Skin Deep

Mar 11, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have had my eye on Skin Deep since I first heard about it and was excited to receive a copy in the post from the publisher and as soon as my current read was finished I dove straight in and was not disappointed.

Skin Deep is a book that not only focuses on finding love against the odds, but also about finding your strength and belief in yourself to pick yourself up and carry on, no matter what is in your way.
Jenna is suffering for various reasons after a disfiguring car accident, while Ryan, a...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Tee Tyson rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: teens, people who want a feel good read

I am always apprehensive when I read YA books because I worry the voice will be too juvenile, or worse off, too adult for the character. I didn't find this at all in Skin Deep.

I'll be up front, I love this author as a person. She's witty, funny and endeared herself to me long before this book was published. That said, I've never read anything she's written. Until this book. I am always more than a little apprehensive when I start to read someone's work that I know. (Not know-know, but in a virt...more I am always apprehensive when I read YA books because I worry the voice will be too juvenile, or worse off, too adult for the character. I didn't find this at all in Skin Deep.

I'll be up front, I love this author as a person. She's witty, funny and endeared herself to me long before this book was published. That said, I've never read anything she's written. Until this book. I am always more than a little apprehensive when I start to read someone's work that I know. (Not know-know, but in a virtual sense) That's because I'm always up front about how I feel. If it was too slow. If I didn't like it. I would tell them. Thankfully, I don't have any nits, picks or annoyances with this book.

It was a whizz banger - in the means of pacing. I enjoyed the plot, and was even surprised at the sudden twist 3/4 of the way through. It had a lovely ending, which I always enjoy. To be honest, I was tickled pink to read this and finished it in all but three days, which equalled up to a couple hours, two bouts at the gym and a nice long soak in the tub.

There was much for me to enjoy about this. Really.

Jenna is a sympathetic character, one you understand almost immediately and hope she finds someone who can look at her without flinching. Ryan is a flawed but friendly male counterpart who is endearing.

What the author did with these two characters was build a relationship that felt real to me. Not forced and 100% teenager-y.

There were some out right laughable parts. Sometimes the interactions between the two are painfully awkward, to the point where I grimaced for them, because that's how I remembered it being when I was in high school.

And I have to say the part in the cafe after Ryan knocks Ed out is by far my favourite. There's something warm and natural about the way these two unfolded in their friendship.

I didn't feel the author dumbed it down at all. She used words and descriptions that didn't underestimate her audience. And, while Jenna is only fourteen, she has been through something horrific which has given her an older voice, yet still she has the giggly, swoony side all young girls seem to have.

The beauty of this book is how the author managed to show how broken everyone around Jenna was. And there's a wonderful moral that, even though she is visibly scarred, everyone else is wounded as well.

I ate the book up even though it wasn't something I'd normally pick up. I look forward to the next book from Laura. Now I can like her as a person and an author. Whew. ;)

Oh, and tofu isn't that bad! :)(less)

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May 30, 2013 Smithjamest rated it 4 of 5 stars

Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt is a very enthralling teenage romance novel. However the novel also deals with the incredible difficulties faced by teenagers when they have problems at home or suffer a lack of confidence over their appearance (as all teenage girls do). Jenna was in a car crash in the summer and her best friend was killed. She suffered some terrible burns and is left with terrible scars. Jenna withdraws into herself and refuses to go out with any of her old friends; leaving the house...more Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt is a very enthralling teenage romance novel. However the novel also deals with the incredible difficulties faced by teenagers when they have problems at home or suffer a lack of confidence over their appearance (as all teenage girls do). Jenna was in a car crash in the summer and her best friend was killed. She suffered some terrible burns and is left with terrible scars. Jenna withdraws into herself and refuses to go out with any of her old friends; leaving the house only when her family begs her to. Ryan, a traveller, has a mum who suffers from bipolar disorder. When his mum is on her lows she becomes hateful and Ryan is forced to cope with her accusations.
When Ryan moves to Jenna’s village the two meet only for Jenna to flee sobbing as Ryan noticed her scars. Jenna’s insecurity confuses Ryan who sees past her physical appearance and doesn’t judge her for it. Ryan later sees Jenna again and apologises, mentioning her scars which both appalls and fascinates Jenna who is used to her kindly neighbours avoiding mentioning them.
The book swaps narration between the two characters and Jarratt develops the two personalities vividly - they both have their flaws and you can relate to them as authentic teenagers.
The only problem I had with the book was the fact Jenna was only 14 (Ryan was 16). I just found it hard to relate to such a young character as at her age I was not as interested in boys as she is!! However once you accept she is extremely lucky to have bagged such a catch (Ryan is completely drool worthy!)…… she is a likeable friendly character.
Jarratt manages to catch the characters emotions very well - it does not feel like a 40 year old writing.
I think the most striking part of the book is the fact the main heroine is (physical attributes) not perfect. So many YA novels have girls with perfect hair and great clothes etc.
“Ugly people don’t have feelings. They’re not like everyone else. They don’t notice if you stare at them in the street and then turn your face away. And if they did notice, it wouldn’t hurt them. They’re not like real people. Or that’s what I used to think. When I was younger. Before I learned.”
Skin Deep is an extremely good novel with a heart warming romance and meaningful points (one is that people should not be judged by their appearance) and is really worth a read!!
I would give it 4 stars out of 5. It can be bought from Amazon.co.uk for £5.24, and is really worth it!
Tabby X
http://justthisteenager.blogspot.co.u...
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Apr 07, 2013 Cornelia Zass rated it 5 of 5 stars

Meine erste Leserunde bei Lovelybooks und schon durfte ich dieses tolle Buch lesen.

“Skin Deep - Nichts geht tiefer als die erste Liebe” ist ein sehr feinfühliger und zum Nachdenken anregender Roman der Autorin Laura Jarrett.
Ich bedanke mich sehr bei dem Dressler-Verlag, dass ich dieses Leserundenbuch bekommen habe und 349 Seiten lang die Protagonisten Jenna und Ryan begleiten durfte.

“Kohlrabenschwarz … Die Dunkelheit erstickt mich … Die Schreie holen mich aus der Schwärze zurück …” (Skin Deep S....more

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Mar 13, 2013 Bea Turvey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: botm-challenge

Drugs and sex (non-explicit) so I would recommend for 14+ readers if you're sensitive! Although, if you are a level-headed 11 year-old it is worth picking up as it highlights the dangers of drugs. Be aware, the hero is 16 and indulges in 'hook-ups' and drinks alcohol.
The storyline is basically what it says on the blurb, but there are several deeper issues involved, namely prejudice against travellers; underage drinking; challenging behaviour and pushing boundaries; living with semeone who has bi...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Wafiyah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: anticlimactic, contemporary-romance, action-suspense, family, guilty-pleasure, interesting, great-protagonist, loved-after-everyone-loved-it, romance, tragic

I didn’t like it at first, I know that for sure. I thought it was a bit too cliché, and that the main characters were pretty lame on their own, and I hate the type of thought process that writers have when they make/imply that their main female lead characters should be a tad more emotional and attracted towards the main male lead, who happens to be a bad boy and only realizes his absolutely infatuation with the girl when someone else vies for her affection.

Anyway, I got over that soon enough,...more

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Oct 18, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Skin Deep - Nichts geht tiefer als die erste Liebe" von der britischen Autorin Laura Jarratt ist ein Jugendroman über eine junge Liebe unter schwierigen Umständen, der mich mit seinem unerwarteten Tiefgang überzeugen konnte, an anderer Stelle aber leider ein wenig enttäuschte.

Erst einmal zum Inhalt: Acht Monate nach einem schweren Autounfall versucht die 14-jährige Jenna wieder in ihren gewohnten Alltag zurückzufinden, doch das fällt ihr nicht leicht. Durch eine Verbrennung hat sie Narben im Ge...more "Skin Deep - Nichts geht tiefer als die erste Liebe" von der britischen Autorin Laura Jarratt ist ein Jugendroman über eine junge Liebe unter schwierigen Umständen, der mich mit seinem unerwarteten Tiefgang überzeugen konnte, an anderer Stelle aber leider ein wenig enttäuschte.

Erst einmal zum Inhalt: Acht Monate nach einem schweren Autounfall versucht die 14-jährige Jenna wieder in ihren gewohnten Alltag zurückzufinden, doch das fällt ihr nicht leicht. Durch eine Verbrennung hat sie Narben im Gesicht und ständig das Gefühl angestarrt zu werden, weswegen sie sich sehr zurückgezogen hat. Dass der Unfallfahrer mit einer milden Strafe davon gekommen und ihr eigener Vater eine Aktionsgruppe ins Leben gerufen hat, macht es Jenna auch nicht gerade leichter. Doch dann legen der 16-jährige Ryan und seine Mutter mit ihrem Hausboot im Kanal unweit von Jennas Haus an. Beide fühlen sich als Außenseiter und finden langsam zueinander. Bis ein Mord den kleinen Ort erschüttert...

Zuerst haben mich der Schreibstil und der Aufbau des Romans sehr angesprochen. Obwohl mit einer Altersempfehlung von "ab 12 Jahren" für eine junge Zielgruppe gedacht, überzeugte die Sprache auch mich als erwachsene Leserin, da sie, was den Wortschatz angeht, abwechslungsreich gestaltet und der Satzbau zwar nicht besonders anspruchsvoll, allerdings im Vergleich zu anderen Jugendromanen auch nicht zu einfach, gehalten ist. Erzählt wird die Geschichte aus den Ich-Perspektiven von Jenna und Ryan, die sich kapitelweise abwechseln und dem Leser so Einblick in die Gedankenwelt beider Teenager bekommen.

In den Charakteren dieser beiden Protagonisten liegt die größte Stärke von "Skin Deep". Sie könnten unterschiedlicher kaum sein: Jenna zurückgezogen, unsicher, empfindlich und schüchtern; Ryan selbstbewusst, frühreif, draufgängerisch und trotz harter Fassade auch sensibel. Beide sind nicht nur sehr sympathisch, sondern machen im Laufe des Romans auch eine beachtliche, weitestgehend nachvollziehbare Entwicklung durch, wobei ernstzunehmende Themen, wie Mobbing und psychische Erkrankungen, behandelt werden. Der emotionale Umgang der Protagonisten mit ihren Problemen wird - besonders durch die Ich-Perspektiven - sehr eindringlich beschrieben und der Roman erlangt dadurch auch eine gewisse Tiefe, die ihn sehr lesenswert macht.

Nur manchmal wirkten die Entwicklungen der Charaktere für meinen Geschmack etwas sprunghaft, was meiner Meinung nach vor allem an einem eher Block-artigen Aufbau der Handlung lag. Während erst Jennas Narben und ihr sozialer Rückzug im Mittelpunkt der Geschichte stehen, wird dieses Handlungsabschnitt dann relativ abrupt von Ryans Problemen mit seiner Mutter abgelöst - allerdings waren die leichten Sprünge in den Charakterentwicklungen nicht wirklich störend und sind auch nicht mein größter Kritikpunkt an "Skin Deep". Das ist der Kriminalfall, in den die Handlung letztendlich gipfelt. Hier tummeln sich leider die üblichen Klischees, der Verlauf der Handlung sowie die Auflösung des Falls sind mehr als nur vorhersehbar. Sehr enttäuscht war ich davon, dass besonders der sonst so reif wirkende Ryan in diesem Abschnitt ziemlich an charakterlichem Profil einbüßte und sich stattdessen den naiven Klischee-Handlungen hingab, wie sie in vielen Romanen und Filmen am Fließband zu finden sind. Wie so oft wurde die Polizei zum Feind, unnötige, unkreative Lügengebilde wurden für nichts und wieder nichts geflochten, ihr Einsturz von vorn herein vorherzusehen. Hier verlor der Roman leider seine Innovation und wurde alltäglich. Schade.

Die Liebesgeschichte entwickelt sich allerdings sehr zart, langsam und glaubwürdig. Eine wirklich schön umgesetzte Idee einer ersten Teenagerliebe vieler Widrigkeiten zum Trotz, die man in diesem Roman zu lesen bekommt. Diese romantischen Aspekte gleichen die Klischees wieder ein wenig aus, ebenso wie ein sehr überzeugendes Ende, das den Roman in guter Erinnerung bleiben lässt. Die rosafarbene Gestaltung dieser gebundenen Ausgabe (ohne Schutzumschlag) sollte auch keinen Zweifel daran lassen, dass es in "Skin Deep" in erster Linie um Gefühle und Liebe geht, als um einen spannenden Mordfall. Es ist ein Mädchenbuch.

Fazit: Sehr gefühlvoller Roman über eine junge Teenager-Liebe mit Protagonisten, welche ein nicht alltägliches Schicksal zu bewältigen haben. Leider rutscht die Geschichte durch einen Mordfall ein wenig in das Reich der Klischees ab und verliert dort ein wenig der Stärke der ansonsten innovativen Grundidee. 4 Sterne.
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Aug 29, 2012 Ana rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you haven't read this book...Go and get it! Its everything you want in a good book.

I found this book by accident at work the other day and i loved the name of it so i got it...kind of a dumb reason i know. However, the book is wonderful, it shows love and innocence in their purest form. From first dates and meeting parents the story becomes so believable unlike many fantasy ya read. AND! Finally! a heroine who isn't always whining about her looks because she wants attention and one who is st...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Sabina Kellie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourite-contemporary

askdhfaoisdh now that's how you write a contemporary romance novel! Take that, Port Fare! Sorry, I'm currently still a little bit bitter over the amount of time I wasted reading that series, but this...this was something else. It was humourous and witty and fast-paced and interesting. I loved how the characters were realistic and likable. I'm particularly pleased with Ryan, how the author doesn't try to make him into a 'perfect' guy who is so holier-than-thou and is like, a virgin until he meets...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, y-a, library

This is a high 4 stars. Maybe closer to 4 and a half.

I saw this in the library and thought it looked like it had potential. I hadn't heard of it before but I decided to give it a chance and I'm glad I did.

Skin Deep is about a girl named Jenna who is scarred from a terrible car accident and Ryan, a traveller who comes into town with his mother. It is told in their alternating perspectives, like a Simone Elkeles novel.

This is a kissing book, for sure. It is also a murder mystery and deals with so...more

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May 23, 2012 Aishah rated it 5 of 5 stars

As soon as I picked Skin Deep being drawn to it more than other books on my pile because of the cover, I was instantly drawn into the world of Jenna with not much information at the start about the characters but Laura Jarratt instantly created a sense of danger. Laura Jarratt is one of the few authors that I have known that has managed to reel the reader in making them eager to read on from the first few pages of the novel.

This is one of the few books that I have read that targets the issues so...more As soon as I picked Skin Deep being drawn to it more than other books on my pile because of the cover, I was instantly drawn into the world of Jenna with not much information at the start about the characters but Laura Jarratt instantly created a sense of danger. Laura Jarratt is one of the few authors that I have known that has managed to reel the reader in making them eager to read on from the first few pages of the novel.

This is one of the few books that I have read that targets the issues some teenagers have today. It made me compare Laura to Jacqueline Wilson and Sarah Dessen but even then this novel felt more real than the books that I have read of these authors.

Jenna is a normal, quiet and innocent teenage girl that gets enveloped into what her best friend Lindsay is doing, not knowing of the dangers and the traumatising events that await her. After a simple, one night out, with the death of her best friend and scars that leave her completely hopeless to a better future, a car accident changing Jenna's life forever.
Jenna is such a sweet girl and i instantly fell in love with her and felt real empathy for her of what her life had come to. I always felt really hopeful for her , that somehow she would be able to change her future for the better. With all the insults and staring that she had to go through, i just wanted to cry for her and it made me think twice of people i may have seen alike to Jenna and what I did do and what I should've done. It made me feel more aware of those people around me who suffer from accidents or natural causes and it changed the way I thought about them and I think Laura Jarratt was excellent in creating a character like Jenna to express this important message that all those people may be unable to convey. With the introduction of Ryan, for a slight second i had a prejudgement towards him and was about to hate him for making Jenna upset but this was before I realised his motives and he was a enjoyable, fun and likeable boy who brought more action and happiness into the story with his amazing personality. He was also a pointer for me, for how I should act and make myself a better person, with the happiness he shared with Jenna. There were many other characters bringing the story into life with their different personalities driving the book along and keeping you entertained at every page of the book.

The novel is exquisitely written with a unique style which directly targets the reader and pulls them into the book creating a great understanding that the reader can follow and enjoy in a quick, well-written, short read. The story is not just for one group of people such as paranormal lover s but targets issues that we have today in every community. The storyline is a continuous series of events of happiness, romance, tragedy, comedy and much more. Laura Jarratt writes in a way, such that you are unable to make predictions of the later events in as it is filled with so many turning events which makes it even more enjoyable and makes you more fervent to carry on.

Laura Jarratt is definitely on my favourite authors list now and if her other books are as good as this then she has an extremely promising future in the book world!

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Mar 04, 2012 Dark Readers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Skin Deep. Such a beautiful heartfelt story that totally matches the saying don't judge a book by its cover.

The story is about the lovely Jenna who suffered a horrible disfiguring to her face due to her being in a car crash that killed her best friend. Now she has met Ryan... The sweetest guy who looks passed her scarred face and sees the true her...

Let me start by saying how emotional this book will have you. I've never felt this emotionally drained touched and bloody excited from a book in a w...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Ippy rated it 2 of 5 stars

What is up with authors who write about ugly people? Lets clarify, ugly girls. Is this now a trend? It's always the case where the girl is ugly, because she had an accident or her face has been burnt off, and hence she is flawed and hates her life and parents, and then 'surprisingly' there's this amazingly hot guy who does not care for her flaws, and falls in love with her only for her personality.Please. Lets get real people. Guys are not only in for the personality, it's everything. What are a...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Faye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ugly people don't have feelings. That's what Jenna thought. Like the man with the disorder and ugly face at the local shop, ugly people don't care if someone in the street stares at them, or calls them a name. Because they don't have feelings.
Now, Jenna sees that that isn't true. At the car crash that leaves her best friend dead and a permanent scar on Jenna's face, she struggled to re-build her life. And that's when Ryan came along, a tall, good-looking traveller with an ill mum and a list ful...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Amira rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this book, I liked it a lot. Through-out the novel, I felt as desperate and angry as the main character had. I always enjoyed reading it from Ryan's point of view too. There were many times I could feel tears starting to form, and other times where I couldn't help but feel giddy inside. The only issues I have with this novel, is the whole "ugly people don't have feelings" - Never have I thought of it like that, and I doubt people even do? Actually,it's very much the opposite, "ugly peopl...more

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May 06, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, cute, book-with-gorgeous-boy, borrowed

Skin Deep is a cute YA contemporary that was a joy to read! Mysteries, romance and complicated families.

I'm not quite sure where to begin, Jenna, a fourteen-year-old, was in a car crash not long ago, leaving a scar on her face. She's always kept her head down, kept to herself, kept invisible. She hates it when people stare at her with that sympathetic look in their eyes. Until she meets Ryan. A traveller, a sixteen-year-old, a boy way out of her league. But he's not like any other boy she's met....more

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Oct 04, 2012 Zahra rated it 5 of 5 stars

OMG OMG . I just finished the book and WOW it was just Awesome.
I feel like this right now BEEHSHWKEHGWCWGYSSHUEWJOE
WOW
There was never a boring moment or anything and the pace of the story was perfect. The plot was original which I loved and WOW .
It about a girl named Jenna . Jenna was in an accident and from under her eye to her neck was burned . She has difficulty coping with this because everyone stares at her and calls her names .
Ryan is a traveller he travels on a boat with his mum from v...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Annie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked this book up in Waterstones. I'd never heard of the author and to be honest, the cover and byline weren't all that enchanting, but it was a YA contemporary romance set in the UK and so I took a chance. Boy did it pay off. I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet, chilling and compelling stuff.

At the start of the book Jenna is hurt in a car accident which kills two girls and leaves her permanently scarred. She withdraws from her life and her friends, because she doesn't like how she loo...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Zoe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, romance, mystery

Jenna - “Dad's going to go mental though.”
Ryan - Suppose I'll be skewered with the garden fork when he finds out.”
“Probably. Might deflate your ego so it could be a good thing.”
“You're supposed to say, 'No, I'll protect you' and stuff like that.”

This is a story about two lonely and lost people finding each other against all odds. It's a beautiful relationship of discovery. I loved watching Jenna and Ryan's chemistry and the way they unraveled each other. And even though they're so young (14 &...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Lisa (Badass Bookie) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

The Short Story? - One of the best contemporary YA novels I've ever read. Heartbreakingly beautiful and bittersweet, Jarratt has written a moving love story that shows the beauty in flaws. I can't emphasis enough just how wonderfully complex and brilliant this novel is. A tear-jerker plot, beautiful characterisation and prose that that rivals some of the best YA writers out there. Jarratt has written an extraordinary work of contemporary fiction. Skin Deep is a memorable debut that will haunt yo...more The Short Story? - One of the best contemporary YA novels I've ever read. Heartbreakingly beautiful and bittersweet, Jarratt has written a moving love story that shows the beauty in flaws. I can't emphasis enough just how wonderfully complex and brilliant this novel is. A tear-jerker plot, beautiful characterisation and prose that that rivals some of the best YA writers out there. Jarratt has written an extraordinary work of contemporary fiction. Skin Deep is a memorable debut that will haunt you long after the last page!

The Long Story? - Wow. This book just blew me away. I'm grasping for words to describe how wonderful this book is. There is an ache in my heart every time I think about it because it's so heartbreakingly beautiful. Jarratt has written a wonderfully complex love story that's both unique and touching. The novel explores various issues like drink-driving, dysfunctional families and coming-to-age. It shows the consequence of a bad decision and how there is ugly in beauty. It explores in depth teenage love and how flaws make us a better person. From the first page, I was in love with this story, it's bittersweet, there is pain and grief and loss everywhere but there is also hope and love and acceptance. Jarratt has written a truly spectacular debut and I just hope everyone has the chance to read such a beautiful, beautiful novel.

The characterisation bought tears to my eyes. Jenna is so so strong. I don't know what I will do if I was ever permanently scarred. Her bravery is a very admirable thing. Initially she's very distraught and upset about how how beauty is marred but as the novel progresses, she learns that beauty is skin deep and that even ugly people have feelings. With the help of Ryan, she's able to get over this obstacle in her life and move on. I loved how Jenna was brave enough to face the world and to give herself another chance. However if it weren't for Ryan, Jenna would have never been able to move on and that's why he's my favourite character of the novel Ryan has stolen my heart and I have no intention of stealing it back. If every boy was like him, we would all have happy endings. He didn't care about Jenna scars and even when he himself was in pain, he was always thinking about the wellbeing of someone else. He had a huge heart, he was funny and he loved Jenna every much. Jenna and Ryan are probably one of my favourite couples ever. The romance between the two is undeniably real.

Skin Deep isn't a well known debut but I hope to get other people to read this book! It's amazing and it's truly a hidden gem just waiting to be found and read. You will cry, you will laugh and you will cry some more. Jarratt's debut has truly touched my heart and it has changed my perspective of the world. If you loved The Fault in Our Stars or Saving June ( two of my favourite contemporaries!) than I would not hesitate to pick this one up!
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Feb 28, 2013 TheBookCrazyPurpleCheeta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: j-l

That was really cute

Skin Deep is told in two point of views. The first one is Jenna's and the second one is from Ryan's.

Jenna is a girl who has suffered from a car crash and half her face was set alight. Now, everywhere she goes, people stare.

Ryan is a boy who lives on a canal boat and whose Mum has a head problem where she tends to turn a bit mean and crazy.

These two meet when Jenna is walking her dog and they gradually fall in love.

description

The only thing that bothered me was the fact that at the sar...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Michelle Sallay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, own, on-my-blog

Originally on my blog: http://ilovedthisbook.blogspot.com

I am always thrilled when a love story doesn't start out with: "Oh, she is hot." and "Oh he is hot and I want him, because we are both hot so of course we will hook up and fall in love." (Those of course are not direct quotes from any book, but mere examples of my own making.)

Skin Deep is a book about two really imperfect characters going through their own stuff and becoming friends first. It was adorable and very swoony watching the relat...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Nordic21 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: highschool-reality

This book was really good. I like how the author chose someone who is very vulnerable. Normally it is some fat girl or nerd that get the cute boy, but in this book it was a girl who is recovering from a freak accident and has half of her face burned. Everything was realist. From how someone would react to having their best friend killed, and how someone would react about having their faced be burned and not look "good" anymore. I was cool to have two perspectives so that you can see the trouble...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-review

Within the first two chapters of this book, I was crying. As soon as I read how Jenny had suffered and her struggle to come to terms with how she looked, I found myself weeping buckets full of tears. You can feel exactly how she feels as she experiences the constant staring and whispering about her. Her life has changed dramatically and she is struggling to come to terms with the way people now look at her. She can't even look at herself. In her eyes, the scarring is just too hideous to look at...more Within the first two chapters of this book, I was crying. As soon as I read how Jenny had suffered and her struggle to come to terms with how she looked, I found myself weeping buckets full of tears. You can feel exactly how she feels as she experiences the constant staring and whispering about her. Her life has changed dramatically and she is struggling to come to terms with the way people now look at her. She can't even look at herself. In her eyes, the scarring is just too hideous to look at and all mirrors are banned from the house.

Until along comes Ryan, who has the most beautiful soul ever. Ryan is just an amazing character, who can see past Jenna's scars. To him, they were never an issue. He is very protective of her and will not stand for anyone upsetting her or hurting her feelings. I think it the way he has been brought up that makes him such a wonderful and thoughtful person. He has lived all his life as a traveller; living on a barge, with his New Age mother. He just seems to see the world differently from others.

The romance between Ryan and Jenna was just captivating. It took Ryan a while to realise that his protectiveness of her was a sign that he was falling in love with her. As their romance blossomed it was just beautiful to see how Jenna learnt to come to terms with her injuries and learnt to live with her burns. She became more outgoing and began to want to wear the makeup the hospital had provided her with. Her scars no longer defined her; with Ryan's love she became stronger. Ryan healed the wounds that scarred her on the inside, making it easier for her to cope with the scars on the outside.

Half way through the book, the plot changes dramatically and you find yourself desperate to know what happens. I think the added plot strand really helped to give the book more depth and was an excellent storyline.

I really truly loved this book and I have already convinced quite a few people to read it, who have loved it just as much as I did. The story was easily read and I found I devoured it in two sessions. The writing is so descriptive, I felt like another character in the book, watching all that was going on. I was desperate to find out what would happen. This is definitely a book I would read again. I can't wait to see what Laura Jarratt writes next. (less)

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Apr 19, 2012 Precious rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Originally posted at Fragments of Life.

I was caught off guard by this stunning and brilliant debut! I didn’t expect that I would love it this much. It’s hard to really find the right words for this review – I don’t think there will ever be a set of worthy words for the awesomeness that was Skin Deep.

Jenna wasn’t the same after the accident. Aside from the trauma, the grief and melancholy of losing her best friend, Lindz, she was permanently scarred with a horrible third degree burn on the right...more Originally posted at Fragments of Life.

I was caught off guard by this stunning and brilliant debut! I didn’t expect that I would love it this much. It’s hard to really find the right words for this review – I don’t think there will ever be a set of worthy words for the awesomeness that was Skin Deep.

Jenna wasn’t the same after the accident. Aside from the trauma, the grief and melancholy of losing her best friend, Lindz, she was permanently scarred with a horrible third degree burn on the right side of her face. The pain, the embarrassment, the loss and the damage that Jenna endured was too much. To make things worse, Steven Carlisle, the person who caused this mess was roaming free on the streets of Jenna’s village. She couldn’t face the world anymore, not when people were looking at her with disgust, pity or even revulsion on their faces. She couldn’t even face the mirror anymore. But after everything she has been through, I could say that Jenna was a strong girl. She braved each morning, pushed herself out of bed and went out of her room. But beyond the confines of the house, she shrank back, afraid of the watching eyes.

Ryan was the new boy. He was good-looking, confident, charming and comfortable with himself. However, being a traveler or a gyppo had a bad stigma that was plastered on him like a sticker. When people find out that he’s a traveler, they instantly think of him as a bad person. They had reason to. He had a habit of ‘hanging out with girls’ and getting what he wanted from them. When he’s down, he would drink. He’d been in a lot of fights in the past – both the winning and the losing side but lately, it’s the former. But deep down, Ryan was a good guy. He was polite and careful. He took care of his mum and defended and stood up for Jenna. He understood her in a way that other people couldn’t. He could see past the scar, right through her soul. He was a balance of good and bad but I don’t think that the bad side of him overweighs the good side.

Jenna and Ryan’s lives collided, tangled and entwined forever in Skin Deep. Two imperfect, scarred – physically or emotionally – characters who both had their own problems met in a quiet village. What will happen? In the beginning, it was very awkward. Ryan had a hard time reading and understanding Jenna. He saw the scar on her face but he didn’t know the whole story behind it. He didn’t know her. But after a few more dog-related incidents including blood and dirt, the two became friends. I liked how the two of them hesitated, found comfort in one another, laughed and spent time together. Seeing the story from Jenna and Ryan’s perspective was just perfect. I could really see how their feelings changed, sometimes fluctuated, and burned inside them.

I loved how the author showed how their relationship developed. From being awkward strangers they became somewhat comfortable friends. Jenna found a listener and advisor in Ryan. Ryan found a girl worth protecting and taking care of in Jenna. He strived to make her smile and to make her laugh with his random statements and jokes. He didn’t look at her the same way he looked at other girls. He was very careful with Jenna’s feelings. I really liked that about him. I enjoyed seeing the tension and attraction build up between them. It’s a pulsing energy that sizzled in the air – unavoidable and undeniable. The romance was slowly developed through jokes, conversations, tears, revelations and secrets. Jenna and Ryan’s relationship was the cute, sweet kind. But it had a strong, intense side, too that pulled them in. The couple went through trials, from small ones like meeting Jenna’s parents to big ones like finding out Ryan’s mum was ill and Ryan getting involved in fights that turned most of the boy population of the village against him.

Skin Deep is a touching, undeniably gorgeous contemporary that will snatch your heart in a blink of an eye. It bleeds sadness, hopelessness, pain and loss but it also bleeds hope, joy and love out of the pages. Every page is a beautiful snapshot of life, realistic and imperfect. I highly recommend this to YA contemporary readers, romance readers and people looking for a realistic read.(less)

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Mar 14, 2012 Clover (Fluttering Butterflies) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: british-reading-challenge, books-read-in-2012, sent-for-review, ya

This review was originally posted at Fluttering Butterflies

Oh wow, I love it when a book comes along and surprises me so completely. Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt so much more than I was expecting it to be and I loved it entirely!

Right from the first page with an incredibly emotional and hard-hitting first sentence, I was emotionally connected to this story. First with Jenna's character, but also Ryan's. I loved the dual-perspective of the story, seeing how each character thinks and feels and react...more This review was originally posted at Fluttering Butterflies

Oh wow, I love it when a book comes along and surprises me so completely. Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt so much more than I was expecting it to be and I loved it entirely!

Right from the first page with an incredibly emotional and hard-hitting first sentence, I was emotionally connected to this story. First with Jenna's character, but also Ryan's. I loved the dual-perspective of the story, seeing how each character thinks and feels and reacts to certain situations.

Jenna is 14 and on a terrible night, she is involved in a car accident that leaves her face permanently scarred and her best friend dead. She's been shut up in the house for months wearing a mask on her face, hoping that his scar will fade and heal. Now that her mask is off, she doesn't like to go outside or see people, worried that everyone is staring or talking about her. The tragic car accident and the loss of her friend and the changes in both herself and her family are still things that affect Jenna still. Jenna stole my heart almost immediately. I really felt protective of her and wanted the best for her.

In a different way, Ryan is used to people staring and thinking badly of him because him and his mum are travellers. Everywhere they go, the two of them are treated badly and forced to leave when the community inevitably bands together to cause trouble against them. Ryan would love nothing more to settle down somewhere, especially as he's still reeling from the loss of the only father-figure he's known. I really felt for Ryan. It must be quite hard for him, but he's also so lovely and responsible and caring, both for his mother and for Jenna.

I really loved both of these characters, and especially how wonderful their relationship steadily grows. It is really based in friendship and spending time with each other. I thought the two of them were utterly adorable and sweet together. It was really nice to see this friendship with Ryan (with his openess and his straight-forward ways!) really give the boost in confidence that Jenna needed, especially with the growing feelings of unease from other people in her town.

But this book isn't just a beautiful love story, it's also about friendship and what it means to be beautiful and also about how appearances can be deceiving. I seriously love this book and I urge you all to read it as well! (less)

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Mar 16, 2012 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, young-adult

'Skin Deep' is a beautifully moving contemporary romance about a young girl scarred for life after a car accident which killed her best friend and a charismatic traveller called Ryan. I'd been looking forward to reading this book ever since I first heard about it. The initial extract I read got me really excited and when I finally got my hands on a finished copy I picked it up immediately. I'm happy to report that it was just as good as I was expecting.

The two main characters, Jenna and Ryan, ha...more 'Skin Deep' is a beautifully moving contemporary romance about a young girl scarred for life after a car accident which killed her best friend and a charismatic traveller called Ryan. I'd been looking forward to reading this book ever since I first heard about it. The initial extract I read got me really excited and when I finally got my hands on a finished copy I picked it up immediately. I'm happy to report that it was just as good as I was expecting.

The two main characters, Jenna and Ryan, have really interesting stories and I liked seeing how their two lives gradually intersected. Although it initially appears that Ryan is predominantly the one helping Jenna, as their relationship develops you can see that they're actually providing mutual support for each other. Jenna is still struggling with the repercussions of the accident which changed her forever and Ryan also has problems of his own. His mother is bipolar and he's had to learn to cope with her mood swings as well as the taunts from his peers about being a gypsy. Just as he teaches Jenna not to be so self-conscious about her face, she teaches him acceptance too. I felt a lot of empathy for both characters and what they have to deal with. They're both so well written that I could really place myself in their shoes at points in the story.

I also liked the dual narrative which alternated between the two of them as this provided a better understanding of their personalities, thoughts and feelings.

The romance between them is a sweet, tingly tale of first love and although Ryan is older and more experienced than Jenna, it was lovely to see how he treated her properly and with care and respect. He's never afraid to stand up for her and to stand by her side, even when others are quick to whisper behind her back. I loved the ending which I thought was very realistic and honest but I wanted to read more about them and found the end came far too quickly!

This was a fantastic book and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to recommend 'Skin Deep' to anyone looking for a romantic read with real heart. Much of the story is about the impact that one tragic event can have on peoples' lives and this was sensitively handled with real insight, compassion and empathy. I look forward to reading more by Laura Jarratt in the future.
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Dec 05, 2011 Beth Dean rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: family, funny, romance, thought-provokers, ya-fiction

This doesn't include something that made me pick up the proof copy in the first place "Fang free romance for readers who are allergic to the paranormal, from a talented new author" and as much as I'm definatley not allergic to the paranormal I am, however, sick to the back teeth of it. EVERY DAMN TEENAGE FICTION BOOK is about BLOODY VAMPIRES or BLOODY ANGELS or BLOODY WEREWOLVES no variations. I have to celebrate this book because it contains NONE OF THESE THINGS, you can tell I'm excited the ca...more This doesn't include something that made me pick up the proof copy in the first place "Fang free romance for readers who are allergic to the paranormal, from a talented new author" and as much as I'm definatley not allergic to the paranormal I am, however, sick to the back teeth of it. EVERY DAMN TEENAGE FICTION BOOK is about BLOODY VAMPIRES or BLOODY ANGELS or BLOODY WEREWOLVES no variations. I have to celebrate this book because it contains NONE OF THESE THINGS, you can tell I'm excited the caps button has never been so badly abused since well ever really.

Not only was it completely different in the teenage fiction scene at the moment but it also was deeply thought provoking and moved me. Jenna's bad scarring was just so life destructive I couldn't even imagine what she must of gone through, I probaly would've been ten times worse. Her character was an inspiration to me and something I've definatley learned from a book is to know that you should always keep your inside beautiful because your outside will change. Cheesy but then I am just a cheesy british romantic at heart.

Talking of british hearts, completely lost mine to Ryan, he wasn't perfect but even his imperfections made him likeable, Jarratt really has a gift for writing characters. He sounded gorgeous and if he was real I would've definatley loved his aversion to wearing t-shirts. Something many english boys have however many that definatley shouldnt go through with it, if you're not tanned and gorgeous we don't NEED to see your white less than gorgeous chest. That's not that judgemental I feel since I do the same with my pudge I would like the same courtesy back. Anyways Ryan was brilliant and suited to Jenna, his way of talking and mannerisms were cute and I couldn't leave the book because I just had to see their romance developing.

The boat and traveller inclusion was very well done, I support the traveller views as it is their own choice to life their lives as they wish and they should be allowed to do so without discrimination. I thought it was well portrayed in the book and made me think more about how discrimination is still a current issue even if it's different people being targeted. I also felt that bipolar disorder was covered well even if sketched over a bit, I know quite a bit about it and feel that it did leave out some of the nastiness however younger readers mayn't appreciate that.

Anyway overall I loved it and would hope that everyone reads it, especially as she's a new author

http://theteenagebookworms.blogspot.com/ (less)

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Jun 14, 2012 Sklaz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Despite many people saying this I will still say this: This book is really amazing!!!!

It is well written from two different perspective. I seem to get stuck inside the story with Ryan and Jenna. It's nice being there! Thank you author!

I will recommend anybody who thought of giving it a try to just go for it!

I have to admit. I got this book along with four more books and I didn't want to go for this book first, fearing it might disappoint me so I leave it for the last. And when I read it, WOW, it...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Marie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: don-t-bother, waste-of-time

Uhoh, I feel like crap.

I see all these good reviews, 4 and 5 star ratings and recommendations flying everywhere and then there's mine a 2 star rating and a crappy review.

Well for starters I really didn't like the way the book started off. I mean in all honesty I disliked it from the beginning and by the end I still thought it was a waste of time,

The characters were cold and I couldn't connect with them. I thought the plot of the story sounded refreshing and different at first but I didn't lik...more

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