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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.
Spoiler
Briancupcakegirly's review
5.0
I won a copy of Stealing Parker in a Twitter contest so a HUGE "Thank You" to author Miranda Kenneally for that! I love the covers of these books (Catching Jordan and the upcoming, Things I Can't Forget) because they're simple yet pretty and all directly relate to the story.
I fell in love with Miranda's writing and her characters when I read Catching Jordan a couple of weeks ago and couldn't wait to get back on the playing fields of Hundred Oaks High! *coughs* Sam Henry *coughs* Stealing Parker is a story about one girl's journey to figure out who she is and what matters most. It examines the impact faith can have on the choices we make and is filled with humor, heart break and romance. Stealing Parker will steal your heart.
Parker Shelton is a girl whose spent much of her young life trying to live up to other people's expectations. Whether it be God, her church, her family, or her friends, Parker has been putting everyone else first only to be letdown time and again. Don't get me wrong, selflessness is a great quality to possess as long as you don't lose yourself along the way. When her Mom makes a choice that leaves Parker and her family devastated as well as the topic of gossip at both church and school, she decides to take control. In an effort to prove she's nothing like her Mom, Parker is convinced that if she can be the kind of girl guys want; pretty, skinny, and flirtatious then she'll be okay. Unfortunately, her choices leave her with nothing more than a bad reputation.
Parker longs to be in a real relationship, to be loved, to be worth something to someone else and when she meets Brian, she thinks he could be the guy she's been looking for. Brian is cute, funny and doesn't judge her but he's also a little out of her league. Then there's Will. He's the one who challenges her on and off the baseball diamond, calls her out on the hard stuff and gives her a glimpse of what a relationship with God should look like when he invites her to his church.
She quickly finds herself caught between two guys, both of whom seem willing to risk everything to be with her but when her past mistakes come back to haunt her, she's faced with striking out altogether. To help her through it, she'll have to reach out to the person she holds responsible for all of her pain and anger. Forgiveness and grace will come into play, and Parker learns that sometimes, going to bat for yourself is more important than being the designated hitter.
One of the things I enjoy so much about Miranda's books is that she not only gives us flawed characters, but one's who have to face the consequences of their actions, thus making them relateable. Parker has been "looking for love in all the wrong places" and a common misconception is that teenage boys aren't affected by this kind of behavior, but they are. Parker's behavior is a result of the pain she's trying to numb thanks in part to her church's reaction to her Mom's life choices. When she realizes the effect her actions have had on the guys she's been hooking up with, she gains a better perspective about herself and how she really wants to be seen.
Will was a great character! He's cute, smart, funny and has a good heart. He's far from perfect and I really appreciated his willingness to hold himself and others accountable for their actions. He makes different choices from those of a typical teenage boy and I LOVED that about him! *clutches Will* (After *meeting* Will, Sam Henry has some serious competition in my heart, just sayin'! *winks*)
Sam, Drew and Tate are good examples of what a friend should be (especially Drew). They too have their own issues but I would be happy to call any one of them my friends. Companion novels are fun because you get a chance to see beloved characters again and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the hot mess of a boy that is Sam Henry! *grins really big* Psst, Miranda, I think Sam needs his own book...I would be ALL OVER THAT! ;)
Gettin' Personal...
This story hit home for me on so many levels and had me feeling ALL THE FEELS. To a certain extent, I was Parker for awhile in high school. (I even had a Drew) Like Parker, I also tried to be who I thought guys wanted me to be but when that became too exhausting or they wanted to take things too far, I would ditch them. At the time, it seemed easier to live that way, no one got too close (to me) and no one got hurt, or so I thought. Looking back, I'm sure there were a couple who were hurt by my actions much like the boys in this book were hurt by Parker's.
I could also relate to what Parker goes through with the people at her church. Having grown up Catholic, I had a desire to love and please God but all the rules left me feeling like the worst sinner, ever! It wasn't until I was 19 that I found a church more like Will's and learned what it really means to be a "Christian". It's not about being perfect or even a religion, but a relationship. It's how you live your life and the way you treat people. I can only hope now, that when people interact with me, they feel cared for and accepted. I'm not going to always agree with others, but my job isn't to change people, it's to love them.
I fell in love with Miranda's writing and her characters when I read Catching Jordan a couple of weeks ago and couldn't wait to get back on the playing fields of Hundred Oaks High! *coughs* Sam Henry *coughs* Stealing Parker is a story about one girl's journey to figure out who she is and what matters most. It examines the impact faith can have on the choices we make and is filled with humor, heart break and romance. Stealing Parker will steal your heart.
Parker Shelton is a girl whose spent much of her young life trying to live up to other people's expectations. Whether it be God, her church, her family, or her friends, Parker has been putting everyone else first only to be letdown time and again. Don't get me wrong, selflessness is a great quality to possess as long as you don't lose yourself along the way. When her Mom makes a choice that leaves Parker and her family devastated as well as the topic of gossip at both church and school, she decides to take control. In an effort to prove she's nothing like her Mom, Parker is convinced that if she can be the kind of girl guys want; pretty, skinny, and flirtatious then she'll be okay. Unfortunately, her choices leave her with nothing more than a bad reputation.
Parker longs to be in a real relationship, to be loved, to be worth something to someone else and when she meets Brian, she thinks he could be the guy she's been looking for. Brian is cute, funny and doesn't judge her but he's also a little out of her league. Then there's Will. He's the one who challenges her on and off the baseball diamond, calls her out on the hard stuff and gives her a glimpse of what a relationship with God should look like when he invites her to his church.
She quickly finds herself caught between two guys, both of whom seem willing to risk everything to be with her but when her past mistakes come back to haunt her, she's faced with striking out altogether. To help her through it, she'll have to reach out to the person she holds responsible for all of her pain and anger. Forgiveness and grace will come into play, and Parker learns that sometimes, going to bat for yourself is more important than being the designated hitter.
One of the things I enjoy so much about Miranda's books is that she not only gives us flawed characters, but one's who have to face the consequences of their actions, thus making them relateable. Parker has been "looking for love in all the wrong places" and a common misconception is that teenage boys aren't affected by this kind of behavior, but they are. Parker's behavior is a result of the pain she's trying to numb thanks in part to her church's reaction to her Mom's life choices. When she realizes the effect her actions have had on the guys she's been hooking up with, she gains a better perspective about herself and how she really wants to be seen.
Will was a great character! He's cute, smart, funny and has a good heart. He's far from perfect and I really appreciated his willingness to hold himself and others accountable for their actions. He makes different choices from those of a typical teenage boy and I LOVED that about him! *clutches Will* (After *meeting* Will, Sam Henry has some serious competition in my heart, just sayin'! *winks*)
Sam, Drew and Tate are good examples of what a friend should be (especially Drew). They too have their own issues but I would be happy to call any one of them my friends. Companion novels are fun because you get a chance to see beloved characters again and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the hot mess of a boy that is Sam Henry! *grins really big* Psst, Miranda, I think Sam needs his own book...I would be ALL OVER THAT! ;)
Gettin' Personal...
This story hit home for me on so many levels and had me feeling ALL THE FEELS. To a certain extent, I was Parker for awhile in high school. (I even had a Drew) Like Parker, I also tried to be who I thought guys wanted me to be but when that became too exhausting or they wanted to take things too far, I would ditch them. At the time, it seemed easier to live that way, no one got too close (to me) and no one got hurt, or so I thought. Looking back, I'm sure there were a couple who were hurt by my actions much like the boys in this book were hurt by Parker's.
I could also relate to what Parker goes through with the people at her church. Having grown up Catholic, I had a desire to love and please God but all the rules left me feeling like the worst sinner, ever! It wasn't until I was 19 that I found a church more like Will's and learned what it really means to be a "Christian". It's not about being perfect or even a religion, but a relationship. It's how you live your life and the way you treat people. I can only hope now, that when people interact with me, they feel cared for and accepted. I'm not going to always agree with others, but my job isn't to change people, it's to love them.
kaleyb25's review
3.0
6/10
This was better than the first one. Some of the topics in this one were handled better, and the writing was stronger. The sport element wasn't as prelevant but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I did like the final romance in the end, but it took a bad romance to get there (Note: the bad romance plays bigger role by the end but it's easily my least favorite part). Still trashy ya but more likeable with some depth this time around.
This was better than the first one. Some of the topics in this one were handled better, and the writing was stronger. The sport element wasn't as prelevant but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I did like the final romance in the end, but it took a bad romance to get there (Note: the bad romance plays bigger role by the end but it's easily my least favorite part). Still trashy ya but more likeable with some depth this time around.
mfgulick's review
3.0
Having a hard time rating this one. I enjoyed it and liked how it fit in with the rest of the series, but I had a couple of issues with the story that I can’t really overlook.
First, the religious undertones were a bit much for me at times. I get how they were important to the story but it was unexpected considering they aren’t present in the other books. They were just too much, too constant in the story and at times, they took away from it for me.
But the big issue for me was Parker’s relationship with Brian. I was conflicted about being conflicted seeing how I’m married to someone older, but there’s something different about two adults, with age differences, getting together and a minor student getting together with an adult teacher / coach. I really wish Miranda Kenneally had picked a different conflict to focus on for this one.
First, the religious undertones were a bit much for me at times. I get how they were important to the story but it was unexpected considering they aren’t present in the other books. They were just too much, too constant in the story and at times, they took away from it for me.
But the big issue for me was Parker’s relationship with Brian. I was conflicted about being conflicted seeing how I’m married to someone older, but there’s something different about two adults, with age differences, getting together and a minor student getting together with an adult teacher / coach. I really wish Miranda Kenneally had picked a different conflict to focus on for this one.
ashleyquinn's review
3.25
Aight, aight. I’ll give it to Kenneally. This book had some layers. I love layers.
Biggest plot hole was that dude received his Master’s by 23. I kind of wish he was a few years older just bc we were all still pretty fucking immature at that age, so like...of course...
Resolution was a bit unrealistic, but hey, maybe some people really do reach Enlightenment at age 18. You go, Parker. Listen to those crickets. Enjoy that breeze.
Biggest plot hole was that dude received his Master’s by 23. I kind of wish he was a few years older just bc we were all still pretty fucking immature at that age, so like...of course...
Resolution was a bit unrealistic, but hey, maybe some people really do reach Enlightenment at age 18. You go, Parker. Listen to those crickets. Enjoy that breeze.
msethna's review
4.0
Not my favorite of Miranda Kenneally's books, but still a fast read and one that I know some of our girls at school will devour. I struggled a bit with this one because the main character, Parker, who is already struggling with her mom' scandal, gets involved in a scandal of her own - falling for the new baseball coach/teacher at her school. For such an academically smart student, she doesn't have the confidence in herself to make better decisions. In the end, I did still enjoy the story and hoped for her to find happiness within herself and with her family.
remusreads's review
3.0
3.5*! Another quick, easy, comforting read. Such a joy to read these books and I can’t wait for the next one!
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.
ciaralo's review
3.0
I really, really wanted to like this book but I could tell almost right away that it was going to fall short. It's companion novel Catching Jordan, was smart and heart-warming, but Stealing Parker lacked the spark of its predecessor. The story itself lacked warmth and humor, and did not live up to the potential the concept presented.
Reading a book about female athletes makes me so so happy. I adore sports, and played them a lot when I was younger. Although baseball is probably my least favorite sport, I was really looking forward to reading about the team dynamics and sports enthusiasm. And while that was an awesome part of the book, it was few and far between. Instead, the focus was on Parker's home life and her relationship with her older coach. I think I would have enjoyed that part of the story had it been done right, but instead I found the majority of it unrealistic and predictable.
I think the real thing this book was missing was the heart of Catching Jordan. I found Jordan to be such a passionate character, and I loved her desire to push the boundaries set before her. She was not content to just sit back and hope for the best, but wanted to earn respect and pride. Unlike Jordan, Parker was a very flat character. She mostly let things happen to her and never really did anything. Her situation was different than Jordan's but there was so much opportunity for growth and, in the end, I wasn't entirely sold on the new Parker. She said a lot but I find that actions, be them purposeful or unconscious, speak much more about a character than their words. Parker was going through a crisis, no doubt, and I can't fault her for not responding to it well, but she didn't do anything to change her situation either. By the end of the book, I was proud of where she ended up but I don't feel as if it was genuine. She seemed as if she was put there rather than working her way there.
The whole plot itself I found pretty formulaic. I wasn't looking for twists and turns, but I felt like the whole book was just going through the motions. There was no power behind it. This book could have had some fantastic messages about self-discovery, about being your own person, but it lacked the passion to really drive home the point.
On the positive note, Miranda Kenneally really knows how to write great love interests. I mean, I was swooning all over the place because of Will. He was so sweet, earnest, and fun. The kind of guy I would just love to hang out with. His scene with Parker were enjoyable, and they seemed to bring out the best in each other.
I think, overall, I just expected more from Stealing Parker. More heart, better characters, and a story that would have made me smile. I'm a bit disappointed with this one, but I do look forward to the next companion novels. The heart is there, I think it was just missing in this installment.
- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)
Reading a book about female athletes makes me so so happy. I adore sports, and played them a lot when I was younger. Although baseball is probably my least favorite sport, I was really looking forward to reading about the team dynamics and sports enthusiasm. And while that was an awesome part of the book, it was few and far between. Instead, the focus was on Parker's home life and her relationship with her older coach. I think I would have enjoyed that part of the story had it been done right, but instead I found the majority of it unrealistic and predictable.
I think the real thing this book was missing was the heart of Catching Jordan. I found Jordan to be such a passionate character, and I loved her desire to push the boundaries set before her. She was not content to just sit back and hope for the best, but wanted to earn respect and pride. Unlike Jordan, Parker was a very flat character. She mostly let things happen to her and never really did anything. Her situation was different than Jordan's but there was so much opportunity for growth and, in the end, I wasn't entirely sold on the new Parker. She said a lot but I find that actions, be them purposeful or unconscious, speak much more about a character than their words. Parker was going through a crisis, no doubt, and I can't fault her for not responding to it well, but she didn't do anything to change her situation either. By the end of the book, I was proud of where she ended up but I don't feel as if it was genuine. She seemed as if she was put there rather than working her way there.
The whole plot itself I found pretty formulaic. I wasn't looking for twists and turns, but I felt like the whole book was just going through the motions. There was no power behind it. This book could have had some fantastic messages about self-discovery, about being your own person, but it lacked the passion to really drive home the point.
On the positive note, Miranda Kenneally really knows how to write great love interests. I mean, I was swooning all over the place because of Will. He was so sweet, earnest, and fun. The kind of guy I would just love to hang out with. His scene with Parker were enjoyable, and they seemed to bring out the best in each other.
I think, overall, I just expected more from Stealing Parker. More heart, better characters, and a story that would have made me smile. I'm a bit disappointed with this one, but I do look forward to the next companion novels. The heart is there, I think it was just missing in this installment.
- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)