When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.
Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking. Quoted from Goodreads
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I'll admit right up front, I'm going to be a little bit unfair to this book. Here's the thing, expectations matter to me. If I want an apple, a banana isn't going to cut it. That's sort of the case with this book. Don't get me wrong, it was a good book, but it wasn't really what I was looking for. Call me shallow, but I wanted more of a light teen romance, and this wasn't it. Crazy, I know. Based on the book blurb what else could it be? I really should have picked up on the word poignant.
By my ranking, here's what the book is really about. 1) a coming of age story. Yep, that's the real story of Jude. It's how she grows up. 2) Jude's relationship with her father and his dealing with alzheimer's. While this was sweet and sad all at the same time, and handled really well, it got one word (ailing) in the description. And finally, 3) Jude's romance with Emilio.
I know I almost always give my rating at the end, but not this time. It's only getting 3 stars from me. Most of this book, I kept hoping it would morph into something it wasn't because of the blurb. I wasn't looking to suffer through Jude's father's decline with her or watch Jude grow up because of this. It was well written, just not what I was looking for that day.
Okay, I'll stop beating the expectations horse. This book did have some wonderful things about it. I love Jude's family and their relationships. Her parents, sisters, and even friends each get their own distinct personalities, despite their limited page count. The author did a good job at getting the family dynamic down, especially the heartbreak of loosing their father over and over to alzheimer's. Jude's in an interesting position in her family, baby/only child, and I really liked seeing her relationship with her older sisters.
The romance was cute. Emilio as adorable and just what Jude needed that summer. Still, that circles back to her family and Jude's growing up. Falling in love with him, sort of let her work out her relationships with her sisters and become her own person. Even the ending was almost more a tribute to her father than a purely romantic adventure with her boyfriend.
Honestly, if you're looking for a great coming of age story, this is it. There's heartbreak, growing up, sadness, and romance, all thrown together over one long summer. If I had know this from the beginning, I'm sure the book would have earned more stars, so now you're warned. It's an excellent book for what it is, it just wasn't want I expected it to be.
If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? Quoted from Goodreads
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This novel is just cute. It's the dream every girl's had at least once. It's the perfect read for you summer vacation. It's light, and as the title suggests, what happy looks like.
First, I absolutely love this cover. I love the smiling, yellow happy, the sunrise cover silhouetting the two people on the boat. I love the color scheme, simple and striking. It's one of those covers that practically screams read me. Any book that gets this cover must be absolutely amazing.
Okay, now on to the real story. It starts off with e-mails, but rapidly turns into the story, alternating POV between Graham and Ellie. Maybe I don't read enough straight up contemporary YA romances, but that was refreshing for me. We get both sides of the story. Not just your Cinderella type, small town girl falling in love with big time actor, but we see why he falls for Ellie. We get both of their issues, what makes each of them fall for the other, and their insecurities. Plus, with Graham's POV, we get to experience both the ups and downs of what it's like to be famous. It's reminds you that no matter how fairytale the setup of the story, it's not all fun and games. It changes him, but not in the way you would immediately think, which is why he is drawn to Ellie in the first place. Then there's Ellie. She's so likable in the way she handles everything with Graham. She has her own issues, which cause a good portion of the conflict in this book, but not in a ridiculous, drama filled way. Despite the fantastical setup, the whole story comes across as grounded in reality.
I also enjoy how both characters families and friends play a pivotal role in their lives. It isn't just a story about two people who fall in love in a bubble where the rest of the world fades away. Ellie's mother is a very real character, as (to a lesser extent) are Graham's parents. Then there's Ellie's friends, Graham's agent, director, costars, etc. It adds depth to the book, making it seem like this fairytale could really happen.
Finally, Jennifer E. Smith is just a plain good writer. You can't help but get sucked into the world she creates, immerse yourself in the small town, and love the characters. I especially liked the e-mails at the beginning of the each chapter, which help move the story along, somewhat, and remind you of how Ellie and Graham first met. Plus, they're just cute.
All in all, this is a fun, 4 stars for me. It's simple, yet beautifully done, fantastical setup, yet grounded in reality. If you're looking for a fun, light, happy romance, this is it.
