesen. Die Storyline an sich fand ich super interessant, auch wenn die Kontroversen des Themas Jungfräulichkeit meiner Meinung nach nicht genügend diskutiert wurden.
Val ist ein toller, aber auch etwas flacher Charakter. Ich bewundere ihr Selbstbewusstsein und ihr Engagement.
Kyle dagegen fand ich furchtbar. Ich konnte nicht verstehen, wie Val ihn auch nur ansatzweise in ihrer Nähe haben konnte. Ja, in der ersten Szene sind Funken geflogen aber danach wurde die Beziehung nur noch drängender und nerviger mit jeder Konversation. Er hatte ihr Entscheidung eigentlich gar nicht angenommen und sich über sie lustig gemacht. Wenn Männer im 21 Jahrhundert so ihre Gefühle ausdrücken, tue ich mir als Frau selbst sehr leid.
Von Vals „besten Freundin“ will ich gar nicht erst anfangen. Oberflächlich und selbstsüchtig. Sowas muss man nicht annehmen.
Der Epilog war dann auch nochmal eine andere Sache. Ein Sprung von vier Jahren und auf ein Mal ist alles Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen?
Meiner Meinung nach ist dieses Buch nicht an die Realität gebunden. Es war schnell und einfach zu lesen, ich würde es aber auch nicht vermissen. Den zweiten Teil werde ich nur aus dem Grund lesen, dass ich ihn schon vorbestellt habe. Mal gucken ob Kyle und Val noch ein paar mehr Dimensionen bekommen.
Nach cinder&ella musst ich unbedingt auch die nächste Reihe von Kelly Oram lesen. Die Storyline an sich fand ich super interessant, auch wenn die Kontroversen des Themas Jungfräulichkeit meiner Meinung nach nicht genügend diskutiert wurden.
Val ist ein toller, aber auch etwas flacher Charakter. Ich bewundere ihr Selbstbewusstsein und ihr Engagement.
Kyle dagegen fand ich furchtbar. Ich konnte nicht verstehen, wie Val ihn auch nur ansatzweise in ihrer Nähe haben konnte. Ja, in der ersten Szene sind Funken geflogen aber danach wurde die Beziehung nur noch drängender und nerviger mit jeder Konversation. Er hatte ihr Entscheidung eigentlich gar nicht angenommen und sich über sie lustig gemacht. Wenn Männer im 21 Jahrhundert so ihre Gefühle ausdrücken, tue ich mir als Frau selbst sehr leid.
Von Vals „besten Freundin“ will ich gar nicht erst anfangen. Oberflächlich und selbstsüchtig. Sowas muss man nicht annehmen.
Der Epilog war dann auch nochmal eine andere Sache. Ein Sprung von vier Jahren und auf ein Mal ist alles Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen?
Meiner Meinung nach ist dieses Buch nicht an die Realität gebunden. Es war schnell und einfach zu lesen, ich würde es aber auch nicht vermissen. Den zweiten Teil werde ich nur aus dem Grund lesen, dass ich ihn schon vorbestellt habe. Mal gucken ob Kyle und Val noch ein paar mehr Dimensionen bekommen.
Check out the review here:
http://gracedwithbooks.com/2016/03/09/v-is-for-virgin-by-kelly-oram-guest-post/
http://gracedwithbooks.com/2016/03/09/v-is-for-virgin-by-kelly-oram-guest-post/
Okay honest opinion, the book is total completely unlikely to ever happen fluff. But you know what sometimes people need a little fluff in their life and this book does a wonderful job of fitting that bill.
When Valerie gets dumped for being unwilling to give up her virginity, her very public stand against being mistreated by her ex sky rockets into international fame as the spokeswoman for a teen abstinence campaign. Despite how this description sounds it's not really a love story or a romance. There's no boy meets girl they face trials fall in love and get their HEA. There's a hint in the epilogue that one of the potential love interests introduced in this book might get together with her, but as for a confirmation of that, not really.
It's kind of hard to explain this book and I think that's one of the things I love about it. I don't think Valerie realized who she really was or what problems were there in her life until it spiraled into something beyond her control. For example her best friend Cara, who I got to admit I really didn't like from her first introduction. Valerie doesn't see anything wrong with having a best friend who when she finds out you got dumped isn't upset because you got dumped but is instead upset because while you were wallowing in your broken heart you didn't call her first with the gossip. REALLY?! She doesn't see what's wrong with having a best friend who takes issue with you becoming close friends with anyone else. I've been friends with my best friend since I was 12 (actually I met most of my friends between the ages of 12 and 20, I'm slow to warm up to people) we've been besties since we were 19 and she has multiple friends who I've never even met because we're adults who live in separate states but even in high school we had friends that weren't each other and I've always thought those friends she had other than me had to be somewhat awesome because they recognize the awesomeness in my bestie and became her friend. I don't really think I'm alone in feeling that way about other friends a bestie makes. How can you really call yourself a friend or a bestie if you're treating said friend like property that you don't want to share with anyone else?
Over the course of the story Val not only becomes a leader but learns to form healthy friendship and I think discovers what she actually wants in a relationship even if she doesn't end up with one. While the story is exceptionally funny I think what I loved about it was watching this girl sort of come into her own. It's not what you're expecting but it is something really great.
When Valerie gets dumped for being unwilling to give up her virginity, her very public stand against being mistreated by her ex sky rockets into international fame as the spokeswoman for a teen abstinence campaign. Despite how this description sounds it's not really a love story or a romance. There's no boy meets girl they face trials fall in love and get their HEA. There's a hint in the epilogue that one of the potential love interests introduced in this book might get together with her, but as for a confirmation of that, not really.
It's kind of hard to explain this book and I think that's one of the things I love about it. I don't think Valerie realized who she really was or what problems were there in her life until it spiraled into something beyond her control. For example her best friend Cara, who I got to admit I really didn't like from her first introduction. Valerie doesn't see anything wrong with having a best friend who when she finds out you got dumped isn't upset because you got dumped but is instead upset because while you were wallowing in your broken heart you didn't call her first with the gossip. REALLY?! She doesn't see what's wrong with having a best friend who takes issue with you becoming close friends with anyone else. I've been friends with my best friend since I was 12 (actually I met most of my friends between the ages of 12 and 20, I'm slow to warm up to people) we've been besties since we were 19 and she has multiple friends who I've never even met because we're adults who live in separate states but even in high school we had friends that weren't each other and I've always thought those friends she had other than me had to be somewhat awesome because they recognize the awesomeness in my bestie and became her friend. I don't really think I'm alone in feeling that way about other friends a bestie makes. How can you really call yourself a friend or a bestie if you're treating said friend like property that you don't want to share with anyone else?
Over the course of the story Val not only becomes a leader but learns to form healthy friendship and I think discovers what she actually wants in a relationship even if she doesn't end up with one. While the story is exceptionally funny I think what I loved about it was watching this girl sort of come into her own. It's not what you're expecting but it is something really great.
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
AMÉ este libro por el mensaje que tiene entre sus páginas: Nadie puede obligarte a hacer nada que tu no quieras.
La voz de Kelly Oram nos narra una historia cuya base es la Virginidad y eso me encantó. Aquí no vemos una adolescente que quiere tirarsele al primer hombre que encuentre, en cambio vemos a una chica que tiene una promesa consigo misma, que aunque pueda parecer toda para mucha gente, para mi fue especial.
5/5
La voz de Kelly Oram nos narra una historia cuya base es la Virginidad y eso me encantó. Aquí no vemos una adolescente que quiere tirarsele al primer hombre que encuentre, en cambio vemos a una chica que tiene una promesa consigo misma, que aunque pueda parecer toda para mucha gente, para mi fue especial.
5/5
Really really good book. Only things I didn't enjoy were the ending, and how Kyle treated V.
Spoiler
especially how you find out in the epilogue that he got engaged to someone else. If she really was "worth waiting for" like the song suggested he wouldn't have found some tramp to marry.
This is the second Kelly Oram book I've read, and they are just so CUTE.
I was afraid I was going to dislike this book, because often when people are promoting abstinence and staying a virgin, it has a religious reason. As I am not a religious person, I have difficulty relating to it. But this book was so lovely and adorable.
I was afraid I was going to dislike this book, because often when people are promoting abstinence and staying a virgin, it has a religious reason. As I am not a religious person, I have difficulty relating to it. But this book was so lovely and adorable.