Scan barcode
A review by jennifermreads
This Is How It Happened by Paula Stokes
3.0
Received advanced reader copy from author (included corrections and the page missing from ARC)> **Actual rating = 3.5 stars**
After waking from a coma, Genevieve slowly pieces together what happened the night the car accident took her memory – and her famous boyfriend Dallas.
A powerful message lies at the root of this story. It is this message that bumped my rating up another ½ star … but I cannot tell you the message because, well, **spoilers, sweetie!**
Genevieve reads as a “typical teen” character. Is that fair? Is there such a thing as typical? Well she reads real: from a divorced family, a strong student, not very popular but dating an emerging music star thus getting thrust into a spotlight she isn’t really sure she wants to be in. I wish I had a chance to get to know Dallas a little bit better – but, alas, we lose him in the opening pages and only get glimpses of him in flashbacks. I really liked Elliott! Lots of facets to this young man and I can see why Gen was drawn to him. I also loved that part of this story was Genevieve and her relationship with her parents. I saw myself in her relationship with Rachael, though, I must admit I was not as quick to accept.
Despite the heavy message, this was an easy read with a beautiful setting and enjoyable characters. The only thing that kept this from a higher rating is I felt like the climax fell flat. We learn at about the halfway point. So, what came after that just didn’t have the pow! that it could have had.
After waking from a coma, Genevieve slowly pieces together what happened the night the car accident took her memory – and her famous boyfriend Dallas.
A powerful message lies at the root of this story. It is this message that bumped my rating up another ½ star … but I cannot tell you the message because, well, **spoilers, sweetie!**
Genevieve reads as a “typical teen” character. Is that fair? Is there such a thing as typical? Well she reads real: from a divorced family, a strong student, not very popular but dating an emerging music star thus getting thrust into a spotlight she isn’t really sure she wants to be in. I wish I had a chance to get to know Dallas a little bit better – but, alas, we lose him in the opening pages and only get glimpses of him in flashbacks. I really liked Elliott! Lots of facets to this young man and I can see why Gen was drawn to him. I also loved that part of this story was Genevieve and her relationship with her parents. I saw myself in her relationship with Rachael, though, I must admit I was not as quick to accept.
Despite the heavy message, this was an easy read with a beautiful setting and enjoyable characters. The only thing that kept this from a higher rating is I felt like the climax fell flat. We learn at about the halfway point