Author: Lauren Myracle
ISBN: 9781419707933
Publisher: Amulet Books
Released: August 27, 2013
Page #: 318
Source: ARC from the publisher
Summary:
"For eighteen years Wren Gray has been the model daughter, which in her family means all As, zero boyfriends, and early acceptance into a pre-med program. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization. Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now... not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn't even know what they are?
Charlie Parker, on the other hand, knows exactly what he wants. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie - at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.
And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren's and Charlie's souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them...
Deeply sexy and achingly romantic, this gorgeous novel, from one of young adult literature's most distinctive voices, explores that time between high school and college when life seems to be just beginning, and everything - including true love - is possible."
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First Lines: (Quote from the ARC, subject to change)
"It was all ending: High School.
It was all beginning: everything that came next.
This was true for every senior at Atlanta's Southview High School, not just Wren."
Page 1
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Review:
I got way more than I bargained for with this book. I should have read the whole description, probably... as it mentions how sexy it is. So there's that... but it was really a good read.
Wren has always done what her parents told her to do... until now. They want her to go to college at Emory and she wants to go help people in Guatemala. She's never done anything against them, including getting involved with guys. And then Charlie Parker happens right after graduation. He's sweet and really cares about her and they fall in love. Quickly. They are so in love that they really question their decisions about what to do after high school. Do they want to make a forever commitment right now?
I really do think that this is a realistic portrait of a post high school relationship. There's the intense love portion, the questioning each other, the worrying about each other's past, the wondering about the future, the immediate connections... It just feels very real.
One thing that I sort of didn't understand was Wren's compliance with her parents throughout high school. I guess it's possible that the whole teen angst thing didn't come up for her. But didn't we all question things our parents said throughout that time? Wasn't that exactly when you started rebelling? I just can't imagine Wren waiting until after high school to start doing something. Especially considering how her parents treated her...
I just need to mention the sexier parts of this book. I only feel the need to talk about it because of the age-range many of the vendors and review sources have put on it. I have seen a few that say this book is appropriate for grades 7 and up. Honestly... I would say more like grades 10 and up. It's pretty specific about sexual situations. I know that it's true to life and all that... but I feel like the emotional stuff and the ... yeah, it's just for way older teens.
There are definite things in this book that are great life-lessons regarding sex. Things like protection, getting tested, it being with someone you love deeply and all of that. So it's not a bad message at all. And I think it's well done. I just wasn't prepared for some of the terminology and I worry that it might be seen as too racy by some librarians/parents. But the love story is sweet and well thought out.
I do think that girls who love romance will be all about this story. Charlie is exactly the kind of guy that we all hope for, I think. :) So this book will definitely find an audience. Not to mention the author has a great following. I have read some of her stuff in the past and loved it. It's a quick, full-of-feeling love story that will strike a chord with many girls.
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Other Blog Reviews:
Sarah Reads Too Much
Rather Be Reading
The Book Belles
Bewitched Bookworms
The Reader's Den
Writer of Wrongs
The Reading Vixens
Alexa Loves Books
Readers in Wonderland
Queen of Contemporary
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