Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers

Aug 11, 2015 Sarah rated it liked it

Shelves: 2015-new-years-resolutions-challeng, contemporary, death, love-triangle, netgalley-edelweiss, r2r-read, read-2015, romance, young-adult

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)

“That,” he whispered, “is how you should be kissed.”

This was a YA contemporary romance, which involved cheating.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of West, even if I liked her name. Whilst she might not have been aware that she was openly flirting with Silas, the way she spent so much time with him, and hugged him, and thought about him kissing her was a breach of trust, and no matt ...more

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Jan 10, 2014 Jackie Sommers rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

I thought it was pretty good. :-)

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Sep 05, 2015 Kels rated it it was ok

Shelves: yawn, ya, slooooowwwww, slow-pace, snooze-fest, skimmed-speed-read, bag-full-of-meh, blah, i-give-up, annoying-stupid-characters

I feel like every book that I decide to DNF I need to preface with saying this isn't a bad book, because mostly they aren't, and I step forward and admit that even though I feel like I'm pretty eclectic in my taste of books, my preferences tend to narrow when it comes to writing style. So here's my declaration: THIS ISN'T A BAD BOOK, but it's also not a book for me.

Short story is: I didn't like the writing style. It's just so PLAIN. And plain isn't always a bad thing, but most times it makes fo I feel like every book that I decide to DNF I need to preface with saying this isn't a bad book, because mostly they aren't, and I step forward and admit that even though I feel like I'm pretty eclectic in my taste of books, my preferences tend to narrow when it comes to writing style. So here's my declaration: THIS ISN'T A BAD BOOK, but it's also not a book for me.

Short story is: I didn't like the writing style. It's just so PLAIN. And plain isn't always a bad thing, but most times it makes for such an incredibly boring read for me (particularly when the book lacks in other areas as well). With that said, I don't like purple flowery prose, but I admire well crafted sentences that speaks to me emotionally. I want to feel something when I read, and with Truest, well, that didn't happen. Jackie Sommers writes well, but she just hasn't mastered the art of showing vs telling, and that's a big problem for me. And this book drags. I read over half of the book (and skimmed to the ending), and I'm still not quite sure if there's a plot to it.

The characters... were simply characters, and yes, that's a bad thing. I couldn't connect with them, visualize them, understand them... I was just simply distant from them while reading, and I found that gap between us grew as I read. The MC West, thought not unlikable, was unremarkable and forgettable, and I'm half-surprised I remembered her name. Silas upset me and was a contributing factor to me DNFing this book. The things that he would say about his sister who is suffering from depersonalization disorder called solipsism syndrome that affects her grasp on reality (she thinks her life is a dream), was just so insensitive. Instead of sympathizing with her, or, I don't know, being a good brother and showing some care and concern for his sister, he pretty much sources her as his life's frustrations and the root of his family's problem. When she has melt downs, he hardly even cares.

"..Then she started crying--like really crying. Bent-over-on-the-floor crying. Mom came in and tried to help. I was standing over them, watching it all go down. I am just so sick of this shit." (Really now? Those were your first thoughts?!)

"I can't imagine that any sibling is more frustrating that my own."

"It's bullshit," he said. "I hate it. I hate it--SO--MUCH." He looked up at me. "West, I would love to have just one day where I didn't think of solipsism... or depression... or"--he whispered--"...or even Laurel. Am I monster?" (No, Silas. But you are a slimeball and that's close enough.)

"At least soon you'll have Trudy back too. But you're all I've got."
"And Laurel," I said.
"I suppose. And Laurel," he conceded.

"I don't know, Silas," said Gordon. "There are minds that hiccup sometimes--skip like an old record player. I don't know how to right the needle."
Silas frowned. "I don't know about record players, but when my CD skips, I usually just give it a smack, and it sorts itself out."
I laughed, in spite of the conversation's heavy tone. "Yeah," I teased. "Why don't you just slap Laur--her--when she gets stuck?"
Silas laughed and stuck his tongue oat me. (Am I the only one who doesn't find this funny in the slightest? I just don't think her illness is a joking matter.)

"Sometimes she embarrasses me. Sometimes I'm... ashamed of her. When she showed up today? It's so obvious something's wrong. And that makes me ashamed of myself. I'm my sister's keeper, and I don't want to be." (Le sigh.)

Seriously, if it's one thing I can't stand it's when characters disregard their family in such a thoughtless manner ESPECIALLY when that family member is disabled, or suffering through a mental illness or mental disorder. But it's even more upsetting when that character who is being so inconsiderate gets coddled by the love interest (or any other character) because life is so hard when you have a family member with serious problems bigger than your own. Ugh. I hated how Leah never called Silas out on some of the harsh things he would say, and I also hated how the author glazed over it like it was okay. Because it wasn't. Silas is a jerk.

I found myself more interested in Laurel's mental disorder, and I wish it would have been more explored so that the reader could have gotten a chance to really understand what she is going through. But she's a sub character who barely has stage time in the novel, and we only hear of her breaking down in tears constantly without ever seeing it in full out action. Honestly, I don't thing the author did any research on the disorder besides a superficial google search, because I couldn't help but think that there just have to be more complexity to it, than just "Laurel-has-good-days-where-she-is-okay-and-knows-she's-not-dreaming-and-bad-days-where-all-she-does-is-cry". And there were just some times that made me question whether Laurel was even suffering from the disorder.

"Laurel, get up!"
She rolled over suddenly, saw me, and gasped. "West! My gosh! What are you doing?" she exclaimed. "You scared me!"
"I-I'm sorry." I said. "Silas said you weren't texting him back; we just wanted--to--to make sure you were okay."
"I was taking a nap," she said crabbily. "I don't usually text while I sleep. Do you?" (Here, Laurel shows awareness of being asleep and waking up to reality. Dialogues like these make me forget she has a reality disorder.)

Overall, this book didn't spark meaning, or deep emotion, or reflection out of me, and I breezed by it numbly. I wish I would have felt more from the characters and for the story itself, but Truest is an unremarkable book I'll probably forget with a good night's sleep. ...more

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Oct 13, 2015 Laura rated it it was ok

Warning...This is going to be more of a rant than a review.

Let me start with one quick point before I start my ranting ways. I’m all for jumping into a story with both feet, but this book felt like a few chapters were lopped off the top. I could have used a bit more set up and character introduction. It felt like I was playing catch up at page one. Wait, whoa—who is this now?

Truest focuses on Westlin Beck (aka West), a pastor’s daughter in a small Minnesota town. West has had her best friend an ...more

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Apr 25, 2015 Ronda Sommers rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am the authors,Jackie's mom. That being said I will give an honest review. This IS the best book I've ever read ! Seriously, I started reading and could not put it down. I liked that Wes and Silas were not the perfect people but had flaws like real people. Their conversations made me really feel like I was getting to know them. Best of all this book makes you think about more important things in life, that even in the darkest times there is hope! You need to read this book. I WANT a sequel alr ...more

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Jul 25, 2015 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, on-my-shelves, favorites-contemps, damn-book-made-me-cry, i-will-go-down-with-this-ship, nerd-bait, right-in-the-feels, very-banteresting

4.5 stars

One thing that’s been true about me as a reader for a few years now is that I’m willing to try a lot of different sorts of books. There are some things that straight up don’t sound like Christina books that I’ll avoid, but I try bunches that I’m skeptical about. Often, this results in a DNF or a middling rating, but I’m glad I do step outside the books that are obviously me books because I would miss out on books like Truest. I don’t think Truest was even on my radar really, but it arri 4.5 stars

One thing that’s been true about me as a reader for a few years now is that I’m willing to try a lot of different sorts of books. There are some things that straight up don’t sound like Christina books that I’ll avoid, but I try bunches that I’m skeptical about. Often, this results in a DNF or a middling rating, but I’m glad I do step outside the books that are obviously me books because I would miss out on books like Truest. I don’t think Truest was even on my radar really, but it arrived bundled up with a Harper ARC I’d requested. The synopsis didn’t super excite me, but it didn’t make me go nope nope nope either. Plus, there were books on the cover. Truest was one of those rare surprises, a book I had no expectations of that immediately captured my heart and punched me in the feels.

From the blurb, I sort of thought Truest was going to be love triangle melodrama. That’s sort of true and sort of not. Yes, there is a love triangle and, yes, there is a lot of drama, though calling it melodrama feels a bit pejorative. Though the novel starts out pretty fluffy, there’s serious stuff at work here and I don’t know that it was really overdramatic. In fact, Sommers resolves a lot of things in a much less dramatic way than I would have anticipated, playing against some common tropes. This is a book that will make you laugh, smile, and cry, at least if it gets to your heart like it did to mine.

Westlin Beck is a PK, and she’s not very excited about her summer. Her best friend has gone to work at an adventuring camp as a counselor without her, leaving West behind to run their car detailing business alone, which is especially confusing since she thought she and Trudy were both not outdoorsy, adventuring people. West’s hot Filipino boyfriend, Elliot, will be too busy working the family farm and going to football practice to spend too much time with her. Not to mention the fact that West’s dad spends more time aiding his flock than his family. West feels lonely and abandoned.

Enter the Hart family. West goes along with her dad when he visits them; he’s doing communion for the younger sister, for mysterious reasons that will be revealed in time. Silas Hart answers the door and looks at West with great disdain. Then, they’re told to go hang out while the dad does his thing, and she finds out that he has awesome taste in books. Despite the awkward beginning, which is one of the few things I side-eye about the book because it’s a bit Edwardy to be like “I liked you too much immediately so I made a grossed out face,” the two have an immediate, intense connection. Plus, her dad enlists West to help her with the car detailing.

Truest does the whole cheating thing right. West has a boyfriend and Silas has a girlfriend. You all know how much I hate books about infidelity and Truest was obviously headed there. I’m not going to give details except to say that there was a bit, but that it worked for me. The thing is that Sommers really made me feel West’s dilemma. Elliot is a truly good guy. He’s not turned into some sort of villain to make Silas the clear choice; West just doesn’t have the same mental or physical chemistry with him that she does with Silas. She and Silas share a love of fiction, philosophy, and trivia. They have the nerdiest conversations and despite the awfulness I knew would probably be coming, I shipped it SO FUCKING HARD. Tbh, Silas is a new book boyfriend of mine (I saw him FIRST, guys) and was from the first nerdy t-shirt. Really, though, despite my shipping it massively, I do think Sommers handled the situation really well and minimized the associated drama, but not in an unrealistic way where everyone’s totally cool with it.

Then there’s the big, heartbreaking plot line that introduced me to some things I did not know before. Without spoiling anything, I can tell you that there’s something going down with Silas’ sister, Laurel, which is obvious from that first scene. It was really interesting. What makes everything work so well for me is that Laurel isn’t just THE THING. I came to truly care for Laurel, and her struggles, while odd and like nothing I’ve encountered before, gave me great pain. View Spoiler » It’s beautiful and honestly risky, because I’m not sure what readers are going to make of Laurel’s secret. I’ll be curious to see the reaction.

The faith aspect of Truest made me super nervous, but I thought it was handled beautifully. There’s a lot of stuff about God and belief, and pretty much all of the main characters are devout Christians. Normally, this sort of thing would have me running for the hills, but Truest doesn’t come across as preachy and most of the discussion of god is of a more theological/philosophical bent, and I love those things.

Tied up in West’s views of religion obviously is her home life. Her dad used to be wonderful and involved, but, as she’s grown, he’s spent more time ministering. He’s a huge help to the community and a great man, as everyone tells her, but the family almost never sees him. Whenever he’s home he’s exhausted and generally in his room trying to get past a migraine. The portrayal hits on how hard it can be to have a parent who is a good person but gives too much of themselves outside of the home. I really liked though that the father wasn’t some sort of villain and how things were handled with that.

Truest is a beautiful, nerdy, heartbreaking, shippy book, and I hope you guys also give it a chance. I can’t wait for more books by Sommers because this debut is sensational. ...more

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Jan 10, 2014 Elyse rated it it was amazing

I Left My Hart in Green Lake, MN

I’m picky about what I read, and I’ve even pickier about what I review, since both require an investment of time.

Truest, the debut novel from Jackie Lea Sommers, is well worth that investment.

Truest is told from the perspective of Westlin Beck, a small-town pastor’s daughter, who thinks she knows who she is—until Silas Hart and his mysterious twin sister Laurel arrive. This is not a standard “summer romance” plot (though there is plenty of heart-pounding romance ...more

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Apr 24, 2015 Madison rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult

I initially picked this book up because of the cover. That gorgeous, beautiful cover that only gets more beautiful and more meaningful with every page I read. This is an outstanding debut, charming, funny, unbelievably moving and a deep sort of soul searching.

Westlin's summer isn't going as planned. Her boyfriend is working, her best friend is away at camp and her pastor father has roped her into letting the moody new boy in town, Silas Hart, be her business partner. But what starts as a forced I initially picked this book up because of the cover. That gorgeous, beautiful cover that only gets more beautiful and more meaningful with every page I read. This is an outstanding debut, charming, funny, unbelievably moving and a deep sort of soul searching.

Westlin's summer isn't going as planned. Her boyfriend is working, her best friend is away at camp and her pastor father has roped her into letting the moody new boy in town, Silas Hart, be her business partner. But what starts as a forced arrangement soon becomes a strong friendship. West and Silas share a love of literature and poetry, wondering and challenging and thinking. But Silas and his family are keeping a secret - something's wrong with Silas' sister Laurel and no one is saying what. As West spends ever increasing amounts of time with Silas and Laurel she learns the Hart's secret, and soon this summer is set to change her life.

Truest is not just another easy summer read. It covers topics of existence, choosing what to believe in, family - their absence and presence, poetry, history, friendship and love, and yet also manages to still feel hopeful. The writing style really is beautiful, with artfully constructed and flowing sentences. I loved Westlin. The story is written in first person through her point of view and she makes a great storyteller. She struggles with faith, with coping with an absent father, and with doing the 'right' thing. Meeting and getting to know Silas changes the way she thinks about life and what she believes in.

If you're like me you will straight away pick up on some key points in the synopsis - Westlin has a boyfriend and there is a new boy in town with whom she develops a strong friendship. You could assume that the book results in a love-triangle, and you would be right - sort of. And yet not. Because this book never once feels like a book with a love triangle in it. It is nothing like the books with love triangles that have given love triangles such a bad rep. You know what? These characters are teenagers. It's okay for them to fall in love, to realise what love actually feels like - and what it doesn't. Westlin does have to make a decision but she does so fairly. She sorts it out conscientiously.

This book was moving in a completely unexpected way, it just sort of hit me out of nowhere. If you are looking for a novel with depth, power and beauty, then Truest is the book for you.

The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Find this review and more like it on my blog Madison's Library.
...more

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Apr 23, 2015 Kim at Divergent Gryffindor rated it really liked it

Shelves: from-edelweiss, rating-4-stars, read-2015

I was given an ARC by the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

What drew me in to Truest was first and foremost it's pretty cover. But immediately after that, I read the synopsis and fell in love with it. There was just something about the vagueness of the synopsis that felt like it was begging to be read. Although the mystery in the synopsis was not mysterious at all in the story itself, I found myself loving this book.

"I don't have the luxury of seeing people's faces,

I was given an ARC by the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

What drew me in to Truest was first and foremost it's pretty cover. But immediately after that, I read the synopsis and fell in love with it. There was just something about the vagueness of the synopsis that felt like it was begging to be read. Although the mystery in the synopsis was not mysterious at all in the story itself, I found myself loving this book.

"I don't have the luxury of seeing people's faces, which forces me to see their hearts."

I didn't think I would love this book at first since I am really against cheating and going behind her boyfriend's back, but I surprisingly did. This book is not just about young love; it's also about family, friendship, life, words, mental illnesses, and grief. The author was able to show me so much about everything in just less than 400 pages, and I really commend her for that. Everything felt very realistic to me.

"Rescue wears masks, you know. It's why people say it's darkest before the dawn. Sometimes things take a long time to make sense. Could be years and years - or only a weekend. Or they might never make sense. But that doesn't mean you stop trusting that the world is being rescued."

In this book, there was a long term friendship that ended, and another one that pushed through every hurdle and stayed strong and true in the end. There were two relationships that ended, but in the end it was all okay. There were friendships with both young and old people. There was a family slowly falling apart, only to have it mended in the end. The other one didn't do so well. What's amazing in this book is that it was able to show two sides of a spectrum. And the best part? It all felt realistic to me.

"If you look around the world, it seems pretty clear that God favors redemption over perfection."

If I had to choose one word to describe this book, I would choose "beautiful." I can't even pinpoint exactly what it is that makes this book so beautiful, but that's just what it is. It was amazing how to story tied together in the end.

I loved Jackie Lea Sommers' writing style in this book. She has this amazing power to choose the perfect words to band together to form meaningful and beautiful sentences. The quotable quotes in this book is just phenomenal and very deep. Definitely a must-read and definitely an author to look out for! ...more

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Sep 03, 2015 Sarah (A Weebish Book Blog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own-physical-arc, read-to-review

This review was originally posted on One Curvy Blogger

WARNING! This review is physically killing me to write, so if its terrible and completely random, I apologize. Even weeks later, these feelings are spilling out of me and I can’t seem to put them into words to form a cohesive sentence. Just know that I freaking loved Truest even if my review is a jumbled mess. Got it?

This freaking book. I just can’t ddhfdjvlhdjv

Though I have read several books since Truest (and some of them were wonderful), ...more

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Nov 03, 2015 Tanya (Girl Plus Books) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary

3.5 STARS? (Maybe? I'm honestly not sure.)

When I finish a book I know how I feel about it. I know that I like it or I love it or it wasn't for me or I had issues with it. Truest is a rare breed in that it has me stumped. I didn't love it but I didn't dislike it, either. There were moments that were overwhelmingly emotional and times that I had to force myself not to start skimming. I can't remember the last time I read a book that had me so conflicted.

In the summer before her senior year, Westli 3.5 STARS? (Maybe? I'm honestly not sure.)

When I finish a book I know how I feel about it. I know that I like it or I love it or it wasn't for me or I had issues with it. Truest is a rare breed in that it has me stumped. I didn't love it but I didn't dislike it, either. There were moments that were overwhelmingly emotional and times that I had to force myself not to start skimming. I can't remember the last time I read a book that had me so conflicted.

In the summer before her senior year, Westlin is avoiding the big changes and decisions that come with graduating high school. Best friend Trudy is away for the summer. Boyfriend Elliott is busy working. Her minister father seems to have time for everyone in the community - except for his own family. Enter a new family to the small town of Green Lake - including twins Silas and Laurel.

"So the good days I swallow like grace on a spoon."

West is immediately drawn to Silas even as they are forced to spend time together detailing cars. Silas seems to be a kindred spirit in many ways and his sister Laurel is an enigma. As her relationship with Silas develops, West finds herself questioning her feelings for Elliott, her father's absence at home, her faith and her future.

"I want Laurel to be happy. I want to not care if Laurel's happy."

"But she's not," I whispered.

"And I do," he added.

Truest covered many topics and touched on many subjects: relationships (both romantic and familial), mental illness, religion and faith, friendship. And for the most part I was fully invested in the story. I cared about West even when I was frustrated with her actions. My heart hurt for Silas and Laurel (view spoiler). It was when Truest veered into its philosophical debates and existential crises that I found my interest waning. The narrative seemed to come to a screeching halt each time this happened and felt bogged down where otherwise it flowed beautifully. I understand the connection to Laurel illness. And I understand that teenagers question life as much as, if not more than, adults, but I still thought it felt clunky and too esoteric and just too much.

So maybe I do know how I feel about Truest. Some parts I liked. Some parts I didn't. I enjoyed it but had issues with it. There - that wasn't so difficult. ...more

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Apr 20, 2015 Lauren ✨ (YABookers) rated it did not like it

Shelves: contemporary, edelweiss, highly-anticipated-2015, owned

I received a free copy via Edelweiss for review purposes.

Truest follows West through her summer where she's been abandoned by her friend who has gone off to summer camp and her boyfriend who is working all summer to save up for a car. In desperate need of a partner for her car detailing summer job, West reluctantly agrees to let Silas help, splitting the earnings 50/50. As West begins to warm to Silas she learns his sisters secret. And Silas has a girlfriend, and she has a boyfriend.

There were ...more

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Aug 11, 2015 nick rated it liked it

Shelves: arc

Truest is one of those books that I don't really have much to say about. It's a decent read and while reading it, I had an good time, but it was rather unmemorable. I can guarantee that a week from now, I'm going to forget everything about it. West, the protagonist, was a hard character to enjoy at first. She's in a relationship with a very sweet boy named Elliott, but she goes ahead and flirts a lot with the new boy in town, Silas. She and Silas were definitely a better pair because they had so ...more

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Mar 10, 2016 Linda rated it really liked it

Reread 9/15/18:
3.5 stars

A little less poignant and memorable than the first time around. I also found the MC, West, to hold some problematic viewpoints which were revealed towards the end. Similarly, I found it kind of odd that as the pastor's daughter, West didn't seem to have a very meaningful connection to her religion (or even soul-searching process). It seemed like faith was much more important to Silas than to her at any singular moment in the novel. This made the book feel like he playe ...more

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Apr 25, 2015 Nicole Hewitt rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction-addiction-read, own, all-time-favorites

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

This book! Even though I just finished it last night, I couldn't wait to come write my review. Usually I hold off on declaring books all-time favorites, but I think I'm going to break that rule too. There was just so much about Truest to love! On the surface, there's not a lot going on - this is definitely a character-driven book rather than a plot-driven book. But, man, did I love these characters!

When Silas comes to ...more

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Mar 31, 2015 Shannon (It Starts At Midnight) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, september-2015, read-for-review

This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight

Ah, Truest, how I adored thee. Ah, West, how I relate to thee. See, West is a bit lost in life. Things are okay, not great but not horrible either. She has a boyfriend who's nice enough, her own part-time car detailing gig, and a best friend who just went away to be a camp counselor. She lives with her family- her pastor dad, her kind of push-over mom, and her two siblings (who are adorable, by the by)- in a small Minnesota town, and she ...more

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Mar 01, 2016 Regan (regansreads) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, ya

I loved it. So bittersweet, and I was way too attached to all of the characters. AND YES TO A MINNESOTA AUTHOR!

Review--

Jackie Lea Sommers’ debut novel, a contemporary romance set against the familiar backdrop of small-town Central Minnesota, swept me off my feet. Not only did I read the book with growing admiration for Sommers’ ability to create such a vibrant story, but I was astonished by how close I grew to her characters. Just halfway through the book, two hundred pages in or so, I felt li I loved it. So bittersweet, and I was way too attached to all of the characters. AND YES TO A MINNESOTA AUTHOR!

Review--

Jackie Lea Sommers’ debut novel, a contemporary romance set against the familiar backdrop of small-town Central Minnesota, swept me off my feet. Not only did I read the book with growing admiration for Sommers’ ability to create such a vibrant story, but I was astonished by how close I grew to her characters. Just halfway through the book, two hundred pages in or so, I felt like I knew West and Silas personally. Eloquent writing paired with realistic dialogue—sometimes lighthearted and witty, sometimes sincere and moving—brought the inhabitants of Green Lake, Minnesota to life for me. I was immersed in the problems they faced and the dilemmas they were up against.

Westlin Beck is the daughter of a popular pastor who seems to have time for everyone but his family and her. Likewise with her boyfriend, Elliot, who’s tied to his summer work on the farm and her best friend who’s caught up by the distance and drama of a new job as a camp counselor. As break wears on, West befriends a new family who have moved from Alaska. Silas Hart is funny and intriguing, a friendly face West was desperate to find, and his twin sister Laurel remains a golden-haired mystery, trapped within her house and her mind. As summer wears on and senior year looms, relationships unravel and reform, and within these changes there is both sentiment and beauty.

Reading Truest, I smiled and laughed—maybe teared up a bit—and ultimately, I was left with the breathless feeling of reading something great. Sommers is a Minnesota author, which I thought was incredibly cool, especially since it contributed the authentic small-town, summer feeling I’ve grown up with my whole life. It was relatable to an extent I have yet to read in another novel. Sommers also manages to tie religion into her story without it becoming overwhelming or “preachy,” which I found refreshing in a young adult contemporary.

I had a really great time reading Truest, and I’m anticipating any coming releases by its talented author. It’s not a book I’ll be forgetting any time soon. ...more

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Aug 21, 2018 Donna B rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Incredible!😩❤
All the feels..i want to smile and cry at the same time.
A story of love and loss.
Tragedy and hope.
Heartwarming and heartbreaking. The perfect cocktail.

Silas and West. 2 lonely people looking for refuge from their troubled lives.
Both searching for understanding of their paths of life.

I stayed up all night to read this because I could not put down! Please forgive the rambling as I’m extremely sleep deprived and emotional...
Okay...Silas OMG I fell in love with Silas instantly.
He is ...more

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Jul 11, 2015 Kathy Martin rated it it was amazing

The summer before her senior year brings big changes to Westlin Beck. Her best friend Trudy is off being a camp counselor and her boyfriend Elliot is working full time on the family farm to save up enough money for a car. West is feeling kind of lost and at loose ends.

She tags along when her minister father brings communion to the new family in town. She takes one look at Silas and things start to change. First, her father invites him to join with West in her car detailing business. Then they s ...more

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Oct 25, 2015 Emily Anne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Wow! I loved this book so much. This novel made my top books of 2015 and I can't wait for more from Jackie Lea Sommers... Full review to come!

Full Review 12/22/15:

Wow, it is going to be hard to do Truest justice in this review! When a friend on twitter sent this to me, I was excited but had no real expectations. I knew I loved the cover, but had not heard a lot of buzz about the novel. However, Truest definitely made my top books of 2015!!!

Firstly, this charming debut has such a cute setting. Gr ...more

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May 21, 2015 Lindsey Lynn (thepagemistress) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4/5 Stars

Summary:
This book follows West during her summer vacation right before her senior year of high school. Her best friend Trudy is off at an Adventure camp all summer and her boyfriend Elliot has a summer job and football practice that leaves West with nothing but time on her hands. Her father is the small towns Pastor and is constantly running off to help others. Unfortunately that means leaving West and the family to fend for themselves. West ends up befriending this wonderful new family ...more

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Apr 20, 2015 Melissa Carpenter rated it it was amazing

Beautifully written and intriguing! Westlin's story was one I couldn't put down and didn't want to end. And, Silas Hart just might be the most enigmatic and enchanting book boy since Augustus Waters.

I also have to say, without ruining any surprises or anything, that I have so much respect for how Jackie Lea Sommers handled faith and religion in this book. She treated it with care, as it should be, and realistically without any kind of mocking in her tone. I love how the characters search and qu ...more

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Nov 20, 2015 Kelli Spear rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-read-in-2015

Have you ever started reading a book late at night, in bed, with no expectations of how good or bad it will be? You're tired and just know you'll fall asleep within minutes, but then you get sucked into the story, and the next thing you know, you're at the end of the book, it's 5AM, and you're astonished by the brilliance you just consumed?

Truest just did this to me.

Last month I was at a YA convention, and Ms. Sommers was one of the authors in attendance. I had never heard of her or the book, bu Have you ever started reading a book late at night, in bed, with no expectations of how good or bad it will be? You're tired and just know you'll fall asleep within minutes, but then you get sucked into the story, and the next thing you know, you're at the end of the book, it's 5AM, and you're astonished by the brilliance you just consumed?

Truest just did this to me.

Last month I was at a YA convention, and Ms. Sommers was one of the authors in attendance. I had never heard of her or the book, but as she described it, I remember being intrigued. Stupidly I didn't purchase a copy for her to sign, but a week later, I picked up the book. It has taken me all this time to actually read it and for that I'm sorry.

Westlin Beck is a pastor's daughter. She lives a boring, small town life, and has no idea what her future holds. She's dating a star football player who she's known since they were kids. Her best friend is gone for the summer. Her boyfriend is stuck working for his dad. She's alone. And then a trip to visit the new family in town changes everything.

Enter Silas and Laurel Hart. Twins. Both beautiful. And West knows there's a family secret - something to do with Laurel. Upon first meeting, West is sure Silas is a jerk, and she's pretty sure he hates her based on his reaction to her the first time they met. Her father then asks Silas to be her partner in her car detailing summer job. He accepts.

At first, their relationship is awkward. West finds Silas to be an asshole, but really there's more to him. As they continue to work together, they begin to peel each other's layers and West learns more about her true self. Her life begins to revolve around the sun that is Silas Hart.

But this isn't just a carefree summer romance. There are complications in the form of significant others. And Laurel.

This story is so much more spectacular than I can even hope to convey. West and Silas's banter is a highlight. Silas's relationship and love for his sister is another - and one of the purest and most beautiful and honest forms of love I've read. Silas is the boy you wished you had known, met, and loved in high school. And West is probably the opposite of what you'd expect a pastor's daughter to be. There are vague religious undertones, but trust me, this isn't a "preachy book" in any way. There are questions asked that we've all asked at some point in our lives. There are others we've probably never thought of.

With Truest, Jackie Lea Sommers has woven a complex story that will enthrall you from the very first chapter. The depth of the story, Silas, and the what ifs of life are perfectly blended with the sort of coming of age in a small town tale that I love to imbibe in. And once you pick it up, you will struggle to put it down until you read the last word of the last chapter.

Trust me. I know from experience. ...more

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Aug 23, 2014 Kaleigh rated it it was amazing

I don’t often read a book in day. I’m a slow reader by nature, so when I do devour a book in twenty-four hours, you can guarantee that I found the story absolutely magical. These addictive books pull me in and make me forget about reality. For their pages are filled with characters I can’t let go of and worlds I continue dreaming about for days, weeks, years (cough…Harry Potter). Truest was one of these books.

In fact, I was on a weekend writing retreat when I started to read Truest. And instead ...more

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Jul 20, 2015 Kaylee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: the-book-person

I saw this book on a fellow bloggers’ list of books to be released. The cover art intrigued me, so I did some Googling and found the author's website. I loved her blog. After reading her blog posts I knew I would enjoy her debut novel. So when I had a chance to read the novel before the release day, I said yes.

It was wonderful.

It made me think.

I preordered extra copies to give as gifts.

l told all my friends.

I told my library they had to order copies.

And now I am telling you. You have to read ...more

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Apr 08, 2014 Kellie Lawless rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

* I received this book through Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review*
I know Jackie Sommers as an admissions counselor at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul and when I met with her last year, she mentioned that she was having a book published by HarperCollins called Truest. So when I saw that I won this book in the mail, I was very excited. Truest exceeded all of my expectations. Jackie writes with precision, passion, and purpose that is very rare to see in a debut author ...more

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Jan 10, 2014 Ashley Brooks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Deep thinkers, lovers of YA, anyone who wants a summer read that's more than fluff

Shelves: favorites, ya, cover-love, ending-i-loved, made-me-cry, un-put-downable

Truest is one of those books that will destroy you in the best way possible.

Get ready to spend the summer in Green Lake, Minnesota, with Westlin Beck and the new guy in town, Silas Hart. If that sounds like a recipe for summer romance, you'd be right. But Truest is so much more than that.

There's Silas's mysterious twin sister, Laurel. There's West's pretty amazing boyfriend, Elliot. There's a character described as "your own personal Dumbledore."

Sure, there's plenty of flirting and young love a ...more

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Jan 09, 2016 Nadia rated it liked it

Shelves: good-time-pass, family-drama, cheating-assholes, 2016-reads, best-friend-gone-bad

So much potential, but it involves cheating. That irked me to no end. Why was the cheating part necessary? I've been raking my brain for answers but I seriously don't get it.

I really liked Silas and West's conversation, but that whole cheating thing was bugging me on the back of my mind. Afterwards the cheating part was over, but still I couldn't get over it that the main protagonist cheated on her best friend turned boyfriend. You don't do that. Just NO. No wonder it took me so long to finish t ...more

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Jan 10, 2014 Matt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015-finished-books, best-reads-of-2015, fiction

I was instantly caught up in this story! Sommers does an awesome job of developing fascinating characters, and puts them into highly entertaining circumstances. The characters feel full and real, and even the side characters were well-developed.

Themes of love and truth were tackled head-on in this story, while also causing the reader to think through both faith and philosophy.

"Truest," while having emotional depth, was also extremely funny. There were times when I was laughing out loud, and ther ...more

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Jun 04, 2015 Danielle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-library

* I received this book through Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review*
I enjoyed this book very much! I have read a LOT of average or below average books lately so Truest was a welcome change of pace! The story was engrossing and the characters were so likeable. I loved the inclusion of God in the story also. I will definitely be buying any new Jackie Lea Sommers books in the future!

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What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Recent realistic YA novel w/ love triangle. [s]	3	33	Dec 16, 2016 06:50PM
Crazy for Young A...: Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers → Start Date: October 10, 2015	22	32	Dec 07, 2015 05:47PM
YA Buddy Readers'...: Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers - Starting August 8th 2015	10	19	Aug 11, 2015 11:12AM

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