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escapeebee's review
5.0
Full review also posted here on TotalTeenFiction
Jessie Hearts NYC follows Jessie and her best friend Emma as they head across the Atlantic to spend time with Jessie's mother in New York. The girls soak up the city whilst Jessie tries to put her ex-boyfriend Tyler behind her. Meanwhile, New Yorker Finn must deal with his feelings for his best friend's girlfriend.
I loved this book. Really loved it. Read it in one afternoon kind of loved it (and I never read books in one afternoon). It was exactly the kind of fun, escapism that I needed, with a brilliantly clever plot that kept me hooked to the pages.
Firstly, I love books that transport you to new places. Reading Jessie Hearts NYC felt like I was getting on that plane with Jessie, and when she was seeing the sights and exploring, I was right there with her. I finished the book and wanted to plan my own trip to NYC right away! What I loved was the inclusion of references to films and TV shows set in New York. I'm a huge Friends fan so obviously I was waiting for those mentions (and I wasn't disappointed!) but I just loved how it incorporated all the pop culture stuff. It really helped me feel like I was escaping.
The book is told in third person and flicks between Jessie and Finn's perspectives. Their stories start out quite separate and they're brought together by being in the same place at the same time. One minute you're with Jessie in a coffee shop, the next you're with Finn in that same coffee shop. There are little interactions between the two characters and you end up rooting for them to finally meet properly and get a chance to speak to each other. I loved how the book played with the idea of fate and being in the right place at the right time.
One of my favourite things about the book was Finn himself who is so just so loveable! When we meet him he's head over heels for his best friend Scott's girlfriend Sam and he just dotes on her all the time. He's caring and sweet and you want to bash Sam over the head for not seeing that. At the same time he's still a great friend to Scott. He's definitely up there with my favourite male YA characters.
Both Jessie and Finn are at a time in their life where they're having to make decisions about their future. I really related to that and how they're spending the summer discovering more about themselves and what they want. For Jessie, that means deciding whether her heart lies in New York with her mum or back in Manchester with her dad, and for Finn he must decide what he truly wants to study as opposed to what his parents want him to. As well as being relatable these decisions also really drove the plot forward and kept me hooked to find out what the two characters would end up doing.
Jessie Hearts NYC is definitely a book I wish I'd read when I was younger (or a book I wish I'd written when I was younger!). It encapsulates a lot of those fears you have as a teen about relationships and family. I loved the relationship between Jessie and her mum and how they have to overcome that tension between them caused my her mum's work and the distance between them. I also loved getting inside Jessie's head as she worries about boys.
There's so much more I could say about this book but for now I'm just going to urge you all to go out and read it. It has everything you could want in a YA novel from friendship and family to a wonderful love story and some great humour. I can see it being a book I go back to year on year to take with me whilst I go on holiday or something. And I can't wait to read more by this author!
Find more books like this at TotalTeenFiction!
Jessie Hearts NYC follows Jessie and her best friend Emma as they head across the Atlantic to spend time with Jessie's mother in New York. The girls soak up the city whilst Jessie tries to put her ex-boyfriend Tyler behind her. Meanwhile, New Yorker Finn must deal with his feelings for his best friend's girlfriend.
I loved this book. Really loved it. Read it in one afternoon kind of loved it (and I never read books in one afternoon). It was exactly the kind of fun, escapism that I needed, with a brilliantly clever plot that kept me hooked to the pages.
Firstly, I love books that transport you to new places. Reading Jessie Hearts NYC felt like I was getting on that plane with Jessie, and when she was seeing the sights and exploring, I was right there with her. I finished the book and wanted to plan my own trip to NYC right away! What I loved was the inclusion of references to films and TV shows set in New York. I'm a huge Friends fan so obviously I was waiting for those mentions (and I wasn't disappointed!) but I just loved how it incorporated all the pop culture stuff. It really helped me feel like I was escaping.
The book is told in third person and flicks between Jessie and Finn's perspectives. Their stories start out quite separate and they're brought together by being in the same place at the same time. One minute you're with Jessie in a coffee shop, the next you're with Finn in that same coffee shop. There are little interactions between the two characters and you end up rooting for them to finally meet properly and get a chance to speak to each other. I loved how the book played with the idea of fate and being in the right place at the right time.
One of my favourite things about the book was Finn himself who is so just so loveable! When we meet him he's head over heels for his best friend Scott's girlfriend Sam and he just dotes on her all the time. He's caring and sweet and you want to bash Sam over the head for not seeing that. At the same time he's still a great friend to Scott. He's definitely up there with my favourite male YA characters.
Both Jessie and Finn are at a time in their life where they're having to make decisions about their future. I really related to that and how they're spending the summer discovering more about themselves and what they want. For Jessie, that means deciding whether her heart lies in New York with her mum or back in Manchester with her dad, and for Finn he must decide what he truly wants to study as opposed to what his parents want him to. As well as being relatable these decisions also really drove the plot forward and kept me hooked to find out what the two characters would end up doing.
Jessie Hearts NYC is definitely a book I wish I'd read when I was younger (or a book I wish I'd written when I was younger!). It encapsulates a lot of those fears you have as a teen about relationships and family. I loved the relationship between Jessie and her mum and how they have to overcome that tension between them caused my her mum's work and the distance between them. I also loved getting inside Jessie's head as she worries about boys.
There's so much more I could say about this book but for now I'm just going to urge you all to go out and read it. It has everything you could want in a YA novel from friendship and family to a wonderful love story and some great humour. I can see it being a book I go back to year on year to take with me whilst I go on holiday or something. And I can't wait to read more by this author!
Find more books like this at TotalTeenFiction!
rachael_amber's review
5.0
You can find my review on my blog here (& below):
http://elementaread.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/review-jessie-hearts-nyc-by-keris.html
‘Jessie Hearts NYC’ by Keris Stainton is a fun young adult contemporary novel about a teenage girl looking for love in New York City.
English teenager Jessie is visiting her mum in New York for the summer with her best friend Emma. She has just broken up with her boyfriend, Taylor, and is now looking for romance in the Big Apple. Jessie’s mum, Natalie, is a playwright, and her play Small Change was such a success that it (and she) moved to Broadway, leaving Jessie in Manchester with her dad. Jessie and her mum have never been close so at first their relationship is a bit awkward, but all that is soon forgotten when she starts exploring the amazing city. Jessie has a crush on Ben, the lead actor in Natalie’s play, and is hoping that he likes her too.
Meanwhile, New Yorker Finn is spending his summer working as an intern with his dad’s insurance company and being the third wheel to his best friend, Scott, and his girlfriend, Sam. But Finn has a problem. He really likes Sam and is annoyed at the fact that Scott got her first. Plus his overbearing father is making him major in business and follow his footsteps into insurance, when Finn really wants to be an architect.
Jessie and Finn keep bumping into each other all over the city. Both have boy/girl trouble and these two teens finally bond. But can Jessie get over her mum’s secret relationship, and can Finn get over Sam?
This was such a great, fun read! The characters are so loveable and the story is really uplifting. The writing style is so easy to read and the dialogue sounds really authentic. The book just flows so well and I ending up reading the majority of it in one go.
I’ll definitely be looking for some more of Keris’s books. This would be a prefect summer read for anyone looking for something light, quick and fun that will leave you with a nice warm glowy feeling :)
http://elementaread.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/review-jessie-hearts-nyc-by-keris.html
‘Jessie Hearts NYC’ by Keris Stainton is a fun young adult contemporary novel about a teenage girl looking for love in New York City.
English teenager Jessie is visiting her mum in New York for the summer with her best friend Emma. She has just broken up with her boyfriend, Taylor, and is now looking for romance in the Big Apple. Jessie’s mum, Natalie, is a playwright, and her play Small Change was such a success that it (and she) moved to Broadway, leaving Jessie in Manchester with her dad. Jessie and her mum have never been close so at first their relationship is a bit awkward, but all that is soon forgotten when she starts exploring the amazing city. Jessie has a crush on Ben, the lead actor in Natalie’s play, and is hoping that he likes her too.
Meanwhile, New Yorker Finn is spending his summer working as an intern with his dad’s insurance company and being the third wheel to his best friend, Scott, and his girlfriend, Sam. But Finn has a problem. He really likes Sam and is annoyed at the fact that Scott got her first. Plus his overbearing father is making him major in business and follow his footsteps into insurance, when Finn really wants to be an architect.
Jessie and Finn keep bumping into each other all over the city. Both have boy/girl trouble and these two teens finally bond. But can Jessie get over her mum’s secret relationship, and can Finn get over Sam?
This was such a great, fun read! The characters are so loveable and the story is really uplifting. The writing style is so easy to read and the dialogue sounds really authentic. The book just flows so well and I ending up reading the majority of it in one go.
I’ll definitely be looking for some more of Keris’s books. This would be a prefect summer read for anyone looking for something light, quick and fun that will leave you with a nice warm glowy feeling :)
missusb21's review
3.0
It took me a while to get into this one, but once I accepted there was going to be more misses that connections between Finn and Jessie, I enjoyed it more.
I don't mind real movie and actor names being dropped into fictional books, but this was overdone here, I think.
I liked that Finn and Jessie have to fall pretty low before they find each other. There were definitely some very cute aww moments.
But maybe the ending was a little too perfect. A great easy romantic read.
I don't mind real movie and actor names being dropped into fictional books, but this was overdone here, I think.
I liked that Finn and Jessie have to fall pretty low before they find each other. There were definitely some very cute aww moments.
But maybe the ending was a little too perfect. A great easy romantic read.
ljbentley27's review
3.0
Synopsis
Jessie and her best friend Emma have left boring Manchester in England for a summer adventure in one of the greatest cities in the world – New York! The girls are staying with Jessie’s mum and Jessie is hoping it is a chance to repair their fractured relationship. She is also looking for a holiday romance to get over bad boy Taylor who recently left her broken hearted.
If only she could meet someone in this great big romantic city…
Review
Ok, so here is my problem. I like YA fiction, however, when I read some YA fiction really begin to feel my age (coughs *31* coughs). Jessie Hearts NYC is one of those books. Don’t get me wrong, this book is well written, it has a sustainable and believable plot, the characters are well rounded and thought out and I actually rather enjoyed it. My only problem is not one that Stainton can be blamed for; I am not her key demographic. Therefore, I didn’t love this book but I can see all the good qualities in it. I am certain that teenage me would have adored this book.
Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton is available now.
Jessie and her best friend Emma have left boring Manchester in England for a summer adventure in one of the greatest cities in the world – New York! The girls are staying with Jessie’s mum and Jessie is hoping it is a chance to repair their fractured relationship. She is also looking for a holiday romance to get over bad boy Taylor who recently left her broken hearted.
If only she could meet someone in this great big romantic city…
Review
Ok, so here is my problem. I like YA fiction, however, when I read some YA fiction really begin to feel my age (coughs *31* coughs). Jessie Hearts NYC is one of those books. Don’t get me wrong, this book is well written, it has a sustainable and believable plot, the characters are well rounded and thought out and I actually rather enjoyed it. My only problem is not one that Stainton can be blamed for; I am not her key demographic. Therefore, I didn’t love this book but I can see all the good qualities in it. I am certain that teenage me would have adored this book.
Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton is available now.
onceuponabookcase's review
3.0
Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.
I really enjoyed Keris Stainton's first novel, Della Says: "OMG!", so I was really looking forward to trying her second. Unfortunately, I didn't love Jessie Hearts NYC as much as I would have hoped.
Stainton is one of those authors who is a huge part of the blogosphere; not only has she been involved with a number of bookish blogs, she also interacts with readers and other authors on Twitter quite a lot (@Keris). So she's one of those authors I consider to be "one of us". Because of this, it's really difficult to write what is a less than glowing review for a book by someone I really like. But I guess we can't like all books.
Jessie Hearts NYC is a dual narrative, with Jessie and Finn getting their own point of view in alternating chapters. I wasn't the biggest fan of Jessie. I didn't find her very believable. There was just something about the way she responded to things that didn't feel right to me - they weren't the responses I would have expected, or the way she responded wasn't what I expected, like laughing when I couldn't see anything funny. On top of that, I also found her to be quite naive and just a tad selfish. Maybe it's my age (god, that makes me feel old!), but there were certain things that were going on in the story that just seemed so obvious, yet Jessie was clueless. And everything her mother did, she looked at those actions or words on how they effected her, seeming to completely forget her mother has her own life, and that the world doesn't revolve around her. In some situations, I could understand her feelings, but in general... I just didn't like her.I have read books where characters were similarly naive and selfish, but I just had a really hard time with Jessie.
Finn, on the other hand, was perfect. I found his story the most believable, but also the most interesting. He was completely real, he reacted in all the ways I would have expected him too, and he was just so lovely, despite his mistakes! He was such a sweet guy, and despite his feeling for the wonderful Sam, he always tried to repress his feelings as she was his best mate's girlfriend - though that didn't work much, he tried. His heart was definitely in the right place, he just screwed up a little. Like with Jessie, he also has some issues with his family, and I found his story, working out who he is and what he wanted, and dealing with that to be really lovely. He was just such a cool guy!
I'm not sure I can really say much more without spoiling the story. In all, Jessie Hearts NYC wasn't a bad book, I really enjoyed reading Finn's story. As I really loved Della Says "OMG!" and I've heard that Stainton's third book, Emma Hearts LA, is her best novel, I'm really looking forward to giving it a go despite not being all that keen on this one. Please read a few other reviews before deciding whether or not you think Jessie Hearts NYC is for you, don't base your choice on my review alone.
I really enjoyed Keris Stainton's first novel, Della Says: "OMG!", so I was really looking forward to trying her second. Unfortunately, I didn't love Jessie Hearts NYC as much as I would have hoped.
Stainton is one of those authors who is a huge part of the blogosphere; not only has she been involved with a number of bookish blogs, she also interacts with readers and other authors on Twitter quite a lot (@Keris). So she's one of those authors I consider to be "one of us". Because of this, it's really difficult to write what is a less than glowing review for a book by someone I really like. But I guess we can't like all books.
Jessie Hearts NYC is a dual narrative, with Jessie and Finn getting their own point of view in alternating chapters. I wasn't the biggest fan of Jessie. I didn't find her very believable. There was just something about the way she responded to things that didn't feel right to me - they weren't the responses I would have expected, or the way she responded wasn't what I expected, like laughing when I couldn't see anything funny. On top of that, I also found her to be quite naive and just a tad selfish. Maybe it's my age (god, that makes me feel old!), but there were certain things that were going on in the story that just seemed so obvious, yet Jessie was clueless. And everything her mother did, she looked at those actions or words on how they effected her, seeming to completely forget her mother has her own life, and that the world doesn't revolve around her. In some situations, I could understand her feelings, but in general... I just didn't like her.I have read books where characters were similarly naive and selfish, but I just had a really hard time with Jessie.
Finn, on the other hand, was perfect. I found his story the most believable, but also the most interesting. He was completely real, he reacted in all the ways I would have expected him too, and he was just so lovely, despite his mistakes! He was such a sweet guy, and despite his feeling for the wonderful Sam, he always tried to repress his feelings as she was his best mate's girlfriend - though that didn't work much, he tried. His heart was definitely in the right place, he just screwed up a little. Like with Jessie, he also has some issues with his family, and I found his story, working out who he is and what he wanted, and dealing with that to be really lovely. He was just such a cool guy!
I'm not sure I can really say much more without spoiling the story. In all, Jessie Hearts NYC wasn't a bad book, I really enjoyed reading Finn's story. As I really loved Della Says "OMG!" and I've heard that Stainton's third book, Emma Hearts LA, is her best novel, I'm really looking forward to giving it a go despite not being all that keen on this one. Please read a few other reviews before deciding whether or not you think Jessie Hearts NYC is for you, don't base your choice on my review alone.
goldenbooksgirl's review
4.0
I`ve wanted to read this book from Keris Stainton`s back catalogue for years, so after receiving it for Christmas it seemed only fitting to make it among my 1st reads of 2018. It`s the story of Jessie as she goes to visit her rather estranged mum in New York, and Finn, a New Yorker grappling with friendship issues and his family`s expectations of him. The not knowing how their paths would cross was super interesting, and I liked them a lot together when they eventually did. The book, while in 3rd person, still feels like a dual narrative as we flip between perspectives of each character, and I was pleased that I enjoyed both equally. I loved Jessie as a character, and I thought her friend Emma was really funny. My final favourite thing about the book was, of course, experiencing New York. Even though I have never been, I think it looks incredible, and this made me feel as though I was there. Jessie Hearts NYC has a delightful romcom feel to it that I loved seeing those are my favourite sort of films a lot of the time and I`m excited to discover L.A in a hopefully similar way in the sequel. 4.5/5
sammeehicks's review
4.0
This is such a sweet and fun book. I was really looking forward to reading it as I loved Della Says: OMG! It's a really quick book to read - I read it in a couple of hours - and I honestly wanted to jump on a plane and go to New York after reading it!
The story is told from both Jessie and Finn's perspective - and as I've said in previous reviews I love books that do this. I love getting the story from both points of view.
I really liked Jessie and her friend Emma. I thought they had a really nice friendship. I also really liked the storyline between Jessie and her mum - and part of me would like to have explored that aspect further. I LOVED Finn. He's just so ... yum! And I adored the whole 'will they won't they' meet each other because you can tell how suited they are for each other - they just need to properly meet!
As I said, I would have liked to have had a bit more back story for Jessie in regard to her relationship with her mother. And it would have been nice to have a bit more back story on Finn too. I just found myself wanting to know more about them both - but, at the same time, I also worry that doing so might have spoilt that feel good, light hearted read we got. That it might have taken the focus away from that 'will they won't they' that I loved so much.
Did I mention it's also really funny - I loved the revolving restaurant scene! I also really enjoyed all the movie references. And I loved the ending *sighs*.
The story is told from both Jessie and Finn's perspective - and as I've said in previous reviews I love books that do this. I love getting the story from both points of view.
I really liked Jessie and her friend Emma. I thought they had a really nice friendship. I also really liked the storyline between Jessie and her mum - and part of me would like to have explored that aspect further. I LOVED Finn. He's just so ... yum! And I adored the whole 'will they won't they' meet each other because you can tell how suited they are for each other - they just need to properly meet!
As I said, I would have liked to have had a bit more back story for Jessie in regard to her relationship with her mother. And it would have been nice to have a bit more back story on Finn too. I just found myself wanting to know more about them both - but, at the same time, I also worry that doing so might have spoilt that feel good, light hearted read we got. That it might have taken the focus away from that 'will they won't they' that I loved so much.
Did I mention it's also really funny - I loved the revolving restaurant scene! I also really enjoyed all the movie references. And I loved the ending *sighs*.
fauvely's review
2.0
This was an impulse buy in London. It looked like it might be a fun read.
I can't really say it was. I think it was going for a bit of a "Sleepless in Seattle" vibe where the characters always seem to be in the same spot but never really meet until towards the end. Basically dragged out and not well executed.
Anyways, you have Jessie and her friend Emma. They are from Manchester and have come to NYC for a trip to visit Jessie's mum. Then you have Finn, who is convinced he is in love with his best friends girlfriend.
Jessie and Finn don't actually meet until around the last half of the book. I didn't really like any of the characters in this book. There was nothing special about them that made me feel like they were real.
In fact, there was nothing special about this book(in my opinion). It seemed very dumbed down. There was no intelligence in this book.
I guess maybe someone might like it if they don't care if the characters have substance. Or if they want a ridiculously light read that will make you feel dumb for having read it.
It is kind of a Meg Cabot level of YA. Except Meg Cabot tends to be more enjoyable. So that is why I gave it 2 stars. It was OK but most of the time it was just painful!
It was like having someone hitting me over the head with a frying pan. Mostly uncomfortable and not good for the brain.
I can't really say it was. I think it was going for a bit of a "Sleepless in Seattle" vibe where the characters always seem to be in the same spot but never really meet until towards the end. Basically dragged out and not well executed.
Anyways, you have Jessie and her friend Emma. They are from Manchester and have come to NYC for a trip to visit Jessie's mum. Then you have Finn, who is convinced he is in love with his best friends girlfriend.
Jessie and Finn don't actually meet until around the last half of the book. I didn't really like any of the characters in this book. There was nothing special about them that made me feel like they were real.
In fact, there was nothing special about this book(in my opinion). It seemed very dumbed down. There was no intelligence in this book.
I guess maybe someone might like it if they don't care if the characters have substance. Or if they want a ridiculously light read that will make you feel dumb for having read it.
It is kind of a Meg Cabot level of YA. Except Meg Cabot tends to be more enjoyable. So that is why I gave it 2 stars. It was OK but most of the time it was just painful!
It was like having someone hitting me over the head with a frying pan. Mostly uncomfortable and not good for the brain.
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