Review: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
★★★☆☆
Release Date: 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Age: YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Tragedy, Love, Coming of Age, High School
Format: ebook
Source: Library
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.
No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.
But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

This is a good book, with great writing, that is mysterious enough to make you want to read to the last page and it had everything I needed in a story right now, because my one year old keeps me more entertained than a lot of the books I've sat down to read. But, this one kept me hooked because I had to know how it ended!

The Beginning of Everything is a good coming of age story about a boy who loses everything he thought he was made of only to gain perspective and become more of who he really is. It's funny, yet not mindless, and filled with witty quotes and kids who talk like adults. It's a YA novel that adults can appreciate as well and I found Robyn Schneider's writing style similar to John Green's. It takes place mostly over the beginning of Ezra's (OMG I love that name, Vampire Weekend anybody?) senior year when he becomes reunited with his past and realizes things are different from the outside. The reflective nature of this book is something I always love, characters who change and grow. Cassidy brings a puzzling nature to the story as the reader and Ezra try to figure her out. She's straight forward when it comes to speaking her mind but not her heart. Toby was by far my favorite character. He's Ezra's best childhood friend and they rekindle their friendship as if they've never parted. I think we all have friends like Toby and can relate to their relationship.

I will say, and nothing to do with the writing, but after reading the story I'm just not crazy about the title or cover of this book. I love them, but not for this story. Severed Heads, Broken Hearts is the UK title and I love that so much more for this story.

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Blog Tour: In the Fields Review and Giveaway

In the Fields by Willow Aster
★★★★☆
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Age: Mature 18+
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Race, Abuse, Southern Romance, Teen, Coming of Age
Format: ebook
Source: The Indie Bookshelf
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | Createspace

1971 — In the tiny, backward town of Tulma, Tennessee, optimistic, bookish Caroline Carson unwittingly finds herself in the middle of a forbidden romance. Severely neglected by her family and forced to flee Tulma to protect her secrets, Caroline’s young life comes crashing down around her. She finds refuge in a new town, but the past always has a way of stretching around time and stirring up trouble.

When a new love comes into her life, she has to decide if she can give her heart to someone else, or if she will always be tied to someone she can’t have.

The details described in this book may not be suitable for readers below the age of 18 as descriptions of rape, alcoholism, child neglect, and abuse are depicted.

In the Fields is an inspirational love story about a young couple that tests every limit of its' small town. It features two teenagers who were meant to be together, but are divided by the color of their skin. So much of this story is real and holds immense power. Set in the 1970s in a racist Tennessee town until Caroline leaves the past behind. From beginning to end this book is filled with heart wrenching events.

A lot of this story I think should stay a secret. I don't want to give anything away, but I do want to tell you how much this love story meant to me. It's also a coming of age that will touch anyone who reads it. It's so different in every way from anything I've read lately and it has left a lasting impression. Race has never been an issue in my family. My grandparents are both from Cuba but my grandfather is white and my grandmother is black. We've never seen color in my family, but I know that even now, others do. To read such an emotionally charged and disaster filled story about what some places used to be like was an eye opener and it made me feel so bad for everyone who has ever been denied or judged based on something they can't control.

Caroline is young and has already been put through so much in her everyday life. Her parents are awful and while one of has redeeming qualities by the end, it was still a rough upbringing. Her one light and best friend, Isaiah, is there for her through a lot. Through the worst of nightmares Caroline finds the strength and courage to move on.

The story spans a few years and Caroline's escape of her hometown to start over. She meets incredible people and really becomes an inspirational young woman. So much of this book put me to tears. It deals with a lot of heavy subject matter and a lot of testing times. Just when it seems that everything is going great for Caroline, something stops her in her tracks.

In the Fields is one of those books everyone should read. It will really round out your views on the world and make you think about what things make us who we are. Does race or sexuality define a human being or is it more? It's something to think about and an incredible book to enjoy. You will cry a lot, you will hurt and ache, you will be a mess, but you will also love it.

Also check out Willow's True Love Story.

WILLOW

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Screwed Review and Giveaway

Screwed by Laurie Plissner
Release Date: May 2013
Publisher: Merit Press
Age: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age, Teen Pregnancy, High School
Format: Hardback
Source: Publisher for Review
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Flattered by the attentions of Nick, the cutest guy in school, seventeen-year-old Grace Warren, captain of the math team, lets down her guard and gets pregnant the night she loses her virginity. Hopeful that Nick will drop to one knee and propose when she breaks the baby news to him, Grace is heartbroken - Nick wants nothing to do with her. Her best friend, Jennifer, thinks she should get an abortion, but Grace is certain that her morally upright parents will insist that she keep the baby. After she comes clean to her super-religious, strait-laced parents, they surprise her by insisting that she terminate the pregnancy to avoid humiliating the family. But when she sees the fetus on the ultrasound, she decides she can't get rid of it. Deciding to save the tiny life growing inside of her, Grace must face the consequences of being that girl - the good girl who got knocked up.

Grace is faced with one of those tough-life altering decisions; does she face her problems head on or make them go away?

Grace is a bright senior in High School who makes a mistake that shakes everything she's ever believed and known. When she gets pregnant by a boy she barely knows, she is faced with the wrath of her "let's make our appearances shine" parents who try to force her into doing something she doesn't want to. When she won't do as they say, they kick her out, thinking she'll come to her senses and obey them. Brought in by a neighbor, Helen, she begins one of the hardest years of her life but decides to do what she thinks is best, not terminate her pregnancy. She loses and gains people in her life during this time.

Helen is a rock in her crazy world. She supports and loves her, letting her know that whatever she does will be the best decision. Having survived concentration camps and a Nazi regime, Helen values family and is loyal to those around her.

Screwed is an issue book; it's a what would you do book and a look at people and not down to them book. It's a book that will make you think, reflect, and relive moments in your life. There's a part in the story where Grace is sad for the adopted families that she's considering. She doesn't find it fair that they can't have a child when they want one so bad, but a teenager with no money or support system can. This is one of those things that I often think about. This book, while very fictional and happily ever after, brings up conversation and tough situations. It's a great discussion book or book to read in a group.

Have you seen the film Saved? Throughout this book that movie kept popping up in my head. When I start reading a book about anything religious I inwardly cringe. It's not something that I enjoy reading. This book was one that painted Grace's parents as hypocritical christians, preaching one thing and living by a completely different moral code. I hated them. The way they push Grace out of their lives and continue living, more so her dad. I know people are like that, but it's awful. And, it's awful to think how loyal Grace is to the fault of wanting them back in her life after everything.

Jennifer, Grace's friend, is a loud mouth pain in the rear. As a reader you can tell she has her heart in the right place, with Grace in mind, but man. She kind of made me crazy. Charlie on the other hand, while his dialogue was way to formal, he was sweet and considerate.

The book changes point of view a lot. One minute your seeing the story from Grace's point of view and then all of a sudden without warning you're in her mom or dad's head. At times the reader is even thrust into the point of view of other characters that make rare appearances. It got to be confusing, unnecessary and I felt the story would lose it's flow.

Overall, Screwed is a fast paced, easy (but not light) read about a girl doing what she feels is right despite what those around her want. It's inspirational and I can't even begin to put my self in the shoes of the teens who struggle with problems like this.

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The Truth About You and Me Review

The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
★★★☆☆
Release Date: September 8, 2013
Publisher: Flux
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Coming of Age, Contemporary Romance, Drama, Teacher, Love, High School, College
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Preorder it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Smart girls aren't supposed to do stupid things.
Madelyn Hawkins is super smart. At sixteen, she's so gifted that she can attend college through a special program at her high school. On her first day, she meets Bennet. He's cute, funny, and kind. He understands Madelyn and what she's endured - and missed out on - in order to excel academically and please her parents. Now, for the first time in her life, she's falling in love.
There's only one problem. Bennet is Madelyn's college professor, and he thinks she's eighteen - because she hasn't told him the truth.
The story of their forbidden romance is told in letters that Madelyn writes to Bennet - both a heart-searing ode to their ill-fated love and an apology.

For me, this book was an okay read. It is a story that treads the water but never dives in. I wanted to be pulled under, but it never happened. My feelings for the characters never went beyond my initial takes, I didn't feel connected to their development and I really wasn't feeling their love. I'd say this is a coming of age book, a finding oneself book, more than a love story.

Maddie is a liar. Point blank. It's hard to even want to like someone who is supposed to be a genius but is, in all ways that count, quite the average person. The girl lacks common sense. What's that phrase, book smart but not street smart. Maddie's not life smart. She lures a teacher into a relationship built up on false pretenses and while she constantly thinks about the thing, her age, that separates them; she never once thinks about him (honestly). Their relationship is short lived and the way in which they fall out was sad, for him. He ends up losing so much more than she does. The ending of the book was by far my favorite part. Amanda Grace couldn't have concluded their story better.

The Truth About You and Me is told in the form of a letter. Maddie is writing a letter to help Bennett. Maddie is naive and young, it's hard to blame her for the way she acts because really; she's just a kid. As I got into the book I couldn't stop reading, I wanted to know what happened. I wanted to know why Maddie was writing these letters and I wanted to know how their story panned out. I was hooked in from the beginning and easily blew through the story. If you're looking for something light (even with the dense subject matter) and easy to get into, I recommend this one.

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