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cocopurplebooks's review against another edition
3.0
The Art of Lainey is a cute and predictable book. I finished this pretty quick and the ending was quite nice. The novel is about soccer star Lainey Mitchell whose life changes when her boyfriend of 2.5 years Jason breaks up with her. In public! With the help of her best friend Bianca, Lainey comes up with a plan to get Jason back.
The best part of this book was Micah! His character was so amazing and he and Lainey are so cute together! It was obvious that they were gonna end up together. Some parts of the book were also very funny and had me cracking up. Lainey wasn't a bad protagonist but I really wished she had more of a backbone. I'm glad she grew one more towards the end.
I hated Jason because he was an ass and I didn't see what Lainey saw in him but I hated his sister Kendall more. Kendall was Lainey's other best friend and she was a stuck up, bitchy and shallow. I literally couldn't stand her and she every time she appeared on the book, I got annoyed. Her whole friendship with Lainey is one sided and she only cared about herself. I was so glad in the end that Lainey saw the real her.
While I enjoyed the book, it was very predictable and by the first chapter I knew Micah and Lainey would end up together. If you like romance, fluffy stories and sweet and funny romantic leads, this is the book for you.
The best part of this book was Micah! His character was so amazing and he and Lainey are so cute together! It was obvious that they were gonna end up together. Some parts of the book were also very funny and had me cracking up. Lainey wasn't a bad protagonist but I really wished she had more of a backbone. I'm glad she grew one more towards the end.
I hated Jason because he was an ass and I didn't see what Lainey saw in him but I hated his sister Kendall more. Kendall was Lainey's other best friend and she was a stuck up, bitchy and shallow. I literally couldn't stand her and she every time she appeared on the book, I got annoyed. Her whole friendship with Lainey is one sided and she only cared about herself. I was so glad in the end that Lainey saw the real her.
While I enjoyed the book, it was very predictable and by the first chapter I knew Micah and Lainey would end up together. If you like romance, fluffy stories and sweet and funny romantic leads, this is the book for you.
pixelski's review against another edition
4.0
Firstly, thanks to HarperTeen for this eARC.
Review originally posted at Fiction in Fiction in Fiction
3.5 stars
“No one ever said war was easy.”
The Art of Lainey (hereafter referred to as Lainey) is a really fun and sweet read that is the perfect summer read. If you like fluffy books that make you laugh and swoon then this is the book for you (basically a book for everyone!)
When Lainey’s longtime boyfriend Jason suddenly dumps her in public, her best friend Bianca helps her devise a plan to get him back. Using the ancient Chinese war manual, The Art of War, the two adapt the teachings of military strategist Sun Tzu into various ways of making Jason realize what he’s given up. And ladies and gentlemen, we have The Art of Lainey.
Lainey herself is a soccer fanatic and other than Jason it seems to be only other thing on her mind – oh and fashion. I found her a bit ditzy to be honest and her near obsession with Jason in the beginning drove me crazy. She’s the kind of girl that would have left him 50 missed calls until he got back to her unless Bianca stopped her. Lainey was a bit naïve too at times, which, coupled with her ditziness, made her not very likable in the beginning for me. However, Stokes does character growth really well. I could see Lainey really mature throughout the book – she really grew into herself and realised what was important by the end. What I really loved about Lainey was how selfless she became – how she was willing to put Micah’s happiness before hers because she thought he was more deserving; the way she helped Micah’s sister and stood up to Kendall was a ground-breaking moment and I was just cheering so much for Lainey.
“And then I realise I’ve made this conversation all about me. I have a feeling I do that a lot.”
I loved the secondary characters Stokes included. She developed them all with great personalities and depth. The friendship between Lainey and Bianca was beautiful – in so many YA books, there is always some flaw with the best friend; they’re either too whiny or too out-going and the protagonist feels like they’re being outshone by the best friend. Bianca was the opposite. She may have seemed like the quiet type but she shone on her own – through her caring and observant nature, through the way she constantly supported Lainey. Bianca is extremely smart but she never bragged about it and without her, The Art of War wouldn’t have been used. I loved the way she interpreted the strategies into laymen terms for Lainey, but never made her feel dumb. There are lots of lessons about friendship, broadening one’s horizon and not judging people that many of the secondary characters (especially Kendall and Leo) teach which I thought added depth to the story.
“And that’s Bee. A watcher. A ‘think first and leap later’ girl.”
Micah was such a sweet guy and I think the perfect example of not judging someone by appearances. He’s a very considerate boy and surprisingly knowledgeable about Lainey’s habits but not in a creepy way! He’s just the kind of guy who observes and takes people’s feelings into account which I thought made him really wonderful. I enjoyed him heckling Lainey in the beginning and his witty/sarcastic comments. I love guys who are snarky but can be sweet because it really balances out.
The romance was so swoony and cute. I was biting my lip and smiling more often than not. Point, set and match to Stokes for no insta-love and developing the romance at the perfect pace! Stokes gave Lainey and Micah the perfect foundation (and history) for developing a friendship and grounds for furthering that. In their game, I noticed little slips of real emotion coming out. It was slow, hesitant and oh so sweet because neither party occasionally couldn’t draw the line between what was part of the game or what was reality. And then the pain of realising that it was all based on a game and what they were each willing to give up for each other’s happiness *swoon*
“His hands feel warm, even on my flushed skin. His fingertips linger on my jawbone.”
Stokes’ writing is great. The way she incorporated an ancient war strategy into a modern book for teens made me realise how it’s a great lesson on adaptations and how timeless some things are. Applying The Art of War to such a normal situation made it so realistic. There were so many great quotes about fighting battles that related to daily life, I loved the way they were phrased and how motivational they are. It was great how this developed slowly – Stokes makes it a point that nothing worth having comes easy. We must work for it, and even then, results aren’t instant, but take time and persistence. We’ll make mistakes along the way, and maybe we’ll realise that what we initially wanted changes as we grow.
“It’s about picking your battles, knowing when to fight, knowing exactly what and who is worth fighting for.”
Lainey is an extremely cute and sweet read. Perfect for summer, heartbreaks, or just when you want to feel good about yourself. Filled with great messages, a swoony romance and lovely characters that are well thought out, I think Lainey is a book anybody will enjoy.
“Wars aren’t fought in a day.”
Review originally posted at Fiction in Fiction in Fiction
3.5 stars
“No one ever said war was easy.”
The Art of Lainey (hereafter referred to as Lainey) is a really fun and sweet read that is the perfect summer read. If you like fluffy books that make you laugh and swoon then this is the book for you (basically a book for everyone!)
When Lainey’s longtime boyfriend Jason suddenly dumps her in public, her best friend Bianca helps her devise a plan to get him back. Using the ancient Chinese war manual, The Art of War, the two adapt the teachings of military strategist Sun Tzu into various ways of making Jason realize what he’s given up. And ladies and gentlemen, we have The Art of Lainey.
Lainey herself is a soccer fanatic and other than Jason it seems to be only other thing on her mind – oh and fashion. I found her a bit ditzy to be honest and her near obsession with Jason in the beginning drove me crazy. She’s the kind of girl that would have left him 50 missed calls until he got back to her unless Bianca stopped her. Lainey was a bit naïve too at times, which, coupled with her ditziness, made her not very likable in the beginning for me. However, Stokes does character growth really well. I could see Lainey really mature throughout the book – she really grew into herself and realised what was important by the end. What I really loved about Lainey was how selfless she became – how she was willing to put Micah’s happiness before hers because she thought he was more deserving; the way she helped Micah’s sister and stood up to Kendall was a ground-breaking moment and I was just cheering so much for Lainey.
“And then I realise I’ve made this conversation all about me. I have a feeling I do that a lot.”
I loved the secondary characters Stokes included. She developed them all with great personalities and depth. The friendship between Lainey and Bianca was beautiful – in so many YA books, there is always some flaw with the best friend; they’re either too whiny or too out-going and the protagonist feels like they’re being outshone by the best friend. Bianca was the opposite. She may have seemed like the quiet type but she shone on her own – through her caring and observant nature, through the way she constantly supported Lainey. Bianca is extremely smart but she never bragged about it and without her, The Art of War wouldn’t have been used. I loved the way she interpreted the strategies into laymen terms for Lainey, but never made her feel dumb. There are lots of lessons about friendship, broadening one’s horizon and not judging people that many of the secondary characters (especially Kendall and Leo) teach which I thought added depth to the story.
“And that’s Bee. A watcher. A ‘think first and leap later’ girl.”
Micah was such a sweet guy and I think the perfect example of not judging someone by appearances. He’s a very considerate boy and surprisingly knowledgeable about Lainey’s habits but not in a creepy way! He’s just the kind of guy who observes and takes people’s feelings into account which I thought made him really wonderful. I enjoyed him heckling Lainey in the beginning and his witty/sarcastic comments. I love guys who are snarky but can be sweet because it really balances out.
The romance was so swoony and cute. I was biting my lip and smiling more often than not. Point, set and match to Stokes for no insta-love and developing the romance at the perfect pace! Stokes gave Lainey and Micah the perfect foundation (and history) for developing a friendship and grounds for furthering that. In their game, I noticed little slips of real emotion coming out. It was slow, hesitant and oh so sweet because neither party occasionally couldn’t draw the line between what was part of the game or what was reality. And then the pain of realising that it was all based on a game and what they were each willing to give up for each other’s happiness *swoon*
“His hands feel warm, even on my flushed skin. His fingertips linger on my jawbone.”
Stokes’ writing is great. The way she incorporated an ancient war strategy into a modern book for teens made me realise how it’s a great lesson on adaptations and how timeless some things are. Applying The Art of War to such a normal situation made it so realistic. There were so many great quotes about fighting battles that related to daily life, I loved the way they were phrased and how motivational they are. It was great how this developed slowly – Stokes makes it a point that nothing worth having comes easy. We must work for it, and even then, results aren’t instant, but take time and persistence. We’ll make mistakes along the way, and maybe we’ll realise that what we initially wanted changes as we grow.
“It’s about picking your battles, knowing when to fight, knowing exactly what and who is worth fighting for.”
Lainey is an extremely cute and sweet read. Perfect for summer, heartbreaks, or just when you want to feel good about yourself. Filled with great messages, a swoony romance and lovely characters that are well thought out, I think Lainey is a book anybody will enjoy.
“Wars aren’t fought in a day.”
laurenreadsandstuff's review against another edition
I don't remember what I rated this I read it in like 7th grade.
thequeenreads's review against another edition
4.0
Perfect coming of age book. Full book talk up on le blog.
cammmiam's review against another edition
4.0
When Lainey Mitchell pictured her epic summer and subsequent senior year, everything centered on her relationship with her boyfriend, Jason. But then, suddenly, Jason dumps her without warning -- in public no less -- and with no information to go on as to why things have deteriorated as fast as they did. Lainey is convinced she and Jason are meant to be together, and when she refuses to move on, her friend, Bianca, introduces her to a book titled, ‘The Art of War.’ Together Lainey and Bianca devise a plan to win back Jason’s attention and affection in accordance with the book’s guidelines for war; along the way they enlist the help of their co-worker, Micah, to pose as Lainey’s boyfriend so he might win back his ex, too. If you think you know exactly where this book is going with this storyline, then you are most likely spot-on. But where The Art of Lainey moves beyond the predictable is in the authenticity behind the growth of the main character.
At the beginning of the story, Lainey is so convinced she needs her boyfriend to exist in the world she has fashioned for herself. There can be no other option for her, nor does she care to look beyond the shallow to see what has become of herself and what she has sacrificed in order to become the ideal. Away from Jason and his twin sister, Lainey finds friendship with others and begins to expand her horizons. She begins to realize she held back from doing things because of what others might think. She begins to realize that she has thoughts, tastes, and opinions that are completely her own. There are some things worth fighting for and there are others that have run their course to the point they need to be let go. I enjoyed journeying with Lainey as she realized this lesson in terms of friendships and love.
Filled with plenty of hilarious moments The Art of Lainey is a quick read with the ability to worm its way into the reader’s heart. I will admit to being baffled to the point of exasperation at Lainey’s initial attitude, but she grows on you over the course of the storyline. There are some characters that do nothing more than represent the cliché of what we will find in high school, but in a way I think it worked here as Lainey learned to look beyond the image to find the worth held inside.
At the beginning of the story, Lainey is so convinced she needs her boyfriend to exist in the world she has fashioned for herself. There can be no other option for her, nor does she care to look beyond the shallow to see what has become of herself and what she has sacrificed in order to become the ideal. Away from Jason and his twin sister, Lainey finds friendship with others and begins to expand her horizons. She begins to realize she held back from doing things because of what others might think. She begins to realize that she has thoughts, tastes, and opinions that are completely her own. There are some things worth fighting for and there are others that have run their course to the point they need to be let go. I enjoyed journeying with Lainey as she realized this lesson in terms of friendships and love.
Filled with plenty of hilarious moments The Art of Lainey is a quick read with the ability to worm its way into the reader’s heart. I will admit to being baffled to the point of exasperation at Lainey’s initial attitude, but she grows on you over the course of the storyline. There are some characters that do nothing more than represent the cliché of what we will find in high school, but in a way I think it worked here as Lainey learned to look beyond the image to find the worth held inside.
cjyu's review against another edition
4.0
I really really want to give this a five, but I have to knock some points off it for a few things
a) Lainey's stupidity on the fact Jason is basically her whole world. I NEED SOME FEMALE EMPOWERMENT HERE.
b) I feel like we used The Art of War less than I expected
I would in terms of how much I enjoyed it, it's a solid five, but technicalities considered, it's a 3.5. (Seriously Lainey DOUCHEBAGS DO NOT KEEP THE WORLD SPINNING) It is a great cute fluffy novel though.
*************************
They had me at the "go all Zhou Dynasty on him" line.
a) Lainey's stupidity on the fact Jason is basically her whole world. I NEED SOME FEMALE EMPOWERMENT HERE.
b) I feel like we used The Art of War less than I expected
I would in terms of how much I enjoyed it, it's a solid five, but technicalities considered, it's a 3.5. (Seriously Lainey DOUCHEBAGS DO NOT KEEP THE WORLD SPINNING) It is a great cute fluffy novel though.
*************************
They had me at the "go all Zhou Dynasty on him" line.
maggiemaggio's review against another edition
3.0
3.75 stars
The Art of Lainey is a book I picked up, started reading, was horrified that anyone I knew could like something so terrible, put down for two months, and picked back up again when Estelle told me how much she enjoyed it. I don’t even know if I can express to you how much I disliked the beginning of this book. Lainey’s boyfriend Jason has just broken up with her in a very public and embarrassing way in front of everyone at her father’s coffee shop where she works. Lainey, a popular soccer player is not excited to spend her summer alone and go into her senior year single. She has a lot of plans for the things she wants to do and the person she wants to be and being single and alone does not fit into that equation. For the first 15% or so Lainey pines after Jason. She wants him back, despite the fact that he seems like a complete tool, and mostly I was just embarrassed for her that she was this vapid and stupid.
Yet, I pushed on. Lainey and her token Latina friend Bianca come up with a plan to get Jason back using Sun Tzu’s (or “Dead Chinese Warlord”) The Art of War. That whole premise is what initially drew me to the book to begin with. The idea of using The Art of War to win back a guy is hilarious and once Lainey got over being a brat, I actually started to enjoy it. Each chapter opens with a quote from The Art of War and there’s usually some reference to it in the chapters as well. Lainey gets so into it that she starts carrying around a copy of the book with her wherever she goes. I’ve never read The Art of War, but it was fun seeing how Lainey and Biana adapted it to win back a guy.
Throughout the book I continued to cringe whenever Lainey mentioned Jason or he suddenly appeared. I never wanted Lainey to get back together with him, but thankfully that wasn’t the point of the book and the things that were the points of the book: friendship, self-discovery, and family, worked really well.
Lainey has two best friends, the aforementioned Bianca and Kendall, Jason’s sister. Bianca works with Lainey at the coffee shop and is kind of the brains behind this whole Dead Chinese Warlord plan. Lainey and Bianca have been friends since they were younger and I really enjoyed their friendship. They genuinely care about and are supportive of each other, plus they each have their own lives outside of their friendship. Lainey’s relationship with Kendall isn’t so smooth. Kendall is spending the summer competing in an America’s Top Model-like show so Lainey is friends with her from afar. Kendall is pretty much the stereotypical popular girl. She’s into older guys, she’s mean to people she sees as below her on the social ladder, and she’s brutally honest with Lainey to the point of being cruel. This juxtaposition of friends worked really well. It was nice to see the different sides of Lainey and knowing the nice, sweeter side of Lainey made the popular-witchy girl side that came out around Kendall more bearable. It’s also a very realistic situation, too. With Kendall Lainey has the chance to be popular and known and I think there’s something about that that appeals to everyone. Plus, a lot of people (women?) are friends with people who aren’t too nice to them and Kendall is a great example of that.
Lainey also strikes up a friendship with two of the guys she works with, Micah and Leo, kind of alternative guys she never paid attention to before. As part of The Art of War strategy Lainey convinces Micah to fake date her to make Jason, and also Micah’s ex-girlfriend, jealous. Micah is a great addition to the book and through getting to know Micah Lainey starts to discover another side of herself. She starts to like alternative music after going to concerts with Micah and has her eyes opened to what a witch Kendall can be. She also starts to see that Jason isn’t so perfect, yet her mind keeps trying to tell her that Jason is the right kind of guy for her. Even though their relationship is just for show Lainey starts to think she’s developing feelings for Micah, but she’s afraid to take a chance on someone different.
The family in this book isn’t strong in a obviously or typical way, but they still were a good YA family. Lainey’s dad owns the coffee shop where she works and he’s kind of bubbling and clueless, but he tried his best and obviously cared about Lainey and the other employees. Lainey’s mom is an anthropology professor at a local college and even though she’s often cloistered away in her office she still keeps tabs on what Lainey is up to including giving her a curfew. Lainey’s brother is away in Ireland for the summer and they keep in touch through texts and emails and it was nice to see a supportive older brother.
Bottom Line: I am so happy I gave this book another shot and pushed beyond the mean girl Lainey was at the beginning of the story. This is a fun book that’s perfect for the beach or pool this summer, but it also has a depth to it that drew me in and made me really root for the characters.
I received an electronic review copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss (thank you!). All opinions are my own.
This review first appeared on my blog.
The Art of Lainey is a book I picked up, started reading, was horrified that anyone I knew could like something so terrible, put down for two months, and picked back up again when Estelle told me how much she enjoyed it. I don’t even know if I can express to you how much I disliked the beginning of this book. Lainey’s boyfriend Jason has just broken up with her in a very public and embarrassing way in front of everyone at her father’s coffee shop where she works. Lainey, a popular soccer player is not excited to spend her summer alone and go into her senior year single. She has a lot of plans for the things she wants to do and the person she wants to be and being single and alone does not fit into that equation. For the first 15% or so Lainey pines after Jason. She wants him back, despite the fact that he seems like a complete tool, and mostly I was just embarrassed for her that she was this vapid and stupid.
Yet, I pushed on. Lainey and her token Latina friend Bianca come up with a plan to get Jason back using Sun Tzu’s (or “Dead Chinese Warlord”) The Art of War. That whole premise is what initially drew me to the book to begin with. The idea of using The Art of War to win back a guy is hilarious and once Lainey got over being a brat, I actually started to enjoy it. Each chapter opens with a quote from The Art of War and there’s usually some reference to it in the chapters as well. Lainey gets so into it that she starts carrying around a copy of the book with her wherever she goes. I’ve never read The Art of War, but it was fun seeing how Lainey and Biana adapted it to win back a guy.
Throughout the book I continued to cringe whenever Lainey mentioned Jason or he suddenly appeared. I never wanted Lainey to get back together with him, but thankfully that wasn’t the point of the book and the things that were the points of the book: friendship, self-discovery, and family, worked really well.
Lainey has two best friends, the aforementioned Bianca and Kendall, Jason’s sister. Bianca works with Lainey at the coffee shop and is kind of the brains behind this whole Dead Chinese Warlord plan. Lainey and Bianca have been friends since they were younger and I really enjoyed their friendship. They genuinely care about and are supportive of each other, plus they each have their own lives outside of their friendship. Lainey’s relationship with Kendall isn’t so smooth. Kendall is spending the summer competing in an America’s Top Model-like show so Lainey is friends with her from afar. Kendall is pretty much the stereotypical popular girl. She’s into older guys, she’s mean to people she sees as below her on the social ladder, and she’s brutally honest with Lainey to the point of being cruel. This juxtaposition of friends worked really well. It was nice to see the different sides of Lainey and knowing the nice, sweeter side of Lainey made the popular-witchy girl side that came out around Kendall more bearable. It’s also a very realistic situation, too. With Kendall Lainey has the chance to be popular and known and I think there’s something about that that appeals to everyone. Plus, a lot of people (women?) are friends with people who aren’t too nice to them and Kendall is a great example of that.
Lainey also strikes up a friendship with two of the guys she works with, Micah and Leo, kind of alternative guys she never paid attention to before. As part of The Art of War strategy Lainey convinces Micah to fake date her to make Jason, and also Micah’s ex-girlfriend, jealous. Micah is a great addition to the book and through getting to know Micah Lainey starts to discover another side of herself. She starts to like alternative music after going to concerts with Micah and has her eyes opened to what a witch Kendall can be. She also starts to see that Jason isn’t so perfect, yet her mind keeps trying to tell her that Jason is the right kind of guy for her. Even though their relationship is just for show Lainey starts to think she’s developing feelings for Micah, but she’s afraid to take a chance on someone different.
The family in this book isn’t strong in a obviously or typical way, but they still were a good YA family. Lainey’s dad owns the coffee shop where she works and he’s kind of bubbling and clueless, but he tried his best and obviously cared about Lainey and the other employees. Lainey’s mom is an anthropology professor at a local college and even though she’s often cloistered away in her office she still keeps tabs on what Lainey is up to including giving her a curfew. Lainey’s brother is away in Ireland for the summer and they keep in touch through texts and emails and it was nice to see a supportive older brother.
Bottom Line: I am so happy I gave this book another shot and pushed beyond the mean girl Lainey was at the beginning of the story. This is a fun book that’s perfect for the beach or pool this summer, but it also has a depth to it that drew me in and made me really root for the characters.
I received an electronic review copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss (thank you!). All opinions are my own.
This review first appeared on my blog.
kimching232's review against another edition
4.0
The Art of Lainey has more than 300 pages, but it felt like a quick read because of how enjoyable it was!
Soccer star Lainey Mitchell just got dump by her boyfriend, Jason Chase, in her parents' coffee shop in front of everyone. Lainey was sad and devastated at first, but soon picked herself up and was determined to get Jason back no matter what. With the help of her best friend Bee and an ancient Chinese war book, The Art of War, Lainey goes through a series of plans to win Jason back. Part of this plan is getting her co-worker, Micah, to pose as her boyfriend to make Jason jealous.
When I got the ARC copy from Harper Collins, I was really excited! I have been wanting to read this book for quite a time now, and I'm very happy to say that it didn't disappoint. From the start of this book, I was glad to see that Lainey was a strong girl. I admired her because after getting dumped, she immediately got on her feet and was determined, unlike other girls who don't eat or wallow in self-pity. Seeing that, I immediately felt that I would love this book.
Following Lainey through her adventures, I saw how Lainey grew from being stalker-ish, to bashing the other girl Jason is with, to finally accepting that there's nothing wrong with the other girl. I loved how Lainey wasn't naive. Instead, she was wise and ready to defend the people that she cares about. That's what I love about this book, aside from the romance. I loved how Lainey's character grew.
""Jason isn't a dick, he just found some other girl he likes better." It's the first time I've actually put that thought into words. It hurts, but it's also freeing."
"But in case you haven't noticed, I'm remaking myself. And I like the new me better."
As a teen, this was the perfect book to read because it is relatable and I also learned a lot from reading it. The writing was really good, the plot and pacing amazing. To be honest I just wanted to give this 4 stars at first, but as I was writing this review, my mind flashed back to all those situations that made sense, and all those lines that were worth remembering forever, and I decided that this book deserves more than 4 stars, so I give it 4.5. :)
I am excited to read more Contemporaries by Paula Stokes, because I believe that they would be equally amazing!
Soccer star Lainey Mitchell just got dump by her boyfriend, Jason Chase, in her parents' coffee shop in front of everyone. Lainey was sad and devastated at first, but soon picked herself up and was determined to get Jason back no matter what. With the help of her best friend Bee and an ancient Chinese war book, The Art of War, Lainey goes through a series of plans to win Jason back. Part of this plan is getting her co-worker, Micah, to pose as her boyfriend to make Jason jealous.
When I got the ARC copy from Harper Collins, I was really excited! I have been wanting to read this book for quite a time now, and I'm very happy to say that it didn't disappoint. From the start of this book, I was glad to see that Lainey was a strong girl. I admired her because after getting dumped, she immediately got on her feet and was determined, unlike other girls who don't eat or wallow in self-pity. Seeing that, I immediately felt that I would love this book.
Following Lainey through her adventures, I saw how Lainey grew from being stalker-ish, to bashing the other girl Jason is with, to finally accepting that there's nothing wrong with the other girl. I loved how Lainey wasn't naive. Instead, she was wise and ready to defend the people that she cares about. That's what I love about this book, aside from the romance. I loved how Lainey's character grew.
""Jason isn't a dick, he just found some other girl he likes better." It's the first time I've actually put that thought into words. It hurts, but it's also freeing."
"But in case you haven't noticed, I'm remaking myself. And I like the new me better."
As a teen, this was the perfect book to read because it is relatable and I also learned a lot from reading it. The writing was really good, the plot and pacing amazing. To be honest I just wanted to give this 4 stars at first, but as I was writing this review, my mind flashed back to all those situations that made sense, and all those lines that were worth remembering forever, and I decided that this book deserves more than 4 stars, so I give it 4.5. :)
I am excited to read more Contemporaries by Paula Stokes, because I believe that they would be equally amazing!
jennifermreads's review against another edition
3.0
“If 10,000 readers pirate your book, no one gets paid and no one knows your book was popular. If 10,000 readers check your book out of the library, librarians notice and they order more copies, or they order your next book, or they invite you to come speak…or they recommend your book to teens, who then maybe buy your next book/recommend it to more teens.” (@pstokesbooks http://tinyurl.com/p4ovsk6)
THAT folks is why borrowing from a library is not the same as or as hurtful as illegal downloads! And that is why I bought a copy of The Art of Lainey and read it. Anyone who can write so passionately about piracy - and remember to include a reason why borrowing from the library isn't piracy is worth tossing some support!
The romance part of the story was a little predictable but it was light, fun, and solidly in the beach-read category. This is one that was easy to pick up, put down, pick back up: perfect for by the pool or lazing on the beach.
At times I was extremely irritated with Lainey's insane desire to get back the d-bag that dumped her in the middle of the busy coffee shop where she works. But I kept reminding myself: "We all had these all-consuming loves in high school or college. The loves where we could not fathom going on without them as part of our lives. The loves where we would do anything to get them back." Then, her obsession made sense and the crazy lengths she went to became exaggerations of what we may have all wished we had tried at some point.
Again, the wrap-up was predictable - but the journey to get there was entertaining enough to overlook the predictability.
THAT folks is why borrowing from a library is not the same as or as hurtful as illegal downloads! And that is why I bought a copy of The Art of Lainey and read it. Anyone who can write so passionately about piracy - and remember to include a reason why borrowing from the library isn't piracy is worth tossing some support!
The romance part of the story was a little predictable but it was light, fun, and solidly in the beach-read category. This is one that was easy to pick up, put down, pick back up: perfect for by the pool or lazing on the beach.
At times I was extremely irritated with Lainey's insane desire to get back the d-bag that dumped her in the middle of the busy coffee shop where she works. But I kept reminding myself: "We all had these all-consuming loves in high school or college. The loves where we could not fathom going on without them as part of our lives. The loves where we would do anything to get them back." Then, her obsession made sense and the crazy lengths she went to became exaggerations of what we may have all wished we had tried at some point.
Again, the wrap-up was predictable - but the journey to get there was entertaining enough to overlook the predictability.