Review: Me, Him, Them, and It by Caela Carter

Me, Him, Them, and It by Caela Carter
Source: E-galley from the publisher
Publication: February 26, 2013
Rating: Cringe-worthy

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When Evelyn decided to piss off her parents with a bad reputation, she wasn't planning to ruin her valedictorian status. She also wasn't planning to fall for Todd-the guy she was just using for sex. And she definitely wasn't planning on getting pregnant. When Todd turns his back on her, Evelyn's not sure where to go. 

Can a distant mother, a cheating father, an angry best friend, and a (thankfully) loving aunt with adopted daughters of her own help Evelyn make the heart-wrenching decisions that follow?

My Review

I go into every book with an open mind, and it's no secret that even when I don't care for a book, I try to find something I liked.  I was excited to read Me, Him, Them, and It because I love issue-driven books set in a contemporary setting.  But this book.  I have never felt so utterly let down and insulted by a book since I started blogging.  It's so bad that I debated on even posting a review, but I DID agree to read and review Caela Carter's debut novel, so...here goes.


I hated the main character, Evelyn. I can put up with a lot from a lead character if they're a mean girl, or immature, and grow over the course of the book - one of my favorite books is BEFORE I FALL.  But Evelyn wasn't even naive...she was just stupid.  She had unprotected sex for months and never once considered getting on birth control until her friend was shocked enough to suggest it.  EVEN THEN, Evelyn only considered birth control to get bigger breasts. She regularly told her boyfriend it was fine to have sex without a condom, and the thought of getting pregnant NEVER crossed her mind. 

There was SO much wrong with Me, Him, Them, and It.  If these characters are supposed to be in touch with real teenagers, then I am really worried about the future of the human race.  Evelyn's parents are some of the worst parents I've read about.  Evelyn's "friends with benefits," when confronted with the fact that he's going to be a father, "just can't."  Can't be a dad, can't take partial responsibility.  There's no character development beyond the surface for any of the characters, except one or two side characters. 

Part of what bothered me SO much was that "Evie" refused to make ANY decisions about her baby's welfare.  She referred to her unborn child as "it" for the entire book, and routinely told her baby "I hate you."  She flip-flopped back and forth on abortion until it was almost too late, then on adoption versus parenting for literally the rest of the book.  She was more interested in moaning about her situation then doing ANYTHING about it.  (Also, I didn't like the message about abortion - believe in it or not, but it was treated as no big thing.)

Also, there were remarks made in this book that really hurt.  Evelyn's aunt, who she lives with during her pregnancy (because it's her parent's great idea to "hide" her) is gay, and Evelyn made numerous disparaging remarks like "my aunt's partner...or whatever she is," or "her wife...or whatever."  I realize that being gay is something not everyone is comfortable with, but I think you can still write about it in a respectful manner - or not at all.  

I struggled SO MUCH with Me, Him, Them, and It.  I struggled with Evelyn's rebellious ways, and that she hurt herself and her future to hurt her parents for THEIR problems.  I struggled with the *messages in this book - drugs and sex are fine, the repercussions don't matter, that you can give up your baby and start fresh like nothing ever happened.  I could have over-looked some of this if Evelyn had done anything to redeem herself, but she didn't. 

This book did not work for me.  I kept reading because this book was a train wreck that just kept happening, over and over again.  The only part that touched me was Evelyn's relationship with her young cousins, which was sweet and endearing, and possibly the main reason I kept reading.  Other than that, I breathed a sigh of relief when Me, Him, Them, and It finally ended.  


* I will not be providing buy links or author information for this book. 

Review: Hooked by Liz Fichera

Hooked by Liz Fichera
Publication: January 31, 2013 (Harlequin Teen)

Source: E-galley from NetGalley
Rating: Beam-worthy

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When Native American Fredricka ‘Fred’ Oday is invited to become the only girl on the school’s golf team, she can’t say no. This is an opportunity to shine, win a scholarship and go to university, something no one in her family has done.

But Fred’s presence on the team isn’t exactly welcome — especially not to rich golden boy Ryan Berenger, whose best friend was kicked off the team to make a spot for Fred.

But there’s no denying that things are happening between the girl with the killer swing and the boy with the killer smile...

GET HOOKED ON A GIRL NAMED FRED.

Memorable Quote 

Her breath warmed my neck.  Slowly, I lowered my chin so that it brushed the top of her head.  My eyes closed as I listened to our breathing, her heartbeat, and all the corner things that scrolled through my head.  I wanted to say something lame, like how her hair smelled as sweet as the desert, because that was how she made me feel - alive and special. 

My Review

After reading several contemporary books last year that featured main characters as athletes, I wanted to try Hooked.  I'm glad I did, because like predecessors Catching Jordan, Stealing Parker, and others, Hooked utilizes a bit of a twist on familiar plots.  In Liz Fichera's debut novel, the main character Fred faces several challenges, but has an indomitable spirit that was beautiful to read about.  Although the other main character, Ryan, wore on my nerves, I never found Fred to be anything but inspiring, and ended up enjoying Hooked a great deal.  

I really enjoyed the authenticity Liz Fichera gave to her characters.  They all felt very real; however in this case, I didn't enjoy the dual point of view as much as I wished.  Despite having moments where I softened toward him, for the majority of Hooked, I didn't care for Ryan, or his point of view.  I think the story could have been told better without his, because he let me down too many times.  He did come through eventually, but by then, I didn't believe in him and Fred as a couple because of his antics and immaturity when it came to her. He had opportunities to step up, but chose not to, and my enjoyment of Hooked suffered.  Plus there was just a lot of meaningless drama drummed up between them to keep the story going. 

I did come to admire Liz Fichera's story-telling, and the pacing, which was well done.  I applaud the fact that Fred isn't the typical Caucasion narrator, and I enjoyed the tribal information in the story.  I liked that she took risks as a story-teller, and delved into Fred's less than desirable home life with her alcoholic mother.  However, I felt like the actual treatment of that storyline was a bit callous and generalized.  Fred's father and brother were great additions to this story as supportive minor characters.  I felt like as Hooked neared a climax though, everything was wrapped up really neatly and quickly. Sometimes it's better for an author to leave a bit to the reader's imagination, but that wasn't so here. 

Overall, I liked Hooked - the premise, and Fred.  I'm glad I took a chance on Liz Fichera's story, because there were some touching moments, but I'd have to say that I've seen this type of premise done better by other authors. 




Other books by this author:

Played (Hooked #2 - 2014 Harlequin Teen)

You're sure to love:

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

About Liz

I'm an American author living in the American Southwest by way of Chicago. Born and raised in Park Ridge, Illinois, I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, after college, never expecting to live more than one year among cactus and people who’d never seen snow. I was wrong.  It certainly didn't hurt that I met my future husband in Phoenix too.

When I'm not busy writing my next novel, I like to travel, visit museums, support local theater productions, hike, and pretend that I'm training for a triathlon.  I post a lot of photos from my desert and mountain hikes on my Facebook and Twitter pages.  In no particular order, I've been chased by javalinas, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and even one curious black bear.  Would love to connect with you there too!

Visit Liz at: her website | 

Shop for Hooked at: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 

Review: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook
Publication: January 29, 2013 (HarperTeen)
Source: E-galley from the publisher
Rating: Squee-worthy
Shop: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

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Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.

Memorable Quote

It scares me.  These things that I thought were real a week ago - feelings that felt so big, so overwhelming - now seem like they were a fairy tale, a little girl's imaging of her Prince Charming.  But these moments, every second more I spend with Will, show me how flat, how untrue, the fairy tale is.  how much better - and worse - real life is. 

My Review

Nobody But Us was billed as a "modern day" Bonnie and Clyde, but as I began reading, I was more drawn to the intense emotions between Zoe and Will.  Kristin Halbrook painted a very realistic and heart-wrenching vision of a two young, broken teenagers both in need of escaping their tragic lives.  I enjoyed the dual perspective, and the writing style, as well as the heart of the story, but the ending left me more broken-hearted than I expected to be. 

Both Will and Zoe came across as totally believable, and their characterizations were spot-on.  Halbrook did a great job of getting two teenage "voices" right.  I could FEEL Zoe's desperation to escape her abusive, alcoholic dad, and Will's fervent need to help her, and prove that he was worth something.  Both characters were just so tragic in their own way - beaten down by their circumstances, and looking for self-love/worth in each other.  As an adult, it's easy to see how wrong that is, but when you're a teenager and in love, you don't always know this.  Zoe and Will each learned a lot while on the road - about life, and about themselves.  As their relationship fissured and cracked, I felt like my heart was breaking for them.  

Watching Nobody But Us play out was a tense experience, especially because the pacing was just about perfect.  I had an inkling of what might happen, especially the ending, but I was still caught off guard.  So much changed, from the beginning to the end - some for the better, some for the worse.   As the climax of Halbrook's story neared, the dual point of view only heightened the experience, and made me more nervous, which meant I felt like I was right there with Zoe and Will, two characters I'd grown to care about.  

Ultimately a good read, I didn't have the "all the feels" response to Nobody But Us I was hoping I would have.  However, it's still a solid read, and I for one am really looking forward to reading more of Kristin Halbrook's work!

About Kristin

When I was little, I wanted to be a writer, the President of the USA or the first female NFL quarterback. Despite being able to throw a wicked spiral, I didn't really grow to the size needed for the NFL. Then, as I got older and studied more, I came to realize there were better ways to effect positive change than becoming president. The first one, however, stuck. Even when I was pursuing other dreams, I always took time to write here and there. NOBODY BUT US will be published by HarperChildren's in 2013.

Visit Kristin at: her website | her twitter

Review + Giveaway: Normalish by Margaret Lesh

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Normalish by Margaret Lesh
Publication: October, 2012
Rating: Beam-worthy
Source: Copy from the author

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Fifteen-year-old Stacy questions the strange world of high school, love, her role in a harsh universe, and life, in Normalish.

People tell you high school's so great and wonderful, but they're lying. It's mostly horrible and full of disappointment. It sucks. Your best friend abandons you. The jerk you're in love with pretends to be into you, and then the big dump. The boy you've really clicked with as a friend decides to go all crushy over you, so you break his heart just like yours was -- smashed into little pieces. Your sister goes mental, and you get involved with a guy who’s even crazier than she is (who you know is a very bad idea, but you do it anyway). Math only adds another stink of failure to the whole thing.

High school blows. Just ask freshman Stacy. She’d want you to know.

My Review

Normalish is a sweet, funny, poignant coming-of-age story that I highly enjoyed.  It follows teenager Stacy through her various trials, triumphs, and heartbreaks.  And while at times, Margaret Lesh's story seemed like more fluff than substance, just when I thought so, something deeper came along to surprise me during this quick, enjoyable read.  

Stacy read like an authentic teenager.  Just like me when I was her age, everything was the end of the world, and she didn't always understand the gravity of certain situations.  I sympathized with her tattered home life, and wanted to hug her at times.  Despite the cracks in her family, they all really cared about one another, and that was heart-warming to read.  Some of the more serious issues in Normalish were glossed over - like mental illness - in a way that was almost offensive, but I think it was just the author trying to be "in character," as Stacy. I also didn't like the format of most of the dialogue. 

Normalish is a really quick read that made me smile more than once.  (I literally read it in one sitting, in about an hour and a half.)  Stacy learned a great deal over the course of this novel, and grew as a character.  I liked the glimpse into her life; Margaret Lesh told an engaging story.  However, the issues with Normalish, and the fluff aspect kept me from truly enjoying this one more than I did.

About Margaret

California girl Margaret Lesh lives with her husband Steve and son Andrew in a quiet suburb near Los Angeles. Co-creator of StoryRhyme.com, she writes middle grade, young adult, and women’s fiction. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about baked goods, especially donuts, far too often. She believes tacos are magic.

Visit Margaret at: her website | her twitter  

Shop for Normalish at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble  

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Tour Stop: Review + Giveaway: Finding Mia by Rachel K Burke

Finding Mia by Rachel K. Burke
Published: January 8, 2012
Source: Copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Rating: Beam-worthy
Add it to your TBR at: Goodreads 

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Intelligent and fiercely independent, sixteen-year-old Mia Marchette has never had a childhood. After her father’s disappearance when she was six, she has alone borne the burden of her mother’s bipolar disorder.

When her mother is institutionalized after a failed suicide attempt, Mia is abruptly forced to live with the estranged father she has not known for ten years. She is shocked to discover that he has created a new, picture-perfect life for himself, and is now living with a stepmother and a half-sister Mia never knew she had. Together, Mia and her new family must face the bitterness, mistakes, and long-hidden secrets that threaten to destroy their precarious happiness.

Finding Mia follows Mia's journey as she searches to find the unanswered questions from her past, leading to her own self-discovery. Ultimately, this is a story of confronting pain and finding freedom, of letting go and learning to search for love in unexpected places.

Memorable Quote 

Everyone has a role in today's world, and part of what makes us who we are is having the ability to overcome obstables and learn from them as we go.  What I've learned is that any obstacle we are given is a gift, to allow us the chance to grow stronger and to shape the people we are today, as we are nothing without our experiences, and our experiences are nothing if we don't learn from them.   

My Review

I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading Finding Mia; it'd been awhile since I read the synopsis so I didn't go into this YA contemporary with any expectations, yet really enjoyed this heart-wrenching story of family and self-discovery.  Mia was an incredibly strong heroine, who I clicked with - her individuality was really inspiring, and her fears when it comes to her new family are completely relevant and understandable.  I found her very genuine and sympathetic, and warmed to this story right away.  I actually didn't want it to end!

My favorite part of Rachel K Burke's story was the characters.  They all contributed to the story, from Mia, to her outspoken friend Gretchen, who was a layered character, to Evan, Mia's boyfriend.  While I definitely didn't agree with all of Mia's actions, she was a lost teenager, and I could absolutely identify.  Her struggles made her seem more real, although there were times when I wanted to jump into the book and give her a shake or a talking to.  I was really moved by seeing her try to find a way to not just get along with her father and step-mother, but find a way to let them into her lives.  That was one of my favorite aspects of the plot of Finding Mia, although I also really enjoyed Mia's growth. 

Finding Mia is a powerful story of a girl finding who she is, when she's finally able to step out from the shadow of her mother's illness.  It's a character study, and a story of bravery, and second chances.  The pacing was really nicely done, and Burke's writing style is strong and clear.  I would definitely recommend this story to teen readers, because I think it will resonate with others as it did with me!

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This post is part of a tour for ATOMR Tours.  You can follow the rest of the tour here!

About Rachel

Rachel was born and raised in Boston, MA. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. She graduated from Bridgewater University in 2011 with a B.A. in Communications and Media Studies.

Rachel's work has appeared in Prevention Magazine, Worcester Magazine and Starpulse News Entertainment.

  
Visit her online at: her website | her twitter | her facebook

Shop for Finding Mia at: Amazon 

Tour Stop: Review: Betwixt by Melissa Pearl

Betwixt by Melissa Pearl
Published: November 5, 2012
Source: Copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Rating: Squee-worthy

Beautiful, wild-child Nicole Tepper is hit by a car and left for dead. But when she wakes the next morning, Nicole finds herself in bed without a scratch. Perhaps she was more intoxicated than usual, as her mother is giving her the silent treatment and her friends are ignoring her as well.

Things take a turn for the weird when Nicole soon discovers she is actually hovering between life and death. Her body is lying in the forest while her spirit is searching for anyone who can hear her. Unfortunately the only person who can is Dale Finnigan, the guy she publicly humiliated with a sharp-tongued insult that has left him branded.

Desperate, Nicole has no choice but to haunt Dale and convince the freaked-out senior to help her. Will he find her body before it's too late? Or will the guy who tried to kill her with his car beat him there and finish her off before anyone finds out?

Memorable Quote  

My heart skips a beat as he raises his hand and places it on top of mine.  He hovers above it, making sure not to fall straight through my fingers.  His eyes open, and he gives me a long, steady gaze.

"Want to come home with me?"

- Page 79; E-ARC

My Review 

The best books for me are the ones that are not only memorable, but the ones in which I get to watch the main character grow, which is what happened during Betwixt.  Although it's a relatively short book, I was definitely moved, watching Nicole struggle to not just save her own life, but to realize that she was worth fighting for. 

Author Melissa Pearl fleshes out this story of a mean girl's downfall with touching moments on Nicole's part, and a sweet, endearing romantic side plot between Nicole and Dale.  Oh, Dale. (I do believe I just swooned.)  I love reading about a genuinely good guy in YA fiction, and I feel like there aren't enough of them.  I liked what Dale brought out in Nicole, and vice versa.  Their stories mingled really well together, and I loved that he had things to teach her about herself, yet this isn't a story of a girl's entire world hinging on a guy.  

Betwixt is gripping; I liked that I cared about Nicole, and wanted to see her do and be better.  There's a great deal of emotion in this contemporary read, between Nicole and her parents, and I was moved almost to tears a few times.  I enjoyed the in-depth explorations of grief and healing, and I know that Betwixt is a book that will stay with me for some time!

Other books by this author:

Golden Blood 

You're sure to fall for:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Follow the rest of this tour: here!

About Melissa

I used to be a full time teacher (11-13 year olds) then I became a full time mother. During that time I also found my passion for writing. Over the last ten years I have been studying the craft and putting myself out there.

My first trilogy came out in November, 2011. It has been a wild year swimming in this indie river and I have loved so much of it. I have learned so many amazing things and met so many great people. It has totally solidified the fact I want to be a writer for as long as I possibly can!  

Visit her online: at her website | on Twitter.

Shop for Betwixt at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

 

Review + Giveaway: The Unloved by Jennifer Snyder

The Unloved by Jennifer Snyder
Published: July 30, 2012
Rating: Beam-worthy
Source: E-book from the author in exchange for an honest review
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | B&N | Amazon
Connect with the author: Twitter | Website

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Sometimes the love our heart needs to heal can be found in the familiar eyes of a childhood friend...

Julie Porter learned the hard way that trust is something which must be earned and not something to be given out lightly, those who say they love you are those who hold the power to hurt you most, and best friends can help you survive anything—until they move away.

Nick Owen knows a thing or two about a hard life. At a young age Nick learned how to take a hit and to make lemonade out of the lemons life tossed his way. Returning home after nearly two years of being away, all Nick cares about now is protecting his mom from the abusive hands of his father and catching up with his best friend—the girl who lived across the street, the girl he can’t seem to stop thinking about.

Finally reunited after two years apart, Nick and Julie are about to learn that age does nothing to protect you from life’s trials and tribulations, heartache and loss, but maybe together they’ll find a way to survive.

My Review

The Unloved offers two things that I have a soft spot for: a pairing with a history, and a guy who is protective of the girl he cares for; one alone would have been enough to make me grin, but two put me over the top.  I fell hard for this story about two childhood friends who both yearn to become more, and leave their troubled lives behind, and while there were some serious flaws that didn't make this an epic read for me, it was still definitely enjoyable.  

Nick and Julie both have their share of issues, but Jennifer Snyder made them equally compelling characters.  I won't even try to pretend that I didn't fall a bit in love with Nick, whose greatest wish is to see his Jules smile, and to look after her.   Both Julie and Nick did some growing over the course of The Unloved, in order to rise above their circumstances.  And to be honest, Julie needed to do a LOT of soul-searching and growing-up.  She was a hot mess more often than not, and if I was exasperated with her at times, I also liked her.  I just couldn't help but cheer for this couple, because it was easy to see from their history, how much they cared for one another, and I just really wanted them to have their happy ending. 

The Unloved was an enjoyable read, but this is definitely a "new adult" book, toward the older range of the YA spectrum.  Snyder doesn't sugar-coat anything: there's drug use, and various sexual situations, at least one of which is violent.  I thought for the most part these issues were well-developed, and not glossed over, or trivialized in any way.  Instead, they were treated as serious issues, and served as fundamental conflicts for Nick and Julie.  

Although at times the writing felt as if it lacked polish, and the characters definitely made some questionable decisions, I still liked The Unloved.  I'd definitely recommend it to older YA readers who are looking for a heart-wrenching, if frustrating at times, story.   

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