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A review by aleksandrareading
Win Some, Lose Some by Shay Savage
3.0
3.5/5
I'm so incredibly mad at myself. I wish I had read the reviews before reading this book because the last chapters ruined this book for me. This story was solid four-star material for most of the book, even four-and-a-half stars, but then the lottery ticket came and I wanted to throw my Kindle out the window. Don't get me wrong, this book was amazing and the story and characters were utterly adorable, but if the lottery ticket plot didn't exist, I would have loved it.
The story is told from Matthew’s point of view, an eighteen year old who has Asperger's Syndrome also known as autism spectrum disorder. Matthew is the biggest and sweetest sweetheart that you will probably encounter in a book. I loved his character and how strong he was, even though his life wasn't easy because despite his disability, he had to take care of his sister after the recent death of his parents. As part of a school project, he meets Mayra, a popular girl who is the co-captain of the soccer team and a walking angel. Seriously. She lands in my "favorite heroines" folder because she was an amazing person with the biggest heart.
Their relationship was so damn sweet and tender. Mayra always made sure that everything was fine with Matthew and asked him about everything. Plus, the fact that they were each other's firsts at almost everything made me want to cry.
This quote made me cry.
Moving on to the reason I'm rating it three stars. Imagine you win over a hundred million dollars and you just don't want any of that money. I just don't understand how you can not want money that would provide you with complete comfort for the rest of your life. Instead, you decide to give them to people who weren't even that important in your life, your teachers and random friends who weren't even mentioned in the book. I understand charities, I would do the same, but to leave nothing for myself? You just have to be crazy. I know that our main character was on the autism spectrum and didn't like changes and making big, drastic decisions in life, but he was damn smart and had people in his life who would definitely help him manage that money. He had his whole life ahead of him where he will earn money and will have to manage them, he had just gone to college where he would have to make important decisions, and he and his girlfriend would definitely have a child, which was the next important decision which leads to even more decisions. So many decisions he will eventually have to make in his life. He grew up and became a lot stronger over the course of the book, so I thought his final thought about this stupid ticket would be different.
I know money doesn't buy happiness, but it makes life definitely more comfortable. I'm sorry, but you must be incredibly privileged to say something like that. Our main character wasn't. Or you know what, maybe he kind of was, he had a house that was paid for, and he budgeted all of Dad’s death benefits from the military. Owning a home at eighteen in this economy is a privilege.
The last thing. The perverted uncle. I'm sorry, I know his uncle Travis and his wife took care of him and his sister and helped them as much as they could, but his uncle was a walking pervert. He was a thirty year old man and said things like that about a barely eighteen year old girl.
Uh, I'm sorry, but did you just say that to your nephew's eighteen year old girlfriend? Gross.
?????? Bro, you are thirty and you have a wife. Stop that, because jail is looking more and more promising for you.
As you can see, there are things I absolutely love about this book and things I absolutely hate. I can still see myself trying other stories by this author though.
I'm so incredibly mad at myself. I wish I had read the reviews before reading this book because the last chapters ruined this book for me. This story was solid four-star material for most of the book, even four-and-a-half stars, but then the lottery ticket came and I wanted to throw my Kindle out the window. Don't get me wrong, this book was amazing and the story and characters were utterly adorable, but if the lottery ticket plot didn't exist, I would have loved it.
The story is told from Matthew’s point of view, an eighteen year old who has Asperger's Syndrome also known as autism spectrum disorder. Matthew is the biggest and sweetest sweetheart that you will probably encounter in a book. I loved his character and how strong he was, even though his life wasn't easy because despite his disability, he had to take care of his sister after the recent death of his parents. As part of a school project, he meets Mayra, a popular girl who is the co-captain of the soccer team and a walking angel. Seriously. She lands in my "favorite heroines" folder because she was an amazing person with the biggest heart.
“I want to be with you,” Mayra said quietly, and I glanced up at her, wondering if she could read my mind. “Anyone who gives you a chance would know why I’m with you.”
"I felt Mayra’s hand on the side of my face, and I turned my head to meet her eyes briefly. “You are adorable. Do you know that?” she asked. I just shook my head and smiled a little.
“Well, you are,” she insisted."
Their relationship was so damn sweet and tender. Mayra always made sure that everything was fine with Matthew and asked him about everything. Plus, the fact that they were each other's firsts at almost everything made me want to cry.
“You…what you’ve done for me…you…you’re…you’re everything to me. Everything good in my life is about you. You make me want to try harder and do things I never would have considered before, and I know even if I fail, you’ll still be there to help me get back up afterwards.”
“I want to show you,” I said again. “I want to show you how much I love you.”
This quote made me cry.
Moving on to the reason I'm rating it three stars. Imagine you win over a hundred million dollars and you just don't want any of that money. I just don't understand how you can not want money that would provide you with complete comfort for the rest of your life. Instead, you decide to give them to people who weren't even that important in your life, your teachers and random friends who weren't even mentioned in the book. I understand charities, I would do the same, but to leave nothing for myself? You just have to be crazy. I know that our main character was on the autism spectrum and didn't like changes and making big, drastic decisions in life, but he was damn smart and had people in his life who would definitely help him manage that money. He had his whole life ahead of him where he will earn money and will have to manage them, he had just gone to college where he would have to make important decisions, and he and his girlfriend would definitely have a child, which was the next important decision which leads to even more decisions. So many decisions he will eventually have to make in his life. He grew up and became a lot stronger over the course of the book, so I thought his final thought about this stupid ticket would be different.
“There were times when decisions were almost impossible to make,” I agreed. “It’s still hard, but I know this is the right thing to do. […]
“You could be a millionaire,” Mayra teased.
I shrugged again and turned away from the window. […]
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t be happier,” I said. “That’s not a decision I regret.”
I know money doesn't buy happiness, but it makes life definitely more comfortable. I'm sorry, but you must be incredibly privileged to say something like that. Our main character wasn't. Or you know what, maybe he kind of was, he had a house that was paid for, and he budgeted all of Dad’s death benefits from the military. Owning a home at eighteen in this economy is a privilege.
The last thing. The perverted uncle. I'm sorry, I know his uncle Travis and his wife took care of him and his sister and helped them as much as they could, but his uncle was a walking pervert. He was a thirty year old man and said things like that about a barely eighteen year old girl.
“Yeah, it was raining really hard,” she told him. "He was soaked.”
“I bet he was.” Travis pressed his lips together and raised his eyebrows. He snickered. “You probably were, too.”
Uh, I'm sorry, but did you just say that to your nephew's eighteen year old girlfriend? Gross.
“She ain’t right,” Travis said with a snicker. “Did you get to second base yet?”
“Have you touched her tits yet?”
?????? Bro, you are thirty and you have a wife. Stop that, because jail is looking more and more promising for you.
As you can see, there are things I absolutely love about this book and things I absolutely hate. I can still see myself trying other stories by this author though.