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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
So I bought this book with really high expectations but I was just disappointed bc it was so boring… I get that it was supposed to be a coming of age story but it was really hard to relate to the mc when she acted pretty childish for a lot of it and she’s supposed to be 18??? There were some cute bits between Natalie and Alex but their relationship just seemed off and I ended up not even rooting for them at the end
Nina Kenwood’s debut is an absolute gem! Charming and authentic, an entertaining story about first love, figuring out what you want to do with your life, and who you really are. Natalie is an introverted, awkward, smart, and sassy 18-year-old who has just graduated from high school and is about to find out where her future is headed. Natalie has no idea what she really wants to do in the future and this concerns her. Not only that she is extremely self-conscious most of that stemming from having struggled with terrible acne for most of her teens.
This book will bring you back to your teenage years and your own first love. It is so witty and hilarious, Natalie‘s inner monologues are priceless. There was the most awkward,real, hilarious ever party and almost sex scene in this book, I was laughing and cringing so hard. Natalie it’s such an endearing and relatable character that you will definitely get behind. I loved her friendships with her Besties Lucy and Zach, and totally understood the third wheel struggle. The romance was so innocent, sweet, awkward, and adorable. This is a can’t miss for all teens and anyone who has ever been a teen. What a dazzling debut, looking forward to what’s next from Miss Kenwood.
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This book will bring you back to your teenage years and your own first love. It is so witty and hilarious, Natalie‘s inner monologues are priceless. There was the most awkward,real, hilarious ever party and almost sex scene in this book, I was laughing and cringing so hard. Natalie it’s such an endearing and relatable character that you will definitely get behind. I loved her friendships with her Besties Lucy and Zach, and totally understood the third wheel struggle. The romance was so innocent, sweet, awkward, and adorable. This is a can’t miss for all teens and anyone who has ever been a teen. What a dazzling debut, looking forward to what’s next from Miss Kenwood.
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This story is told completely from Natalie’s point of view, and I felt like I was reading a lot of my own thoughts when I was a teen. I related so much to her relationship with her body and her lack of self-confidence.
Natalie has a lot going on in her life. She just turned 18, has battled cystic acne and PCOS throughout her teens, her parents just announced they’re divorcing, her two best friends fell in love with each other, she’s waiting to find out about her future, and she has no idea what she’s doing. Add in an unexpected crush on her best friend’s brother and she’s all over the place. While my own battles were different, I related so strongly with everything that Natalie was feeling and experiencing.
Zach and Lucy and Natalie were a solid trio. They did almost everything together. Lucy and Zach were more outgoing and not as introverted and self-conscious as Natalie, but they understood her issues and didn’t really push her about them. Then Zach and Lucy hooked up and Natalie kind of felt left out. Then she accepts an invite to a party and ends up hanging out with Zach’s older brother Alex.
Alex is Natalie’s opposite in so many ways, experienced, outgoing, mostly confident, enjoys parties. But he is also sweet and caring, and really respects Natalie. Everyone is shocked at the budding relationship between them, especially Zach, who puts up roadblocks between them.
I really liked that the ending was not perfect with everyone getting what they originally expected and wanted. And I really liked the growth and confidence in Natalie at the end.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book for review consideration through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review appeared first on my blog reinventedreader.com
Natalie has a lot going on in her life. She just turned 18, has battled cystic acne and PCOS throughout her teens, her parents just announced they’re divorcing, her two best friends fell in love with each other, she’s waiting to find out about her future, and she has no idea what she’s doing. Add in an unexpected crush on her best friend’s brother and she’s all over the place. While my own battles were different, I related so strongly with everything that Natalie was feeling and experiencing.
Zach and Lucy and Natalie were a solid trio. They did almost everything together. Lucy and Zach were more outgoing and not as introverted and self-conscious as Natalie, but they understood her issues and didn’t really push her about them. Then Zach and Lucy hooked up and Natalie kind of felt left out. Then she accepts an invite to a party and ends up hanging out with Zach’s older brother Alex.
Alex is Natalie’s opposite in so many ways, experienced, outgoing, mostly confident, enjoys parties. But he is also sweet and caring, and really respects Natalie. Everyone is shocked at the budding relationship between them, especially Zach, who puts up roadblocks between them.
I really liked that the ending was not perfect with everyone getting what they originally expected and wanted. And I really liked the growth and confidence in Natalie at the end.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book for review consideration through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review appeared first on my blog reinventedreader.com
This was another somewhat difficult read for me personally. While often overdramatic, Natalie's thoughts, feelings, and intense anxieties are relatable to many teenagers. I know I experienced many of the same intrusive thoughts during my own depression in high school and college, and still do to a lesser extent.
However, despite the relatable themes, unfortunately I just didn't really like the main character, her friends, or her love interests.
In particular, the relationship between Natalie and Alex doesn't feel very natural or believable, mostly because we have no information about the nature of their interactions prior to the first party she attends and because they have nothing in common. We know that Alex is the brother of one of her best friends, Zach (their only commonality), but we are also repeatedly told that Alex and Zach have always ignored each other in the past. We have nothing on which to base any prior budding romantic feelings -- the two just get lumped together at a party one night and then everything escalates from there.
However, despite the relatable themes, unfortunately I just didn't really like the main character, her friends, or her love interests.
In particular, the relationship between Natalie and Alex doesn't feel very natural or believable, mostly because we have no information about the nature of their interactions prior to the first party she attends and because they have nothing in common. We know that Alex is the brother of one of her best friends, Zach (their only commonality), but we are also repeatedly told that Alex and Zach have always ignored each other in the past. We have nothing on which to base any prior budding romantic feelings -- the two just get lumped together at a party one night and then everything escalates from there.
I read this in one sitting (actually I took a break to eat dinner) and my thought process while reading this was thinking that this would be a 3 star, then it went up to 4 star, and then it shot up to 5 stars.
Natalie is one of the most relatable characters in a long time - maybe to even have ever existed. Her insecurities, anxieties, and just her general personality/interests really resonated with me because I felt like she was me at point or another. Her thoughts were thoughts that I had at 18 and sometimes even now! I saw her in me and related to almost everything she was saying. I was instantly transported to my high school from college transition where the biggest worries I had were college, boys, and all the other normal things that come with growing up. On top of that, I thought she was funny and found myself laughing at her jokes throughout the book. I don't normally read contemporary romances and have recently begun again this year and am SO glad I decided to pick this one up. I had my expectations pretty low and was pleasantly surprised by this one!
4.5-5 stars
Natalie is one of the most relatable characters in a long time - maybe to even have ever existed. Her insecurities, anxieties, and just her general personality/interests really resonated with me because I felt like she was me at point or another. Her thoughts were thoughts that I had at 18 and sometimes even now! I saw her in me and related to almost everything she was saying. I was instantly transported to my high school from college transition where the biggest worries I had were college, boys, and all the other normal things that come with growing up. On top of that, I thought she was funny and found myself laughing at her jokes throughout the book. I don't normally read contemporary romances and have recently begun again this year and am SO glad I decided to pick this one up. I had my expectations pretty low and was pleasantly surprised by this one!
4.5-5 stars
Who hasn’t thought these exact thoughts before? Natalie kind of gets it and represents what I imagine is the average person. It’s nice to have a main character who both appreciates the good things about herself and laments the things that make her self conscious because all of her peers seem to exude confidence. What’s even better, is that those peers are not villainized and actually are revealed to be suffering something else. We’re not tearing people down, but rather deconstructing them to understand them, all within the lens of a young adult.
The random imagination sequences are relatable too.
Minus one star for just needing a littttllllleee more romance and description of Alex. I want to know why he wanted to be a chef. I want to know why he likes to go to parties. Just need a little more.
The random imagination sequences are relatable too.
Minus one star for just needing a littttllllleee more romance and description of Alex. I want to know why he wanted to be a chef. I want to know why he likes to go to parties. Just need a little more.
3.75 stars
this was cute! I really like how this author writes her characters. the way her protagonists spiral is v relatable tbh
this was cute! I really like how this author writes her characters. the way her protagonists spiral is v relatable tbh
This was such an incredibly quick read - I couldn't put it down. It was compulsively readable and just so much fun. It's filled with genuine friendships and awkward dates and I couldn't have been happier. I really enjoyed seeing Natalie and her friendships with Zach and Lucy. Natalie is such a resilient character that you can't help but cheer for her - she's grow from her awkward puberty phase and is still emotionally scarred from the physical changes, and while the fears and insecurities effect her, her does her best to not let them define her all the time. This was just a fun story and so easy to read.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
this book took me out of a slump, but there is no plot and the romance makes no sense at all whatsoever. but it was enjoyable.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No