Josie's never met her dad, and that's fine with her. To Josie, Paul Tucci is just a guy who got her mom pregnant and then moved away. It all happen...
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reviews
Nov 01, 2011
Jeni
rated it: 
Imagine if everything you thought you knew about the parent you’ve never met turned out not to be true.
In Natasha Friend’s young adult novel ‘For Keeps,’ 16-year-old Josie is just about to enter her junior year of high school when the grandparents she’s never met—the parents of the man whom Josie’s mother says did not want any part of their lives after Josie was born—move back to Josie’s hometown after 17 years.
Josie’s mother, Kate, and her high school boyfriend, Paul Tuc More...
In Natasha Friend’s young adult novel ‘For Keeps,’ 16-year-old Josie is just about to enter her junior year of high school when the grandparents she’s never met—the parents of the man whom Josie’s mother says did not want any part of their lives after Josie was born—move back to Josie’s hometown after 17 years.
Josie’s mother, Kate, and her high school boyfriend, Paul Tuc More...
Sep 11, 2011
Barbara
rated it: 
Not a bad story with many subtopics to think about. Josie is a well developed character.
A follow up story about what happens in the next couple of years would be great. There is still a lot of issues to be worked through. Like how is Lauren really going to like it when she has to deal with a 16 year old potential step daughter. Even though Josie is a wonderful girl, it would still be a shock. Plus the paying of back child support and future support that she wasn't planning on. That i More...
A follow up story about what happens in the next couple of years would be great. There is still a lot of issues to be worked through. Like how is Lauren really going to like it when she has to deal with a 16 year old potential step daughter. Even though Josie is a wonderful girl, it would still be a shock. Plus the paying of back child support and future support that she wasn't planning on. That i More...
Jan 15, 2011
Courtney
rated it: 
Josie’s mom got pregnant at sixteen. When Paul Tucci, the father, left her, she dropped out of school to raise the baby alone. Now Josie’s all grown up and the unthinkable has happened: the Tucci’s are back.
While Friend started with a very familiar storyline (teen-life-turned-upside-down-when- missing-parent-returns) there are a number of interesting subplots. To be honest, I find most of the subplots more interesting than the main plot, and I wish Friend had privileged them. One subpl More...
While Friend started with a very familiar storyline (teen-life-turned-upside-down-when- missing-parent-returns) there are a number of interesting subplots. To be honest, I find most of the subplots more interesting than the main plot, and I wish Friend had privileged them. One subpl More...
Jul 08, 2010
kari
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 06, 2010
Lilibeth
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While I agree with others that For Keeps has a big similarity with the fun mother-daughter relationship between the young teen mother and quirky daughter in Gilmore Girls, the similarities stop there. Josie is a stronger character than Rorie--the daughter in Gilmore Girls, she is also more outgoing. I can say the opposite goes for Katie, Josie's mother. She likes to shy away from things more, however, she still makes people feel better about themselves when she feels like crap. When the parent's
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Mar 07, 2010
Rachael
rated it:
It’s always been just Josie and her mom Kate, and that’s the way Josie likes it. For the most part, Kate is the best mom and friend a girl could ever want. But the second anyone from Kath’s high school years shows up, she loses control, still stinging from the embarrassment of being a pregnant teen. So when Josie and Kate run into the parents of Paul Tucci when shopping, Kate predictably freaks out, even more so more so usual because Paul Tucci was Kate’s high school boyfriend, the guy who knock
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Mar 29, 2010
Jami
rated it:
I knew going into this story I was probably going to find it cute, but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. After all, the idea of the story isn't very original. But For Keeps is filled with great characters and fantastic writing that keeps the pages flipping.
My favorite part of the story is the relationship between Josie and her mom, Kate. If parents are even in a YA story, they don't usually play big roles. But Kate was one of the main characters and one of Josie's best fri More...
My favorite part of the story is the relationship between Josie and her mom, Kate. If parents are even in a YA story, they don't usually play big roles. But Kate was one of the main characters and one of Josie's best fri More...
Mar 06, 2010
Andrea
rated it:
Okay, so after reading this book, for some reason, I keep picturing the Gilmore Girl chacters in my head. Especially Paul Tucci--I keep seeing him as Christopher from the TV shower. I see a lot of similarities in the way that the mother-daughter bond is in both the tv show and the book.**
This was a pretty good book for me. Nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed it. I felt that the characters and the story line seemed very real. I think that having a mom dating again is an ordeal (no More...
This was a pretty good book for me. Nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed it. I felt that the characters and the story line seemed very real. I think that having a mom dating again is an ordeal (no More...
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Mar 06, 2011
Animegirl
rated it:
At First Sight: Josie and her single mother Kate have been a dynamic duo for all of Josie's 16 years of life. But Josie's junior year of high school is shaping up to being something else entirely. First, they run into Paul Tucci's parents at a store - which sends the otherwise capable Kate into panic, crouching behind cans of cat food trying to stay out of sight. Who is Paul Tucci? Well, he's Kate's once boyfriend and the father Josie never knew.
The Tuccis are back in town and deep do More...
The Tuccis are back in town and deep do More...
Feb 18, 2011
Chelsey
rated it:
I wanted to love this book because I can relate to it on a personal level. Now that I've sat for a couple of days thinking about it, it just didn't meet my expectations.
The interaction between the two families were very brief. I would have loved to see more especially between Josie and her father, maybe a time where they actually hang out for a day to start the process of getting to know each other. We were given little to nothing in terms of interaction with the rest of her new family. One unc More...
The interaction between the two families were very brief. I would have loved to see more especially between Josie and her father, maybe a time where they actually hang out for a day to start the process of getting to know each other. We were given little to nothing in terms of interaction with the rest of her new family. One unc More...
Apr 09, 2010
Britt
rated it:
The opening of this novel is a pitch-perfect young adult start. Josie has a hilarious teenage sensibility and voice. Her mother, long-wrecked by the departure of her high-school boyfriend (and Josie's father), is a treat. Best friend Liv is well-developed. The only issue I have with the characters are Liv's gay dads, who come across slightly as cariactures, but delightfully so. That's just who they are.
Josie and Liv face the usual drama of normal upper-middle class girls until Josie More...
Josie and Liv face the usual drama of normal upper-middle class girls until Josie More...
Dec 05, 2010
Mandy
rated it:
I like how in the end, Paul, Josie’s father told the truth of what happened and found proofs that he didn’t betray them; it was Kate’s mother and father that blocked their paths of connection. I think the ending came too quickly; the “happily ever after” came too quickly. The story ended when Paul came back and Rigsy came back. This book is full of love and relationships. It didn’t fascinate me much. Though, I like the characters in the story and how they acted.
When Kate started to go out More...
When Kate started to go out More...
Nov 20, 2011
Chucha
rated it:
This is one of the most funny books I have ever read. There were a lot of humorous dialogues throughout that will help readers be hooked.
What else is there?
1. A mother who was suffering from panic attacks every time she met someone from high school
2. A cynical girl who thinks every guy is like her father who left her mom when she was pregnant,.
3. Meddling parents
4. OC boss
5. An awesome best friend
6. Hot boyfriend
What I have learned so from this:
More...
What else is there?
1. A mother who was suffering from panic attacks every time she met someone from high school
2. A cynical girl who thinks every guy is like her father who left her mom when she was pregnant,.
3. Meddling parents
4. OC boss
5. An awesome best friend
6. Hot boyfriend
What I have learned so from this:
More...
May 21, 2010
Erica
rated it:
This wasn’t the book I was expecting, and I mean that in a good way. It’s not that I was expecting it to be bad – I like the premise of the book – but there was more depth in areas I wasn’t expecting, and glossed over areas I thought would be more of a focus for the story. Some people may not like a book going in a different direction than they anticipated, but I love when a book takes me somewhere outside my expectations.
Josie and her mom’s relationship starts out like that of a lot of More...
Josie and her mom’s relationship starts out like that of a lot of More...
Mar 26, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
The author sums it up best toward the end of the novel as her protagonists makes a keen observation. We all have faults, peccadilloes if you will, that challenge and shape us and can become so much bigger than we ever imagined. This is a story chock full of such characters and Natasha Friend has used them all to beautifully illustrate a story about self-discovery and personal growth.
There are a number of subplots in this novel, all of which weave together perfectly to tell the story of More...
There are a number of subplots in this novel, all of which weave together perfectly to tell the story of More...
Aug 08, 2011
Johnp
rated it:
I wasn't a fan of this book as I was reading it, but the more I reflect back, my opinion is changing.
At first, I thought this was a wacky, confused story. But now....I feel like this story is really just like life. It starts our simple and clear, but gets more and more confusing and muddy. What looks like a straight-forward set of events quickly spins out of control. We meet Josie, who has never seen her dad and doesn't care to. She's heard the horror stories from her mom, Kate, More...
At first, I thought this was a wacky, confused story. But now....I feel like this story is really just like life. It starts our simple and clear, but gets more and more confusing and muddy. What looks like a straight-forward set of events quickly spins out of control. We meet Josie, who has never seen her dad and doesn't care to. She's heard the horror stories from her mom, Kate, More...
Aug 15, 2011
Michelle (FabbityFabBookReviews)
rated it:
*Contains major spoilers*
I enjoy reading coming-of-age/contemporary YA, and For Keeps was definitely an enjoyable read. However...I felt like it had the potential for much more. I was really, really enjoying the novel, but somewhere around the three-quarter mark, it kind of lots its spark.
We meet sixteen year old Josie Gardner who lives with her single mom Kate. They reminded me very much of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore; quippy, fun, slightly neurotic, and each others' best frien More...
I enjoy reading coming-of-age/contemporary YA, and For Keeps was definitely an enjoyable read. However...I felt like it had the potential for much more. I was really, really enjoying the novel, but somewhere around the three-quarter mark, it kind of lots its spark.
We meet sixteen year old Josie Gardner who lives with her single mom Kate. They reminded me very much of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore; quippy, fun, slightly neurotic, and each others' best frien More...
Apr 27, 2010
Allison
rated it:
For Keeps was a cute, albeit slightly predictable read. Josie and her mother had that awesome mother-daughter dynamic that always makes me smile (think Gilmore Girls here). Unfortunately, the book as a whole did let me down some. I don't know what I expected, but as the book and the plot developed, I just couldn't hold on to the connections I had with the characters. Ultimately, they were all a bit forgettable, and some of the relationships in the book didn't quite work as nicely as they should
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Mar 11, 2011
Midnite
rated it:
For Keeps is a wonderful novel and Josie Gardner is a fantastic narrator. While I was reading, I felt as if I was spending time with good friends in a world where everything is going to be okay. Josie's best friend Liz was my favorite character in the book - confident and quirky and not at all worried about what people think. She was a great friend with her own personal life. Loved Liz's two Dads and Liz's younger brother Wyatt because they made up that cool family you always wished your family
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Jun 18, 2011
Claire
rated it:
For Keeps delivers a tale about Josie, her mother Kate, and all of the relationships that touch their lives. For Josie, Kate is the only parent she's ever known, and she wants it to stay that way. Josie is and she has this hilarious teenage sensibility and voice and it's pretty hard not to like her from the start. I love how Josie and Liv are different - while Josie is girl who is serious and mature enough, Liv brings the hilarious aspect with her crazy antics that made her one of my favorite ch
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Sep 30, 2011
Aimee
rated it:
I thought this book was boring. The characters annoyed me. It was a young adult book and I feel that the author figured if she put in all those 'exciting' teenage rebellion type moments (sex, alcohol, etc) it would make up for the story. I try out young adult books thinking I will find a good story without all the adult garbage but this still had some of that in it. Again, I just get annoyed at the assumption of these authors that all the teens are involved in sex and partying so they have to
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Dec 16, 2010
Diane
rated it:
For 16 years, it's been just Josie and her mom. Kate got pregnant fall of her junior year & dropped out to have the baby. The father and his family moved away, so Josie has never had any contact with them. Then, one day Josie & her mom spot the Tuccis in the grocery store -- they have moved back! Factor in new boyfriends for both Josie & Kate and an interfering best friend, you have a great story. I couldn't put it down.
Both Josie & Kate seem true-to-life. Their reactions to More...
Both Josie & Kate seem true-to-life. Their reactions to More...
Mar 04, 2010
Arya
rated it: 
For Keeps was not a badly written book. But I can't say I particularly liked it. Natasha Friend's story of a girl meeting her long-lost father just didn't spark for me. It wasn't what I would call original, it wasn't funny enough to hold my attention. I'm simply not into this genre. The whole, modern teenager worried about their latest parent and boy issue doesn't sit well with me. I see it too much, it makes me restless. But if you like this genre and plot type I'd say go for it. The writings n
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Apr 20, 2010
Leslie
rated it:
I don't love the reality fiction so much unless it's true, and even then I prefer history. Modern, everyday life for teens is too depressing. I mean, the loving, monogamous, moral, responsible role models in this story were gay. Which, nice for kids who have two dads, but . . .
It did make me think, though, about what it's like for my kids to go to school every day and face an endless barrage of kids thinking and talking about sex, drinking, and drugs, and how much that affects them. More...
It did make me think, though, about what it's like for my kids to go to school every day and face an endless barrage of kids thinking and talking about sex, drinking, and drugs, and how much that affects them. More...
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Jun 26, 2011
Dana
rated it:
Yay! My mother finally let me buy a book, and this is the one I bought! (It was two dollars cheaper, lol.)
Okay. LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. (to defeat the Huns ...) The characters weren't totally described. Like Matt; his character was hard to understand. I mean, why did he just start being a creeper randomly? AH. :( And the whole shebang with Paul Tucci didn't really play a huge role until the middle of the book.
The plot was also kinda cut off at parts. Eh. :\
More...
Okay. LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. (to defeat the Huns ...) The characters weren't totally described. Like Matt; his character was hard to understand. I mean, why did he just start being a creeper randomly? AH. :( And the whole shebang with Paul Tucci didn't really play a huge role until the middle of the book.
The plot was also kinda cut off at parts. Eh. :\
More...
Apr 19, 2010
Tiffany
rated it:
I liked the story but it was a little sad. It is a story of a young girl Josie who's mom got pregnant with her at the age of 16. With the young boy (Josie's dad) whom her mom loved moves away. As Kate her mom raises her and have a remarkable relationship she still longs to know her dad. When his parents move back to town she starts discovering things about her father and soon secrets both her and her mom were unaware of become known. There is more profanity in the book than I would prefer b
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Apr 20, 2010
Eleni ( La Femme Readers )
rated it:
My Rating: 4.5
For Keeps is definitely a keeper! I loved it from start to finish. The voice of all the characters were very distinct and relatable. I especially was satisfied with Josie's personality because her mind and attitude represented exactly how teenagers act. The bond between Josie and her mom reminded me of The Gilmore Girls. They both shared everything with each other, well almost everything. Some things were kept in the dark concerning her father. She never met him and onl More...
For Keeps is definitely a keeper! I loved it from start to finish. The voice of all the characters were very distinct and relatable. I especially was satisfied with Josie's personality because her mind and attitude represented exactly how teenagers act. The bond between Josie and her mom reminded me of The Gilmore Girls. They both shared everything with each other, well almost everything. Some things were kept in the dark concerning her father. She never met him and onl More...
Apr 05, 2010
Caroline
rated it:
I was a bit wary when For Keeps, a Sarah Dessen look-a-like arrived on my doorstep. Natasha Friend’s debut into young adult is a page turner with just enough edge to remind you that it is in fact YA. I read the book in two nights, so clearly I enjoyed it. I eagerly await Friend’s next YA novel in which the characters (I hope) will be slightly less cartoony, their problems slightly more hard hitting and the writing another few steps away from middle school and closer to the sophistication that ma
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Apr 26, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
I heard this book compared to the TV show The Gilmore Girls and so I knew that I had to pick it up because The Gilmore Girls is one of my favorite shows of all time. I can definitely see the similarities between Josie and Kate's relationship and Rory and Lorelei's relationship. Josie has never know her father and so when his parents show up in town, her world is turned upside down. This happens while her best friend becomes involved with an older guy and Matt Riggs, her big crush, sets his si
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Jul 26, 2010
kim
rated it:
Cute story, but it left me hanging.
It is the story of 16 year old Josie, being raised by a single mom who was 17 when Josie was born. Complications arise when Josie's paternal grandparent who do not even know Josie exists, move back to town. This is the story of Josie catching up on her past and learning the circumstances of her bith. It was a quick easy read, but I felt it ended to abrubtly. It ended 'happily' but we have no idea about the 'ever after'. I'd have liked a look into 1 - 5 y More...
It is the story of 16 year old Josie, being raised by a single mom who was 17 when Josie was born. Complications arise when Josie's paternal grandparent who do not even know Josie exists, move back to town. This is the story of Josie catching up on her past and learning the circumstances of her bith. It was a quick easy read, but I felt it ended to abrubtly. It ended 'happily' but we have no idea about the 'ever after'. I'd have liked a look into 1 - 5 y More...
