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librarianshell's review
4.0
4.5 stars.
Devon is not ready to go off to college. She wants to stay in her small town, silently crush on her best friend, and let the world pass her by. When her cousin, Foster, comes to live with her family, it throws a wrench in those plans. Foster has an unlikely skill that throws Devon into the world of Football, where she meets Ezra, the handsome star of the team who happens to drive her crazy.
First & Then was such a wonderful read. I loved the dynamic of the characters; especially Foster and Devon. I also really enjoyed the references to all things Jane Austen. I flew through it and it gave me warm and fuzzy feelings.
My one issue with it was the amount of strong language. It seemed to be incongruent with the style of the book. It'll make it hard for me to know what teens to recommend it to.
Other than the language issue, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and immediately put it on the desk of a co-worker. I wish I could read it again with fresh eyes!
Devon is not ready to go off to college. She wants to stay in her small town, silently crush on her best friend, and let the world pass her by. When her cousin, Foster, comes to live with her family, it throws a wrench in those plans. Foster has an unlikely skill that throws Devon into the world of Football, where she meets Ezra, the handsome star of the team who happens to drive her crazy.
First & Then was such a wonderful read. I loved the dynamic of the characters; especially Foster and Devon. I also really enjoyed the references to all things Jane Austen. I flew through it and it gave me warm and fuzzy feelings.
My one issue with it was the amount of strong language. It seemed to be incongruent with the style of the book. It'll make it hard for me to know what teens to recommend it to.
Other than the language issue, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and immediately put it on the desk of a co-worker. I wish I could read it again with fresh eyes!
joyousreads132's review
3.0
I have wanted to read this book since it made its rounds in the blogosphere. With a cover that speaks of a fun contemporary read, how could I pass up the opportunity? While the plot itself isn’t all that ground-breaking, I thought the book was had its moments.
Falling in love with your best friend
Kind of a tiresome story arch, isn’t it? Especially knowing before hand that there’ll be another person in the picture sooner or later. Well, Devon Tennyson finds herself in this situation. Pining for her best friend Cas is such an inconvenience. Considering Cas has always treated her like his buddy, and have flaunted his ability to attract any girls that he wanted in her face. But such is her life. You can say that Devon is a tired, 18-year-old who was going through the motions of high school life until she can get the heck out of dodge.
With her fourteen-year-old cousin moving in to their house permanently, she also didn’t want to be saddled with a boy who trails her like a shadow. All that is about to change after the star of their football team took a shining to Foster, her cousin.
Friday Night Lights
Football is a big deal in their town. and with Ezra Lynley at the helm of stardom, the madness is amped to another level. When he took Devon’s cousin under his wings, Foster becomes an instant celebrity. But Devon can’t stand him. He’s surly, under appreciative of his celebrity status, and his drive to succeed hopelessly annoys Devon.
Pride & Prejudice
If you’re going into this book thinking it’s a retelling of Austen’s P & P, you’ll be disappointed. It is not a retelling. It may be loosely based on P & P, but you won’t find similarities between Ezra and Darcy. With that being said, I thought Mills made a good decision not to give us yet another retelling of P & P. Goodness knows, there’s a whole slew of them out there. Though, come to think of it, Ezra and Darcy were both socially awkward, so in that regard, I can agree. Devon shares Lizzie’s frankness from time to time, but she is not completely opinionated as Lizzie ever were. She’s got a dry wit, but she’s so quick to judge.
In Retrospect
It was a mildly enjoyable book. It wasn’t nearly as wonderful as I’d hoped it would be, but it was still cute. It had some scenes that made my chest ache, but not to the point that it conjured up tears. Devon was a little hard to take at first – I was never a fan of characters who can’t seem to find anything to be happy about in her milieu. And like a said, her judgement against the other girls who are not like her was a bit tiresome. She did grow up a little, and I especially enjoyed it more once she’s accepted Foster as her brother.
Falling in love with your best friend
Kind of a tiresome story arch, isn’t it? Especially knowing before hand that there’ll be another person in the picture sooner or later. Well, Devon Tennyson finds herself in this situation. Pining for her best friend Cas is such an inconvenience. Considering Cas has always treated her like his buddy, and have flaunted his ability to attract any girls that he wanted in her face. But such is her life. You can say that Devon is a tired, 18-year-old who was going through the motions of high school life until she can get the heck out of dodge.
With her fourteen-year-old cousin moving in to their house permanently, she also didn’t want to be saddled with a boy who trails her like a shadow. All that is about to change after the star of their football team took a shining to Foster, her cousin.
Friday Night Lights
Football is a big deal in their town. and with Ezra Lynley at the helm of stardom, the madness is amped to another level. When he took Devon’s cousin under his wings, Foster becomes an instant celebrity. But Devon can’t stand him. He’s surly, under appreciative of his celebrity status, and his drive to succeed hopelessly annoys Devon.
Pride & Prejudice
If you’re going into this book thinking it’s a retelling of Austen’s P & P, you’ll be disappointed. It is not a retelling. It may be loosely based on P & P, but you won’t find similarities between Ezra and Darcy. With that being said, I thought Mills made a good decision not to give us yet another retelling of P & P. Goodness knows, there’s a whole slew of them out there. Though, come to think of it, Ezra and Darcy were both socially awkward, so in that regard, I can agree. Devon shares Lizzie’s frankness from time to time, but she is not completely opinionated as Lizzie ever were. She’s got a dry wit, but she’s so quick to judge.
In Retrospect
It was a mildly enjoyable book. It wasn’t nearly as wonderful as I’d hoped it would be, but it was still cute. It had some scenes that made my chest ache, but not to the point that it conjured up tears. Devon was a little hard to take at first – I was never a fan of characters who can’t seem to find anything to be happy about in her milieu. And like a said, her judgement against the other girls who are not like her was a bit tiresome. She did grow up a little, and I especially enjoyed it more once she’s accepted Foster as her brother.
marbooks88's review
4.0
Senior year and everything changes for Devon. Her cousin comes to live with them, her best friend (who she might have a crush on) seems to be liking someone else, she needs to find an extra curricular for college applications, and she's 1 of 2 seniors stuck in freshmen gym class. Family, friendship and growing up are touched on in this delightful book.
taviamorgan's review
4.0
3.75
i liked this book but i was very underwhelmed. i felt like the relationship just wasn’t really there and it could’ve been really great. i enjoyed it but it doesn’t live up to what i hopes it would be. i liked ezra and devon but i didnt feel the chemistry because i felt like they were just kinda there. like they could’ve had way more scenes together to make it more believable. overall i was just really bored theough most of it
i liked this book but i was very underwhelmed. i felt like the relationship just wasn’t really there and it could’ve been really great. i enjoyed it but it doesn’t live up to what i hopes it would be. i liked ezra and devon but i didnt feel the chemistry because i felt like they were just kinda there. like they could’ve had way more scenes together to make it more believable. overall i was just really bored theough most of it
themichellegray's review
4.0
4.5 stars - Like all other Emma Mills books, I absolutely adored this! Mills’ storytelling has definitely grown with each publication, but this was still really beautiful for being her debut novel.
The best part of this book hands-down was when Foster said Devon was his hero. The progression of their familial relationship was so well written.
I related to Devon more than I expected to in every retrospect. Mills seriously encapsulates teenage years perfectly!
“I was filled with this feeling that there was nothing we couldn’t get through three hundred seconds at a time.”
The best part of this book hands-down was when Foster said Devon was his hero. The progression of their familial relationship was so well written.
I related to Devon more than I expected to in every retrospect. Mills seriously encapsulates teenage years perfectly!
“I was filled with this feeling that there was nothing we couldn’t get through three hundred seconds at a time.”
penandpencil's review
4.0
This book is very good and I liked it, but it could have been great with just a bit more. More characterization, more interactions between key characters, more exploration and development of key themes.
Good for a young YA reader (11-13), but more mature readers may not find it totally satisfying.
Good for a young YA reader (11-13), but more mature readers may not find it totally satisfying.
saeverra's review
5.0
4.5 for me, but I really enjoyed this book. I loved all of the allusions to Jane Austen including Ezra's Mr. Darcy style letter. The plot was sweet, with the right mixture of heavy. I liked Devon's character as well
zryz55's review
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Devon is so real.
adriftinfictionalworldval's review
4.0
where's my novella of the future, miss mills? atleast an epilogue!?