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maggiemaggio's review
3.0
3.75 stars
I think it’s already been established that I am a big sports fan and I’ll admit, part of me thought sports would figure more prominently in this story, but in the end I was ok with softball and baseball taking a back seat.
I liked Parker pretty much immediately. By far my favorite thing she did was obsessively paint her nails. I realize that probably wasn’t the healthiest behavior (although it’s better than some of her other behavior), but as a lover of nail polish and someone who puts a lot of thought into what color I’m going to paint my nails, I could completely relate to Parker’s obsession with having the right nail polish to fit the day’s events/mood.
Why does Parker have this quirk you ask? Well, recently Parker’s mother came out of the closet, shocking their church and their small town. Parker was pretty much a golden child: valedictorian, softball star, and fairly popular girl. Once her mom comes out of the closet, and pretty much abandons her family, Parker feels lost. She continues to do well in school (yay!), but she quits the softball team because she feels like all the girls are judging her and she is dropped by a lot of friends, especially her church friends, and she starts acting out. She loses quite a bit of weight and creates many rules for herself about what she can and can’t eat (I would venture a guess to say she developed an eating disorder, but as a future dietitian I tend to over think these things so I’m leaving it at that) and she starts hooking up with a lot of guys.
The whole hooking up with guys thing is the basis for much of the story and I found it so heartbreaking. Not that she’d be promiscuous, if a girl wants to be promiscuous for the right reasons I say more power to her, but Parker is not doing it for the right reasons. Her main reason is so people know she’s not gay, which just made me want to cry. First, that Parker and her community think there’s something so wrong with being gay (although I don’t think Parker really thinks that, I think it’s a reflection of other people’s opinions) and second, that she would rather be known as willing to hook up with pretty much any guy rather than be known as gay.
Parker wants people to think she’s sluttier (and I use that word with no negative connotation) than she actually is, but she’s really just kissing and maybe doing some heavy petting (I love any opportunity to use that ridiculous phrase). Then Parker meets Brian, the new baseball assistant coach. Parker’s friend recruited her to be the baseball team’s manager after she quit softball so she starts spending a lot of time with Brian, who’s not too much older than Parker, he recently graduated college, but certainly not in a position to be dating a student at the high school where he works.
Brian was such a loser. Bah, I hated Brian. I liked what he gave to the story, but I wanted Parker to get over him and date Corndog. Yes, Corndog! How cool of a nickname is that? The story behind it is really sweet, but I’ll leave that up to you to discover. And he has a real name, but I don’t know why anyone would want to call him anything except Corndog. One of the things I really like about Miranda Kenneally’s books, or at least this one and Catching Jordan, is how the romances seem to develop so organically. I wouldn’t have necessarily expected Parker and Corndog to get together, but I loved seeing them get to know each other and then figuring out if they could really be together.
Bottom Line: Another winner from Miranda Kenneally! Again, why did I wait so long to read her books?! Stealing Parker is a great story about a girl trying to figure out who she is in the context of her family and her small town. Her journey to do it isn’t smooth, and there were times I wanted to kill her, but I wanted to kill her in the best possible way. Plus there’s a great, slow-burn, romance!
This review first appeared on my blog.
I think it’s already been established that I am a big sports fan and I’ll admit, part of me thought sports would figure more prominently in this story, but in the end I was ok with softball and baseball taking a back seat.
I liked Parker pretty much immediately. By far my favorite thing she did was obsessively paint her nails. I realize that probably wasn’t the healthiest behavior (although it’s better than some of her other behavior), but as a lover of nail polish and someone who puts a lot of thought into what color I’m going to paint my nails, I could completely relate to Parker’s obsession with having the right nail polish to fit the day’s events/mood.
Why does Parker have this quirk you ask? Well, recently Parker’s mother came out of the closet, shocking their church and their small town. Parker was pretty much a golden child: valedictorian, softball star, and fairly popular girl. Once her mom comes out of the closet, and pretty much abandons her family, Parker feels lost. She continues to do well in school (yay!), but she quits the softball team because she feels like all the girls are judging her and she is dropped by a lot of friends, especially her church friends, and she starts acting out. She loses quite a bit of weight and creates many rules for herself about what she can and can’t eat (I would venture a guess to say she developed an eating disorder, but as a future dietitian I tend to over think these things so I’m leaving it at that) and she starts hooking up with a lot of guys.
The whole hooking up with guys thing is the basis for much of the story and I found it so heartbreaking. Not that she’d be promiscuous, if a girl wants to be promiscuous for the right reasons I say more power to her, but Parker is not doing it for the right reasons. Her main reason is so people know she’s not gay, which just made me want to cry. First, that Parker and her community think there’s something so wrong with being gay (although I don’t think Parker really thinks that, I think it’s a reflection of other people’s opinions) and second, that she would rather be known as willing to hook up with pretty much any guy rather than be known as gay.
Parker wants people to think she’s sluttier (and I use that word with no negative connotation) than she actually is, but she’s really just kissing and maybe doing some heavy petting (I love any opportunity to use that ridiculous phrase). Then Parker meets Brian, the new baseball assistant coach. Parker’s friend recruited her to be the baseball team’s manager after she quit softball so she starts spending a lot of time with Brian, who’s not too much older than Parker, he recently graduated college, but certainly not in a position to be dating a student at the high school where he works.
Brian was such a loser. Bah, I hated Brian. I liked what he gave to the story, but I wanted Parker to get over him and date Corndog. Yes, Corndog! How cool of a nickname is that? The story behind it is really sweet, but I’ll leave that up to you to discover. And he has a real name, but I don’t know why anyone would want to call him anything except Corndog. One of the things I really like about Miranda Kenneally’s books, or at least this one and Catching Jordan, is how the romances seem to develop so organically. I wouldn’t have necessarily expected Parker and Corndog to get together, but I loved seeing them get to know each other and then figuring out if they could really be together.
Bottom Line: Another winner from Miranda Kenneally! Again, why did I wait so long to read her books?! Stealing Parker is a great story about a girl trying to figure out who she is in the context of her family and her small town. Her journey to do it isn’t smooth, and there were times I wanted to kill her, but I wanted to kill her in the best possible way. Plus there’s a great, slow-burn, romance!
This review first appeared on my blog.
lisamparkin's review
4.0
I wasn't sure about this one at first. Parker is an unlikeable and immature character at times, but kenneally knows what she's doing. Excellent. I freaking love this series!
emilygrafton8's review
4.0
book #4 for the booktubeathon ✅
probably actually around a 4.5****
ahhh I'm so conflicted on my feelings for this book. on one hand I was so confused and wasn't a fan of this book. but then I think more about it and analyze it and I realized that it was so cute and adorable and had such much development and now i don't even know anymore. like Parker changed so much as a character and it was amazing to read about. it had me shook. she was such a great and eventually such a strong young woman. I wasn't a fan of her and Brian's relationship (obvi I mean am I right??😬) and it was so annoying when she wouldn't realize that will/corndog liked her!!!!! I was like honey open your eyes. also her and drew's relationship was super fun and cute and I'm glad they each other. and then PARKER AND WILL. SHOOK. it was so unexpected and cute and I loved every minute of it. you could tell he liked her and I was screaming the whole way during it. as a whole I'm starting to like Miranda Kenneally's book and I still have one on my TBR pile. overall a good read!! but the other one I read was definitely a fav
probably actually around a 4.5****
ahhh I'm so conflicted on my feelings for this book. on one hand I was so confused and wasn't a fan of this book. but then I think more about it and analyze it and I realized that it was so cute and adorable and had such much development and now i don't even know anymore. like Parker changed so much as a character and it was amazing to read about. it had me shook. she was such a great and eventually such a strong young woman. I wasn't a fan of her and Brian's relationship (obvi I mean am I right??😬) and it was so annoying when she wouldn't realize that will/corndog liked her!!!!! I was like honey open your eyes. also her and drew's relationship was super fun and cute and I'm glad they each other. and then PARKER AND WILL. SHOOK. it was so unexpected and cute and I loved every minute of it. you could tell he liked her and I was screaming the whole way during it. as a whole I'm starting to like Miranda Kenneally's book and I still have one on my TBR pile. overall a good read!! but the other one I read was definitely a fav
ochie_anne9's review
3.0
I give this about 3.5 actually because I kept laughing at the parts where Parker's dad kept calling Corndog 'Corn Fritters'. Other than that the direction of the story was pfffft. But there are some really good parts too.
Is it just me?! or did you also expect this to be like Catching Jordan where it's a lot about football!?! so I was thinking this would be like 'yeah now I know everything about baseball too!' but no. hmph. Big let down. My expectations betray me all the time.
Miranda Kenneally has this habit of suddenly destroying main characters at the end of the story. She'll let you go into the story and like place these characters in the spotlight and making them seem they're awesome and all that and perfect and the good guy. But then suddenly she'd write them in a chapter to show that there's a glitch in their personality and that they're not really the good guy or whatever. Frustrates me so much! poor Brian.
Anyways I think Parker's a bit selfish given her back story with her mom, family and church and all. I mean can she not wait until she's 18 to be with Brian!? That's only 2 months! 2! She's about to graduate! Valedictorian even!! so why can she not freakin wait!? Ok also there's a huge fault in Brian's part but still. Come on. Parker could've handled it better because she's supposed to be really smart. It's not like she's not kissing Brian back! Not to mention that this involves Brian's job and future. Not to mentione hers! so frustrating and annoying. 2 months!
Drew was pretty selfish too, I mean ok you like Will but you're not even sure he's going to like you back and you're supposed to be Parker's friend too you know!? Why didn't you consider her feelings too!? Some bestfriend you are huh?
Laura can suck it.
Will is great but I'm a bit confused with his character. I bit bipolar or whatever. One moment he's super sweet and the next he's all resentment and shit. What is up with not talking to Parker (Don't call me anymore) and then sudden one moment at prom you're standing there eavesdropping Parker and her mom's conversation and then suddenly everything is forgotten so you kiss yey! WHAT!? What is wrong with you!? Gaah. Highschool.
...
Is it just me?! or did you also expect this to be like Catching Jordan where it's a lot about football!?! so I was thinking this would be like 'yeah now I know everything about baseball too!' but no. hmph. Big let down. My expectations betray me all the time.
Miranda Kenneally has this habit of suddenly destroying main characters at the end of the story. She'll let you go into the story and like place these characters in the spotlight and making them seem they're awesome and all that and perfect and the good guy. But then suddenly she'd write them in a chapter to show that there's a glitch in their personality and that they're not really the good guy or whatever. Frustrates me so much! poor Brian.
Spoiler
Anyways I think Parker's a bit selfish given her back story with her mom, family and church and all. I mean can she not wait until she's 18 to be with Brian!? That's only 2 months! 2! She's about to graduate! Valedictorian even!! so why can she not freakin wait!? Ok also there's a huge fault in Brian's part but still. Come on. Parker could've handled it better because she's supposed to be really smart. It's not like she's not kissing Brian back! Not to mention that this involves Brian's job and future. Not to mentione hers! so frustrating and annoying. 2 months!
Drew was pretty selfish too, I mean ok you like Will but you're not even sure he's going to like you back and you're supposed to be Parker's friend too you know!? Why didn't you consider her feelings too!? Some bestfriend you are huh?
Laura can suck it.
Will is great but I'm a bit confused with his character. I bit bipolar or whatever. One moment he's super sweet and the next he's all resentment and shit. What is up with not talking to Parker (Don't call me anymore) and then sudden one moment at prom you're standing there eavesdropping Parker and her mom's conversation and then suddenly everything is forgotten so you kiss yey! WHAT!? What is wrong with you!? Gaah. Highschool.
...
fictionalkate's review
4.0
After her mother leaving her family (and for another woman at that!), Parker Shelton is a girl trying to get a reputation. No one will ever doubt that she is a girl who likes boys. Most of her old friends abandoned her when she needed them most but her bff, Drew, refuses to let the old Parker fade away completely. He signs Parker up to team manager for the boy’s baseball team.
It’s there that the new coach, Brian, catches her eye. It’s sparks from the first moment she lays eyes on him but being twenty-three (and six years older than Parker) there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Or should they?
There’s a about Stealing Parker that felt VERY familiar after reading the first book, Catching Jordan. But this book managed to set itself apart. The heroine, Parker, is interesting. She’s been betrayed – not only by her friends and family but she feels like even her God has abandoned her. So she tries to change herself. Changes her interests, loses a lot of weight and attempts to lose the girl she was. To be honest, I found her rather annoying for the first half of the novel. But she grew on me and I was on her side by the end. I wanted her to succeed and to fix her family and reputation.
Teacher/Student relationships are something that I often have a problem with and I felt like Brian took advantage of the situation and Parker on more than one occasion. And whilst I felt like he got off a little too easily, I did like how the author addressed the situation and the consequences that result from a relationship like that.
I have to admit I’m a little surprised that I adored a character named “Corndog”. Unlike the type of stereotype a name like that might bring to mind, Will “Corndog” Whitfield, was smart, funny, generous and just the perfect leading male for Parker. I loved the drama associated with their relationship and thought the ending was perfect.
One of the highlights of this book was the religious angle. For me, I’m often against YA novels with a Christian flavour – they’re at times over the top and start leaning towards being preachy – but I really enjoyed how Miranda Kenneally wove Parker’s religious beliefs into the storyline. It was tastefully done and I loved how it turned out.
Whilst I may not have learned anything about baseball from reading this book, I enjoyed the sports angle and by the time I finished the novel I adored the romance.
It’s there that the new coach, Brian, catches her eye. It’s sparks from the first moment she lays eyes on him but being twenty-three (and six years older than Parker) there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Or should they?
There’s a about Stealing Parker that felt VERY familiar after reading the first book, Catching Jordan. But this book managed to set itself apart. The heroine, Parker, is interesting. She’s been betrayed – not only by her friends and family but she feels like even her God has abandoned her. So she tries to change herself. Changes her interests, loses a lot of weight and attempts to lose the girl she was. To be honest, I found her rather annoying for the first half of the novel. But she grew on me and I was on her side by the end. I wanted her to succeed and to fix her family and reputation.
Teacher/Student relationships are something that I often have a problem with and I felt like Brian took advantage of the situation and Parker on more than one occasion. And whilst I felt like he got off a little too easily, I did like how the author addressed the situation and the consequences that result from a relationship like that.
I have to admit I’m a little surprised that I adored a character named “Corndog”. Unlike the type of stereotype a name like that might bring to mind, Will “Corndog” Whitfield, was smart, funny, generous and just the perfect leading male for Parker. I loved the drama associated with their relationship and thought the ending was perfect.
One of the highlights of this book was the religious angle. For me, I’m often against YA novels with a Christian flavour – they’re at times over the top and start leaning towards being preachy – but I really enjoyed how Miranda Kenneally wove Parker’s religious beliefs into the storyline. It was tastefully done and I loved how it turned out.
Whilst I may not have learned anything about baseball from reading this book, I enjoyed the sports angle and by the time I finished the novel I adored the romance.
heather425's review
3.0
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Catching Jordan. This one just wasn't as good to me. I think the whole story line about the church being so cult like and the unaccepted gay characters just didn't sit well with me. Not to mention the fact that the baseball coach, who just graduated from college, starts having a relationship with the title character, Parker and in general is inappropriate.
Ok, so really the thing that saved this story for me was the writing. I really like the author's writing style. It's not perfect, but seems real to me. I hope her next book is as good as Catching Jordan and not so much like this one.
Ok, so really the thing that saved this story for me was the writing. I really like the author's writing style. It's not perfect, but seems real to me. I hope her next book is as good as Catching Jordan and not so much like this one.
booknerd777's review
5.0
Ahh this book was amazing of course! Miranda is one of my favorite author's and Catching Jordan is one of my favorite books of all time! This one didn't disappoint me at all! It was amazing and I always love her characters so much! I loved seeing my favorite couple from CJ in this book. She is such an underrated author and all Contemporary fans need to read her books! I have her other books and need to read them. Definitely one of my favorite books of 2016 so far. I will be posting a full review on my blog soon so stay tuned :)
theanachronismreads's review against another edition
3.0
Needs to come with CW
Oh boy. Right up front I’m going to say this is subject matter I’d want handled very differently for teens- especially around the interactions between Parker and the coach, but also I was disappointed with the body image/heavily diet culture-oriented line.
The way things came together helped but didn’t have the weight I’d hoped for.
Oh boy. Right up front I’m going to say this is subject matter I’d want handled very differently for teens- especially around the interactions between Parker and the coach, but also I was disappointed with the body image/heavily diet culture-oriented line.
The way things came together helped but didn’t have the weight I’d hoped for.
geo_ix's review
4.0
So during reading this I wasn’t liking it for a large portion. The immaturity, religious stuff and even the way it was written, really got to me. If it wasn’t for the slight growth of the main character I probably would have raged, but I must admit that by the end I did really enjoy the story. I won’t say the writing didn’t get to me, it why I can’t say I loved it. It read more like her diary than anything and it’s quite off putting. I liked that she took time to find herself, and the scenes with the guy in the truck made me so uncomfortable as their ‘relationship’ progressed, and she felt uncomfortable but he kept pushing anyway. It was bad enough him even meeting up with her but those scenes made my skin crawl. Parker is a very emotional character which I actually enjoyed and even though the writing style wasn’t for me, I think in terms of getting her emotions across it worked well. Loved Will, hated when he wouldn’t talk to her, and I don’t really like her friend because I just don’t get that ‘I like him so stay way thing’. I think it’s dumb. Especially for people turning 18.