Reviews

The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison

annindo_underthesun's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

A nice simple book for a nice simple time

yvo_about_books's review against another edition

3.0

Finished reading: June 14th 2021

"Don't deny yourself a better shot because you messed up in the past."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

There was just something about the blurb of The Right Side Of Reckless that caught my attention immediately, and as I don't seem to read nearly enough YA books in recent years I couldn't resist getting an ARC. I had really high hopes for this story, thinking that it might turn out to be a new favorite, so imagine my surprise when I ended up having mixed thoughts instead... I'll try to explain my contradictory feelings briefly below.

Part of me still finds it hard to put the finger on why exactly this story didn't work as well for me. I still love the premise of The Right Side Of Reckless with the power of opposites attract and second chances. I think this is part of the reason I did keep reading, as the story had an interesting message. I liked the Mexican influences and diversity in general, which I can always appreciate... And I loved just how big of a role dogs played in the plot.

BUT. And here comes what didn't work for me: I really did feel that the story was overlong and dragged in certain parts. It took me a lot longer than expected to finish The Right Side Of Reckless, and I started to struggle to stay invested in the story... Especially as certain details of the plot were repeated a lot. I can't say that I appreciated the whole cheating and love triangle angle either, which both really put a damper on things for me. I understand the need to make things 'more complicated', but I would have enjoyed this story so much better if it had just been the opposites attract theme with Regan and Guillermo... And especially Regan could get really annoying as she continued to let everyone walk all over her.

In short, there were things I liked and things that didn't work for me in The Right Side Of Reckless, and I do still like the premise of this story. It might just have been the wrong time for me to read this book though, as most people do seem to love Regan and Guillermo's story.

luckybydesign's review

1.0

DNF @ 27%. There’s nothing wrong with this book, per se. I just found the plot boring and slow, the characters boring and unmemorable, and the writing boring and kind of clunky. It wasn’t for me, though it might be for somebody.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Inkyard Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

tellalltales's review

4.0

So pure and sweet with a dash of drama

bookswithmichellee's review

DNF around 50%

Just couldn’t get into the story. It felt like it was dragging on a lot that I couldn’t push myself to finish it. Maybe I’ll pick up again at a different time

20sidedbi's review

emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

nbreezy17's review

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment

shelbys_shelving's review

slow-paced

2.0

booknerdkc's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

queen_kitty's review

3.0

I think this had some great commentary on doing what’s best for yourself and also the fact that people can change through hard work and the right influences. However, I found a majority of the characters so frustrating!! Regan’s parents for most of the books are gaga over her boyfriend Troy because he plays high school football and her dad especially is so set on them being together forever with Regan as Troy’s future accountant when he goes pro. It was just weird to me. I mean…these adults totally obsessed with a 17-year-old high school football player…I guess that might be the case with some parents, but it just felt so weird to me. Troy was such a controlling jerk too. I did really like the friend group that Guillermo forms of essentially the school’s misfits: Jenaya, Avery, and even Raviv. I thought that was a really cute dynamic.

Slightly spoilery thoughts: The ending felt weird to me. Since the book’s main point is to get the two love interests together, that obviously works itself out. The tension between Regan and her brother came out of nowhere though and ended up feeling unresolved and she never finds her beloved dog?? And she doesn’t even seem that mad at her dad for losing him for the SECOND time? Regan’s dad was honestly such an immature mess.