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scvallese1's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
This was a bit of a departure of the type of books that I read. That being said, it was quite refreshing! Rather than focusing on the romance aspect of a relationship, this chronicles the relationship that a high school girl has with her father, a recently deseased mother, a roommate, a friend, as well as a new boyfriend.
Rachel's mother recently passed away. Because of this, she is brought together with the father that she had never met, who also happens to be a famous musician. They are working to navigate their relationship; it's not easy to bond when your father is a moody and tempermental musician, who is also a self-proclaimed "founding member of A-holes Anonymous". Rachel goes away to boarding school for her senior year (this had already been planned before her mother's passing), where relationships are formed and others dissolve.
This was such an emotional story. I loved Sarina Bowen's storytelling ability and how she brought everything- and everyone- together. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with these characters.
As someone who does not normally gravitate toward Young Adult novels, I think The Accidentals may have opened my eyes to this genre again! I highly recommend (and look forward to rereading!)!!
This was a bit of a departure of the type of books that I read. That being said, it was quite refreshing! Rather than focusing on the romance aspect of a relationship, this chronicles the relationship that a high school girl has with her father, a recently deseased mother, a roommate, a friend, as well as a new boyfriend.
Rachel's mother recently passed away. Because of this, she is brought together with the father that she had never met, who also happens to be a famous musician. They are working to navigate their relationship; it's not easy to bond when your father is a moody and tempermental musician, who is also a self-proclaimed "founding member of A-holes Anonymous". Rachel goes away to boarding school for her senior year (this had already been planned before her mother's passing), where relationships are formed and others dissolve.
This was such an emotional story. I loved Sarina Bowen's storytelling ability and how she brought everything- and everyone- together. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with these characters.
As someone who does not normally gravitate toward Young Adult novels, I think The Accidentals may have opened my eyes to this genre again! I highly recommend (and look forward to rereading!)!!
whitreadslit's review
5.0
The Accidentals was a fun little read! I am a musician, so the whole music plot was very entertaining for me. It was also a great look at grief, anxiety, loss, and how to relate to an absent parent. While it dealt with some difficult topics, it was still an engrossing read. I couldn't put it down. (4.5 Stars)
petrag's review
4.0
Sensitive novel about a girl who loses her mother and is reunited with her rockstar father. I really like Sarina Bowen for her handling of consent issues in her novels - in this novel she brings out the nuances of what a controlling but well-meaning boyfriend looks like, and what a guy who wants the best for you does when he respects your boundaries. I felt that the portrayal of the dad and his road to redemption needed more fleshing out (more grovelling on his part, less sweetness on hers) but I still enjoyed the book and would still recommend this.
traceyj2850's review
4.0
*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Where to begin…? Firstly, this story has all the ingredients you’d expect from a Y/A novel, angst by the bucket load, drama, romance and growing up. Rachel who is the protagonist has just lost her mother to cancer and is about to meet her rock father dad for the first time in her life, she has dreamt of this moment forever. She just never expected it to be under these circumstances.
There is lots of character growth in this book, both Rachel and Fredrick have to learn how to have each other in their lives for the first time ever. There is a lot of question’s that Rachel needs answers to but is too afraid to ask.
I really liked Rachel but I wish she had been a bit more assertive at times. Frederick was ok but I felt like he handled some things in a bit of a childish manner, sometimes it was hard to believe he was in his forties because his behavior was that of a teenager. The other supporting characters in this book are great apart from Haze who is Rachel’s best friend that she leaves behind in Florida, he gave off major jerk vibes from the get-go and he proved this on multiple occasions.
Overall this book gave me a lot of feels, it was a really emotive read and I’d highly recommend!
Where to begin…? Firstly, this story has all the ingredients you’d expect from a Y/A novel, angst by the bucket load, drama, romance and growing up. Rachel who is the protagonist has just lost her mother to cancer and is about to meet her rock father dad for the first time in her life, she has dreamt of this moment forever. She just never expected it to be under these circumstances.
There is lots of character growth in this book, both Rachel and Fredrick have to learn how to have each other in their lives for the first time ever. There is a lot of question’s that Rachel needs answers to but is too afraid to ask.
I really liked Rachel but I wish she had been a bit more assertive at times. Frederick was ok but I felt like he handled some things in a bit of a childish manner, sometimes it was hard to believe he was in his forties because his behavior was that of a teenager. The other supporting characters in this book are great apart from Haze who is Rachel’s best friend that she leaves behind in Florida, he gave off major jerk vibes from the get-go and he proved this on multiple occasions.
Overall this book gave me a lot of feels, it was a really emotive read and I’d highly recommend!
hoosieratheart12's review
5.0
❤️❤️❤️
Omg, I’m not one that reads YA very often, but I read everything of Sarina’s, because she just has a way of telling stories that enchant me. This one was no different! Rachel’s journey through figuring out her ‘new’ life while not losing herself was so good! I literally could not put it down. ❤️❤️
Omg, I’m not one that reads YA very often, but I read everything of Sarina’s, because she just has a way of telling stories that enchant me. This one was no different! Rachel’s journey through figuring out her ‘new’ life while not losing herself was so good! I literally could not put it down. ❤️❤️
jaimejustreadsromance's review against another edition
5.0
I went into this story with a preconceived notion of what it would be. I was expecting a fun, young adult rockstar/musician romance. What I got was so much more.
Normally it’s the romance aspect of a story that draws me in and is necessary for me to really enjoy a book completely, but I was actually more intrigued by the family dynamics of this one. Reading about Rachel as she tried to navigate through her new life, while seeing parts of her old life in a brand new light, written in such a realistic and raw way is what kept me reading and has me still reliving her story a day later.
I think that Sarina Bowen did a fantastic job of writing imperfect characters and shining a light on their flaws and missteps while still making them charming, loveable and perfect each in their own way. There honestly wasn’t one character that didn’t both annoy me and charm me at different points of the story. This is how you develop characters people!!
This was a beautiful, at times gut-wrenching, coming of age story. A story of growth, loss, forgiveness and acceptance that captured my attention from the very first chapter through to the very last. This is a must read book for young adults everywhere and for those older adults who enjoy a well-written YA book once in a while.
*I received an ARC from the author for voluntary review
Normally it’s the romance aspect of a story that draws me in and is necessary for me to really enjoy a book completely, but I was actually more intrigued by the family dynamics of this one. Reading about Rachel as she tried to navigate through her new life, while seeing parts of her old life in a brand new light, written in such a realistic and raw way is what kept me reading and has me still reliving her story a day later.
I think that Sarina Bowen did a fantastic job of writing imperfect characters and shining a light on their flaws and missteps while still making them charming, loveable and perfect each in their own way. There honestly wasn’t one character that didn’t both annoy me and charm me at different points of the story. This is how you develop characters people!!
This was a beautiful, at times gut-wrenching, coming of age story. A story of growth, loss, forgiveness and acceptance that captured my attention from the very first chapter through to the very last. This is a must read book for young adults everywhere and for those older adults who enjoy a well-written YA book once in a while.
*I received an ARC from the author for voluntary review
maimaitu's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
angelreads's review
4.0
It seems like every couple of months I am reviewing a new book from Sarina Bowen and I have no shame. I just love her books so much that I need to read them all. And I loved The Accidentals just as much as her other books. The Accidentals is Sarina’s first YA novel and I just fell in love with it all, from the characters to the storyline.
Rachel has known who her father is most of her life, but she has never met him. She listens to his voice on the radio, but she has never heard it spoken to her. But that all changes when Rachel’s mother dies. Suddenly she is thrust into her father’s life of take-out and parties and his first-class lifestyle. She thought that meeting him would be totally different, and as time goes on, secrets start to build and misunderstandings start to appear. When Rachel moves to boarding school, she thought it would change and things do, just not how she expected it to.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book before I started it. Normally not a massive fan of books with singing or music involved. I don’t know why, because I love music. But sometimes I feel like it’s so out of place. Characters just randomly picking up a guitar and playing, or finding out they wow they can sing. But The Accidentals by Sarina Bowen didn’t disappoint and I just loved so much about it.
I loved Rachel as a protagonist. She was real, raw and had her faults and that is what made The Accidentals such a good read from the start. The grief that Rachel is feeling is so prominent from the start. She is hurting and her life is changing all around her, however, this grief also makes her stronger and throughout the novel, the reader is able to see her really stand strong and take a hold of losing her mother. I really liked Rachel’s love for music and singing and I really wanted her to tell her father sooner, but it did add an extra punch to the book.
I loved Rachel’s character development throughout The Accidentals. The reader is able to see her grow throughout the book, and it’s not only within her self. Rachel grows and helps those around her really take a leap of faith as such and grow themselves. She has been through a lot and when she is pushed into this new lifestyle it’s hard. But we see her grow to love it as it is.
The romance in The Accidentals was so adorable that it made my heart squeeze. Jake was so lovely and from their first letters, you could see that he was taken by her. And their first meeting, my heart couldn’t take it. I loved how they didn’t just jump into their relationship and took it all slow. It’s a nice change of pace from the romance books that I have been reading recently. I love that Jake didn’t push, but he also had respect for himself and when there were problems it didn’t just try and move on, he wanted to fix it. I want to see more of these two, but don’t know how my heart will cope.
The notion of family was a massive theme in The Accidentals and it explores the unconventional family too. Rachel has only ever known her father through his music, so when her mother dies and he comes into the picture it’s a massive shock to her. Not only that, it’s like everything she knew before has changed.
I loved seeing how clueless Rachel’s father was and how he tried and failed many times. I like that he didn’t just hop in the role of father and know everything. They both had to learn new things and how to work with one another. I did feel at times that Rachel’s father didn’t realise the outcome of things and things were left unsaid. Her father’s parents, especially his mother didn’t sit with my great as well. I understood where she was coming from, but gosh it came off wrong and did change a lot of things.
With all this love for The Accidentals, I do feel that it was slow at times. Especially the start. I was expecting for Rachel to arrive at the boarding school so much earlier than she actually did. This really dragged on the first half of the book or so. But after she arrived everything started to fall into place a lot more. Other than that I really enjoy Sarina’s writing, I love the way that she captures emotions, writes both characters and character arcs. Most of her books have been 4 star reads for me and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
Overall, I loved The Accidentals by Sarina Bowen. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a book, but it was so worth it. The Accidentals explores grief, family and finding yourself in this massive world. It’s a coming of age story that is explored through music and love. The romance and friendships are adorable and just added another dimension to the novel. The Accidentals also explores new family and sometimes it’s so hard to come together at times, but in the end, you do love each other. If you are looking for a book that may just pull you to pieces this is for you.
Rachel has known who her father is most of her life, but she has never met him. She listens to his voice on the radio, but she has never heard it spoken to her. But that all changes when Rachel’s mother dies. Suddenly she is thrust into her father’s life of take-out and parties and his first-class lifestyle. She thought that meeting him would be totally different, and as time goes on, secrets start to build and misunderstandings start to appear. When Rachel moves to boarding school, she thought it would change and things do, just not how she expected it to.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book before I started it. Normally not a massive fan of books with singing or music involved. I don’t know why, because I love music. But sometimes I feel like it’s so out of place. Characters just randomly picking up a guitar and playing, or finding out they wow they can sing. But The Accidentals by Sarina Bowen didn’t disappoint and I just loved so much about it.
I loved Rachel as a protagonist. She was real, raw and had her faults and that is what made The Accidentals such a good read from the start. The grief that Rachel is feeling is so prominent from the start. She is hurting and her life is changing all around her, however, this grief also makes her stronger and throughout the novel, the reader is able to see her really stand strong and take a hold of losing her mother. I really liked Rachel’s love for music and singing and I really wanted her to tell her father sooner, but it did add an extra punch to the book.
I loved Rachel’s character development throughout The Accidentals. The reader is able to see her grow throughout the book, and it’s not only within her self. Rachel grows and helps those around her really take a leap of faith as such and grow themselves. She has been through a lot and when she is pushed into this new lifestyle it’s hard. But we see her grow to love it as it is.
The romance in The Accidentals was so adorable that it made my heart squeeze. Jake was so lovely and from their first letters, you could see that he was taken by her. And their first meeting, my heart couldn’t take it. I loved how they didn’t just jump into their relationship and took it all slow. It’s a nice change of pace from the romance books that I have been reading recently. I love that Jake didn’t push, but he also had respect for himself and when there were problems it didn’t just try and move on, he wanted to fix it. I want to see more of these two, but don’t know how my heart will cope.
The notion of family was a massive theme in The Accidentals and it explores the unconventional family too. Rachel has only ever known her father through his music, so when her mother dies and he comes into the picture it’s a massive shock to her. Not only that, it’s like everything she knew before has changed.
I loved seeing how clueless Rachel’s father was and how he tried and failed many times. I like that he didn’t just hop in the role of father and know everything. They both had to learn new things and how to work with one another. I did feel at times that Rachel’s father didn’t realise the outcome of things and things were left unsaid. Her father’s parents, especially his mother didn’t sit with my great as well. I understood where she was coming from, but gosh it came off wrong and did change a lot of things.
With all this love for The Accidentals, I do feel that it was slow at times. Especially the start. I was expecting for Rachel to arrive at the boarding school so much earlier than she actually did. This really dragged on the first half of the book or so. But after she arrived everything started to fall into place a lot more. Other than that I really enjoy Sarina’s writing, I love the way that she captures emotions, writes both characters and character arcs. Most of her books have been 4 star reads for me and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
Overall, I loved The Accidentals by Sarina Bowen. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a book, but it was so worth it. The Accidentals explores grief, family and finding yourself in this massive world. It’s a coming of age story that is explored through music and love. The romance and friendships are adorable and just added another dimension to the novel. The Accidentals also explores new family and sometimes it’s so hard to come together at times, but in the end, you do love each other. If you are looking for a book that may just pull you to pieces this is for you.
kaycheer2899's review
5.0
What a great book! I loved reading about how Rachel and Frederick explored their relationship together. Rachel is such a strong main character and her development was the highlight of the book. Also, Jake was so swoon-worthy, and can I get a friend like Aurora??