Streamline

Apr 29, 2012 Dani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

Though Streamline is a book with multiple narrators, at its core, this story is Leo’s. Leo is one of those characters that tugged on my heartstrings – grabbing a hold of my sympathies to the point where I just wanted to give the poor kid a hug. A victim of both his father’s physical and emotional abuse, Leo is exhausted from his father’s constant mandate of being nothing less than the best, from hiding his family’s home life, from the stress of living under his father’s violent, controlling fist...more Though Streamline is a book with multiple narrators, at its core, this story is Leo’s. Leo is one of those characters that tugged on my heartstrings – grabbing a hold of my sympathies to the point where I just wanted to give the poor kid a hug. A victim of both his father’s physical and emotional abuse, Leo is exhausted from his father’s constant mandate of being nothing less than the best, from hiding his family’s home life, from the stress of living under his father’s violent, controlling fist. Commander Scott, Leo’s father, sees his youngest son as his only chance to leave a successful legacy behind. This desire has reached the point where he drives his son relentlessly to achieve his own idea of “perfection,” punishing Leo severely when he fails. Leo, having endured years of this treatment, views himself as somewhat “less than,” he’s been taught to think that failure deserves such treatment. It goes without saying that Leo’s view of human interaction and interpersonal relationships have understandably skewed by years of mental conditioning caused by abuse. He fears his dad, and though he may find relief at the momentary absence of his father at school and swim practice, Leo also desperately craves his approval. Leo is talented, intelligent, sweet, loving, loyal to a fault, and yet he’s also a very broken young man. It’s completely heartbreaking to see the dichotomy between the strong, gifted, funny young man he’s able to be around others, and the scared boy who lives in fear of his father’s wrath. And it’s alternately fascinating and saddening as Leo struggles with whether his future has been irrevocably tainted by his father – if he can become the man he wishes to be or whether history is doomed to repeat itself.

I thought the way Lane explores all the facets of abuse handled well. All four members of the Scott household get a turn at narration – even the Commander – giving the reader a comprehensive look at a family that’s being destroyed from within, in all its emotional complexity. From why a spouse can’t just walk away, to all of the excuses and justifications one can make for their loved ones, to the twisted view of love that an abuser uses to rationalize their behavior toward their spouse and children, Lane takes a look at it all through the eyes of the Scotts. It’s complicated, it’s heartbreaking, it’s enlightening, and Lane handles the difficult subject matter skillfully.

Abuse is not the only tough subject that Streamline brings to the table. Substance abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, traumatic disorders, teen pregnancy, infidelity, murder and abortion also make appearances. I’m not typically a fan of what one might call “issue contemps,” and these are most certainly not easy subjects to read about. Yet Lane, while conveying the seriousness, gravity, and consequences the various situations can have upon the individual or a group, does so with hope. It’s a book that has moments that might break your heart, but it’s also full of little victories, small moments of happiness that balance out the darkness. A book like this is weighty and can be emotionally taxing, but I in no way found it to be a depressing book.

Also at the heart of this story is the romance of Leo & Audrey. At the point where the story picks up, Audrey and Leo have been together for several years. While Audrey thinks Leo’s dad is about as strict as they come, she’s never guessed at the level of abuse that goes on in the Scott household. Where Leo is a bit more restrained and burdened with keeping his home life a secret from everyone, Audrey is fiery, passionate, fun-loving, a bit of a risk-taker, and her own person. Her independence and individuality, the freedom she represents, is probably one of the big reasons Leo has fallen for her, given that he feels trapped by his father and is right on track for a future he’s not sure he wants. But Leo’s not the only one to have daddy issues. Audrey’s father has been accused, wrongfully they suspect, of murdering a fellow Navy officer over a promotion. Leo & Audrey have bonded over their mutual family problems, supporting each other through some really trying times – even if Audrey wasn’t fully aware of the whole situation – and their love has matured into something really sweet and very true. The way they love each other is just adorable and heartwarming.

The research that went into this book must have been time consuming. There are so many detail-oriented, important bits of establishing background information required to build Leo’s world – competitive swimming, the ins-and-outs of the US Navy and, as I already touched on, all of the psychological issues that are touched on in Streamline. It’s a book that could easily fly or fail based on the quality of the author’s research, and it’s obvious Lane has done her homework. She writes authoritatively about each subject, and the seemingly inconsequential details about Navy life and swimming, when added together, lend so much realness and richness to this story.

Overall, Streamline is a wonderfully, emotionally complex story about the ones we love, the ones we hurt, the mistakes that break the human heart, and the unconditional love that puts the pieces back together.

* Definitely a book for the upper YA crowd due to mature themes and violence.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Nov 04, 2012 Purple rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: domestic-violence, drama, romance, sport, stand-alone, young-adult

I have just finished Streamline - a roller-coaster of emotions; a journey that made me impatient, angry, tearful, excited, dreamlike! You got to feel for Leo -- "Swimmer Wonder" but he's more like Super boy. Actually every character was strong in his/her own way. They were survivors. Love made that happen no matter how each one understood this sentiment.
Every time the despicable twisted CS showed that he cared(cough)something in me melt and just couldn't hate him anymore... But the incredible p...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 06, 2012 Autumn Review rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tours, review

My Summary:
Leo Scott and Audrey Rose have been dating for two years. They met in school and are both accomplished swimmers on the swim team. They are both trying for college scholarships. The problem is that their family lives seem to keep getting in the way and creating massive stress. Both Leo and Audrey come from military families. Leo's father is physically abusive and Leo has always managed to keep that a secret. Then there's Audrey, who's father is in prison for a murder he doesn't remembe...more My Summary:
Leo Scott and Audrey Rose have been dating for two years. They met in school and are both accomplished swimmers on the swim team. They are both trying for college scholarships. The problem is that their family lives seem to keep getting in the way and creating massive stress. Both Leo and Audrey come from military families. Leo's father is physically abusive and Leo has always managed to keep that a secret. Then there's Audrey, who's father is in prison for a murder he doesn't remember. Leo and Audrey learn to rely on each other and their relationship becomes much stronger in the process. So many things happen to pose challenges for these two, but can they make it through to the finish in one piece?

My Take:
When I saw the cover of the book and the title, I'm not sure I even read the description before signing on. As a former swimmer and current swim coach, I knew I would have a connection to this book in some way. Boy was I right! I'm so glad that I signed on for this tour. Not only did I find a fantastic story, but it's always fun for me to chat with other people who have a passion for swimming. Grab your box of tissues though. This is an intense story.

There are so many things that I liked about this story, but I'm going to start with the swimming. I LOVED all of the swimming parts of the story. I felt the rush that they felt while racing, could picture exactly what they were doing, and of course am familiar with all the terminology. Even if you aren't a swimmer, you will still appreciate and follow along with that aspect of the story. Swimmers are very disciplined in their sport. Training can be intense, and YES, we do shave our whole bodies for big races. I loved the little details and that made me feel a part of their lives.

Now, moving on to the characters. I'm going to start with Audrey. I like her. She's a sweet girl with an air of naivety about her that I find endearing. She's very focused on school and swimming. I found a connection with her there. I love that she never gave up hope for her father and trusted her instincts. Audrey could have easily walked away from Leo on many different occasions, but she didn't. I admire the fact that a girl that young could find the tenacity to stand by him despite what was happening in her own life. That truly proved to me that she loved him deeply.

Leo...Leo...Leo. I really fell for Leo. To me, Streamline is Leo's story more than anything else. He is such a sweet guy and has a tremendous amount of determination to succeed. The problem was, he did it for his father instead of for himself. Until he finally started to break through that mold, he was stuck. URGH... his father, CS, is terrible. His nick names were well deserved. Yes, Leo was a good student; yes, he was a fantastic swimmer; yes, he had a great girlfriend. I'm just not sure he could really enjoy those things in his life though, while he was under his dad's thumb. I really don't want to reveal anything from the story, but man oh man this kid has been through a ton in his life. The amount of pressure his father put on his shoulders, was literally unbearable for Leo. He turned to outside resources to cope and to manage his literal pain. What I admire though, is that in every difficult situation, he found a way out; whether it was through his own resources or through the help of others. Lastly, I adore they way he loves Audrey. Their relationship was so sweet.

Clearly you can see that I developed quite a connection to this story and these characters. Here's what I will tell you though. This book was extremely difficult for me to read. I had to put it down and walk away from it on more than one occasion. The reason being, there are very serious issues and situations that are discussed. From addiction to abuse, the whole track has been run. It's a long story too, so breaks were needed to get through it and keep myself from turning into a slobbery mess. Am I glad I read it? Absolutely. Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely. Would I re-read it? I don't think my heart could handle it. I did enjoy the writing style and the flow was smooth. There were a few parts to the story that I wasn't sure needed to be in place, but that's just my opinion.

My overall/final thoughts are that this is a truly touching story. It's more than I expected it to be. Even though there is a romantic relationship in the story, I didn't feel that that was what the story was about. So, I would say pick this book if you are looking for an amazing story of self discovery, personal triumph, justice, a little mystery, and a touch of romance. Really...truly...a remarkable read.
http://www.autumnreview.com/2012/05/s...
(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 31, 2013 Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: leido-en-ingles

Una historia larga y compleja, me tomó tiempo leerla por lo mismo, pero al final no me decepcionó. Estuve con los nervios en punta todo el libro, hay violencia, amor y una retorcida visión de la justicia, llegando a un punto donde los personajes deben luchar con el pasado (no necesariamente el propio) de frente y sus consecuencias, hasta finalmente la superación y el perdón.

"Hitting doesn't equal love, Leo. Violence doesn't make anything better."

"I hate James for what he did, but I'll work like...more

1 like · like · see review

$~^ω^~{Augusti}~^ω^~$

Feb 01, 2013 ~^ω^~{Augusti}~^ω^~ rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everybody

Shelves: favorites, read-with-tissues, ya, 2013-challenge, book-with-my-review, 2013-a-z-reading-challenge

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Quick Review:

Seems like Leo Scott has it all: looks, brains, and athletic talent. He's captain of his high school swim team with a bright future in college and beyond. But Leo has secrets. His mother's crippling car accident has devastated his family and left Leo to deal with his father's abuse, battered and alone.

Leo's girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida's top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there's an obstacle...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 02, 2013 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

I. Love. This. Book!! This is the story of a boy who has endured unthinkable pain in his life. But when his brother comes back into town, things finally start to change for him. Leo is the captain of his high school swim team. His life looks pretty perfect from the outside. He's in the running for class valedictorian, he dating the female captain of the swim team, he's set to break state swimming records, and he's the son of a charming and respected Commander in the Navy. But things aren't what...more

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 25, 2012 The Itzel Library rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all

Shelves: 2012, ya, new-adult, contemporary, couples, cover-love, romance, tender, fun, horror, violence, dysfunctional-family, must-be-read, perfect-heroe, psychology, action, de-pesadilla, drugs-and-sex, drama, fiction, humor, kick-ass-heroe, kindle-edition, man, mental-health, men-and-women, mental-illness, mistery, rape, rereading, self-help, self-improvement, sensual, sexuality, sexy, society, suspense, to-review, unforgettable, women

Since this book was published in March, I wanted to read. For their beautiful cover and its synopsis more than tempting, but it was not until now that I had a chance to read it. I really loved the story.

Leo's father is a despicable man. His two sons, Jason and Leo, have suffered greatly. The strong discipline of the Commander, is too cruel. Jason ended up running away from home, but Leo was trapped with the monster.

From the first chapters we can see and feel what Leo suffers. He is very intellig...more

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 25, 2013 Nadia - Total Book Nerds rated it 5 of 5 stars

*I received this book by author, it didn't make me biased*
I don't know where to begin, in even describing this book, it was such a hard read but worth every struggle I had to go through to read it.

Even though, it had many different characters point of view, this book was about Leo and his point of view, this was totally his story.

this book is about two people in a relationship, who daily faces the harshness of reality and unimagineable cruelty.

Leo, is getting abused by his harsh military dad,...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 11, 2012 Annette Dellosa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Was it just me or was this book way too long? Not that I was complaining but I just felt like it took me long enough to finish this book.

Anyways, I loved this book. I loved how the characters fit in well together. They were flawed. Every single one of them. I didn't need them to be perfect. I already felt bad for Leo for thinking he needed to be perfect in order to.please his dickhead of a father.

For instance, Leo, our hero, was just too honorable, I wanted to smack some sense into him even tho...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 09, 2012 Majibookshelf Juhina & Farah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Streamline was definitely a roller coaster for me. The story mostly revolved around Leo, who's the main protagonist. Leo is a professional swimmer at his high school. He has a swimmer girlfriend, Audery, who are both on the team. Leo competes with his friends, and leads a normal school life. Through reading, I never expected the horror that awaits him at home. Despite it's romantic and cute cover, Streamline was without doubt a contemporary novel with an intense, dire, and potent plot.
Leo's dad...more

1 like · like · see review

May 08, 2012 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 3.5/5

Streamline is a dark and powerful story, one that weighs heavily on our minds and hearts as we find ourselves both fascinated and disgusted by the painful lives of the Scott family and those closest to them. While reading, we find ourselves with conflicting urges–the desire to cast the book aside and retreat back into the safety our reality at odds with our need to keep reading as though our knowledge of Leo and Audrey’s battles will provide them some form of comfort. From the first...more Rating: 3.5/5

Streamline is a dark and powerful story, one that weighs heavily on our minds and hearts as we find ourselves both fascinated and disgusted by the painful lives of the Scott family and those closest to them. While reading, we find ourselves with conflicting urges–the desire to cast the book aside and retreat back into the safety our reality at odds with our need to keep reading as though our knowledge of Leo and Audrey’s battles will provide them some form of comfort. From the first chapter, the excruciating secrets Leo keeps from everyone regarding his home life sit like lead in our guts, and every time his military commander father doles out his idea of “discipline”, that tangible weight seems to double until even the tiniest movement of our fingers to flip the pages is met with resistance and leaves us utterly exhausted.

Leo is a study in extremes: unbelievably strong mentally and physically not only as an athlete but as a survivor of repeated violent abuse, yet at the same time he is emotionally vulnerable to a staggering degree as years of beatings and verbal lashings have taught him to believe he is deserving of such cruelty. His story is not one of steady growth and improvement until we reach the end and have a happy, healthy young man where a damaged one stood before, instead he realistically struggles all the way through, making several small steps forward only to fall back several a few chapters later. Through every hard-fought battle however we cling to the hope that Ms. Lane would not be so unkind as to tear him down without building him back up, and we meet each page with a heady sense of anticipation that maybe it’s the one that finally grants us his happiness.

Ms. Lane pulls no punches in her depiction of the Scott family, eschewing the paranormal in favor of a very human monster, and it’s nothing short of heartbreaking to watch the violent and blustering cyclone that is Commander Scott suck his family into a rotating vortex of pain, lies, and betrayal. Commander Scott operates at the far reaches of the emotional spectrum, his anger never expressed quietly or approached logically, instead his own dark past and his rigid military training create a composed, put together man hiding a hair trigger under his perfectly pressed uniform. He seems vile and loathsome–a larger than life evil capable of inflicting infinite damage on his loved ones–but his power is constructed of flimsy cards precariously stacked, the merest of breaths capable of sending his whole world crashing down, and we therefore find him to be worthy of both our hatred as well as our pity.

While the characters are stunningly depicted–the pain of their lives visceral and unforgettable–the story itself is a bit long and at times tedious. The abuse (a colorful variety including physical, emotional, and substance) is so intense in the beginning that when Leo and Audrey’s stories veer off into more mundane day to day activities including swim meets, random dinners, and eventually naval academy training for Leo, our attention starts to drift and we long for a return of what drew us initially. There are several smaller side elements that could have easily been culled in favor of, ironically, streamlining the abuse/murder mystery plotline to keep our attention glued to the pages, but overall, Ms. Lane impresses with her dark contemporary tale and I will certainly be looking for more of her in the future.

(less)

3 likes · like · see review

May 07, 2012 Splash Of Our Worlds *Yiota* rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review by Nina ( http://splashofourworlds.blogspot.com... )

This book was a request by the author to be read and reviewed. Needless to say that until the book reached my hands, or my inbox since it was in electronic form, I had totally forgotten what I've read on the synopsis. At first, I thought it was a teenage book from those that talk about proms and first kisses. But I was so happy when I proved wrong.

First thing I noticed were the chapters. I mean they are not like those you see mostly wher...more Review by Nina ( http://splashofourworlds.blogspot.com... )

This book was a request by the author to be read and reviewed. Needless to say that until the book reached my hands, or my inbox since it was in electronic form, I had totally forgotten what I've read on the synopsis. At first, I thought it was a teenage book from those that talk about proms and first kisses. But I was so happy when I proved wrong.

First thing I noticed were the chapters. I mean they are not like those you see mostly where they are just numbered. These chapters had titles. Titles that had a meaning, other times they were ironic, other there were just phrases from the chapter. But always they were giving you a hint and they were intriguing you to read further.

Secondly, I would like to mention how misleading is the cover of the book. I really like it, but there is a major problem. Leo is black. Well, his father is black and his mother is white, and he's supposed to be half black, I don't remember how the author describes it and I don't want to attempt and describe it myself. But the boy in the cover is white and I was so stuck into the idea of a white Leo, that after that I couldn't imagine him as black. And that sucked a little.

Thirdly, there are the characters. They are all so great. Yes, they are all troubled and each of them have their own problems. Yes, sometimes their reactions are not the ones you expect and there might be some times when you are going to hate them for their decisions, but you cannot but sympathize them all during the end. Or almost all.

The book itself is awesome. I was not expecting half of the things that happened. The author has the ability to keep your attention all the time. There were descriptions that I was not believing in my eyes as I was reading. She makes you travel in a cascade of feelings that make your experience of reading unique. For instance, when Leo was happy, I was happy. When he was sad, I was sad. And when he was in the Academy, I could feel in the air around me the authority and the strictness. The end was awesome, I was not expecting it. Well, I had the first part figured out, but there was more to it. I don't know if by being a psychologist helped the author write as it is, or the things she heard or read, but the whole story seemed somehow real and familiar.

Bottom line, I loved it. I totally recommend it. I think it was unique and lovely. I don't know if it appeals to all of you, but it was totally different from what I've read so far and far more adult-like. So, basically, what I'm trying to say is that if you want to read it then you should be sure you want to, because it's not some novel you can read lightly.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

May 06, 2012 Britney rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is PACKED! So much happens! This is not your average teen-angst story. There is NEVER a dull moment. While the numerous topics covered in this book, from abuse to addition to murder and more, are incredibly heavy and intense, the author has done a beautiful job exploring the effects of each with grace and detail. I genuinely empathized with Leo and Audrey and their families, and I really disliked (which is too kind a word) Leo's father. The emotion sucked me in and I felt a deep connec...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 23, 2012 Hallie added it

Shelves: ya

Continued to be not my kind of book at all. Part of that is the romance - a certain flavour of romance writing that I don't much enjoy (seriously - do many people get a thrill from reading about someone licking the sweat off their gf after a heavy weight-lifting session?). And I thought the story was all over the place in some ways. Especially as it's YA, we didn't need quite so many POV scenes - they came from protag's older sibling, his father, his gf's father, to name just some that seemed un...more Continued to be not my kind of book at all. Part of that is the romance - a certain flavour of romance writing that I don't much enjoy (seriously - do many people get a thrill from reading about someone licking the sweat off their gf after a heavy weight-lifting session?). And I thought the story was all over the place in some ways. Especially as it's YA, we didn't need quite so many POV scenes - they came from protag's older sibling, his father, his gf's father, to name just some that seemed unnecessary. The abusive father (physical abuse rather than sexual abuse) didn't convince me at all. Not that his abusiveness wasn't believable in itself, as it certainly was, but that abusiveness was ENOUGH. No need for anything more than a portrayal of a deeply damaged man who'd never learned how to parent, and never learned to control his anger and frustration. That's a real character. (view spoiler) And there's alcohol abuse, and pain med abuse and messed up relationships galore. Just too much going on.

At risk of exposing just how deeply curmudgeonly I can be, I'm going to add that I was offended by the sex scenes. Not that they happened, but that two kids who were supposed to be smart - top of their years academically - had unprotected sex in the way they did. Leo did try to say it wasn't a good idea, as neither of them had protection, but Audrey's reaction made me really quite cross. Irresponsibility shouldn't be a turn on! (view spoiler)

I hoped there'd be some good descriptions of Annapolis, as I was born there, and spent several years living just across from the Naval Academy, but there wasn't much. Oh well, no book is for every reader.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Christina (Ensconced in YA) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was asked by the author to read and review this book. This does not bias my review.

Streamline by Jennifer Lane is not my typical YA read. I don't usually pick up contemporaries, but am totally not adverse to them especially when they are done well. Streamline focuses on Leon Scott, a high school guy who seems to have it all: he has the perfect girlfriend, he's a top swimmer and captain of his team, he is in great physical shape and effortlessly does well at school. However, his life has a dark...more I was asked by the author to read and review this book. This does not bias my review.

Streamline by Jennifer Lane is not my typical YA read. I don't usually pick up contemporaries, but am totally not adverse to them especially when they are done well. Streamline focuses on Leon Scott, a high school guy who seems to have it all: he has the perfect girlfriend, he's a top swimmer and captain of his team, he is in great physical shape and effortlessly does well at school. However, his life has a dark side--his father is a military man and because of some life events and bad choices, has turned to abusing his family emotionally and physically. For the first half, we live through Leon's eyes, becoming a swimmer and going to his meets, but also following him home, and watching the horrible abuse at his home. The next half shows Leon overcoming some difficulties at home and going to military school. All throughout this story winds a mystery-- his girlfriend's father is imprisoned for a murder-- but did he really murder anyone?

This book is a long one, and you have to be dedicated for the ride to come. But it's worth it. The first half may have seemed a little too long in the build up, but I did enjoy learning about being on a swimming team, what the practices are like, and so forth. I can see how people immersed in this world would really delight in this part. I wasn't sure how the story of Leon and his dad's conflicted relationship would go-- at some times, I wondered if it would end up being too trite. But the second half really made this book worth going the distance (no pun intended). Lane is a psychologist and it shows-- the moments between Leon and his psychologist were amazing. I felt like I was in the room getting therapy with Leon, seeing into his inner mind and watching him discover aspects to his own personality that he never understood. At the same time, I enjoyed watching the mystery finally unfolding and coming to a pounding climax. While I thought the characters were well thought out and three dimensional, even Leon's father, I sometimes thought there were too many of them. Also, the ending seemed almost too easy, where everything fit exactly in the right place and they lived happily ever after. Life is messy, and doesn't always work out the way we want it-- and that's okay, we learn and grow. I felt that this book wanted to say that, but in the end, may have taken the easy way out.

That said, I enjoyed the journey with these characters, loved learning about swimming, and particularly loved the scenes between Leon and the psychologist. I know this is Lane's first YA book, but she has great promise in this genre.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

May 12, 2012 Novels On The Run rated it 5 of 5 stars

MICHELLE'S REVIEW:

RATING : 5 HEART BREAKING STARS!!

WOW! What a read! There was not a vampire or paranormal creature in sight, just two boys that were born into a family that caused them so much pain.

This is a tale of so much physical and mental pain, abuse, love, betrayal, fear, regret, addiction, secrets and tissue worthy moments.

I had to sit for a bit after reading this book. Jennifer has managed to really bring the broken, damaged characters to life before your eyes.

Leo Scott and Jason Scott...more

5 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2013 Sinziana rated it 4 of 5 stars

You can win this book by entering my giveaway on my blog - cafebiblioart.

First of all I would like to thank Jennifer Lane for giving me the chance to read this amazing book. I was familiar with her work before she got published. I read part of this story while it was a fanfic. I felt so bad that I did not get to finish it. Well, now I know how it ends.:)

Like I said before, there are fanfics that are completely different from the original story and this is one of them. So please don’t judge. I am...more

1 like · like · see review

May 07, 2012 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-young-adult, blog-tour, ebook

This review is so hard for me to write. To be honest, and this is a little embarrassing, I'm tearing up just thinking about it STREAMLINE. It has been enlightening and thought-provoking, to say the very least. So I'm not going to recap the synopsis. I'm not going to dissect the characters. I just want to touch on the impact of STREAMLINE.

The issues that are touched upon in the story: family, substance abuse, teen relationships, trust, honor...they were all dealt with in an amazingly realistic,...more This review is so hard for me to write. To be honest, and this is a little embarrassing, I'm tearing up just thinking about it STREAMLINE. It has been enlightening and thought-provoking, to say the very least. So I'm not going to recap the synopsis. I'm not going to dissect the characters. I just want to touch on the impact of STREAMLINE.

The issues that are touched upon in the story: family, substance abuse, teen relationships, trust, honor...they were all dealt with in an amazingly realistic, unglossed manner. The thread of the story that impacted me most was that of domestic abuse. As the child of a child of abuse, my heart literally aches. The author's detail is unflinching. Not only does the story put abuse in the spotlight, but it also delves into the reasons the victim feels shame, responsiblity and sometimes can't walk away. I personally appreciate that that angle of abuse, the victim's, was delved into. Many times, when a situation becomes to painful, we look away. I couldn't look away and I appreciate that this story gave me so many insights into the mindset of the victim.

STREAMLINE is also a love story. A beautiful, sweet, and touching love story. Leo and his girlfriend, Audrey, are the kind of couple that I love to read about. They are a true match, a team. Their relationship is basically healthy, honest, and doesn't revolve around drama. They are quick to apologize and to forgive. Audrey and Leo are a couple that I'll hold close and won't soon forget.

Ultimately, STREAMLINE is a story of love and triumph. It's a story that could have tremendous impact on anyone, but especially a teen in a precarious situation. I would love to see available to every teen.To give those who are troubled hope and encouragement, to give those who encounter the troubled, empathy and understanding. I intend to recommend it to as many people as possible.

Favorite Quote:

"The bleeding was swift and sharp. It left Leo dazed on the floor, bleeding from the lip and moaning. His head pounded with each beat of his heart. As he watched his father stalk away in disgust, Leo realized the irony of his dad teaching him not to be violent by beating the crap out of him."
(ebook, 7%)

"Unencumbered by sopping clothing and unburdened of family worries, Leo felt what Audrey had tried to describe: liberated and uninhibited." (ebook, 59%)(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 23, 2013 Alise (Readers in Wonderland) rated it 4 of 5 stars

_________________________________
This review and more at Readers In Wonderland
_________________________________
Full formatting of this review shows on the blog. ^

Leo and Audrey both have their fair share of problems. Leo is verbally and physically abused by his father, who thinks that is the only way he can help his son become a good man-better than his own father. Audrey's father is in prison for murder, and she can't shake the feeling he is innocent. Together, these two broken individuals make...more

1 like · like · see review

May 18, 2012 Andrea (Cozy Up With A Good Read) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted on Cozy Up With A Good Read

In the beginning it took me some time to get into this story because it is told from so many different perspectives, but as I got further along it became more interesting and I was excited to see how another one of the characters would think of certain situations. I found this book a quick read because each of the chapters were short and I found myself flying through to see what would happen next with each character.

This is a great story that delves d...more Originally posted on Cozy Up With A Good Read

In the beginning it took me some time to get into this story because it is told from so many different perspectives, but as I got further along it became more interesting and I was excited to see how another one of the characters would think of certain situations. I found this book a quick read because each of the chapters were short and I found myself flying through to see what would happen next with each character.

This is a great story that delves deep into the many different relationships of the characters. Jennifer Lane also really shows how abuse affects everyone differently. I found myself drawn more and more into the story as things progressed and I wanted to see what would happen when everything finally blew up.

I really enjoyed how Jennifer added in a little bit of a mystery to the story as well. Audrey's father is in prison for a murder, but some people don't believe he actually committed the crime. It was really interesting to find out what really happened, I did kind of see it coming but at the same time was still a little taken back.

I felt that I could connect with the characters in this story (which for me makes a great novel). I felt that Jennifer really connected with the emotional side of Leo, which is great because you don't see that a lot in books, a male character showing off their emotions. That was another thing that was enjoyable about the book, the main character was a male (though there were some points where you get Amy's perspective). It was nice to see all the characters connected to one another in different ways.

Jennifer adds a lot of different ideas to her book. It was interesting to see how she added in swimming and the army to the lives of the characters. These were large parts of the book as well and added a lot to the personalities of the characters.

This was an interesting book and very quick to read, but it definitely deals with a difficult theme, Jennifer really hits the emotional aspect in her writing.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 17, 2013 Armita rated it 5 of 5 stars

Streamline tells the story of a young boy called Leo and his girlfriend Audrey. Even though both main characters are young, they have been through so much in their lives with Leo's dad being abusive to him and Audrey's being in prison for murder.
What makes this book amazing, in my opinion, is how much the people in it try to be there for each other in difficult times and their love for each other is what keeps them going despite all the serious problems they have to deal with. The writing is ind...more

1 like · like · see review

May 26, 2012 Chapter by Chapter rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was one disappointment after another. I’m not talking about the writing or the story, I’m talking about the situations that happen in this book, Streamline. Just when I thought that something else couldn’t possibly go wrong, a turn of the page brought on another horrible incident.

The main character, Leo Scott, just can’t seem to catch a break. Suffering from extreme child abuse at home, Leo (as well as the rest of his family) must find strength from within to overcome the difficult and...more This book was one disappointment after another. I’m not talking about the writing or the story, I’m talking about the situations that happen in this book, Streamline. Just when I thought that something else couldn’t possibly go wrong, a turn of the page brought on another horrible incident.

The main character, Leo Scott, just can’t seem to catch a break. Suffering from extreme child abuse at home, Leo (as well as the rest of his family) must find strength from within to overcome the difficult and multiple obstacles that keep happening to him. I can only imagine just how deep he has to search within himself to keep his head above ground. I found myself continuously shaking my head and wondering how much more Leo can possibly handle.

Although I found this book to be very long, Streamline is such an emotional and gripping read that will leave readers breathless. Author, Jennifer Lane, has created such a captivating story that I don’t think that anyone who reads Streamline will walk away without holding on to a little piece of this story. I couldn’t help but be caught up in the lives of all the characters, and read as they live through the pain and burdens they hold deep within.

I loved reading about how the different characters in the book were some sort of anchor for another character. That without the other, they would drown in their misery. I loved watching the love between Leo and Audrey grow and expand into something beautiful. It was so interesting to watch how the child abuse not only affected the immediate family, but also how it touched the lives of everyone else associated with the Scott family.

I thought that I was going to have a hard time understand the lingo used by swimmers when describing the technical actions used by these athletes, or the jargon used by the Navy, but the way Lane incorporated them into the story made it easier to follow along and keep up with what was going on. I’ve always been aware of how members in the army and navy consider each other as family, but Streamline solidified that fact for me. It was very touching to see just how far people would go to keep Leo safe.

I also found it very humorous and clever to see the different ways in which Lane can come up with a variety of different meanings of the acronym “CS”, (which initially stands for Commander Scott) such as Cast Iron-Skillet or Constipated Stool-sample. It provided a lot of much needed humour in darker situations.

If you’re looking for a book that will make you open your eyes wider to those around you, or a read that might possibly change your life, I would recommend you pick up a copy of Streamline today.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Sarika Patkotwar rated it 4 of 5 stars

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Streamline from author Jennifer Lane in exchange for an honest review. We thank Jennifer for the book!

When author Jennifer Lane contacted us about reviewing her YA novel, Streamline, I was immediately hooked and I was looking forward to reading the book. The author then gently warned us that most of the reviewers said Streamline is very intense. I now know that Jennifer Lane wasn't kidding.
Streamline is a very very intense book. It has so much of de...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 01, 2012 Ana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Working with children and teens has made me painfully aware of the frequency and octopus-like-consequences of abuse, and that unfortunately, not every case that’s detected has an easy, fast and happy solution. Everybody knows abuse exists, but not everybody does something about it. Sometimes out of apathy, sometimes out of fear, and sometimes out of ignorance.

Streamline is an effective contribution against this widely spread, yet often hushed problem. This alone makes it a relevant book.

Jennif...more

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 27, 2012 Michelle (Pink Polka Dot Book Blog) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Leo Scott is a student athlete under a lot of pressure. Most of that pressure comes from his over-bearing abusive father, and he's pretty much on his own in dealing with that. His mother is disabled and incapable of proctecting him, his brother moved away, and his girlfriend has her own problems to deal with (namely her father being in jail for murder!). After a particularly brutal beating lands Leo in the hospital, it pretty much blows things wide open and sends this family and everyone in thei...more

like · see review

Jun 05, 2012 Tabby - IMReviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-books-i-own, reviewed-for-imr-2012

Original Reviews Posted @Insightful Minds Reviews

Two reasons why I love this book:
1. The multiple points of view that it was written in.
2. The fact that this was Leo's story through and through.
Now, with that said, let me tell you just why else it is that I love this book.

Leo. Plain and simple. He wrapped himself around my heart from the very beginning and never let go. Being from a Military family myself, I understood just about every aspect of this story, so I can relate... but this boy... He...more Original Reviews Posted @Insightful Minds Reviews

Two reasons why I love this book:
1. The multiple points of view that it was written in.
2. The fact that this was Leo's story through and through.
Now, with that said, let me tell you just why else it is that I love this book.

Leo. Plain and simple. He wrapped himself around my heart from the very beginning and never let go. Being from a Military family myself, I understood just about every aspect of this story, so I can relate... but this boy... He goes through so much that only his family knows about, yet puts on this amazing front so others will never know just how much pain is really behind those eyes of his. The amount of abuse he deals with from his father is on a whole new level of messed up. Trying to be the perfect son so he doesn't have to deal with the wrath that is his father has got to be tiring!

Audrey. Here is a girl with problems of her own. Keeping up with her swim team, the very same team her boyfriend Leo is on, along with maintaining her relationship, school grades and trying to figure out just who committed this murder her father is currently in Military Prison for, is enough to wear anyone out! Having been dating Leo for two years, Audrey has had no clue just what goes on behind close does at his home.

These two were made for each other. Seriously. The two of them together embark on the journey of finding the real murderer and proving her fathers innocence so she can have her family back together. Can they handle it? Will Audrey be able to hold her family together when all is said and done? Will Leo be able to prove himself after all, or will everything come falling around him?

I felt that all issues dealt with in this story were handled and portrayed amazingly. Be it mental and physical abuse, alcohol addictions, pill addictions, or whatever else, it was expressed in an understanding way. Lane delivers an emotional story that has these characters jumping off the pages, grabbing your heart and leading you through page after page by those pretty little heart strings. Well played(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 27, 2012 Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mar-2012, 2012-ya-standalone-challenge, arc-books

I would like to thank Jen for sending me an ARC copy of Streamline. I loved the cover the minute I saw it. I am a huge fan of the men and women that serve our country through the Navy or the Army. So when I heard it was about two families from the Navy I just had to read it. I am also a very HUGE water baby! I love to spend time in the pool and on the beach in the summer. Those two elements had me jumping for joy!

As I opened the book and started reading I was BLOWN AWAY by what was going on. Str...more I would like to thank Jen for sending me an ARC copy of Streamline. I loved the cover the minute I saw it. I am a huge fan of the men and women that serve our country through the Navy or the Army. So when I heard it was about two families from the Navy I just had to read it. I am also a very HUGE water baby! I love to spend time in the pool and on the beach in the summer. Those two elements had me jumping for joy!

As I opened the book and started reading I was BLOWN AWAY by what was going on. Streamline is about love, loss, betrayal, abuse and coming full circle to learn to love again. I really don't know where to begin without saying anything to spoilerish. So here goes my best attempts to try and not spoil it. I will say I am SO Team Leo! He is the man!

Leo and Audrey both come from a military family. Leo's father is a Commander and Audrey's father is a LT who is in the Brig (Military Prison) for murder. Together both Leo and Audrey will go on a roller coaster of a ride. Leo will endure heartache and loss andmust work through his feelings towards his abuser. Audrey will have to fight to keep her family and she will have to help Leo through his tough times.

Leo and Audrey are both looking to find the true murderer in order to set things right. Audrey knows deep down her father is not a murderer and Leo will do everything in his power to prove she is right. In the process of finding the murderer Leo will have to make the gut wrentching decision to lose the one thing he has loved and wanted all his life to prove that Audrey's father is no murderer.

Will Leo be able to catch the murderer and bring them to justice or will the murderer take Leo down? What will Audrey do when her relationship with her father is threatened? Through it all they will have to hold on to each other to get through it and once the dust settles where will they be?

Come along for a ride of the lifetime. With murder and abuse at the forefront of this story it will pull at your heart and your heart will go out to Leo. Abuse is any form is never okay but for a parent to abuse a child is unspeakable! See how Leo digs deep within himself to rid himself of the monster who is abusing him.

I had the plaesure of interviewing Leo and Audrey on my blog and man oh man are those two a lot of fun! Click on the link to read the interview http://adiaryofabookaddict.blogspot.c...
(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 17, 2013 Maggie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club

Wow!!! What an interesting story. I loved how the author didn't focus on the two main characters but rather on the three families. I was a bit disappointed in some of the choices made but not every story can have the perfect ending. I think this may be the first book I have ever read that dealt with an interracial couple. A very good read. I loved the couples and relationships in this story. I would have to say that my favorite parts of the story were, reading about Leo at the academy. I wished...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 14, 2012 Mell rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, don-t-waste-your-time

I managed to forge ahead through this book, reading on despite what felt like every existing kind of plot device the author could use. Drug abuse, family/domestic violence, 2 unplanned teen pregnancies, a wrongful prison sentence, juvenile delinquency, military corruption- it just felt like it dragged on and on. I couldn't like the characters, who felt like they just reacted to everything going on, rather than develop and grow in any kind of germane way. Others have raved about the book and love...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 04, 2013 Tera rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: couples-on-cover, 2013-a-z-challenge, group-read, ya-romance

It was a pretty good book. It took me a few days to get through it though. I would start then get sidetrack with something else. The story line was pretty decent but the addiction and abuse kinda threw my interest for this book. After that - I finished because I hate not to finish a book I have started and two, I want to give it a decent shot. I'm glad I did stick with it. The characters are well defined, and interaction is great between the mc's and supporting characters. Unfortunately, I just...more

like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
Young Adult Conte...: Streamline by Jennifer Lane (January 2013)	44	170	Jan 26, 2013 07:08pm
Book Giveaways: Ebook Giveaway- Streamline by Jennifer Lane	1	7	May 07, 2012 08:32am
The Indie Exchang...: Win a copy of Streamline by Jennifer Lane!	1	4	May 07, 2012 08:26am
Giveaways and Con...: YA Romance/ Mystery Giveaway	3	8	Mar 05, 2012 05:46am

title link	preview: Streamline
avg rating	preview: Streamline Goodreads rating: 4.02 (155 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13421438-streamline?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330140740l/13421438.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13421438-streamline?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Streamline by Jennifer Lane[/url]

Streamline

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jennifer Lane

Books by Jennifer Lane

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Streamline

Quotes from Streamline