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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.
blakehalsey's review
5.0
My second Kenneally book and I really liked it--Parker was a convincing protagonist with believable problems. The tension in this book was really great--sexual and relational. I read it in one evening! I think she does a great job building up emotion in her characters. I liked Parker's dilemma and the less than wise ways she chose to deal with it. It all felt very genuine.
princesspanda18's review
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was fine. It was an easy to read ya romance/coming of age story.
donttakemybooks's review
4.0
I really like this series. This one had my favorite romantic hero in it, of the ones I've read so far. Corndog was awesome- smart, sweet, funny, patient. I also liked Parker, who spends a lot of this book in a dark place, making bad decisions, but I really admired how she finds her way back to herself, her mom, and her religion.
savetris's review
4.0
really loved it! miranda kenneally's becoming my sarah dessen 2.0. would try to post a more coherent review when time permits.
michellesantiago's review
4.0
Fantastic contemporary YA read. I really, really enjoyed it. Parker is a great character--she is perfectly flawed. Full review to come.
bookishnicole's review
4.0
Cute, I liked that Parker came into her own and learned that the only opinion that matters is her own.
brenna_reads_books's review
3.0
I just LOVE all of Miranda Kenneally’s books!!! I’ve read Racing Savannah, Jesse’s Girl, and now Stealing Parker and they are all amazing!!!
bookladysreviews's review
3.0
I want to start this review by saying that, I love Miranda Kenneally's books! I always reach for them when I'm in the mood for a fun and quick read, meaning that, they're incredibly easy to get through. No struggle for me there, because it usually takes me one to two days to read them and it's a process that I truthfully enjoy. Immensely.
Now, Stealing Parker is probably my least favorite from the ones I've managed to read this far. The characters were likable enough but I didn't connect with them as much as I would've liked. Both as a reader and as a person. Because, I felt like the balance was way off. The beginning, truth be told, was promising enough but things got kind of iffy from there on. If that makes any sense whatsoever...
Firstly, the romance, love triangle or whatever that was did nothing for me. I hated the coach person, whose name I can't even remember and the fact that Parker did whatever he wanted, just because he gave her a bit of attention. Their problem of course was that, they couldn't be together because he was obviously a teacher at her school and he was older by a couple of years. Right? Well, explain to me why the heck he, mature person that he claimed he was, decided that it was a wise choice for him to lead Parker on, down a very dangerous and forbidden path mind you, and then just walk away. Why? Because he OBVIOUSLY could not decide what he wanted from life. And then he goes and gets all possessive and jealous and I just sit there, staring at the book in front of me, full of frustration and more than ready to punch someone in the face. Him, preferably.
It was ridiculous to say the least. I was extremely angry at the little stunt he pulled a couple of chapters before the end and it was quite obvious that, he was contradicting himself throughout the book. Poor Parker wanted a normal relationship, but he made it quite clear from the beginning that, he had other plans. But, a girl can only take that much before she explodes. And that exactly what Parker did. She spend so much time, trying to prevent herself from being like her mother, as if her mother's choices could decide, just like that, her own. Which is understandable, but I feel like she lost herself and what she truly wanted from life in the process.
One silver lining people, was Will. I adored Will from the moment he was introduced and I swooned over him so many times, I lost count. He was honest and it was obvious that, he made Parker genuinely happy. Plus, his little brother was adorable! And Parker herself, was a very loving and caring character. She just tried so hard to please others in order to convince them that, she was nothing like her mother. Resulting in searching for a Parker that did not exist, instead of embracing the Parker that lived within her and was struggling to be heard.
Last thing I want to address, is the whole church thing. I don't have a problem with religion nor content of the particular topic in books. But I found the setting in Stealing Parker, completely ridiculous. No offense but, seriously? It was too much for my taste. Things got way out of hand and I felt overwhelmed by all these people, trying to make the main character and her family feel like shit and isolating them from everyone, instead of supporting them through the difficult times they went through and kept going through as the book progressed. It was wrong on their part and made me question the sincerity of it all, in this world we live in. How could they stand on the sidelines, not only watching from afar as a family fell apart, but also judging them? How could they look down upon people who went through so many things and prevent them from finding true happiness with their spiteful words and judgmental comments?
Stealing Parker was not one of my favorites, but that doesn't mean anything. I love Miranda Keneally's writing and I would definitely recommend her books, if you're looking for a quick, easy and enjoyable read! She has her own, unique way of creating realistic and very vivid story lines, with characters that could easily be your next door neighbors!
Now, Stealing Parker is probably my least favorite from the ones I've managed to read this far. The characters were likable enough but I didn't connect with them as much as I would've liked. Both as a reader and as a person. Because, I felt like the balance was way off. The beginning, truth be told, was promising enough but things got kind of iffy from there on. If that makes any sense whatsoever...
Firstly, the romance, love triangle or whatever that was did nothing for me. I hated the coach person, whose name I can't even remember and the fact that Parker did whatever he wanted, just because he gave her a bit of attention. Their problem of course was that, they couldn't be together because he was obviously a teacher at her school and he was older by a couple of years. Right? Well, explain to me why the heck he, mature person that he claimed he was, decided that it was a wise choice for him to lead Parker on, down a very dangerous and forbidden path mind you, and then just walk away. Why? Because he OBVIOUSLY could not decide what he wanted from life. And then he goes and gets all possessive and jealous and I just sit there, staring at the book in front of me, full of frustration and more than ready to punch someone in the face. Him, preferably.
It was ridiculous to say the least. I was extremely angry at the little stunt he pulled a couple of chapters before the end and it was quite obvious that, he was contradicting himself throughout the book. Poor Parker wanted a normal relationship, but he made it quite clear from the beginning that, he had other plans. But, a girl can only take that much before she explodes. And that exactly what Parker did. She spend so much time, trying to prevent herself from being like her mother, as if her mother's choices could decide, just like that, her own. Which is understandable, but I feel like she lost herself and what she truly wanted from life in the process.
One silver lining people, was Will. I adored Will from the moment he was introduced and I swooned over him so many times, I lost count. He was honest and it was obvious that, he made Parker genuinely happy. Plus, his little brother was adorable! And Parker herself, was a very loving and caring character. She just tried so hard to please others in order to convince them that, she was nothing like her mother. Resulting in searching for a Parker that did not exist, instead of embracing the Parker that lived within her and was struggling to be heard.
Last thing I want to address, is the whole church thing. I don't have a problem with religion nor content of the particular topic in books. But I found the setting in Stealing Parker, completely ridiculous. No offense but, seriously? It was too much for my taste. Things got way out of hand and I felt overwhelmed by all these people, trying to make the main character and her family feel like shit and isolating them from everyone, instead of supporting them through the difficult times they went through and kept going through as the book progressed. It was wrong on their part and made me question the sincerity of it all, in this world we live in. How could they stand on the sidelines, not only watching from afar as a family fell apart, but also judging them? How could they look down upon people who went through so many things and prevent them from finding true happiness with their spiteful words and judgmental comments?
Stealing Parker was not one of my favorites, but that doesn't mean anything. I love Miranda Keneally's writing and I would definitely recommend her books, if you're looking for a quick, easy and enjoyable read! She has her own, unique way of creating realistic and very vivid story lines, with characters that could easily be your next door neighbors!
ginnikin's review
3.0
I almost gave up on this when she was running around with . I'm glad I didn't. Wow, what a collection of not at all Christian church-goers. Parker was better than the lot of them, even if she was making a lot of mistakes in her fumbling around.