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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
funny
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:
Yes
3.5;
I think I just read this at the wrong age because I think if I was in high school or just graduated this would of been a 5 star for me.. but overall this was a great story
I think I just read this at the wrong age because I think if I was in high school or just graduated this would of been a 5 star for me.. but overall this was a great story
I love contemporaries that deal with multiple situations. When a high school is involved, there are multiple personalities, perceptions, and experiences involved in every situation.
This book looks at personal violence in relationships, mean girls, trying to find your place, and falling in love. The characters are individual and dynamic which is not always true in contemporaries. The story is well written and I love that Peyton tells her truth and sticks to that, even when her whole life gets flipped on it’s head. There were a few convinces in the story but they didn’t detract from the narrative as a whole.
I love kami Garcia’s books.
This book looks at personal violence in relationships, mean girls, trying to find your place, and falling in love. The characters are individual and dynamic which is not always true in contemporaries. The story is well written and I love that Peyton tells her truth and sticks to that, even when her whole life gets flipped on it’s head. There were a few convinces in the story but they didn’t detract from the narrative as a whole.
I love kami Garcia’s books.
fast-paced
Garcia’s second contemporary romance serves up a bit of psychological thriller with its angsty romance, maintaining a high level of intensity from beginning to end. The focus on underground street fighting kicks up the tension even more, but the book ultimately fails to maintain that momentum. Peyton makes a compelling heroine with a promising soccer career, an abusive stalker ex and a new guy that may have just as many secrets as her first one. This is a skillfully layered, gritty story with all the right elements and the writing is, for the most part, spot on. However, some of the characters’ reactions seem over the top, and the ending (while sweet) feels abrupt and not fully fleshed out.
I knew I was going to love this book by the end of the first paragraph. The ending of just one line had me connecting with the main character, Peyton, on a real level.
"...and popcorn without butter is just corn."
But on a more serious note, this book dealt with some heavy issues from losing a parent to performance enhancements to the most serious, domestic abuse. Garcia tackles them all with a cast of characters who were real and who I adored (except the crazy ex).
The book opens with Peyton finding out she's been accepted to UNC on a soccer scholarship. It's the school of her dreams and she can't wait to tell her best friend and her boyfriend. Side note: boyfriend is best friends older brother. But at a party that night, Peyton's good news falls by the wayside as she discovers her boyfriend has been abusing steroids to prepare for an MMA match. When she confront him, he pushes her down a flight of stairs, damaging her knee and possibly ruining her chance at playing soccer. What's worse? No one believes what happened. When the threatening phone calls start coming in, Peyton moves from DC to Tennessee to stay with her uncle while completing rehab on her knee. But Peyton learns soon enough that you can't outrun your problems.
I mostly knew Garcia from the Beautiful Creatures series, which I liked but wasn't over the moon about. Then I read her contemporary novel The Lovely Reckless and I just knew that I found a new contemporary writer to follow. And she did not disappoint with this one. I loved it more than The Lovely Reckless.
What I loved most about this book were the characters. Peyton had me from the start. I connected with her. And while I didn't go through exactly the same things as her, some of her struggles hit really close to home for me. I understood her struggles and why she handled things the way she did. She made it easy to root for her. She constantly stood her ground and made attempts to conquer her fears instead of just letting them control her.
Then there were her cousins, the Twins. Oh my how Cameron and Christian just stole the show in every scene they were in. Talk about giant teddy bears. Overbearing, football playing, bodyguard wannabes, they made it their mission to protect Peyton and to make her feel welcome in their home and town.
And finally, Owen. *swoon* He intrigued me from the start and was just the funniest and sweetest boy that I knew Peyton couldn't resist for long. While he was involved in the same sport as her ex, Garcia made it easy to see the differences between them. Owen respected the sport and dedication to the craft. He was calm and collected, choosing to be more patient in his trainings. That level head carried over into the way he carried himself daily. But Owen also has a secret, one that threatens his future in both MMA and with Peyton.
Bravo to Garcia for writing this book, especially after reading the author's notes. This book was extremely personal to her and I admire her for putting it into words for others to share in.
"...and popcorn without butter is just corn."
But on a more serious note, this book dealt with some heavy issues from losing a parent to performance enhancements to the most serious, domestic abuse. Garcia tackles them all with a cast of characters who were real and who I adored (except the crazy ex).
The book opens with Peyton finding out she's been accepted to UNC on a soccer scholarship. It's the school of her dreams and she can't wait to tell her best friend and her boyfriend. Side note: boyfriend is best friends older brother. But at a party that night, Peyton's good news falls by the wayside as she discovers her boyfriend has been abusing steroids to prepare for an MMA match. When she confront him, he pushes her down a flight of stairs, damaging her knee and possibly ruining her chance at playing soccer. What's worse? No one believes what happened. When the threatening phone calls start coming in, Peyton moves from DC to Tennessee to stay with her uncle while completing rehab on her knee. But Peyton learns soon enough that you can't outrun your problems.
I mostly knew Garcia from the Beautiful Creatures series, which I liked but wasn't over the moon about. Then I read her contemporary novel The Lovely Reckless and I just knew that I found a new contemporary writer to follow. And she did not disappoint with this one. I loved it more than The Lovely Reckless.
What I loved most about this book were the characters. Peyton had me from the start. I connected with her. And while I didn't go through exactly the same things as her, some of her struggles hit really close to home for me. I understood her struggles and why she handled things the way she did. She made it easy to root for her. She constantly stood her ground and made attempts to conquer her fears instead of just letting them control her.
Then there were her cousins, the Twins. Oh my how Cameron and Christian just stole the show in every scene they were in. Talk about giant teddy bears. Overbearing, football playing, bodyguard wannabes, they made it their mission to protect Peyton and to make her feel welcome in their home and town.
And finally, Owen. *swoon* He intrigued me from the start and was just the funniest and sweetest boy that I knew Peyton couldn't resist for long. While he was involved in the same sport as her ex, Garcia made it easy to see the differences between them. Owen respected the sport and dedication to the craft. He was calm and collected, choosing to be more patient in his trainings. That level head carried over into the way he carried himself daily. But Owen also has a secret, one that threatens his future in both MMA and with Peyton.
Bravo to Garcia for writing this book, especially after reading the author's notes. This book was extremely personal to her and I admire her for putting it into words for others to share in.
This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. Which was kind of disappointing. But I still mostly enjoyed the story. It was super addictive and hard to put down. I just wanted a bit more from it.
Could not put this one down! Perfect book to read on a snow day! Full review to come on Lisa Loves Literature.
Let me just say… if you read the lovely reckless and loved it then this is your book. If you read it and disliked it, then you’re in the same crowd as me. But hey, all authors start somewhere and she’s made a name for herself in comics!