A review by cakt1991
The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

The Right Side of Reckless is a true bad boy/good girl romance, and not in the just “he’s a bit of a punk or a rebel” kind of way a lot of books with this trope are, but one who really faced consequences for his behavior. 

Guillermo has recently come out of juvie, and he’s reckoning with his past and the way people treat him because of it. And ultimately, I really liked his character, and the subtle statement the book was making, especially in relation to him as a POC “bad boy” who made a few mistakes that resulted in his current situation and the way the typical white “bad boy” heroes seem to get away with a lot more in the grand scheme of things. Guillermo really works on changing himself and putting himself on a better path, showing it can be possible for others like him, even if the odds can be stacked against them. 

Regan, as the “good girl” half of the equation, is also intriguing in her own right. She’s very much a people pleaser out of insecurity, willing to bend to her father’s and other expectations. I could relate to her so much, and I also could understand what she saw in Guillermo, as well as what he saw in her. 

Grandison walks a fine line with this one in having the two of them bond over the course of the book while Regan is still in an emotionally unsatisfying relationship with another boy, Troy, which she cannot bring herself to end. I appreciated that in the end there was no cheating, while also navigating the complex situation of Regan’s emotions and her working up the courage to finally end her and Troy’s relationship. It may have taken a bit longer than I’d have liked, but it felt realistic for her character. 

This book was enjoyable, and I like the way it subverted some common tropes by adding diversity and unpacking them in the process. If you’re looking for a YA contemporary that is mostly lighthearted but also tackles serious topics, you’ll enjoy this one.