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The Right and the Real
Jamie should have known something was off about the church of the Right & the Real from the start, especially when the Teacher claimed he wasn't just an ordinary spiritual leader but Jesus Christ himself. But she was too taken by Josh, the eldest son of one of the church's disciples, and his all-American good looks. Josh was the most popular boy at school, too, and the first boy outside the drama geeks to give Jamie a second look. But getting her dad involved in a cult was not part of the plan when she started dating Josh. Neither was her dad's marriage to the fanatic Mira or getting kicked out or seeing Josh in secret because the church has deemed her persona non grata.
Jamie's life has completely fallen apart. Finding her way back won't be easy, but when her dad gets himself in serious trouble, will Jamie be ready to rescue him, and maybe even forgive him?
Jamie's life has completely fallen apart. Finding her way back won't be easy, but when her dad gets himself in serious trouble, will Jamie be ready to rescue him, and maybe even forgive him?
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2012
4 people are currently reading
1158 people want to read
About the author
Joelle Anthony
4 books85 followersI was born in Portland, Oregon and went to school with the same kids from kindergarten through high school. I always wondered why kids in books were depressed about having to move. That sounded so exciting to me. So as an adult, I packed up my husband and cats and moved all the way to a new country! I now live on a small island in BC, Canada. It was definitely an adventure to love.
I'm the author of four published novels and have taught writing at conferences, festivals, and in schools across the US and Canada. I'm also a regular contributor to The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrator's bulletin, and a member of the Canadian Writer's Union. Speed of Life is my most recent YA (writing as J. M. Kelly). It's a 2018 White Pine nominee and a Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award shortlisted book. I'm also the author of the Violet Downey Award nominated and Voya Top Shelf Award winning MG, A Month of Mondays, along with the YAs Restoring Harmony and The Right & the Real. Currently, I'm working on an historical novel for adults set in 1962 Vancouver during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
In addition to writing, I am a freelance editor/story development and professional writing mentor at www.thewritepotential.com
I'm the author of four published novels and have taught writing at conferences, festivals, and in schools across the US and Canada. I'm also a regular contributor to The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrator's bulletin, and a member of the Canadian Writer's Union. Speed of Life is my most recent YA (writing as J. M. Kelly). It's a 2018 White Pine nominee and a Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award shortlisted book. I'm also the author of the Violet Downey Award nominated and Voya Top Shelf Award winning MG, A Month of Mondays, along with the YAs Restoring Harmony and The Right & the Real. Currently, I'm working on an historical novel for adults set in 1962 Vancouver during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
In addition to writing, I am a freelance editor/story development and professional writing mentor at www.thewritepotential.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 8, 2012
2.5.
Jamie's father just got married to Mira, and they've both signed themselves over to the church of The Right & The Real. But when Jamie's standing there with them and asked to give herself over, she can't. Though she was the one to initially suggest this church as the right one for her and her family, signing over everything to the Teacher feels wrong. It feels too . . . cult-like.
When she leaves, everything else in her world crumbles. She loses all contact with her father, who packs up her things and leaves them for her. She loses her house. And she even loses her long-time boyfriend Josh, who is a member of the church himself. Now she has to figure out where to live and how to survive completely alone and abandoned. But what she really wants is to have her father back.
Though I enjoyed the story and thought the idea was great, I didn't necessarily find the execution that strong. Because we know so little about the cult and what goes on, it's challenging to build an emotional connection or to understand the real risks involved in leaving. Although it's clear there are consequences, they don't necessarily feel dire (even though they are). There's a distance between Jamie and the reader.
My biggest challenge with the story is that the subplots felt underdeveloped. Since the initial plot was in and of itself a little lacking (again -- I needed more about the cult and what the horror was that forced Jamie not to sign and forced her to fear for her adult father's future), I found the other story lines even weaker. I didn't care about the relationship between Jamie and Josh, and I found myself even further disinterested in the emerging relationship between Jamie and Trent.
While the book didn't knock it out of the park for me, I see appeal for fans of Holly Cupala (there are a lot of parallels to "Don't Breathe a Word"), for fans of Carol Lynch Williams's "The Chosen One," and Michele Green's "Keep Sweet." This story investigates life on the outside of the cult, rather than life on the inside, which is an interesting twist on that storyline.
Longer review to come probably.
Jamie's father just got married to Mira, and they've both signed themselves over to the church of The Right & The Real. But when Jamie's standing there with them and asked to give herself over, she can't. Though she was the one to initially suggest this church as the right one for her and her family, signing over everything to the Teacher feels wrong. It feels too . . . cult-like.
When she leaves, everything else in her world crumbles. She loses all contact with her father, who packs up her things and leaves them for her. She loses her house. And she even loses her long-time boyfriend Josh, who is a member of the church himself. Now she has to figure out where to live and how to survive completely alone and abandoned. But what she really wants is to have her father back.
Though I enjoyed the story and thought the idea was great, I didn't necessarily find the execution that strong. Because we know so little about the cult and what goes on, it's challenging to build an emotional connection or to understand the real risks involved in leaving. Although it's clear there are consequences, they don't necessarily feel dire (even though they are). There's a distance between Jamie and the reader.
My biggest challenge with the story is that the subplots felt underdeveloped. Since the initial plot was in and of itself a little lacking (again -- I needed more about the cult and what the horror was that forced Jamie not to sign and forced her to fear for her adult father's future), I found the other story lines even weaker. I didn't care about the relationship between Jamie and Josh, and I found myself even further disinterested in the emerging relationship between Jamie and Trent.
While the book didn't knock it out of the park for me, I see appeal for fans of Holly Cupala (there are a lot of parallels to "Don't Breathe a Word"), for fans of Carol Lynch Williams's "The Chosen One," and Michele Green's "Keep Sweet." This story investigates life on the outside of the cult, rather than life on the inside, which is an interesting twist on that storyline.
Longer review to come probably.
March 22, 2012
You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.
A big thank you to Penguin/Putnam Juvenile for providing me an ARC for review.
The Right & The Real is too right and way too real. Joëlle Anthony has weaved a story that feels as if it was ripped from the headlines. It's a story of fanaticism and how it affects your life. It's a scary thing, and I too have been outcasted from the life of a person who was very important to me for not succumbing to their beliefs. It's a harsh reality that someone can be introduced to a belief or a way of life that consumes them in such a way that if has grave effects on their relationships with the people around them.
Jamie was a very lovable character with whom I empathised with immensely. She was facing some very heavy stuff for a 17 year old, yet she handled it the best she possibly could. I believed this character, I felt her emotions and I understood her reactions. The story of her father, Richard, was a difficult one. He was a weak man with an addictive personality and although I hated the choices he made in this book, I felt bad for him. It is way too easy for an organisation or a belief to get their claws into the people who are missing something from their lives and alter them in an immeasurable way. Richard was quite clearly an unhappy man who was looking for anything to cling to that could in some way bring him resolve and happiness. I appreciated the dynamic of the three best friends in this book. They all stood out in their own way, yet their love of theatre gave them an impenetrable bond. I liked that they weren't carbon copies of each other.
The relationship between Jamie and Josh was so frustrating to me. She put up with so much from Josh, and never got to experience what a real relationship is. Trent was a breath of fresh air, the scenes with him made me happy and every time I realised I had a silly grin on my face. At time's I found myself frustrated with Jamie because she wouldn't take the plunge, but that's what young love does, makes you do stupid things! Another relationship in this that was great was between Jamie and LaVon. He stepped in as a sort of skewed father figure for Jamie and it felt so natural.
The Church of The Right & The Real was haunting. A Teacher who projected that he was the second coming of Christ, and a whole congregation of people who believed it, who would give up their life, and everyone in to to serve in any way they can. Haven't we all heard about this before? This story is all too real and so well written that it reaches down and pulls emotions out of you that you didn't even know were there. I will most definitely be recommending The Right & The Real to anyone looking for an Alluring Read.
A big thank you to Penguin/Putnam Juvenile for providing me an ARC for review.
The Right & The Real is too right and way too real. Joëlle Anthony has weaved a story that feels as if it was ripped from the headlines. It's a story of fanaticism and how it affects your life. It's a scary thing, and I too have been outcasted from the life of a person who was very important to me for not succumbing to their beliefs. It's a harsh reality that someone can be introduced to a belief or a way of life that consumes them in such a way that if has grave effects on their relationships with the people around them.
Jamie was a very lovable character with whom I empathised with immensely. She was facing some very heavy stuff for a 17 year old, yet she handled it the best she possibly could. I believed this character, I felt her emotions and I understood her reactions. The story of her father, Richard, was a difficult one. He was a weak man with an addictive personality and although I hated the choices he made in this book, I felt bad for him. It is way too easy for an organisation or a belief to get their claws into the people who are missing something from their lives and alter them in an immeasurable way. Richard was quite clearly an unhappy man who was looking for anything to cling to that could in some way bring him resolve and happiness. I appreciated the dynamic of the three best friends in this book. They all stood out in their own way, yet their love of theatre gave them an impenetrable bond. I liked that they weren't carbon copies of each other.
The relationship between Jamie and Josh was so frustrating to me. She put up with so much from Josh, and never got to experience what a real relationship is. Trent was a breath of fresh air, the scenes with him made me happy and every time I realised I had a silly grin on my face. At time's I found myself frustrated with Jamie because she wouldn't take the plunge, but that's what young love does, makes you do stupid things! Another relationship in this that was great was between Jamie and LaVon. He stepped in as a sort of skewed father figure for Jamie and it felt so natural.
The Church of The Right & The Real was haunting. A Teacher who projected that he was the second coming of Christ, and a whole congregation of people who believed it, who would give up their life, and everyone in to to serve in any way they can. Haven't we all heard about this before? This story is all too real and so well written that it reaches down and pulls emotions out of you that you didn't even know were there. I will most definitely be recommending The Right & The Real to anyone looking for an Alluring Read.
April 11, 2012
Wow.
That was just... wow.
The Right & the Real is hardcore. Like, I totally believed every word of it, and would have to put the book down due to chill bumps.
It tells the story of Jamie, a high schooler that has adulthood thrust onto her unjustly. Basically, she falls for this guy that goes to this "church." She starts attending said "church," and brings her dad along. He gets wrapped up in it, marries into the "faith," and it all goes downhill from there.
Joëlle Anthony has created a compelling story that seems almost ripped from the headlines. The characters are very real, and very solid, not leaving much to be desired.
The background of the story, including the teachings of the "church" were both fascinating and terrifying. I could almost see how wanting something so badly could turn to blind devotion to a "higher being" that is not the true Higher Being.
It's frightening, terrifying, and absolutely beautifully written. My one small complaint was the fact that no one seemed to notice that something was desperately wrong with Jamie and her life. She just kind of muddled through without anyone really noticing. I guess that's how it can be sometimes, though.
Very insightful book.
I received an ARC courtesy of Putnam Juvenile. This in no way impacted my review of the book.
That was just... wow.
The Right & the Real is hardcore. Like, I totally believed every word of it, and would have to put the book down due to chill bumps.
It tells the story of Jamie, a high schooler that has adulthood thrust onto her unjustly. Basically, she falls for this guy that goes to this "church." She starts attending said "church," and brings her dad along. He gets wrapped up in it, marries into the "faith," and it all goes downhill from there.
Joëlle Anthony has created a compelling story that seems almost ripped from the headlines. The characters are very real, and very solid, not leaving much to be desired.
The background of the story, including the teachings of the "church" were both fascinating and terrifying. I could almost see how wanting something so badly could turn to blind devotion to a "higher being" that is not the true Higher Being.
It's frightening, terrifying, and absolutely beautifully written. My one small complaint was the fact that no one seemed to notice that something was desperately wrong with Jamie and her life. She just kind of muddled through without anyone really noticing. I guess that's how it can be sometimes, though.
Very insightful book.
I received an ARC courtesy of Putnam Juvenile. This in no way impacted my review of the book.
Read
April 18, 2012Jaime is so into her new boyfriend Josh that she doesn't realize the danger his fanatical church poses until it's too late and her own father has joined their cult and disowned her. Jamie is only a few months from turning 18, but until then, she has to find a way to live on her own without raising the suspicions of her friends or the authorities who might send her off to live with her estranged mother in another state.
For some reason, I've always been drawn in by stories of people surviving cults, and I appreciated this different perspective. Jamie is not the one in the cult, but the consequences on her life are severe. Josh can only see her in secret, and because her father has kicked her out & cut her off, she's homeless and has to get a job.
Jaime's situation is scary. Because of her age and circumstances, she doesn't have a lot of choices. She ends up in a seedy hotel and has to give up a lot just to keep going. Anthony dramatizes this hopelessness well and makes a wise choice by portraying Jamie as relatable, adaptable and non-whiny. I enjoyed the way the plot played out - even the last little sucker punch at the very end. Also - I loved the character of LaVon and how he became important to Jaime's life.
For some reason, I've always been drawn in by stories of people surviving cults, and I appreciated this different perspective. Jamie is not the one in the cult, but the consequences on her life are severe. Josh can only see her in secret, and because her father has kicked her out & cut her off, she's homeless and has to get a job.
Jaime's situation is scary. Because of her age and circumstances, she doesn't have a lot of choices. She ends up in a seedy hotel and has to give up a lot just to keep going. Anthony dramatizes this hopelessness well and makes a wise choice by portraying Jamie as relatable, adaptable and non-whiny. I enjoyed the way the plot played out - even the last little sucker punch at the very end. Also - I loved the character of LaVon and how he became important to Jaime's life.
February 12, 2013
I could not stop reading this novel. I finished it in one night! My heart is still pounding. This book was like a jog and I was the jogger. This book was a drum and I was the drummer.... Well you get it. This book is cinematic, superb , RIPPED FROM TODAY'S HEADLINES. You know those books written by dowdy woman who can't get the "aura of a teenager"....Well this woman did, she wrote and tapped right into this generation and no. THIS WASN'T SOME PSEUDO TEEN READ this was real. Real everything, real friends, this totally reminded me of The Outsiders by S E Hinton. With the dialogue, friend bonding and everything or one of those crappy teen 80s movies, but a GOOD crappy teen movie. So Miss Author grabbed today's generation and even pointed out Organic food. Lol.
Summary:So this seventeen year old chick meets this All American beautiful guy (yes blonde short hair, the whole shebang) and he really is living in a cult. [image error]
This is how I imagined him. A little James Dean doesn't hurt.
Jamie aka Miss Awesome is fixed on acting and quirky striving to go to art school when her dad married marry. Literally the bride from hell. He is swept into a creeper cult with a bunch of weirdos who think The Preach who all the sheep call Teacher is jesus. Yes that's right peeps, literally jesus, as in "lord and saviour." Like robe and staff and all. After refusing to sign the pledge, Jamie our hero is banished from her house and homeless.Her father wipes his hands clean of her. Her phone serive is cut of, her insurance for her car is gone. She's only got one grand int he bank. That's when it starts. The real story.
She is homeless but her friend and school doesn't know it. She'd rather keep it that way. The Question is how long can she hold her secret and is her dad okay?
Feeling abandoned and alone, Jamie meets a few new people.
Protagionists: I have Jamie-Mania, she's a seventeen year old girl with short blonde hair, pretty and in theater. She's driven, angsty, and seething with endurance. I loved her, I ususally dislike books about blondes because they turn out to be so... "Like omg, eveyrone loved me." But this isn't.
Other characters: I loved LaVon, the person of color. He was amazing, fifty one and he morphed into my favorite character. This book questions rascism etc and grasps today's culture. Stereotypes are broken etc. I also loved Liz, the girl who was going to Beaumount and totally stuck in 80s clothes. Josh is Jamie's boyfriend, needy, selfish and worthy of five not four bitch slaps in the jaw. Why???????? He was so awful.
Trent: His description was adorable, if he were nineteen or twenty instead of seventeen, I'd date him.
Portland Orgeon or Seattle. Coffe shops, seedy hotels, strange fenced cult homes, schools etc.
Grittiness: Gritty without being despressing there are some laugh out loud moments here.
I have drop a congrats to Miss Author Lady, seriously you got our generation so wonderfully. From the thrifting to organic food, the kids dialogue lingo. These charactyers were real and gongrats on your world building skills. Superb. This needs to be a movie!
Summary:So this seventeen year old chick meets this All American beautiful guy (yes blonde short hair, the whole shebang) and he really is living in a cult. [image error]
This is how I imagined him. A little James Dean doesn't hurt.
Jamie aka Miss Awesome is fixed on acting and quirky striving to go to art school when her dad married marry. Literally the bride from hell. He is swept into a creeper cult with a bunch of weirdos who think The Preach who all the sheep call Teacher is jesus. Yes that's right peeps, literally jesus, as in "lord and saviour." Like robe and staff and all. After refusing to sign the pledge, Jamie our hero is banished from her house and homeless.Her father wipes his hands clean of her. Her phone serive is cut of, her insurance for her car is gone. She's only got one grand int he bank. That's when it starts. The real story.
She is homeless but her friend and school doesn't know it. She'd rather keep it that way. The Question is how long can she hold her secret and is her dad okay?
Feeling abandoned and alone, Jamie meets a few new people.
Protagionists: I have Jamie-Mania, she's a seventeen year old girl with short blonde hair, pretty and in theater. She's driven, angsty, and seething with endurance. I loved her, I ususally dislike books about blondes because they turn out to be so... "Like omg, eveyrone loved me." But this isn't.
Other characters: I loved LaVon, the person of color. He was amazing, fifty one and he morphed into my favorite character. This book questions rascism etc and grasps today's culture. Stereotypes are broken etc. I also loved Liz, the girl who was going to Beaumount and totally stuck in 80s clothes. Josh is Jamie's boyfriend, needy, selfish and worthy of five not four bitch slaps in the jaw. Why???????? He was so awful.
Trent: His description was adorable, if he were nineteen or twenty instead of seventeen, I'd date him.
Portland Orgeon or Seattle. Coffe shops, seedy hotels, strange fenced cult homes, schools etc.
Grittiness: Gritty without being despressing there are some laugh out loud moments here.
I have drop a congrats to Miss Author Lady, seriously you got our generation so wonderfully. From the thrifting to organic food, the kids dialogue lingo. These charactyers were real and gongrats on your world building skills. Superb. This needs to be a movie!
April 2, 2012
When Jamie refuses to join the cult-like church of The Right and The Real, she never imagined life as she knew it would cease to be. Kicked out from church and home, and unable to confide or count on anyone Jamie has to learn to survive on her own. As she soon finds out, it’s a hard, dangerous world for an underage girl, with little money, and no friends out there. Joelle Anthony's The Right & the Real is about mistakes, hardships, and forgiveness, and how a young teenage girl finds a way to put her life back together.
Jamie is one of those characters that you look up to. She's lovable, she's fun, and very determined. When she's kicked out of her house, she doesn't know what to do. She's been counting on these people—dad, friends, boyfriend—for so long that now that her life has been swept from under her feet and now she can't count or confide in them. Rather than give up, Jamie keeps trying and trying, and even as things get worse for her she never gives up. She's scared, alone, and she cries most nights, but there's never a moment where she thinks it’s the end. Jamie keeps looking for solutions even when they seem out of reach. There's one line she says that really stuck with me, "I ached for my old easy life." Sometimes we don't know what we have until we lose it, and then we don't know what to do. If I've learned anything from this book is not to panic, and always look for a solution no matter how impossible it seems.
Aside from trying to get her father back from the claws of the church of The Right & the Real, another of her ordeals is with her boyfriend Josh. He's part of the church, and he's trying to keep things the same yet they clearly can't, and she's suffering for it. The way he ends up treating her is horrible. Honestly, Jamie was too good for him anyways. That's why I loved Trent from the start. Not only is he charming—I just love a boy that babbles like he does—but he is always good to Jamie, even when he has no idea how much his little acts of kindness light up her day. LaVon is another favorite character. He becomes a sort of surrogate parent to her, and puts his life on the line to help her.
The fanaticism of the church and the way they end up treating Jamie's dad, was very hard for me to read. I got so angry several times, that I just had to close the book and breathe. However, the ending was a breath of fresh air. Opening that final box cracked my heart in half, and it was just perfect. Like, I don't read many contemporary stories, much less one with religion involved, but I'm so grateful to have received and gotten the chance to read this! It's really one of the greatest contemporary YA novels I've read this year, right up there with Paper Towns, and Mare's War.
*I received this book from the publisher*
Jamie is one of those characters that you look up to. She's lovable, she's fun, and very determined. When she's kicked out of her house, she doesn't know what to do. She's been counting on these people—dad, friends, boyfriend—for so long that now that her life has been swept from under her feet and now she can't count or confide in them. Rather than give up, Jamie keeps trying and trying, and even as things get worse for her she never gives up. She's scared, alone, and she cries most nights, but there's never a moment where she thinks it’s the end. Jamie keeps looking for solutions even when they seem out of reach. There's one line she says that really stuck with me, "I ached for my old easy life." Sometimes we don't know what we have until we lose it, and then we don't know what to do. If I've learned anything from this book is not to panic, and always look for a solution no matter how impossible it seems.
Aside from trying to get her father back from the claws of the church of The Right & the Real, another of her ordeals is with her boyfriend Josh. He's part of the church, and he's trying to keep things the same yet they clearly can't, and she's suffering for it. The way he ends up treating her is horrible. Honestly, Jamie was too good for him anyways. That's why I loved Trent from the start. Not only is he charming—I just love a boy that babbles like he does—but he is always good to Jamie, even when he has no idea how much his little acts of kindness light up her day. LaVon is another favorite character. He becomes a sort of surrogate parent to her, and puts his life on the line to help her.
The fanaticism of the church and the way they end up treating Jamie's dad, was very hard for me to read. I got so angry several times, that I just had to close the book and breathe. However, the ending was a breath of fresh air. Opening that final box cracked my heart in half, and it was just perfect. Like, I don't read many contemporary stories, much less one with religion involved, but I'm so grateful to have received and gotten the chance to read this! It's really one of the greatest contemporary YA novels I've read this year, right up there with Paper Towns, and Mare's War.
*I received this book from the publisher*
August 12, 2012
I really enjoyed this story because Anthony wrote Jamie as such a strong female character. It was amazing that she was able to overcome everything that was thrown at her at such a young age. It was quite easy to sympathize and identify with Jamie. I was so glad that she found a friend in LaVon, and he was one of my favorite things about the book. The writing was wonderful and I was able to finish reading in a few hours. The ending to the story was just what I was hoping for, and I felt was a perfect wrap-up for the storyline.
*This book was provided to me via BookDivas.com, and my original review was submitted there.
*This book was provided to me via BookDivas.com, and my original review was submitted there.
October 5, 2021
This was a ok book. It was ok but wasn't the best book to read. I liked the plot of the book because it was interesting but the way it was laid out wasn't the best. It has plot twists but the book is too short and more pages would of made it more interesting. It starts with a girl who is being forced by her family and her church to join a "church" with in reality is a cult and she refuses to join the church and her father kicked her out because of that and has to start a life by herself because he boyfriend basic scaly dumped her because of her choices. My favorite character is jamie because she is betrayed by her family and now she has to start her life by herself. I dislike everyone else but her friend because her friend was they only on helping her start her life while everyone else abandoned her. All i would say is that it was not the best and would recommend it to others and i would still read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2017
Take a girl who has grown up privileged for her 18 years, and throw her out on the street. Cancel her cell phone and the insurance on her vehicle. This is what happened to Jaimie when her Dad joins a cult religion. She makes a lot of stupid mistakes which make her situation worse….starting with lying to her friends who would be willing to assist her, and clinging to a boyfriend who clearly isn’t willing to help. I think the author has perfectly captured a realistic series of events. She has successfully invaded the mind of a teenager and put it into this wonderful story.
It is completely gripping, and had to put down. It is very readable in two evenings. Loved it! Thanks to the author for a wonderful read.
It is completely gripping, and had to put down. It is very readable in two evenings. Loved it! Thanks to the author for a wonderful read.
December 27, 2019
17 year old Jamie thought we was lucking out when popular jock, Josh showed an interest in her. In order to spend more time with him she starts attending his church, The Right and the Real, and eventually invites her father to attend services as well. Her father has an addictive personality and turns out he is prime pickings for the church, which is a cult once you get past the shiny facade. When Jamie refuses to sign a pledge to the church her father kicks her out of the house. She is forced to make her way on her own and also try and get her father out of the cult's clutches. This is an extremely well written YA book and definitely opened my eyes about how easy it would be for someone to get caught up in a cult.
October 5, 2018
This book was a great coming of age story about a girl who has to deal with a religion that reminded me of a rather crazy one I try not to ever mention online, because I’m convinced they’d track me down. I recommend if you want to read something that isn’t overdone, but still has those YA elements you (probably) love— romance and identify and all that jazz.
February 23, 2013
"I was pretty.
My naturally light blond hair framed a face with perfect skin, sparkling blue eyes, deep dimples, and straight teeth." - Page 3 of The Right & the Real
... And that's when I knew I wasn't going to like this book. Actually, no, I knew that when the first scene was two teenagers sneaking around, making out in a church (Note: I am still a teenager.) The church is a cult, so eff the rules, but any book that opens on a make out scene instantly loses a few points.
The inner flap synopsis states "Jamie should have known there was something wrong with the Right & the Real Church..." I should have known there was something wrong with Jamie.. something deeply, disturbingly wrong... that she was an idiot.
I did not finish this book. I made it to page 90 only because I was held somewhat captive by a dull day of volunteering. I have previously read The Patron Saint of Butterflies, which also deals with a religious cult; The Right & the Real really doesn't hold up against it. The characters in PSoB are younger, but there is time to form a connection with them and even understand the inner workings of their cult and how the members are affected. In R&tR, I felt a little misled. I guess you're not supposed to trust the reviews on the back of the book, but when I saw the main character described as "gutsy", I thought "Oh boy, she's going to break of this church and save those people too! She'll be assertive and heroic!" No.
No.
Jamie is a scared little (just kidding, she's nearly 18 years old) girl. But... when you think about it without holding that 'gutsy' over her head, it makes sense. Her father, who has taken care of her has quickly become neck deep in this church and is marrying some lady. Yes, her naivety would be tolerable if she weren't so stupid. I call her a stupid character because she remains in denial about her boyfriend. She realizes the cult is just that - a cult. She realizes her father and boyfriend are brainwashed.. and yet, she clings to the hope that they'll change. While she's clinging to this hope, things happen. People offer help.
"Jamie, are you okay? Jamie, can we help you? Jamie, Jamie, Jamie."
"Nope, I got this. Don't worry, I'm just going to lie to everyone, be confused as to why my cellphone isn't working, spend $200 a week on a motel room, try to make things work with my brainwashed boyfriend, and wonder why nothing's getting better. Oh, and while I'm at it, I'm going to instant message my friends so they think I'm okay instead of looking for help."
One peeve I have with a lot of modern books is the lack of smart use of the internet. Maybe the reason is that it takes away from the main character's journey, but here it is just glaringly obvious how Jamie could have been helped by it. She could have used the internet to find a support group for ex-cult members or help for homeless youth, but instead, she dials up a skeevy douche who wants her to pay thousands of dollars to 'deprogram' her dad. Good job, Jamie.
The sad part is, I'm sure there are some people who would do exactly what Jamie does. The unsad part is, I didn't care. There was no time or reason to form an emotion attachment to Jamie or any of the other characters. We are repeatedly told that her parents met in AA and that her mother is still an alcoholic and a druggie, but for me, it didn't really evoke any kind of empathy, nor did it explain why she had so little insight into what to do to help herself.
Other than the annoying main character, I also had a problem with the writing. I really, really hate picking on an author's writing, so I'm not going to go into depth, but it was too simplistic and the dialogue felt unnatural in some places (e.g. Jamie says she's "feeling a little blue." When was the last time anyone, let alone a teenager, used that phrase?)
Long story short, I went into The Right and the Real expecting a girl who could get herself out of a sticky situation. I saw the nearly four star reviews on Goodreads and the back cover reviews and got excited. In the end, I was just let down.
Maybe there's just something about this book I'm not getting. Maybe it gets better after the middle. Unfortunately, Jamie is too frustrating for me. I may skim through or maybe even try to finish it, but until then... it just.. wasn't a good book. Not enjoyable at all, and I'm really sorry to say that.
March 31, 2012
Jamie's life is on the brink. There is beauty in first loves, but there is also that touch of hidden danger in taking the plunge and diving headfirst into a maelstrom of emotions. When Josh gives Jamie a second glance, Jamie is smitten, and the wheels of her young teenage life start turning. Piece by piece, she watches as her family is drawn into a world of deceit and lies surrounding the Church of the Right & the Real. It's a church where they not only worship Christ, but the head of the church claims to be the second coming of Christ, himself. Her world is crumbling around her, and when Jamie realizes she has to step out, she finds herself on the outside, watching the inevitable collapse of all she holds dear. Can she fix it in time, or will all be lost forever?
Oh, hello, issue book! The Right & The Real is only the second book I've read with cults, and I have to say that it certainly is one heck of a no-holds-barred account of life within the confines of a strict, fanatical cult. Author, Joelle Anthony, has painted a haunting backdrop in which her teenage MC must learn to survive by all means necessary. Baring the heart and soul of a teenage girl in the clutches of the dark and twisted nature of a dangerous church, The Right & The Real holds nothing back. Giving the readers everything from love, to loss, to the very roots of forgiveness, this is one novel that promises the true art of human nature in its most basic form, and we're invited to share in the journey.
There is something so very, very troubling about The Right & The Real, and I found myself thinking about that fact long after I closed the book. It's simple, actually. This book could very well be real. In fact, there are most likely people out there in the world going through somewhat similar circumstances, and it's both painful and terrifying to think about. Through Jamie's eyes, we see just how very barren her world becomes with the Church of the Right & the Real throws her out. Left to her own devices, Jamie is helpless but to watch as her father continues in his path to self-annihilation within the church. Her father was a complex character whom I felt myself alternating between hating and pitying. He was a weak man, and the church clearly preyed on his need to find a sense of belonging. Yet, there was a part of me that wanted to kick his teeth in for overlooking the fact that his teenage daughter was struggling simply to make it from day to day. The throes of young love were sweet and dark, twirling through the mess of the story as we watch as Jamie attempts to somehow put her life back together. I have to mention above all else though, that The Right & The Real is one of those books where a secondary character steals the show. When you meet a LaVon, a caring, kindhearted and true man, you will understand the true nature of human compassion. It's incredible. Were a few things in the story a bit unbelievable? Sure. Overall though, the pieces fit together seamlessly.
All in all, I was, yet again, blown away by an incredible issue book. There's something to be said for horror stories that are scary simply because they could be real. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to both adult and YA audiences, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and issue books.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
Oh, hello, issue book! The Right & The Real is only the second book I've read with cults, and I have to say that it certainly is one heck of a no-holds-barred account of life within the confines of a strict, fanatical cult. Author, Joelle Anthony, has painted a haunting backdrop in which her teenage MC must learn to survive by all means necessary. Baring the heart and soul of a teenage girl in the clutches of the dark and twisted nature of a dangerous church, The Right & The Real holds nothing back. Giving the readers everything from love, to loss, to the very roots of forgiveness, this is one novel that promises the true art of human nature in its most basic form, and we're invited to share in the journey.
There is something so very, very troubling about The Right & The Real, and I found myself thinking about that fact long after I closed the book. It's simple, actually. This book could very well be real. In fact, there are most likely people out there in the world going through somewhat similar circumstances, and it's both painful and terrifying to think about. Through Jamie's eyes, we see just how very barren her world becomes with the Church of the Right & the Real throws her out. Left to her own devices, Jamie is helpless but to watch as her father continues in his path to self-annihilation within the church. Her father was a complex character whom I felt myself alternating between hating and pitying. He was a weak man, and the church clearly preyed on his need to find a sense of belonging. Yet, there was a part of me that wanted to kick his teeth in for overlooking the fact that his teenage daughter was struggling simply to make it from day to day. The throes of young love were sweet and dark, twirling through the mess of the story as we watch as Jamie attempts to somehow put her life back together. I have to mention above all else though, that The Right & The Real is one of those books where a secondary character steals the show. When you meet a LaVon, a caring, kindhearted and true man, you will understand the true nature of human compassion. It's incredible. Were a few things in the story a bit unbelievable? Sure. Overall though, the pieces fit together seamlessly.
All in all, I was, yet again, blown away by an incredible issue book. There's something to be said for horror stories that are scary simply because they could be real. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to both adult and YA audiences, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and issue books.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
June 18, 2012
Joëlle Anthony’s sophomore novel is a harsh and severe look into the life of struggling teen Jamie, in the aftermath of her refusal to join a cult. The Church of the Right & the Real looks okay from the outside. Members are religious and kind and care for one another, but in reality, they worship a man who claims he is the Jesus and they give up their life at the drop of a hat. When Jamie’s dad gets sucked in, brainwashed, marries another member, and kicks Jamie to the curb, her life falls apart. But with her dreams of NYC and more determination and strength than most others her age, she manages. Barely.
Jamie is easily one of the strongest female heroines I’ve read. Despite losing everything, she soldiers on and fights to follow her dreams. She suffers, sure, but at one point, she realizes she’s just getting by and that’s not enough. Not to make a life. So she changes that. Readers will be completely taken by Jamie; by her will to move on, but also by her need to do something to save her father. Even though she has so many strengths, Anthony is sure to make her vulnerable, because she is vulnerable. A 17 year old girl, all alone for the first time ever cannot have it easy, and Jamie doesn’t.
But that’s where the big, hulking, scary motel neighbor LaVon comes in. He’s incredible and I love him! LaVon and Jamie almost have that parent/child relationship that’s lacking because Jamie’s dad lost his marbles and joined a cult. LaVon's there for Jamie when no one else is. He's not perfect and he's certainly a little terrifying, but he's there.
The story deals with quite a few issues, but there’s also this deliciously sweet and perfect build-up to a relationship for Jamie. She has a boyfriend who’s a member of the Right & the Real and there’s clearly a lot of struggle for them because of it, but Jamie sticks to her guns when it’s the hardest. She stands up for her beliefs and she grows so much throughout the book because of it. The new guy Trent also sneaks into the story and brings a lighthearted edge to an otherwise serious plot. He is fabulous in so many ways and I want him for myself.
The Right & The Real is one of those books that take you by surprise. You pick it up expecting a good story, but then find yourself unable to put it down. I was reading into the late hours of the night/wee hours of the morning because I had to know how Jamie would survive, if her dad would wake up, whether or not the Right & the Real would win, if she’d dump her somewhat douchey boyfriend, and if she could let the harmless flirting with coffee boy Trent turn into something more. Believe me when I say that the love story aspect plays very little into the plot, but the characters, oh the characters, they are phenomenal. Read it for Jamie. Read it every little thing I said here and for every little thing I had to leave out. You won’t be disappointed.
Jamie is easily one of the strongest female heroines I’ve read. Despite losing everything, she soldiers on and fights to follow her dreams. She suffers, sure, but at one point, she realizes she’s just getting by and that’s not enough. Not to make a life. So she changes that. Readers will be completely taken by Jamie; by her will to move on, but also by her need to do something to save her father. Even though she has so many strengths, Anthony is sure to make her vulnerable, because she is vulnerable. A 17 year old girl, all alone for the first time ever cannot have it easy, and Jamie doesn’t.
But that’s where the big, hulking, scary motel neighbor LaVon comes in. He’s incredible and I love him! LaVon and Jamie almost have that parent/child relationship that’s lacking because Jamie’s dad lost his marbles and joined a cult. LaVon's there for Jamie when no one else is. He's not perfect and he's certainly a little terrifying, but he's there.
The story deals with quite a few issues, but there’s also this deliciously sweet and perfect build-up to a relationship for Jamie. She has a boyfriend who’s a member of the Right & the Real and there’s clearly a lot of struggle for them because of it, but Jamie sticks to her guns when it’s the hardest. She stands up for her beliefs and she grows so much throughout the book because of it. The new guy Trent also sneaks into the story and brings a lighthearted edge to an otherwise serious plot. He is fabulous in so many ways and I want him for myself.
The Right & The Real is one of those books that take you by surprise. You pick it up expecting a good story, but then find yourself unable to put it down. I was reading into the late hours of the night/wee hours of the morning because I had to know how Jamie would survive, if her dad would wake up, whether or not the Right & the Real would win, if she’d dump her somewhat douchey boyfriend, and if she could let the harmless flirting with coffee boy Trent turn into something more. Believe me when I say that the love story aspect plays very little into the plot, but the characters, oh the characters, they are phenomenal. Read it for Jamie. Read it every little thing I said here and for every little thing I had to leave out. You won’t be disappointed.
April 26, 2012
Originally posted @ Book Whales
I totally enjoyed this book! Special thanks to Putnam Juvenile for giving us an ARC. Wow, the story blew me away. It is beautifully written, a light and fast read for readers who wants to read a book with no commitments.
The story is about a “Cult” called The Right & the Real Church of Christ. Jaime was in a situation of loosing her dad to them. She was asked to sign a pledge, which she didn’t believe in. Her life has completely fallen apart. Not only didn’t she want to sign the pledge, but her dad is now married to Mira, a fanatic to the church.Will she sign the pledge, she didn't believe in? Or Will she take the consequences of
loosing her dad and be mark as a devil? You have to pick up this book to find out.
The world-building is very believable. Joelle created a world that is startling. Cults really do exist, where people worships false God. The story appeals to me. I was curious about what goes on inside the cult. The author did a good job in connecting the readers. I was absorbed inside instantly. The Church and its teachings are shocking. It depicts women as the weaker sex. There was also“Brainwashing”. People are easily influenced by a psycho leader. This book gave me chills! It was brilliantly written; simple with array of emotions.
The character building is excellent. They were realistic! I connected to Jaime instantly. She is strong- minded. I love her courage to stand up against the Cult. I also admire her love and dedication to her dad. She really did not loose hope; even if, her dad had hurt her. As for the two drool worthy boys, Trent is my favorite. I love how funny and sweet he is to Jaime. I love their goofy dialogues. I ‘am not a fan of Josh, I see him as a weak character. It breaks my heart every time he hurts Jaime. I hate their screwed relationship. Then her dad, Richard is irresponsible and weak minded. He was easily influenced by Mira and the Cult. La Von is also my favorite. He is the epitome of “Don’t judge a book by its cover”.
As for the love angle, YES! There is a love triangle. But the story did not revolve around Jaime’s feelings toward the two boys. For me, it was believable. Trent and Jaime’s blossoming relationship gave butterflies to my stomach.
Overall, this book is a marvelous read. I recommend this to contemporary lovers. It was a light and fast read. Beautifully written! I look forward to read another book from Joelle Anthony.
Rating:
I totally enjoyed this book! Special thanks to Putnam Juvenile for giving us an ARC. Wow, the story blew me away. It is beautifully written, a light and fast read for readers who wants to read a book with no commitments.
The story is about a “Cult” called The Right & the Real Church of Christ. Jaime was in a situation of loosing her dad to them. She was asked to sign a pledge, which she didn’t believe in. Her life has completely fallen apart. Not only didn’t she want to sign the pledge, but her dad is now married to Mira, a fanatic to the church.Will she sign the pledge, she didn't believe in? Or Will she take the consequences of
loosing her dad and be mark as a devil? You have to pick up this book to find out.
The world-building is very believable. Joelle created a world that is startling. Cults really do exist, where people worships false God. The story appeals to me. I was curious about what goes on inside the cult. The author did a good job in connecting the readers. I was absorbed inside instantly. The Church and its teachings are shocking. It depicts women as the weaker sex. There was also“Brainwashing”. People are easily influenced by a psycho leader. This book gave me chills! It was brilliantly written; simple with array of emotions.
The character building is excellent. They were realistic! I connected to Jaime instantly. She is strong- minded. I love her courage to stand up against the Cult. I also admire her love and dedication to her dad. She really did not loose hope; even if, her dad had hurt her. As for the two drool worthy boys, Trent is my favorite. I love how funny and sweet he is to Jaime. I love their goofy dialogues. I ‘am not a fan of Josh, I see him as a weak character. It breaks my heart every time he hurts Jaime. I hate their screwed relationship. Then her dad, Richard is irresponsible and weak minded. He was easily influenced by Mira and the Cult. La Von is also my favorite. He is the epitome of “Don’t judge a book by its cover”.
As for the love angle, YES! There is a love triangle. But the story did not revolve around Jaime’s feelings toward the two boys. For me, it was believable. Trent and Jaime’s blossoming relationship gave butterflies to my stomach.
Overall, this book is a marvelous read. I recommend this to contemporary lovers. It was a light and fast read. Beautifully written! I look forward to read another book from Joelle Anthony.
Rating:
September 2, 2014
Author interview & book giveaway (ends May 13)
Jamie always knew something was off about the church of the Right & The Real but she never thought too much about it because she was only there in order to spend time with her boyfriend. Josh was a member but one who claimed to also see faults with the church. A church whose leader, Teacher, sees as, literally, Jesus Christ - as do his devout followers. But Josh, the oldest son of one Teacher's disciples is also one of the high school's most popular students and star athletes and Jamie's too enamored with him to full grasp just how wrong the church is . . . even when her father starts attending.
Even as he's marrying marrying Mira, a fanatical member of the Right & the Real, she still thinks she can get him out of it.
But then he kicks her out for refusing to sign a membership pledge. Seventeen-year-old Jamie is on her own. Her father, the one person she thought would never turn his back on her has abandoned her. And Josh, the person who got her (and her father involved with the church - a cult, really - in the first place) can only see her in secret now.
With her world crumbling around her will Jamie be able to survive? And will she ever get her father back? Will she want to?
I dare you to read the first chapter - or the first two chapters - of The Right & The Real and decide to put it down. If you do a) you're possibly crazy and/or b) you have much more willpower than I.
If you do make what I consider to be the wise choice and keep reading, you definitely won't be disappointed. Joëlle Anthony's second novel is a fantastic contemporary YA that's a just a bit darker - it's also perfect for older readers.
Jamie is put into an incredibly tough situation - or situations, really - the most major of is her father kicking her out (which leads to other things). I loved how nothing ever seemed melodramatic. There were incredibly dramatic things happening for sure, but things played out incredibly realistically (or what I imagine is realistically for the given situations). While Jamie was confused as to what decision to make, what to do, I found myself confused as well. I wasn't reading each page, all the while thinking, "Why doesn't she just ...."
I loved being so drawn into the story and also being so in sync with the choices that the author made while writing the story (or perhaps just lacking in anything obvious for the character to do).
If you're looking for a contemporary YA (with a bit of an edge) where the story just works and the plot doesn't take the easy way out, please read The Right & The Real when it's out April 26th!
Rating: 9/10
Jamie always knew something was off about the church of the Right & The Real but she never thought too much about it because she was only there in order to spend time with her boyfriend. Josh was a member but one who claimed to also see faults with the church. A church whose leader, Teacher, sees as, literally, Jesus Christ - as do his devout followers. But Josh, the oldest son of one Teacher's disciples is also one of the high school's most popular students and star athletes and Jamie's too enamored with him to full grasp just how wrong the church is . . . even when her father starts attending.
Even as he's marrying marrying Mira, a fanatical member of the Right & the Real, she still thinks she can get him out of it.
But then he kicks her out for refusing to sign a membership pledge. Seventeen-year-old Jamie is on her own. Her father, the one person she thought would never turn his back on her has abandoned her. And Josh, the person who got her (and her father involved with the church - a cult, really - in the first place) can only see her in secret now.
With her world crumbling around her will Jamie be able to survive? And will she ever get her father back? Will she want to?
I dare you to read the first chapter - or the first two chapters - of The Right & The Real and decide to put it down. If you do a) you're possibly crazy and/or b) you have much more willpower than I.
If you do make what I consider to be the wise choice and keep reading, you definitely won't be disappointed. Joëlle Anthony's second novel is a fantastic contemporary YA that's a just a bit darker - it's also perfect for older readers.
Jamie is put into an incredibly tough situation - or situations, really - the most major of is her father kicking her out (which leads to other things). I loved how nothing ever seemed melodramatic. There were incredibly dramatic things happening for sure, but things played out incredibly realistically (or what I imagine is realistically for the given situations). While Jamie was confused as to what decision to make, what to do, I found myself confused as well. I wasn't reading each page, all the while thinking, "Why doesn't she just ...."
I loved being so drawn into the story and also being so in sync with the choices that the author made while writing the story (or perhaps just lacking in anything obvious for the character to do).
If you're looking for a contemporary YA (with a bit of an edge) where the story just works and the plot doesn't take the easy way out, please read The Right & The Real when it's out April 26th!
Rating: 9/10
June 10, 2012
Doesn't the cover model look like Emma Watson to you? For some reason I just kept picturing her as Jamie, the lead character.
Anyway.
So allow yours truly to lay down the drama for you and see if it gets your attention:
17-year-old Jamie's (the Emma Watson lookalike) father joins a religious cult at The Right & The Real church and kicks out his own daughter who refuses to join.
Jamie's boyfriend Josh who belongs to the church has a dictating father and doesn't allow Josh to see Jamie.
Josh, a selfish jerk who only cares about his scholarship, keeps his relationship with Jamie a secret.
Jamie has to fend for herself with no money to spare, and ends up staying in a sleazy motel.
She makes an unlikely friend with an ex-con who lives next to her room in the motel.
Jamie meets a new guy Trent, and starts to develop a relationship with him.
Her father sends her a coded message, saying he needs help.
That's about all I can tell you without spoiling it much.
What I Liked About the Book:
1. It's so full of drama!! The story felt genuine to me, and the issue at hand wasn't that far off from reality either, because there are indeed cults like that around the world.
2. The characters were wonderfully written. I thought the author did a brilliant job at creating distinct personalities for them! They were full of life, and I liked that there was a very clear contrast between the characters, which I could tell from the way they talked and behaved. The unlikely friendship between Jamie and the ex-con, LaVon, was fresh and well-executed. That was one of my favourite aspects in the book.
As I read from Jamie's point of view, I got to see how strong and resilient she could be, despite her vulnerabilities. Her determination to survive and live her dreams was commendable and awe-inspiring, which made me feel so attached to her character.
3. It had a plot. Sometimes books like this don't really have a solid storyline and just banged on the drama itself, but I appreciated that there was a plot in this book, which culminated in a climax and closure.
4. It's a page-turner!! Pages were flying and I couldn't put the book down long enough. The author has written such a well-paced, smooth-flowing book that captivated me throughout.
What I Didn't:
1. I didn't totally get Jamie's father. I can't say much here, but when you read the book from start till end, you'd see how inconsistent her father's love was towards Jamie. And it didn't make sense to me. Did he really love her at all??
Verdict:
A truly enthralling realistic tale of what religious cults can do to people and their families. "The Right & The Real" is honestly the raw and the real deal.
Pick up this book and read it, I guarantee you wouldn't be disappointed!
Anyway.
So allow yours truly to lay down the drama for you and see if it gets your attention:
17-year-old Jamie's (the Emma Watson lookalike) father joins a religious cult at The Right & The Real church and kicks out his own daughter who refuses to join.
Jamie's boyfriend Josh who belongs to the church has a dictating father and doesn't allow Josh to see Jamie.
Josh, a selfish jerk who only cares about his scholarship, keeps his relationship with Jamie a secret.
Jamie has to fend for herself with no money to spare, and ends up staying in a sleazy motel.
She makes an unlikely friend with an ex-con who lives next to her room in the motel.
Jamie meets a new guy Trent, and starts to develop a relationship with him.
Her father sends her a coded message, saying he needs help.
That's about all I can tell you without spoiling it much.
What I Liked About the Book:
1. It's so full of drama!! The story felt genuine to me, and the issue at hand wasn't that far off from reality either, because there are indeed cults like that around the world.
2. The characters were wonderfully written. I thought the author did a brilliant job at creating distinct personalities for them! They were full of life, and I liked that there was a very clear contrast between the characters, which I could tell from the way they talked and behaved. The unlikely friendship between Jamie and the ex-con, LaVon, was fresh and well-executed. That was one of my favourite aspects in the book.
As I read from Jamie's point of view, I got to see how strong and resilient she could be, despite her vulnerabilities. Her determination to survive and live her dreams was commendable and awe-inspiring, which made me feel so attached to her character.
3. It had a plot. Sometimes books like this don't really have a solid storyline and just banged on the drama itself, but I appreciated that there was a plot in this book, which culminated in a climax and closure.
4. It's a page-turner!! Pages were flying and I couldn't put the book down long enough. The author has written such a well-paced, smooth-flowing book that captivated me throughout.
What I Didn't:
1. I didn't totally get Jamie's father. I can't say much here, but when you read the book from start till end, you'd see how inconsistent her father's love was towards Jamie. And it didn't make sense to me. Did he really love her at all??
Verdict:
A truly enthralling realistic tale of what religious cults can do to people and their families. "The Right & The Real" is honestly the raw and the real deal.
Pick up this book and read it, I guarantee you wouldn't be disappointed!
May 21, 2012
The Right and The Real is a church with over 1,000 followers. Jamie's father, on a search for meaning in his life, becomes involved in the religious group. Jamie finds something other than spiritual meaning; she finds Josh. It's hard to believe such a hot guy would find her interesting, but he seems to be head-over-heels in love with her.
Jamie's early life was one train wreck after another because in her father's attempt to "rescue" her mother from a life of substance abuse, their family almost fell apart. Since her mother left to live in California, Jamie and her father have been able to put together a solid life. Jamie's grandfather's trust fund has also provided stability and the possibility of the future in acting that Jamie dreams about every day.
When her father meets Mira at church, she is happy for him. It's his first relationship with a woman since her mother left, but it doesn't take long for things to get weird. When the two decide to get married, Jamie learns that she will be expected to sign a pledge with the church. Though she believes she is in love with Josh and she is happy for her father, she isn't ready to commit herself to the strict rules of The Right and The Real, especially when she is told she will have to quit school and live in the church compound. There is no way she is giving up her dream of acting school in New York City.
Despite Jamie's reservations, her father marries Mira and Jamie's life falls apart. She comes home from school to find all her possessions packed in boxes on the front porch. She's been kicked out of the only home she's ever known and forced to survive on her own. Her friends would surely help, but Jamie can't bring herself to tell them the truth. Jamie is determined to handle her own problems until things spiral completely out of her control.
Author Joelle Anthony takes readers on a roller coaster of emotions as Jamie attempts to keep her life together and still achieve her goals. THE RIGHT AND THE REAL is filled with pain and vulnerability, and at the same time, heartfelt determination. Jamie is faced with one obstacle after another, but she holds on, exhibiting a faith no church can match.
Jamie's early life was one train wreck after another because in her father's attempt to "rescue" her mother from a life of substance abuse, their family almost fell apart. Since her mother left to live in California, Jamie and her father have been able to put together a solid life. Jamie's grandfather's trust fund has also provided stability and the possibility of the future in acting that Jamie dreams about every day.
When her father meets Mira at church, she is happy for him. It's his first relationship with a woman since her mother left, but it doesn't take long for things to get weird. When the two decide to get married, Jamie learns that she will be expected to sign a pledge with the church. Though she believes she is in love with Josh and she is happy for her father, she isn't ready to commit herself to the strict rules of The Right and The Real, especially when she is told she will have to quit school and live in the church compound. There is no way she is giving up her dream of acting school in New York City.
Despite Jamie's reservations, her father marries Mira and Jamie's life falls apart. She comes home from school to find all her possessions packed in boxes on the front porch. She's been kicked out of the only home she's ever known and forced to survive on her own. Her friends would surely help, but Jamie can't bring herself to tell them the truth. Jamie is determined to handle her own problems until things spiral completely out of her control.
Author Joelle Anthony takes readers on a roller coaster of emotions as Jamie attempts to keep her life together and still achieve her goals. THE RIGHT AND THE REAL is filled with pain and vulnerability, and at the same time, heartfelt determination. Jamie is faced with one obstacle after another, but she holds on, exhibiting a faith no church can match.
July 25, 2012
This book was absolutely amazing to me atleast. I would say 4.5 stars is well deserved. I fell in love with so many of the characters along the way and grew to hate some. The ending was one of the most predictable, but there are some twist and turns along the way.
At the beginning of the book it basically jumped into the plot. In music we have "pick-up" notes before you jump into the first measure and this book absolutely had no pick-up notes. I feel like Jamie's dad was a very weak individual because he ate up the Right and Real's church's bullshit so easily and when he joined and disowned Jamie I was just in awe. You're marrying some chick you probably don't even love and at the same time you're abandoning your teenage daughter? Oh... Okay.. Because that makes sooooo much sense. Good job parenting.
When she moved into the motel all hell was raised. She had to be very secretive and now that she didn't take the dumb ass pledge her and Josh couldn't date "openly". I felt the whole "dating-but-not-letting-anyone-know" gig was just horrible and I disliked Jamie for awhile because she actually went through with it. No guy could ever be that important and it could never be that serious. It just urked my nerves to the fullest especially when he hid her under those lost and found clothes. If he was my boyfriend we would've been broke up.
I loved most of the characters, but the plot was predictable. Good read though.
At the beginning of the book it basically jumped into the plot. In music we have "pick-up" notes before you jump into the first measure and this book absolutely had no pick-up notes. I feel like Jamie's dad was a very weak individual because he ate up the Right and Real's church's bullshit so easily and when he joined and disowned Jamie I was just in awe. You're marrying some chick you probably don't even love and at the same time you're abandoning your teenage daughter? Oh... Okay.. Because that makes sooooo much sense. Good job parenting.
When she moved into the motel all hell was raised. She had to be very secretive and now that she didn't take the dumb ass pledge her and Josh couldn't date "openly". I felt the whole "dating-but-not-letting-anyone-know" gig was just horrible and I disliked Jamie for awhile because she actually went through with it. No guy could ever be that important and it could never be that serious. It just urked my nerves to the fullest especially when he hid her under those lost and found clothes. If he was my boyfriend we would've been broke up.
I loved most of the characters, but the plot was predictable. Good read though.
January 6, 2013
Joëlle Anthony's The Right & the Real has a great concept, about a teen attempting to rescue her father from a cult. Who wouldn't want to read this? And it starts off strong, with Chapter 2 particularly heart-breaking, as a dad chooses his new love and the Right & the Real church over his daughter. Since Jamie Lexington-Cross won't sign the Pledge, she's forced out of her home and onto the streets. But instead of confiding about her homelessness to a trusted adult, or even her friends, she keeps quiet. If she tells, she'll be sent to live across the country with her drug-addicted mother.
And this is where the book fails. The author's previous novel is also a quiet one, skipping oomph for a very down-home read. Jamie's secret-keeping is really frustrating, as much as she not dumping her boyfriend who so clearly needs to be dumped. (Being forced to hide under gym mats, and making out in closets, does not make a relationship.)
But Jamie's homelessness isn't as hopeless as one would think. She has enough cash to fund a room in a shoddy, scary motel, but wins a protector in the form of an ex-con who cooks her meals, teaches her to clean, and escorts her places. She quickly gains employment, and a better love interest, in her new favourite coffee shop. And she's accepted into her dream drama school.
Jamie's father is broken out, but the major drama at the mixer happens while Jamie listens in and gets explained to. I know it's a first-person novel, but a third-person narration of Megan and Liz's adventure would've been better. And normally I'm not one to demand an epilogue (I hate those happily-ever-after saps where everyone's married with children), but I want to know what happened to R&R: Did the police get involved, was there prosecution, etc? I need closure, damn it!
It's a good enough novel, but lacks the oomph that would've made it great.
And this is where the book fails. The author's previous novel is also a quiet one, skipping oomph for a very down-home read. Jamie's secret-keeping is really frustrating, as much as she not dumping her boyfriend who so clearly needs to be dumped. (Being forced to hide under gym mats, and making out in closets, does not make a relationship.)
But Jamie's homelessness isn't as hopeless as one would think. She has enough cash to fund a room in a shoddy, scary motel, but wins a protector in the form of an ex-con who cooks her meals, teaches her to clean, and escorts her places. She quickly gains employment, and a better love interest, in her new favourite coffee shop. And she's accepted into her dream drama school.
Jamie's father is broken out, but the major drama at the mixer happens while Jamie listens in and gets explained to. I know it's a first-person novel, but a third-person narration of Megan and Liz's adventure would've been better. And normally I'm not one to demand an epilogue (I hate those happily-ever-after saps where everyone's married with children), but I want to know what happened to R&R: Did the police get involved, was there prosecution, etc? I need closure, damn it!
It's a good enough novel, but lacks the oomph that would've made it great.
June 4, 2012
Mini-Thoughts: Seventeen-year-old Jaime is blindsided by her father when he kicks her out of their home after he marries into a cult-like church that Jaime refused to join*. Joining would mean losing everything she loves – her acting, her education, her future – so she's far from interested. Jaime's strength in facing exile from her home and her normal life is admirable. I quickly became captivated by such an intriguing if slightly terrifying premise. Fortunately, Anthony balances out the more serious parts with wonderfully vibrant and alive characters. The Right & The Real is filled with convincing characters and a story that compels you to keep turning the pages.
Highlights: By 25 pages in, I was emotionally invested in the story and in Jaime's character. The side characters were incredible – Kent, LaVon, Krista, and more. Even when it seems like everything is terrible, there's always someone who brightens up the story. This story was a surprise for me – Anthony's writing is powerful, and she managed to succeed with what could have been a difficult story to tell.
Lowlights: I was surprised that Jaime didn't try harder to reach out to her dad when he initially kicked her out. I also really, really, really hated her boyfriend.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (so, so close!)
* If there was ever a book to make me grateful for the parents that I have, this is that book.
Review originally posted on YA Book Queen
Highlights: By 25 pages in, I was emotionally invested in the story and in Jaime's character. The side characters were incredible – Kent, LaVon, Krista, and more. Even when it seems like everything is terrible, there's always someone who brightens up the story. This story was a surprise for me – Anthony's writing is powerful, and she managed to succeed with what could have been a difficult story to tell.
Lowlights: I was surprised that Jaime didn't try harder to reach out to her dad when he initially kicked her out. I also really, really, really hated her boyfriend.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (so, so close!)
* If there was ever a book to make me grateful for the parents that I have, this is that book.
Review originally posted on YA Book Queen
March 19, 2012
Joelle Anthony has cemented her place on my shelf as an author I love. Her first book, Restoring Harmony, blew me away with it's originality and great characters. The Right & the Real has done it again.
This is a scary book, but not because of anything paranormal. This story is very frightening because it feels so real. Ripped from the headlines. LaVon is such a cool character. I wish I could meet him in real life. He's one of those characters that I like to see so much in YA books - the one that scares you are first, but turns out to be such a great person. And Trent! A total caring and trusting boss. The things Jamie goes through and endures are astounding. Things no teenage girl should ever have to deal with. But she handles it with such strength and grace that I found myself pausing to wonder how I would have reacted if I were in her shoes. There were a few elements in the story that were a little hard to believe, such as Jamie loving acting so much and getting in to a great acting college. For someone so studious, we barely saw her crack open a book. The other thing that was difficult to see happening was how no one else seemed to know what was going on with her, from her teachers to her best of friends. Ultimately, though, this was a book I had trouble putting down. I enjoyed Janie's journey immensely and it should go without saying that I am looking forward to whatever Joelle Anthony has for us next.
This is a scary book, but not because of anything paranormal. This story is very frightening because it feels so real. Ripped from the headlines. LaVon is such a cool character. I wish I could meet him in real life. He's one of those characters that I like to see so much in YA books - the one that scares you are first, but turns out to be such a great person. And Trent! A total caring and trusting boss. The things Jamie goes through and endures are astounding. Things no teenage girl should ever have to deal with. But she handles it with such strength and grace that I found myself pausing to wonder how I would have reacted if I were in her shoes. There were a few elements in the story that were a little hard to believe, such as Jamie loving acting so much and getting in to a great acting college. For someone so studious, we barely saw her crack open a book. The other thing that was difficult to see happening was how no one else seemed to know what was going on with her, from her teachers to her best of friends. Ultimately, though, this was a book I had trouble putting down. I enjoyed Janie's journey immensely and it should go without saying that I am looking forward to whatever Joelle Anthony has for us next.
July 11, 2012
Draft BAYA review
Jamie, a high school senior, started going to The Right and the Real Church because of her hunky, football-playing boyfriend Josh. Even after she learned that the church was really a cult whose leader claimed to be Jesus, she went along with it. Her recovering alcoholic dad follows her lead and ends up in a marriage with a fanatical church member. When Jamie refuses to sign the church's pledge, her dad disowns her. She ends up homeless and worried that her dream of attending college is over. Jamie keeps a lot of secrets from her friends while she figures out a way to survive and build a future she never thought she'd face.
On the one hand teens will find this a hard book to put down. It's fast-paced read. Jamie and her friends are likable and teen readers will be dying to know if and how she finds her way through this mess. Many parts have an action movie feel. On the other hand, like an action movie, much of the story is completely unbelievable. She doesn't turn to any adults for help except for the huge ex-con living next door to her in a gross motel, and she and her friends devise a ridiculous plan to break her dad out of the cult's compound. The reader definitely has suspend disbelief to get through this one. Teens will be drawn to the cover and many will give it a shot.
Jamie, a high school senior, started going to The Right and the Real Church because of her hunky, football-playing boyfriend Josh. Even after she learned that the church was really a cult whose leader claimed to be Jesus, she went along with it. Her recovering alcoholic dad follows her lead and ends up in a marriage with a fanatical church member. When Jamie refuses to sign the church's pledge, her dad disowns her. She ends up homeless and worried that her dream of attending college is over. Jamie keeps a lot of secrets from her friends while she figures out a way to survive and build a future she never thought she'd face.
On the one hand teens will find this a hard book to put down. It's fast-paced read. Jamie and her friends are likable and teen readers will be dying to know if and how she finds her way through this mess. Many parts have an action movie feel. On the other hand, like an action movie, much of the story is completely unbelievable. She doesn't turn to any adults for help except for the huge ex-con living next door to her in a gross motel, and she and her friends devise a ridiculous plan to break her dad out of the cult's compound. The reader definitely has suspend disbelief to get through this one. Teens will be drawn to the cover and many will give it a shot.
July 18, 2012
Jamie, a high school senior, started going to The Right and the Real Church because of her hunky, football-playing boyfriend Josh. Even after she learned that the church was really a cult whose leader claimed to be Jesus Christ, she went along with it. Her recovering alcoholic dad follows her lead and ends up in a marriage with a fanatical church member. When Jamie refuses to sign the church's pledge, her dad disowns her. She ends up homeless and worried that her dream of attending college is over. Jamie keeps a lot of secrets from her friends while she figures out a way to survive and build a new life.
On the one hand teens will find this a hard book to put down. It's a fast-paced read. Jamie and her friends are likable, and teen readers will be dying to know if and how she finds her way through this mess. Many parts have an action movie feel, which is appealing. On the other hand, like an action movie, much of the story is completely unbelievable. She doesn't turn to any adults for help except for the huge ex-con living next door to her in a gross motel, and she and her friends devise a ridiculous plan to break her dad out of the cult's compound. The reader definitely has to suspend disbelief to get through this one. Teens will be drawn to the cover and many will give it a shot.
On the one hand teens will find this a hard book to put down. It's a fast-paced read. Jamie and her friends are likable, and teen readers will be dying to know if and how she finds her way through this mess. Many parts have an action movie feel, which is appealing. On the other hand, like an action movie, much of the story is completely unbelievable. She doesn't turn to any adults for help except for the huge ex-con living next door to her in a gross motel, and she and her friends devise a ridiculous plan to break her dad out of the cult's compound. The reader definitely has to suspend disbelief to get through this one. Teens will be drawn to the cover and many will give it a shot.
Read
May 14, 2012So, cults right? Religious cults. Creepy and weird and make me feel icky. But I also find them fascinating. I was intrigued by the premise of the story and remember hearing a lot of good things about Restoring Harmony, so I decided to try this one.
I really liked it while I was reading, but there was no major wow factor for me. It might just be me because as much as I've been enjoying what I read lately, most of them lack that special something that makes me fall head over heels, obsessively in love with them. I read it like a week ago, and already it's pretty vague and the main character's just another character in my head. I can't tell you what makes her unique.
I can tell you I liked some of the side characters, the people that help Jamie out. I loved watching her relationships and interactions with them. For me, that was the more interesting aspect of the book. The fact that one of those relationships was a romantic one is not the only thing that made me feel this way, promise.
It was also well written. I'd definitely be open to reading more by Joelle, I just don't think this was the right book for me.
I really liked it while I was reading, but there was no major wow factor for me. It might just be me because as much as I've been enjoying what I read lately, most of them lack that special something that makes me fall head over heels, obsessively in love with them. I read it like a week ago, and already it's pretty vague and the main character's just another character in my head. I can't tell you what makes her unique.
I can tell you I liked some of the side characters, the people that help Jamie out. I loved watching her relationships and interactions with them. For me, that was the more interesting aspect of the book. The fact that one of those relationships was a romantic one is not the only thing that made me feel this way, promise.
It was also well written. I'd definitely be open to reading more by Joelle, I just don't think this was the right book for me.
April 27, 2012
This book is a complete surprise. I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading, but I was sure, especially after watching the trailer, that I’ll enjoy it. However, I’m sad to say, I didn’t liked this book. It was an okay read.
The concept of the book is very different from any YA books I read, which I loved. I’m a kind of person who gets tired reading the same thing over and over again. And in the novel, the concept was the only thing I liked.
I didn’t like any of the main characters. I wanted to but I couldn’t relate or connect with them. I don’t know how to describe the main character, Jamie. She’s … something. I didn’t like any of her relationship: her relationship with Josh, her dad, or her friends. She seems to take things for granted.
Another thing that didn’t go well with me was the religious content in this book, even though it wasn’t a lot, I still didn’t like it. I don’t like reading religious things on fictional/ YA books, so that was a bummer. Overall, it is an okay book!
Rating: 2.5/5
The concept of the book is very different from any YA books I read, which I loved. I’m a kind of person who gets tired reading the same thing over and over again. And in the novel, the concept was the only thing I liked.
I didn’t like any of the main characters. I wanted to but I couldn’t relate or connect with them. I don’t know how to describe the main character, Jamie. She’s … something. I didn’t like any of her relationship: her relationship with Josh, her dad, or her friends. She seems to take things for granted.
Another thing that didn’t go well with me was the religious content in this book, even though it wasn’t a lot, I still didn’t like it. I don’t like reading religious things on fictional/ YA books, so that was a bummer. Overall, it is an okay book!
Rating: 2.5/5
May 18, 2012
I couldn't put this one down, I read it in one go. The plotting is excellent, the protagonist clearly drawn and very believable. "Relatable", I think they are calling it these days. I was swept up and carried along, hoping for the best. I flat-out adored LaVon.
I loved the backstory, and found myself speculating about the mom, and how Jamie might be wrong about her. I'm always up for a story about an evil church, and the church in this book does not fail to disappoint.
My only (minor) complaint is that several of the adults are sketched in (mostly church people), in contrast with the easily differentiated kids- a not uncommon issue with YA books for me. I suspect that the adults are mere caricatures in the heads of many YA persons and this would not be an issue with the target audience.
I loved the backstory, and found myself speculating about the mom, and how Jamie might be wrong about her. I'm always up for a story about an evil church, and the church in this book does not fail to disappoint.
My only (minor) complaint is that several of the adults are sketched in (mostly church people), in contrast with the easily differentiated kids- a not uncommon issue with YA books for me. I suspect that the adults are mere caricatures in the heads of many YA persons and this would not be an issue with the target audience.
March 15, 2014
Had this book been advertised as the story of a teenager trying to make her dreams come true in a realistic fashion after her father kicks her out of the house, I wouldn't have picked it up. That's what it is, so I feel a bit cheated.
The cult angle is there for maybe a third of the book, but it feels forced and bland, like someone felt the story lacked a hook. It wasn't even consistent. A conflict was concluded at the end, but it wasn't the conflict focused on for the majority of the book.
A lot just didn't work for me, but the thing that still bothers me is that the main character's name is James. There's nothing wrong with a girl having a traditionally masculine name, but it warrants an explanation.
Basically, if you want a rather pedestrian story in which the focus is the beautiful girl's love triangle, you might enjoy this book.
The cult angle is there for maybe a third of the book, but it feels forced and bland, like someone felt the story lacked a hook. It wasn't even consistent. A conflict was concluded at the end, but it wasn't the conflict focused on for the majority of the book.
A lot just didn't work for me, but the thing that still bothers me is that the main character's name is James. There's nothing wrong with a girl having a traditionally masculine name, but it warrants an explanation.
Basically, if you want a rather pedestrian story in which the focus is the beautiful girl's love triangle, you might enjoy this book.
February 25, 2019
Language - R (111 swears, 6 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - PG
Jamie's life has always been in the drama department, but, when her father joins a cult during her senior year, life takes drama to the next level. Jamie is kicked out of the house with only her acting skills and the boxes her dad left on the porch for her. Life seems impossible, but by focusing on her dream and leaning on her friends, Jamie just might pull through.
At first, the whole cult idea made me nervous, but The Right and the Real was fun to read. The story was always moving--whether I was laughing or crying--and was both relate-able and adventurous! Unfortunately, the language was too inappropriate for me to fully enjoy reading it.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Jamie's life has always been in the drama department, but, when her father joins a cult during her senior year, life takes drama to the next level. Jamie is kicked out of the house with only her acting skills and the boxes her dad left on the porch for her. Life seems impossible, but by focusing on her dream and leaning on her friends, Jamie just might pull through.
At first, the whole cult idea made me nervous, but The Right and the Real was fun to read. The story was always moving--whether I was laughing or crying--and was both relate-able and adventurous! Unfortunately, the language was too inappropriate for me to fully enjoy reading it.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
April 10, 2014
Right and Real by Joelle Anthony - Themes - Family relationships, Cults, Friends, Living alone.
This aims for the older teenage market and does it beautifully.
Fast paced, action filled, funny, a strong lead character and a religious cult …. a great idea for a book and it did not disappoint.
Dad marries a woman he has met from the Right and Real church. He can’t see the problems with the doctrines. His daughter Jamie (our main character) can’t commit and dad has to make a choice … the new church and his wife … or his only child.
There is a love interest or two, shunning, finding a job, place to live and a delightful character LeVon who teaches her a lot about life.
Great for reading assignments. Lots of family related themes.
This aims for the older teenage market and does it beautifully.
Fast paced, action filled, funny, a strong lead character and a religious cult …. a great idea for a book and it did not disappoint.
Dad marries a woman he has met from the Right and Real church. He can’t see the problems with the doctrines. His daughter Jamie (our main character) can’t commit and dad has to make a choice … the new church and his wife … or his only child.
There is a love interest or two, shunning, finding a job, place to live and a delightful character LeVon who teaches her a lot about life.
Great for reading assignments. Lots of family related themes.
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