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chibereading's review against another edition
5.0
Real and heartbreaking to the core, Stay With Me by Paul Griffin is a showcase to teen romance and the struggles of the reality that some teens face on a daily basis. Stay With Me is truly a breathtaking novel that shows sometimes even the deepest love is not enough create a happily ever after.
There is really so much to say about this book but I'll try to keep it short. The romance in this book may seem to be a little quick, but I still felt the connection between the two main characters instantly. It may have started off as a simple attraction, but it did blossom into a very unique love. They are so devoted to one another, and they are definitely there for each other through thick and thin.
Mack and Cece both are and have been living hard lives for a long time, and when they finally find each other, they become each other's reprieve from the harshness of their lives. Mack has to be one of the most interesting characters I have ever ready about. Since the book is told from both Mack and Cece's perspective you get to a really know the character Mack. From how he sees the world, and how the world sees him.
To be honest, this book had me in tears in a lot of places for a lot of reasons. In a lot of places, I felt like the book got really open and raw with the feelings and emotions of the two main characters that I could connect to what the both of them were going through so well. The romance, the pain, the loss, the forgiveness, and all of the problems Mack and Cece were going through were laid out so vividly to the reader that I dare you not to shed a tear while reading this book.
Stay With Me is one of those books that I know is going to be with me for a long time. It is a novel that has really touched my heart and one that I know I will never get tired of recommending.
There is really so much to say about this book but I'll try to keep it short. The romance in this book may seem to be a little quick, but I still felt the connection between the two main characters instantly. It may have started off as a simple attraction, but it did blossom into a very unique love. They are so devoted to one another, and they are definitely there for each other through thick and thin.
Mack and Cece both are and have been living hard lives for a long time, and when they finally find each other, they become each other's reprieve from the harshness of their lives. Mack has to be one of the most interesting characters I have ever ready about. Since the book is told from both Mack and Cece's perspective you get to a really know the character Mack. From how he sees the world, and how the world sees him.
To be honest, this book had me in tears in a lot of places for a lot of reasons. In a lot of places, I felt like the book got really open and raw with the feelings and emotions of the two main characters that I could connect to what the both of them were going through so well. The romance, the pain, the loss, the forgiveness, and all of the problems Mack and Cece were going through were laid out so vividly to the reader that I dare you not to shed a tear while reading this book.
Stay With Me is one of those books that I know is going to be with me for a long time. It is a novel that has really touched my heart and one that I know I will never get tired of recommending.
skgrant's review
3.0
This book reminded me of Simone Elkeles books. This was very good and I was able to read it in one day. However, halfway through the book it started to get boring and at the end it kind of stopped. It left me asking too many questions
bluelibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sipreadlove's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book and had a good cry. It was one of those books that touched my heart.
themaddiest's review
4.0
Cece and Mack didn’t see each other coming. Even though they live in the same neighborhood, they couldn’t be more different: she’s a straight-A student working on getting into a gifted-and-talented program; he’s a dyslexic high school dropout with serious anger issues. But it doesn’t take long before they’re spending all their free time together, spilling their deepest thoughts, bonding over a rescued pit bull, and making plans for the future. Then it all goes horribly awry, and the two have to come to terms with their individual losses.
Paul Griffin has written a captivating, heartbreaking story. This is a sad book, you guys. Let me say that right off the bat. When I was looking over my notes to write this review, I started to get choked up–again. Griffin’s gritty, urban contemporary romance is going to resonate with a lot of readers. This is a remarkable book, and it’s definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
What is notable is the fact that Griffin has populated his story with a plethora of strong, well-drawn characters. Everyone in the world of Cece and Mack is given consideration, and all of these characters are full of believable character traits (yes, even the pit bulls). The dialogue is engaging and authentic. At the core of most of these people is some semblance of good, but boy oh boy, do they ever screw up a lot.
This book is largely plot-driven, which will keep impatient readers hooked. However, Griffin doesn’t sacrifice character development in the name of action, and his well-developed characters (especially in the case of his two leads) help add complexity to the love story. Cece and Mack are extremely different and yet have a chemistry that crackles on the page. Their story is doomed from the start, but readers won’t be able to stop themselves from rooting for the two narrators.
The story’s only fault comes from it’s too-convenient climax. The alignment of the universe feels slightly overdone, but most readers will overlook it and be thankful for a much-needed release of tension. Like I said, this story is sad but it’s never overly-sentimental.
Recommended for fans of urban contemporary. This is a stand-out title this year. You should get your hands on a copy.
Stay With Me by Paul Griffin. Dial: 2011. Library copy.
Paul Griffin has written a captivating, heartbreaking story. This is a sad book, you guys. Let me say that right off the bat. When I was looking over my notes to write this review, I started to get choked up–again. Griffin’s gritty, urban contemporary romance is going to resonate with a lot of readers. This is a remarkable book, and it’s definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
What is notable is the fact that Griffin has populated his story with a plethora of strong, well-drawn characters. Everyone in the world of Cece and Mack is given consideration, and all of these characters are full of believable character traits (yes, even the pit bulls). The dialogue is engaging and authentic. At the core of most of these people is some semblance of good, but boy oh boy, do they ever screw up a lot.
This book is largely plot-driven, which will keep impatient readers hooked. However, Griffin doesn’t sacrifice character development in the name of action, and his well-developed characters (especially in the case of his two leads) help add complexity to the love story. Cece and Mack are extremely different and yet have a chemistry that crackles on the page. Their story is doomed from the start, but readers won’t be able to stop themselves from rooting for the two narrators.
The story’s only fault comes from it’s too-convenient climax. The alignment of the universe feels slightly overdone, but most readers will overlook it and be thankful for a much-needed release of tension. Like I said, this story is sad but it’s never overly-sentimental.
Recommended for fans of urban contemporary. This is a stand-out title this year. You should get your hands on a copy.
Stay With Me by Paul Griffin. Dial: 2011. Library copy.
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