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coffeeandlit's review against another edition
I’m too old for most ya contemporary romances. It started a little too strong with stereotypes/tropes I’m not a fan of.
ylmpastmidnight's review against another edition
4.0
**Review will be posted on my blog on 6/28/21**
**3.5 STARS**
I Liked:
*Guillermo is the “bad boy”. I really liked watching Guillermo grow and do his best to turn his life around after what happened in his past. I grew up with male cousins with bad tempers who got into lots of fights at school and out of school. There were a few times I thought Guillermo was going to fall into his bad habits but he really came out inspiring others, which is really nice to see.
*Regan is the “good girl”, who listens to her parents, has the mostly popular athlete at school as her boyfriend but she’s basically pleasing everyone else. It takes Guillermo’s friendship to help her realize the things others want for her, isn’t what she wants for herself. It was cool to see her grow from that and stand up for what she wants in the end.
*Malika is an awesome best friend to Regan. I like how she was straight up with her about Troy and she said one thing in the book that I was thinking myself, where she told Regan she didn’t need a guy to be happy. True. As for Guillermo and his friendships, it was a goal his therapist gave him and I think he really did well befriending different types of people like Avery who was awkward and shy, Jenaya who had a bad reputation and Rav, the soccer player. It was a big turn around from the kinds of friends he had in the past.
*I liked seeing Regan and Guillermo’s relationships with their parents. Regan’s parents are more supportive but she really had to speak up for herself. Guillermo’s parents are wary of him but eventually they see he is really trying to do the right thing.
*Regan and Guillermo have chemistry and like Regan says, he asks for permission and what SHE wants. I can see why Regan falls for him!
Random Notes:
*Triggers: family pressures, violence
*Story was slow in some parts especially with the Troy/Regan/Guillermo triangle.
Troy is a star athlete and on the outside, he and Regan have the perfect relationship. But in their relationship it definitely isn’t perfect. I wasn’t invested in their relationship from just the way he treats her from the beginning and wished they would just break up since we know Guillermo is who she wants. But their relationship drama drags on, I get that Regan wasn’t someone who stood up for herself though…until Troy messes up. It isn’t an easy thing to break up sometimes, especially when families are invested in the relationship too!
Final Thoughts:
The main message I got from this story is that people can change and that’s a great message. I love that Guillermo really had a lot of ground to make up for his mistakes, but he does it for his family and for himself. On the other side, Regan finally figures out what she wants because someone (Guillermo) finally asks her what she wants. That’s important too – as parents, we want the best for our child and even want to lay the path out for them but we have to listen to what they want also. And lastly, the message of consent is so relevant as well. I think this is a story many young adults can learn from!
**3.5 STARS**
I Liked:
*Guillermo is the “bad boy”. I really liked watching Guillermo grow and do his best to turn his life around after what happened in his past. I grew up with male cousins with bad tempers who got into lots of fights at school and out of school. There were a few times I thought Guillermo was going to fall into his bad habits but he really came out inspiring others, which is really nice to see.
*Regan is the “good girl”, who listens to her parents, has the mostly popular athlete at school as her boyfriend but she’s basically pleasing everyone else. It takes Guillermo’s friendship to help her realize the things others want for her, isn’t what she wants for herself. It was cool to see her grow from that and stand up for what she wants in the end.
*Malika is an awesome best friend to Regan. I like how she was straight up with her about Troy and she said one thing in the book that I was thinking myself, where she told Regan she didn’t need a guy to be happy. True. As for Guillermo and his friendships, it was a goal his therapist gave him and I think he really did well befriending different types of people like Avery who was awkward and shy, Jenaya who had a bad reputation and Rav, the soccer player. It was a big turn around from the kinds of friends he had in the past.
*I liked seeing Regan and Guillermo’s relationships with their parents. Regan’s parents are more supportive but she really had to speak up for herself. Guillermo’s parents are wary of him but eventually they see he is really trying to do the right thing.
*Regan and Guillermo have chemistry and like Regan says, he asks for permission and what SHE wants. I can see why Regan falls for him!
Random Notes:
*Triggers: family pressures, violence
*Story was slow in some parts especially with the Troy/Regan/Guillermo triangle.
Troy is a star athlete and on the outside, he and Regan have the perfect relationship. But in their relationship it definitely isn’t perfect. I wasn’t invested in their relationship from just the way he treats her from the beginning and wished they would just break up since we know Guillermo is who she wants. But their relationship drama drags on, I get that Regan wasn’t someone who stood up for herself though…until Troy messes up. It isn’t an easy thing to break up sometimes, especially when families are invested in the relationship too!
Final Thoughts:
The main message I got from this story is that people can change and that’s a great message. I love that Guillermo really had a lot of ground to make up for his mistakes, but he does it for his family and for himself. On the other side, Regan finally figures out what she wants because someone (Guillermo) finally asks her what she wants. That’s important too – as parents, we want the best for our child and even want to lay the path out for them but we have to listen to what they want also. And lastly, the message of consent is so relevant as well. I think this is a story many young adults can learn from!
kristine2467's review against another edition
5.0
Regan and Guillermo were great leads, each growing and changing into better versions of themselves. Regan’s journey taught her to stand up for herself, and Guillermo’s journey helped him learn self control and patience.
We will definitely be adding copies of the books to our libraries. Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC.
We will definitely be adding copies of the books to our libraries. Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC.
onceupon_a_bookdream's review against another edition
2.0
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
After I finished reading The Right Side of Reckless, I went back and reread the synopsis because I was under the impression that this was a YA contemporary romance. That's exactly what the synopsis' leads one to believe, however that's not what I just read.
RANT TIME:
Regan has no backbone, she lets her parents dictate her future, and her boyfriend was the worst. They had only been together a year, but he was constantly pressuring her for sex. Regan is in a committed relationship with her boyfriend until the 75% mark of the book when she finds out he cheated on him and then kisses Guillermo right after that ugh. HOW IS THAT A ROMANCE STORY?!? Regan and Guillermo aren't even friends have the book. The characters all just felt flat, and I'll be honest I almost DNFd more than once, but I'm trying to not do that with arcs anymore. Then we have Guillermo is our "bad guy" who for his first two strikes was really just a kid with crap luck. Yes he had anger issues, but he obviously learned from his mistake and had a good head on his shoulder. However, his ability to dish out lengthy Dr.Phil type advice would have been more believable if he was at college age, not high school. I felt the author was trying too hard with his preachy speeches of wisdom.
RANT OVER
There are some silver linings to this not as advertised YA novel. It has a fantastically diverse cast and some really great side characters. Most of the time, I enjoy Guillermo , especially when he was with his new group of friends. The novel also focused on some really important subjects. Such as not letting yourself be pressured into sex, standing up for yourself, respect, consent, and learning from your mistakes.
In the end, I was just really disappointed in this book. The plot had such potential, but I just don't think this author executed it well. I don't think I'll be reading any more by her and note for future me to not be fooled by a cute cover and perfect synopsis.
After I finished reading The Right Side of Reckless, I went back and reread the synopsis because I was under the impression that this was a YA contemporary romance. That's exactly what the synopsis' leads one to believe, however that's not what I just read.
RANT TIME:
Regan has no backbone, she lets her parents dictate her future, and her boyfriend was the worst. They had only been together a year, but he was constantly pressuring her for sex. Regan is in a committed relationship with her boyfriend until the 75% mark of the book when she finds out he cheated on him and then kisses Guillermo right after that ugh. HOW IS THAT A ROMANCE STORY?!? Regan and Guillermo aren't even friends have the book. The characters all just felt flat, and I'll be honest I almost DNFd more than once, but I'm trying to not do that with arcs anymore. Then we have Guillermo is our "bad guy" who for his first two strikes was really just a kid with crap luck. Yes he had anger issues, but he obviously learned from his mistake and had a good head on his shoulder. However, his ability to dish out lengthy Dr.Phil type advice would have been more believable if he was at college age, not high school. I felt the author was trying too hard with his preachy speeches of wisdom.
RANT OVER
There are some silver linings to this not as advertised YA novel. It has a fantastically diverse cast and some really great side characters. Most of the time, I enjoy Guillermo , especially when he was with his new group of friends. The novel also focused on some really important subjects. Such as not letting yourself be pressured into sex, standing up for yourself, respect, consent, and learning from your mistakes.
In the end, I was just really disappointed in this book. The plot had such potential, but I just don't think this author executed it well. I don't think I'll be reading any more by her and note for future me to not be fooled by a cute cover and perfect synopsis.
lydslibros's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.75
nikkicalvert's review against another edition
3.0
The Right Side of Reckless follows two main characters, Guillermo, a teen with some anger issues that landed him in juvie. At the start of the book, he is on probation and trying to make amends with his family by making a fresh start in life. The second main character, Regan, is a people-pleaser who does what is expected of her while sacrificing her own happiness in order to pursue the dreams her father has planned for her life. These two teens meet and find that their families and friends are starting to become intertwined and leads to a hot-and-cold friendship that might be more than that. And everyone around them has something to say about it.
I liked this book but I didn't love it. There was very little plot driving the story but I did love the main characters and their growth by the end of the book, however, it did feel like the slowest ride ever to get there.
Some of the topics addressed like not using violence to solve problems was great and encourages teens to find alternative ways to curb anger issues. The topic of not giving up one's virginity until one is completely ready was presented in an appropriate way that teens will relate to. Both of the main characters have great heads on their shoulders and give and receive excellent advice and guidance throughout the book. I believe this would be a great read for a teen in high school. It seemed very PG-13 with no explicit sexual content but briefly mentions that sex happens. If you're concerned with censoring your teenager from what happens in the real world, maybe you could use a read of this book too.
I would recommend this book for teenagers at the high school age. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
I liked this book but I didn't love it. There was very little plot driving the story but I did love the main characters and their growth by the end of the book, however, it did feel like the slowest ride ever to get there.
Some of the topics addressed like not using violence to solve problems was great and encourages teens to find alternative ways to curb anger issues. The topic of not giving up one's virginity until one is completely ready was presented in an appropriate way that teens will relate to. Both of the main characters have great heads on their shoulders and give and receive excellent advice and guidance throughout the book. I believe this would be a great read for a teen in high school. It seemed very PG-13 with no explicit sexual content but briefly mentions that sex happens. If you're concerned with censoring your teenager from what happens in the real world, maybe you could use a read of this book too.
I would recommend this book for teenagers at the high school age. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
jilljemmett's review against another edition
5.0
Guillermo Lozano’s family moved to a new neighbourhood in Akron, Ohio so he could have a fresh start while on probation. He has to do community service at a local community centre, and he has to stay away from girls. Regan London works at the community centre with her mom, who is Guillermo’s probation officer. Regan is under a lot of pressure to be perfect, with her father insisting she become an accountant and have the perfect relationship with a football star. Regan is officially off limits to Guillermo, because he isn’t allowed to have a girlfriend, especially not the daughter of his probation officer. Regan soon discovers that her life isn’t heading in the direction that she wants to go, and Guillermo may be exactly what she needs to change it.
This was a fun forbidden romance story. There were a few reasons Guillermo and Regan were forbidden from seeing each other. The incident that got Guillermo in trouble involved a girl, so he was supposed to stay away from all girls. Regan’s family had plans for her future with her football star boyfriend, so they didn’t want her being with anyone else. Their races weren’t part of the reason they weren’t allowed to be together. Guillermo was Mexican and Regan was Black, but their different races weren’t an issue. This was a love story with diverse characters, but their diversity didn’t cause any conflict.
There was a lot of discussion about consent in this story. Regan’s boyfriend was pressuring her to do things she didn’t want to do. Right away I noticed that she didn’t feel comfortable with the way he treated her. Guillermo was much more respectful, though some people couldn’t see past his history to realize that he was a respectful young man. Though Guillermo was the one with the criminal record, he was more respectful than the boy who was considered a rising star.
The Right Side of Reckless is a great young adult romance!
Thank you Inkyard Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun forbidden romance story. There were a few reasons Guillermo and Regan were forbidden from seeing each other. The incident that got Guillermo in trouble involved a girl, so he was supposed to stay away from all girls. Regan’s family had plans for her future with her football star boyfriend, so they didn’t want her being with anyone else. Their races weren’t part of the reason they weren’t allowed to be together. Guillermo was Mexican and Regan was Black, but their different races weren’t an issue. This was a love story with diverse characters, but their diversity didn’t cause any conflict.
There was a lot of discussion about consent in this story. Regan’s boyfriend was pressuring her to do things she didn’t want to do. Right away I noticed that she didn’t feel comfortable with the way he treated her. Guillermo was much more respectful, though some people couldn’t see past his history to realize that he was a respectful young man. Though Guillermo was the one with the criminal record, he was more respectful than the boy who was considered a rising star.
The Right Side of Reckless is a great young adult romance!
Thank you Inkyard Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
girlmeetsbooks_'s review against another edition
3.0
The classic story of a bad boy and a good girl falling for each other. What's different is that Guillermo isn't the classic "bad boy" as his intentions are never truly to be bad, it's just that he'd fallen with the wrong crew and got his heart broken. Reagan is the perfect daughter dating the perfect athlete, with the perfect family, but looks are deceiving. The character development of the main characters was written very well and I liked the place we left them by the end of the story. I couldn't help but think that everyone was really hard on Guillermo in the beginning, in particular Reagan's mother and there were some things that I found questionable in her behavior in regards to her position. Also, I think the story might have dragged out a little too much in the beginning but overall the flow went pretty well. Really great YA story about redemption and living your life with things and people that fulfill you.
alana27's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you, Goodreads for sending me this book in a giveaway!
Rating - 4/5 stars
Worth the read - yes
Would reread - maybe
Series - no
I really liked this book and thought that it was a very sweet teen romance. I appreciated the conversations about consent, respect, and growth. I found the main characters to be relatable and the portrayal of teenagers to be realistic. I also loved the two families in the book, and how the parents had several important, (somewhat) healthy conversations with the main characters. I adored Avery and loved that Jenaya and Guillermo were not pushed to be in a love triangle with Regan. I like when authors keep male-female friendships consistently platonic.
I did not give this book a higher rating because the love interests were only together for about 15% of the book, and the majority of the novel was spent with the girl dating someone else. I did greatly appreciate, however, the conversation that was had between Troy and Regan after their break-up. It made me view Troy as flawed, but not despicable. I rarely have this reaction to the main character's exes, especially when cheating is involved. I think that one of the main themes that I found in this novel was the ability for anyone to grow from their mistakes. The novel was very grounded in the fact that everyone is human and just trying to find their way, especially as a teenager.
Rating - 4/5 stars
Worth the read - yes
Would reread - maybe
Series - no
I really liked this book and thought that it was a very sweet teen romance. I appreciated the conversations about consent, respect, and growth. I found the main characters to be relatable and the portrayal of teenagers to be realistic. I also loved the two families in the book, and how the parents had several important, (somewhat) healthy conversations with the main characters. I adored Avery and loved that Jenaya and Guillermo were not pushed to be in a love triangle with Regan. I like when authors keep male-female friendships consistently platonic.
I did not give this book a higher rating because the love interests were only together for about 15% of the book, and the majority of the novel was spent with the girl dating someone else. I did greatly appreciate, however, the conversation that was had between Troy and Regan after their break-up. It made me view Troy as flawed, but not despicable. I rarely have this reaction to the main character's exes, especially when cheating is involved. I think that one of the main themes that I found in this novel was the ability for anyone to grow from their mistakes. The novel was very grounded in the fact that everyone is human and just trying to find their way, especially as a teenager.