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A review by caceves
V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram
3.0
This one really took me by surprise. I originally picked it up because it was a list for best romance books with some others that I loved, but I didn't think I was going to like it based on the title, cover, and synopsis. Boy was I wrong.
Everything about it screams high-school-girl-teen-cliche-romance, but the writing in this was impeccable to the point where it turned what would have been a tired high-school drama with never ending annoying stereotypes and an overly used plot line into something much, much more.
The people in this book are incredibly real. The friendship between Cara and Val, right down to the heart breaking split, the way the popular kids aren't all snobby and rich, but a variety of types of people who are teasing and funny, and the way that Val interacts with her elderly boss liven up the story immensely. The only thing that I felt was a stretch was the way that Val's adoptive parents were hardly ever in the story- I mean realistically, who would let their teenage daughter go to a club in a miniskirt in LA on a school night?
Kyle. Amazing character who brings the book to life. I've read some reviews that say that the entire dialogue was flat, or even cheesy, but I actually found myself laughing out loud at a few of the things that he says, because they're both familiar and unexpected. Kyle's sexual challenges make this book happen, they keep it steamy and suspenseful. Again, the biggest complaint against Kyle is that he's sexually harassing her, but I don't think it ever gets that far. Additionally, for those of you who think this is superficial, WAKE UP! Passion doesn't have to have a foundation of knowing someone very well, it's an irrational and wild attraction! Haven't you ever met someone who made you shaky if you were physically close to them, so much so you almost forgot yourself and your clear-headed thinking? If not, well it's an experience. I also love that he's young and bullheaded and arrogant but still has moments of weakness, and Val knows it!
Unlike a ton of YA heroines, Val is confident, makes choices, and acknowledges the faults of the male lead- she doesn't blindly follow him because she can't help herself and her attraction is oh-so-strong *dramatic sigh* but figures out pretty quickly that he's bad news and actually makes an honest attempt to stay away from him when she thinks he's going to do something douchey. Most stupid heroines go, "Oh I probably should stay away from him, but I'm not going to because he has FANTASTIC abs!" but not Val Jenson! High-five Kelly Oram!
In fact, I like Val as the lead so much, that even though I think the entire premise of what she's doing is kind of silly, and that she should have compromised once he admitted and proved he loved her, I admire how strongly she believes in her principles and even root for her to cling to them.
Another amazing thing about this book was the timeline! Instead of being super-crammed and forced, filled with moments of extreme fortune where the main character magically stumbles over the one-in-a-million magic artifact they need or where interactions are repeatedly coincidental, this book gives room to breathe. It follows a handful of interactions over about a year, and doesn't give us all the details from in between.
The main thing that pissed me off about this book was the way it ended. In the epilogue, when Kyle reappears four years later and announces that he wants to wait for her, I nearly ripped my hair out. Not because of the suspense, but because I though that it gave too much of the next book away and was going to make it more boring (it did, it's like the first fifty pages). As soon as I read the last few pages, I knew what was going to happen, in general (and I was right, but the second book was still really good anyways, but I almost didn't bother because of this). Maybe I'm just being super picky, but I wish the book ended with both of them waking up four years later in separate places, not having seen each other since the night of the concert and kiss, still missing each other. It would have kept the mystery and intrigue alive and been much more tragically romantic. But that's just me for ya, a sucker for the sad and unsettling ones!
Everything about it screams high-school-girl-teen-cliche-romance, but the writing in this was impeccable to the point where it turned what would have been a tired high-school drama with never ending annoying stereotypes and an overly used plot line into something much, much more.
Spoiler
The people in this book are incredibly real. The friendship between Cara and Val, right down to the heart breaking split, the way the popular kids aren't all snobby and rich, but a variety of types of people who are teasing and funny, and the way that Val interacts with her elderly boss liven up the story immensely. The only thing that I felt was a stretch was the way that Val's adoptive parents were hardly ever in the story- I mean realistically, who would let their teenage daughter go to a club in a miniskirt in LA on a school night?
Kyle. Amazing character who brings the book to life. I've read some reviews that say that the entire dialogue was flat, or even cheesy, but I actually found myself laughing out loud at a few of the things that he says, because they're both familiar and unexpected. Kyle's sexual challenges make this book happen, they keep it steamy and suspenseful. Again, the biggest complaint against Kyle is that he's sexually harassing her, but I don't think it ever gets that far. Additionally, for those of you who think this is superficial, WAKE UP! Passion doesn't have to have a foundation of knowing someone very well, it's an irrational and wild attraction! Haven't you ever met someone who made you shaky if you were physically close to them, so much so you almost forgot yourself and your clear-headed thinking? If not, well it's an experience. I also love that he's young and bullheaded and arrogant but still has moments of weakness, and Val knows it!
Unlike a ton of YA heroines, Val is confident, makes choices, and acknowledges the faults of the male lead- she doesn't blindly follow him because she can't help herself and her attraction is oh-so-strong *dramatic sigh* but figures out pretty quickly that he's bad news and actually makes an honest attempt to stay away from him when she thinks he's going to do something douchey. Most stupid heroines go, "Oh I probably should stay away from him, but I'm not going to because he has FANTASTIC abs!" but not Val Jenson! High-five Kelly Oram!
In fact, I like Val as the lead so much, that even though I think the entire premise of what she's doing is kind of silly, and that she should have compromised once he admitted and proved he loved her, I admire how strongly she believes in her principles and even root for her to cling to them.
Another amazing thing about this book was the timeline! Instead of being super-crammed and forced, filled with moments of extreme fortune where the main character magically stumbles over the one-in-a-million magic artifact they need or where interactions are repeatedly coincidental, this book gives room to breathe. It follows a handful of interactions over about a year, and doesn't give us all the details from in between.
The main thing that pissed me off about this book was the way it ended. In the epilogue, when Kyle reappears four years later and announces that he wants to wait for her, I nearly ripped my hair out. Not because of the suspense, but because I though that it gave too much of the next book away and was going to make it more boring (it did, it's like the first fifty pages). As soon as I read the last few pages, I knew what was going to happen, in general (and I was right, but the second book was still really good anyways, but I almost didn't bother because of this). Maybe I'm just being super picky, but I wish the book ended with both of them waking up four years later in separate places, not having seen each other since the night of the concert and kiss, still missing each other. It would have kept the mystery and intrigue alive and been much more tragically romantic. But that's just me for ya, a sucker for the sad and unsettling ones!