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Love Spell
Chance César is fabulously gay, but his gender identity—or, as he phrases it, “being stuck in the gray area between girl and boy”—remains confusing. Nonetheless, he struts his stuff on the catwalk in black patent leather pumps and a snug-in-all-the-right (wrong)-places orange tuxedo as the winner of this year’s Miss (ter) Harvest Moon Festival. He rules supreme at the local Beans and Greens Farm’s annual fall celebration, serenaded by the enthusiastic catcalls of his BFF, Emily Benson.
Although he refuses to visually fade into the background of his rural New Hampshire town, Chance is socially invisible—except when being tormented by familiar bullies. But sparks fly when Chance, Pumpkin Pageant Queen, meets Jasper (Jazz) Donahue, winner of the Pumpkin Carving King contest. Chance wants to be noticed and admired and romantically embraced by Jazz, in all of his neon-orange-haired glory.
And so at a sleepover, Chance and Emily conduct intense, late-night research, and find an online article: “Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love With You.” Along with a bonus love spell thrown in for good measure, it becomes the basis of their strategy to capture Jazz’s heart.
But will this “no-fail” plan work? Can Chance and Jazz fall under the fickle spell of love?'
Although he refuses to visually fade into the background of his rural New Hampshire town, Chance is socially invisible—except when being tormented by familiar bullies. But sparks fly when Chance, Pumpkin Pageant Queen, meets Jasper (Jazz) Donahue, winner of the Pumpkin Carving King contest. Chance wants to be noticed and admired and romantically embraced by Jazz, in all of his neon-orange-haired glory.
And so at a sleepover, Chance and Emily conduct intense, late-night research, and find an online article: “Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love With You.” Along with a bonus love spell thrown in for good measure, it becomes the basis of their strategy to capture Jazz’s heart.
But will this “no-fail” plan work? Can Chance and Jazz fall under the fickle spell of love?'
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
About the author
Mia Kerick
42 books539 followersMia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—one in law school, another at a dance conservatory, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She has published more than twenty books of LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-five years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships. She has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature, and as a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of tortured heroes and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to her wonderful publishing houses for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.
Her books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine, and have won Rainbow Awards for Best Transgender Contemporary Romance and Best YA Lesbian Fiction, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.
Mia Kerick is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com or visit at www.miakerickya.com to see what is going on in Mia’s world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
September 22, 2015
It's great to see a YA book with a flamboyant young guy as the main character. Even more so, to see a main character who is gender-fluid (although Chance is still struggling with gender labels, including that one.) So much LGBTQ YA fiction seems so determined to show that gay and lesbian teens are "just like all other teens" that it actively shies away from butch girls and flamboyant boys. And in so doing, effectively devalues them.
I love finding books that happily give us characters across the spectrum, including a flaming guy like Chance who will strut in high heels, or wear a pink sweatshirt that says "Born this Gay". The author lets Chance shine on the page, and sparkle too, and it's a lot of fun.
Chance is a seventeen-year-old who is rather self-obsessed, trapped in wanting his life to take shape - to find love, to settle on a gender identity. He's funny, and a motor-mouth, whose teen-speak is trendy and frivolous and humorous, if a little exaggerated for effect. His best friend Emily supports him and eggs him on to let his self-discovery and self-interest motivate him. Which in this book means trying to catch the eye of Jasper, whom he calls Jazz, a fellow student and worker at his after-school job and a hot guy who might be gay. Or might not.
There were times when Chance roused my sympathy, especially when he's being pressed by his BFF to share things he's not ready to look in the face himself. His home life is rich in goods, but impoverished in understanding and support. But he also feels much younger than seventeen, and more self-centered than I like in my MCs.
I grant you, altruism is rare in teens. Chance is probably more truly realistic than Jazz, whose sweetness and unshakable family-focused wholesomeness warms the reader's heart. But it's still distancing when, over and over and over, Chance ignores the real difficulties of Jazz's life for his own shallowly-defined wants. By the end I half-wanted Jazz to find someone better. But my other half took hope from the moments when Chance let his own good nature come through the flashy, superficial, must-snare-this-guy-obsessed layer. Chance eventually learns and grows, and does begin to find a space to just be himself, without the desperate, glittering, artificial persona he usually wears.
His best friend Emily is a positive female character, which is always a bonus. She's also not perfect and her advice is sometimes crappy, which is a refreshing change from the know-it-all female sidekicks in some M/M stories. She's a foil for Chance to bounce his non-stop ideas off, and a rock of support for a guy who hasn't had much active support. Even if sometimes she's part of the problem, not part of the answer, she adds a lot to the story. Jazz's little sister is also great fun, and Chance's moments with her are some of his most heart-warming. And kudos to the author for not wrapping every detail up too neatly in the end.
My own biggest issue with this book was that I didn't connect emotionally with the characters. I don't need YA to be a non-stop angst-fest (and it's kind of refreshing to see serious issues handled with a light touch.) But I wanted just a bit more emotion, for the characters to show more nuances. Chance's very real problems were diluted a bit by his jumpy, stagey narrative delivery, and his shallow focus. He has a few difficult introspective moments, but tends to practice avoidance, not really touching the pain that one assumes is lurking there. And Jazz didn't get half as mad or hurt as he was entitled to - I kept waiting for a more natural break in his unwavering openness.
So I didn't quite fall in love with the MCs, but I did enjoy this book. I think it's valuable, both for a lot of rarely-found aspects of the story, and for the pure fun. Chance's high-energy, high-slang narrative voice is unique, and yet the story moves along quickly and smoothly. This one is as far from cookie-cutter YA as you're likely to get. Give it a try if you have a fondness for sparkle, an interest in gender-fluid characters, or just want a fun, unique story.
I love finding books that happily give us characters across the spectrum, including a flaming guy like Chance who will strut in high heels, or wear a pink sweatshirt that says "Born this Gay". The author lets Chance shine on the page, and sparkle too, and it's a lot of fun.
Chance is a seventeen-year-old who is rather self-obsessed, trapped in wanting his life to take shape - to find love, to settle on a gender identity. He's funny, and a motor-mouth, whose teen-speak is trendy and frivolous and humorous, if a little exaggerated for effect. His best friend Emily supports him and eggs him on to let his self-discovery and self-interest motivate him. Which in this book means trying to catch the eye of Jasper, whom he calls Jazz, a fellow student and worker at his after-school job and a hot guy who might be gay. Or might not.
There were times when Chance roused my sympathy, especially when he's being pressed by his BFF to share things he's not ready to look in the face himself. His home life is rich in goods, but impoverished in understanding and support. But he also feels much younger than seventeen, and more self-centered than I like in my MCs.
I grant you, altruism is rare in teens. Chance is probably more truly realistic than Jazz, whose sweetness and unshakable family-focused wholesomeness warms the reader's heart. But it's still distancing when, over and over and over, Chance ignores the real difficulties of Jazz's life for his own shallowly-defined wants. By the end I half-wanted Jazz to find someone better. But my other half took hope from the moments when Chance let his own good nature come through the flashy, superficial, must-snare-this-guy-obsessed layer. Chance eventually learns and grows, and does begin to find a space to just be himself, without the desperate, glittering, artificial persona he usually wears.
His best friend Emily is a positive female character, which is always a bonus. She's also not perfect and her advice is sometimes crappy, which is a refreshing change from the know-it-all female sidekicks in some M/M stories. She's a foil for Chance to bounce his non-stop ideas off, and a rock of support for a guy who hasn't had much active support. Even if sometimes she's part of the problem, not part of the answer, she adds a lot to the story. Jazz's little sister is also great fun, and Chance's moments with her are some of his most heart-warming. And kudos to the author for not wrapping every detail up too neatly in the end.
My own biggest issue with this book was that I didn't connect emotionally with the characters. I don't need YA to be a non-stop angst-fest (and it's kind of refreshing to see serious issues handled with a light touch.) But I wanted just a bit more emotion, for the characters to show more nuances. Chance's very real problems were diluted a bit by his jumpy, stagey narrative delivery, and his shallow focus. He has a few difficult introspective moments, but tends to practice avoidance, not really touching the pain that one assumes is lurking there. And Jazz didn't get half as mad or hurt as he was entitled to - I kept waiting for a more natural break in his unwavering openness.
So I didn't quite fall in love with the MCs, but I did enjoy this book. I think it's valuable, both for a lot of rarely-found aspects of the story, and for the pure fun. Chance's high-energy, high-slang narrative voice is unique, and yet the story moves along quickly and smoothly. This one is as far from cookie-cutter YA as you're likely to get. Give it a try if you have a fondness for sparkle, an interest in gender-fluid characters, or just want a fun, unique story.
May 18, 2015
~3.5~
If you read and liked Mia Kerick’s
Love Spells is a MUST read.
Told from Chance’s first person POV, Love Spells is funny, quirky, and poignant.
Chance, a senior in high school, and his bestie, Emily, navigate love, pumpkin festivals, and bullies.
Chance wants the Pumpkin Carving King to fall for him. To succeed, Chance tries every trick he reads in an article about how to win a man’s heart … every one except the last: BE YOURSELF.
In an effort to make Jazz (Jasper to everyone but Chance) fall in love with him, Chance hams it up. He spritzes love potions (consisting of mixing several perfumes together), tells jokes, and tries too damn hard.
The problem is that Jazz, raising his little sister while his mom works, doesn’t want Chance the Life of the Party. He just wants Chance, a boy with a strong feminine side, a boy who isn’t afraid to strut around in high heels.
Chance, confused by his gender identity but comfortable with his boy parts, is a fabulous drag queen in the making. He talks in hashtags (internally AND aloud) and is a self-proclaimed drama queen.
Oh, Chance. I do love you, but you exhaust me.
Jazz may not be the “sharpest knife in the drawer,” but he’s REAL, down to earth, and NICE, seemingly immune to high school theatrics.
If you’re looking for something steamy, this book is not it. There is one peck on page at the end and no sexual innuendo whatsoever.
This is a book as pure as snow about two high school kids navigating the murky waters of family, friendship, and maybe first love.
Emily, Chance’s BFF/sidekick, is all kinds of awesome, and I liked Chance’s little sister too.
I prefer books that are more intense, less cutesy (Chance’s inner monologue was over the top at time), but this is a sweet YA read nonetheless.
If you read and liked Mia Kerick’s
Love Spells is a MUST read.
Told from Chance’s first person POV, Love Spells is funny, quirky, and poignant.
Chance, a senior in high school, and his bestie, Emily, navigate love, pumpkin festivals, and bullies.
Chance wants the Pumpkin Carving King to fall for him. To succeed, Chance tries every trick he reads in an article about how to win a man’s heart … every one except the last: BE YOURSELF.
In an effort to make Jazz (Jasper to everyone but Chance) fall in love with him, Chance hams it up. He spritzes love potions (consisting of mixing several perfumes together), tells jokes, and tries too damn hard.
The problem is that Jazz, raising his little sister while his mom works, doesn’t want Chance the Life of the Party. He just wants Chance, a boy with a strong feminine side, a boy who isn’t afraid to strut around in high heels.
Chance, confused by his gender identity but comfortable with his boy parts, is a fabulous drag queen in the making. He talks in hashtags (internally AND aloud) and is a self-proclaimed drama queen.
Oh, Chance. I do love you, but you exhaust me.
Jazz may not be the “sharpest knife in the drawer,” but he’s REAL, down to earth, and NICE, seemingly immune to high school theatrics.
If you’re looking for something steamy, this book is not it. There is one peck on page at the end and no sexual innuendo whatsoever.
This is a book as pure as snow about two high school kids navigating the murky waters of family, friendship, and maybe first love.
Emily, Chance’s BFF/sidekick, is all kinds of awesome, and I liked Chance’s little sister too.
I prefer books that are more intense, less cutesy (Chance’s inner monologue was over the top at time), but this is a sweet YA read nonetheless.
December 15, 2015
Mia Kerick sure is consistent when it comes to her first-person POVs – her narrators deliver in accordance to their personality and are in no way dependent of the author’s. I’ve also read her One Voice series (with 3 first-person perspectives) and The Red Sheet and it always feels like different authors are responsible for each POV. Like there is no trace of Mia Kerick at all. And I think that is how you establish that it’s hers – by having you convinced that this particular character is the one really narrating to you.
In Love Spell, it’s Chance. And in the delivery alone, you can tell that Channy (his pet name) is an effeminate, flamboyant queen who is an accurate image of today’s new adult. The narration is witty and funny and I'm pretty sure that people who belong to today's social media era can totally relate to the way Chance narrates. And as I've said, it's true to his character. However, it’s also the reason why I kind of don’t like this book so much because as the story developed, I grew to hate the MC more and more. I know that deep down Chance is lovable and naturally kind but his self-centeredness became more pronounced as the story progressed and it was what set me off. I’m putting a disclaimer that of course this frustration is mine alone, so it may or may not affect your reading experience.
The delivery is really entertaining and enjoyable for the most-part but I just have personal issues with Chance’s character. The plot is uncomplicated and simple – with the end goal being: to make hot boy Jasper fall in love with Chance. Although for me, Jasper’s character was very superficial.But going back, what I’m saying is even though the story is predictable; it is a good eye opener for those wondering how people who don’t want to fall on a certain gender box struggle with their identity. I mean, knowing your sexual preference is one thing, but gender identity is an entirely different thing. Which to be honest, I was quite ignorant before having read this book.
Overall, I’d give this 3.5 stars rounded down.
June 3, 2015
I am a Mia fan and I loved this book. Maybe because I still remember the confusion, internal questions and trying to decide which "label" fit me. If you have not been there, this book gives a pretty accurate look at what it is like to be neither boy or girl, but somewhere in the middle and mostly just confused and afraid... it's not a great way to go through high school and I'm glad Chance had Emily. I don't know if I'd have made it without my friend Sandy :)
Congrats Mia!! My greatest wish is that even just one confused teenager reads this book and finds some hope to hang onto. It does get better.
Congrats Mia!! My greatest wish is that even just one confused teenager reads this book and finds some hope to hang onto. It does get better.
July 1, 2015
I'm giving this book a big, honking 5 stars, and I would give it more if I could. Mia Kerick is a truly talented writer who deserves the accolades she's gotten. I loved her "Us Three". "Love Spell" is much less sexual (in fact, there's nothing in it but a peck kiss at the end). But it has loads and loads of personality. This is a YA book that actually seems like it would have true value for any teen questioning their sexuality and gender identity. The plot is well-constructed for a rom-com, with Chance going after love with all good intentions but following really bad advice.
I must admit, at first Chance's flamboyant voice was a little too much for me. By I got into it after a few pages and really enjoyed it. I kept wanting to pick the book back up and get re-immersed in his POV. It's a very funny book. My favorite part was all of the slogans on Chance's sweatshirts--like the one with a picture of Jesus that says "OMG. I said I hate FIGS". Chance is absolutely no shrinking violet and he proclaims his gayness with gusto to all and sundry. Even so, he's lonely and confused inside about who and what he really is.
I would recommend this to any teen and to those of us adults who enjoy humor and are open minded about our protags.
I must admit, at first Chance's flamboyant voice was a little too much for me. By I got into it after a few pages and really enjoyed it. I kept wanting to pick the book back up and get re-immersed in his POV. It's a very funny book. My favorite part was all of the slogans on Chance's sweatshirts--like the one with a picture of Jesus that says "OMG. I said I hate FIGS". Chance is absolutely no shrinking violet and he proclaims his gayness with gusto to all and sundry. Even so, he's lonely and confused inside about who and what he really is.
I would recommend this to any teen and to those of us adults who enjoy humor and are open minded about our protags.
July 15, 2015
*4.5 stars* Totes Adorbs!!
This is a YA romance that you won't be afraid to let your teenagers read -- in fact, you should get them to read this! Chance Cesar is a high school senior who is very "out" but is struggling with his gender identity. He knows he's gay, but does he want to be a boy, a girl or something in between?
This story is told in first person from Chance's POV. There are lots of inner monologues and the (totes randatorbs) glossary at the end is fucker-nelly mandatorbs! The way this was written was definitely a little unusual but it ended up working for me.
I found Chance difficult to warm up to but he sure grew on me quickly. You could say he's got a unique flavour to him. His love interest (Jazz) was awesome in a completely different way. Although somewhat clueless-seeming, Jazz was super sweet and was the kind of guy who was basically putting his life on hold to take care of his family.
On one level this is a cute, funny YA romance that almost seems aimed at younger teens: Chance tries to use a "how to" guide to get Jazz to fall for him. But there are a number of things going on at a deeper level. There is Chance's struggles with his gender identity and with putting himself into any sort of category. There's also the bullying Chance faces at school and the struggles that Jazz faces in helping his family out (his mom works two jobs and Jazz has primary responsibility for his young sister).
I enjoyed this and would recommend it if you are looking for a sweet, cute, younger teen-friendly (read: kisses only) YA romance with some deeper elements.
This is a YA romance that you won't be afraid to let your teenagers read -- in fact, you should get them to read this! Chance Cesar is a high school senior who is very "out" but is struggling with his gender identity. He knows he's gay, but does he want to be a boy, a girl or something in between?
This story is told in first person from Chance's POV. There are lots of inner monologues and the (totes randatorbs) glossary at the end is fucker-nelly mandatorbs! The way this was written was definitely a little unusual but it ended up working for me.
I found Chance difficult to warm up to but he sure grew on me quickly. You could say he's got a unique flavour to him. His love interest (Jazz) was awesome in a completely different way. Although somewhat clueless-seeming, Jazz was super sweet and was the kind of guy who was basically putting his life on hold to take care of his family.
On one level this is a cute, funny YA romance that almost seems aimed at younger teens: Chance tries to use a "how to" guide to get Jazz to fall for him. But there are a number of things going on at a deeper level. There is Chance's struggles with his gender identity and with putting himself into any sort of category. There's also the bullying Chance faces at school and the struggles that Jazz faces in helping his family out (his mom works two jobs and Jazz has primary responsibility for his young sister).
I enjoyed this and would recommend it if you are looking for a sweet, cute, younger teen-friendly (read: kisses only) YA romance with some deeper elements.
May 25, 2015
4.5 of 5 stars
So. What did I think. Well, for starters, I was immediately intrigued with what I would consider an almost spastic, ADHD, very self-centered, but in his head if not actions, sincere young Chance. He at first came off as abrasive, over-confident, peckish, and an all around 'queen bee' to me! At first I didn't think I'd like him very much as so much if the story seemed to be all about him, and not in a good way.
But, slowly, we are seeing the layers peel back to a young man that is really NOT overly self confident (which I guess would represent any teens at this age) but who is able to hide it very well with an arrogant, obnoxious, and very sarcastic wit that at times gets him into even more trouble than he's in to start. In fact, you can see the 'oh sh*t' moment IMMEDIATELY after he opens his mouth. It's like a knee-jerk reaction that he uses to protect himself.
Then we meet his BFF; Em, Emmy, Emily (all the same person) who tells him when he's out of line, and does it quite brilliantly. I like her! They basically have each other's backs.
And then along comes Jazz/Jasper, Chance's crush. Sweet. Hunky. Not considered too bright (he's Vo-ag, but that does not mean someone is unintelligent). We find out later, still waters DO run deep. Em and 'Channy' do a crazy job of trying to make Jazz notice Chance. Go by some famous 'Love Dr's' advice with 'The List'. Oh. Wow. AND talk about botching things up!
If anyone has happened to read/see the YA book/movie 'Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging' I could see Chance and Emmy as a great supporting cast! Chance's 'British accent' playing with the Queen's English was hilarious! And I LOVED his over the top sense of style.
But, overall, at the base of the story is a deeper message. It comes down to one thing. Why does a person HAVE to label themselves? What to do if you feel like a guy one day, and a girl other days. Why do you have to choose? What exactly do all these labels mean, and why is it anyone's business? You're gender does not necessarily define your sexuality. And your body parts do not define what you may feel innately inside yourself. And THAT'S OKAY.
This story opened my curiosity and I did some research on the Internet and found an interesting source here : http://www.genderdiversity.org/resour...
I think there is a fantastic moral to this story. And it goes something like this. It's okay to be confused, and not fit into ANY box, and you CAN find someone that likes or loves you just the way you are. Oh. And it's usually good to be a real friend first.*wink
Highly recommended! No sex, but a wonderful book for a young person or anyone that likes to read about the painful and sometimes funny journey of falling in love, whether young or old.
So. What did I think. Well, for starters, I was immediately intrigued with what I would consider an almost spastic, ADHD, very self-centered, but in his head if not actions, sincere young Chance. He at first came off as abrasive, over-confident, peckish, and an all around 'queen bee' to me! At first I didn't think I'd like him very much as so much if the story seemed to be all about him, and not in a good way.
But, slowly, we are seeing the layers peel back to a young man that is really NOT overly self confident (which I guess would represent any teens at this age) but who is able to hide it very well with an arrogant, obnoxious, and very sarcastic wit that at times gets him into even more trouble than he's in to start. In fact, you can see the 'oh sh*t' moment IMMEDIATELY after he opens his mouth. It's like a knee-jerk reaction that he uses to protect himself.
Then we meet his BFF; Em, Emmy, Emily (all the same person) who tells him when he's out of line, and does it quite brilliantly. I like her! They basically have each other's backs.
And then along comes Jazz/Jasper, Chance's crush. Sweet. Hunky. Not considered too bright (he's Vo-ag, but that does not mean someone is unintelligent). We find out later, still waters DO run deep. Em and 'Channy' do a crazy job of trying to make Jazz notice Chance. Go by some famous 'Love Dr's' advice with 'The List'. Oh. Wow. AND talk about botching things up!
If anyone has happened to read/see the YA book/movie 'Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging' I could see Chance and Emmy as a great supporting cast! Chance's 'British accent' playing with the Queen's English was hilarious! And I LOVED his over the top sense of style.
But, overall, at the base of the story is a deeper message. It comes down to one thing. Why does a person HAVE to label themselves? What to do if you feel like a guy one day, and a girl other days. Why do you have to choose? What exactly do all these labels mean, and why is it anyone's business? You're gender does not necessarily define your sexuality. And your body parts do not define what you may feel innately inside yourself. And THAT'S OKAY.
This story opened my curiosity and I did some research on the Internet and found an interesting source here : http://www.genderdiversity.org/resour...
I think there is a fantastic moral to this story. And it goes something like this. It's okay to be confused, and not fit into ANY box, and you CAN find someone that likes or loves you just the way you are. Oh. And it's usually good to be a real friend first.*wink
Highly recommended! No sex, but a wonderful book for a young person or anyone that likes to read about the painful and sometimes funny journey of falling in love, whether young or old.
May 31, 2015
Before I delve into this great story, I want to first tell you how I came upon receiving this novel. Mia Kerick, the author of Love Spell, wrote me one of the nicest emails in the comment section of Mello & June’s blog. She not only took the time to give me some background into her writing career, she went the extra mile to tell me something about herself and about the genre in which she enjoys writing. When I realized what her novel was about, immediately I began thinking, “Umm, I don’t normally read books like this. . .what to do?” I seriously was going to advise Ms. Kerick, ‘thanks, but no thanks,’ but after reading her sales pitch, I had a sudden change of heart. I learned something about myself over the last couple of weeks, and there’s something to be said for an individual’s approach and delivery. I think more people need to look more closely at that. She managed to convince me I needed to read this story and hooked me just from what she wrote in her email. What an impression she made upon me!
I’ve read things about the LGBT community, however, Mia, taught me something about the LGBTQ individuals, which I really had no clue about. For those of you who do not know what LGBT stands for (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender). I’ll address the ‘Q’ later in this review.
Chance César is a good looking, witty, outgoing openly gay teen. He makes no excuses for his sexual preference and always has a snappy response for those who think less of him because of it. With his guyliner, lip gloss, fire orange spiky hair and glamorous personality, what’s not to love about him? Hmmph, that’s the sixty-four million dollar question that he and his BFF (Best Friends Forever), Emily, are pondering? He has set his sights on the buff Jasper Donahue, whom Chance wittingly nicknamed Jazz due to his jazzy persona.
Chance and Emily come up with this great plan to capture Jazz’s heart by going online and stumbling across an article that’s entitled “Ten Specifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love With You.” Chance pretty much follows that article to the letter, with a few exceptions, but no worries, ‘cause whatever he can’t do or think of, Emily always has his back.
As Chance goes through life as a teenager, maintaining a job and school, it shouldn’t be surprising that not many of his peers, and some adults, like Chance or the way he carries himself—which is carefree and footloose. Chance loves him some Chance, and it wouldn’t hurt to throw Jazz into the mix. How can he be so flamboyant parading around in high heel pumps and T-shirts with the sassy sayings as “Jesus Hates Figs” or “I kissed a boy and liked it,” without getting scrunched up facial expressions, nasty, rude and insensitive remarks? As much as it may appear he has it going on with an armor exterior to the outside world, Chance has feelings and he hurts inside, so much so he has a major dilemma. He’s confused as to his gender identity. Sometimes he feels like a boy and sometimes he feels like a girl, so how does one go about labeling him or herself? What box do you check off for a person such as Chance? Right. . .if you’re asking yourself that question, imagine Chance’s issue. The ‘Q’ in LBGTQ means ‘questioning.’
There were so many parts of this story where I fell out laughing. This is a romantic comedy young adult (YA) type of novel. Not to give away too much, I have to say I will never quite look at gummy bears the same way again. OMG, I laughed until I cried reading that chapter. That was so damn funny, and there are so many sections of the story that will have your stomach in knots of laughter. What you’ll also find is that there are some very real life issues plagued through the story which really brought the whole thing together for me. Chance César was very real to me. His issues were heartfelt and gut-wrenching at times. I cannot imagine being trapped in a gray area of not knowing what my sexual identity is for myself. Just because you’re born a certain sex, doesn’t mean the individual feels what they were born. Talk about deep rooted issues. Wow!
I learned so much by going through Chance’s rough existence. I never knew anything about the ‘questioning’ aspect in the LBGT community. That was a real eye opener. Chance isn’t that different from anyone else. He loves, bleeds, cries, shows anger, gets frustrated, etc. I was constantly reminded of my teen years and the stupid stuff my friends and I used to do—i.e., the boys I liked or (didn’t like), to all the things I thought were so important, which pales in comparison to my adult life now.
Needless to say, I fell in love with the Chance César character. He’s believable, real and has more guts than a tightrope walker. He’s fearless, funny, extremely intelligent and very quick witted. I suppose being a gay teen, you have to have a thick skin and snappy remarks to keep the haters away from you, but it doesn’t mean the names don’t hurt and seep through one’s psyche. This was an amazing story—very short and directly to the point. The comedy was to die for. Oh my, just thinking of some of the moments and comments Chance made trying to get the love of his life was simply priceless.
So you see, I learned something about myself while reading this story. Chance has guts where I lacked as a teen being different. My BFFs were books and writing. What made me different, you ask? I’ve always been a nerd, and it’s something I used to be ashamed of and embarrassed to admit to myself and had a hard time accepting. When we had school functions honoring the students who showed off their big brains, yours truly never participated. I made the honors list every time and not once would I go up on that stage and claim my trophies or certificates. Why? I was mistreated and hated because I was smart. Hmmph, imagine that! Ashamed to say I had sense and intelligence! (SMH – shaking my head) And it didn’t hurt that I wasn’t too hard on the eyes, so that didn’t score me any brownie points with my female counterparts. My teachers used to tell me every quarter to go up there and get my awards, and I would smile, thank them and bow out gracefully while sitting in the audience watching the others receive their accolades. So many times I wanted to get up there and accept what I earned, but was too fearful of how I would be received. I didn’t want the ridicule, which I was often the recipient of because I was smart and excelled. (Chuckling), I’m so not that girl anymore! Ooh hell no! She’s long gone! I love being a #blackgirlnerd! I’m very comfortable showing off my sex appeal and brains to boot! (LOL)!
This is why Chance hit real close to home for me because a great deal of what he experiences and deals with, I dealt with on a different level, but one thing is for certain, pain is pain damn it! No matter how the hell you slice it—it hurts when people make fun of you just because you’re being who you are. Man takes great pleasure in destroying what he doesn’t understand, but it takes the Chances of the world to stand up and let people know, “yeah, I’m here, I’m queer and I’m not going any damn where!” You have to admire his courage. I know I certainly do and more importantly I respect his courage. Damn! Where was he when I was in school? I’m certain we would have been BFFs. I always gravitated toward the underdog type of person. Boy, I could have used some of that spunk he has way back when.
To read interview and full review, go to http://mellojune.blogspot.com/2015/05...
I’ve read things about the LGBT community, however, Mia, taught me something about the LGBTQ individuals, which I really had no clue about. For those of you who do not know what LGBT stands for (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender). I’ll address the ‘Q’ later in this review.
Chance César is a good looking, witty, outgoing openly gay teen. He makes no excuses for his sexual preference and always has a snappy response for those who think less of him because of it. With his guyliner, lip gloss, fire orange spiky hair and glamorous personality, what’s not to love about him? Hmmph, that’s the sixty-four million dollar question that he and his BFF (Best Friends Forever), Emily, are pondering? He has set his sights on the buff Jasper Donahue, whom Chance wittingly nicknamed Jazz due to his jazzy persona.
Chance and Emily come up with this great plan to capture Jazz’s heart by going online and stumbling across an article that’s entitled “Ten Specifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love With You.” Chance pretty much follows that article to the letter, with a few exceptions, but no worries, ‘cause whatever he can’t do or think of, Emily always has his back.
As Chance goes through life as a teenager, maintaining a job and school, it shouldn’t be surprising that not many of his peers, and some adults, like Chance or the way he carries himself—which is carefree and footloose. Chance loves him some Chance, and it wouldn’t hurt to throw Jazz into the mix. How can he be so flamboyant parading around in high heel pumps and T-shirts with the sassy sayings as “Jesus Hates Figs” or “I kissed a boy and liked it,” without getting scrunched up facial expressions, nasty, rude and insensitive remarks? As much as it may appear he has it going on with an armor exterior to the outside world, Chance has feelings and he hurts inside, so much so he has a major dilemma. He’s confused as to his gender identity. Sometimes he feels like a boy and sometimes he feels like a girl, so how does one go about labeling him or herself? What box do you check off for a person such as Chance? Right. . .if you’re asking yourself that question, imagine Chance’s issue. The ‘Q’ in LBGTQ means ‘questioning.’
There were so many parts of this story where I fell out laughing. This is a romantic comedy young adult (YA) type of novel. Not to give away too much, I have to say I will never quite look at gummy bears the same way again. OMG, I laughed until I cried reading that chapter. That was so damn funny, and there are so many sections of the story that will have your stomach in knots of laughter. What you’ll also find is that there are some very real life issues plagued through the story which really brought the whole thing together for me. Chance César was very real to me. His issues were heartfelt and gut-wrenching at times. I cannot imagine being trapped in a gray area of not knowing what my sexual identity is for myself. Just because you’re born a certain sex, doesn’t mean the individual feels what they were born. Talk about deep rooted issues. Wow!
I learned so much by going through Chance’s rough existence. I never knew anything about the ‘questioning’ aspect in the LBGT community. That was a real eye opener. Chance isn’t that different from anyone else. He loves, bleeds, cries, shows anger, gets frustrated, etc. I was constantly reminded of my teen years and the stupid stuff my friends and I used to do—i.e., the boys I liked or (didn’t like), to all the things I thought were so important, which pales in comparison to my adult life now.
Needless to say, I fell in love with the Chance César character. He’s believable, real and has more guts than a tightrope walker. He’s fearless, funny, extremely intelligent and very quick witted. I suppose being a gay teen, you have to have a thick skin and snappy remarks to keep the haters away from you, but it doesn’t mean the names don’t hurt and seep through one’s psyche. This was an amazing story—very short and directly to the point. The comedy was to die for. Oh my, just thinking of some of the moments and comments Chance made trying to get the love of his life was simply priceless.
So you see, I learned something about myself while reading this story. Chance has guts where I lacked as a teen being different. My BFFs were books and writing. What made me different, you ask? I’ve always been a nerd, and it’s something I used to be ashamed of and embarrassed to admit to myself and had a hard time accepting. When we had school functions honoring the students who showed off their big brains, yours truly never participated. I made the honors list every time and not once would I go up on that stage and claim my trophies or certificates. Why? I was mistreated and hated because I was smart. Hmmph, imagine that! Ashamed to say I had sense and intelligence! (SMH – shaking my head) And it didn’t hurt that I wasn’t too hard on the eyes, so that didn’t score me any brownie points with my female counterparts. My teachers used to tell me every quarter to go up there and get my awards, and I would smile, thank them and bow out gracefully while sitting in the audience watching the others receive their accolades. So many times I wanted to get up there and accept what I earned, but was too fearful of how I would be received. I didn’t want the ridicule, which I was often the recipient of because I was smart and excelled. (Chuckling), I’m so not that girl anymore! Ooh hell no! She’s long gone! I love being a #blackgirlnerd! I’m very comfortable showing off my sex appeal and brains to boot! (LOL)!
This is why Chance hit real close to home for me because a great deal of what he experiences and deals with, I dealt with on a different level, but one thing is for certain, pain is pain damn it! No matter how the hell you slice it—it hurts when people make fun of you just because you’re being who you are. Man takes great pleasure in destroying what he doesn’t understand, but it takes the Chances of the world to stand up and let people know, “yeah, I’m here, I’m queer and I’m not going any damn where!” You have to admire his courage. I know I certainly do and more importantly I respect his courage. Damn! Where was he when I was in school? I’m certain we would have been BFFs. I always gravitated toward the underdog type of person. Boy, I could have used some of that spunk he has way back when.
To read interview and full review, go to http://mellojune.blogspot.com/2015/05...
June 1, 2015
I received this novel from the author in exchange for a fair review.
It didn't take me very long to read Love Spell, and if I could give six stars for the sheer audacity of this novel, I would. It's that flamboyant, audacious, outright raunchy and funny. It's also a hell of an observation on human nature.
Chance Cesar is a gender fluid senior in high school who identifies as gay most of the time, as female some of the time, and as something else pretty much whenever he feels like it. (But don't ask him about it) He has a crush on the hot dude in his school, Jasper (he calls him "Jazz") and the bulk of the story centers on his attempts to make Jazz fall for him, hence the 'Love Spell' title. Jasper/Jazz doesn't come off as too bright at first, but he turns out to be a lot deeper as time goes by, and let's just say that you should never judge a book by its cover.
I won't go into detail just how things come to a happy ending--okay, spoiler there--but I will say that the pace is speedy, the dialogue somewhat campy and often howlingly funny, and the peripheral characters engaging.
The author, Mia Kerick, does not shy away from the issues of homophobia. She also makes Chance somewhat less than perfect. By turns--as the story is told first-person from his perspective--he is funny, brash, arrogant, obnoxious, self-deprecating...and we find out that he's not as confident as he'd like to be.
The pluses are the fast pace and the supporting characters who are also less than perfect in their own way but no less engaging. The slang can get to be a bit much at times, but the narrative is so breezy that it's really inconsequential. This is a definite five-star effort and Ms. Kerick should be commended for her portrayal of a teen who just wants to live life on his own terms.
Oh, and the last line of the novel is full of win.
It didn't take me very long to read Love Spell, and if I could give six stars for the sheer audacity of this novel, I would. It's that flamboyant, audacious, outright raunchy and funny. It's also a hell of an observation on human nature.
Chance Cesar is a gender fluid senior in high school who identifies as gay most of the time, as female some of the time, and as something else pretty much whenever he feels like it. (But don't ask him about it) He has a crush on the hot dude in his school, Jasper (he calls him "Jazz") and the bulk of the story centers on his attempts to make Jazz fall for him, hence the 'Love Spell' title. Jasper/Jazz doesn't come off as too bright at first, but he turns out to be a lot deeper as time goes by, and let's just say that you should never judge a book by its cover.
I won't go into detail just how things come to a happy ending--okay, spoiler there--but I will say that the pace is speedy, the dialogue somewhat campy and often howlingly funny, and the peripheral characters engaging.
The author, Mia Kerick, does not shy away from the issues of homophobia. She also makes Chance somewhat less than perfect. By turns--as the story is told first-person from his perspective--he is funny, brash, arrogant, obnoxious, self-deprecating...and we find out that he's not as confident as he'd like to be.
The pluses are the fast pace and the supporting characters who are also less than perfect in their own way but no less engaging. The slang can get to be a bit much at times, but the narrative is so breezy that it's really inconsequential. This is a definite five-star effort and Ms. Kerick should be commended for her portrayal of a teen who just wants to live life on his own terms.
Oh, and the last line of the novel is full of win.
January 19, 2016
I saw the blurb on this one and was pulled in by wanting to see what happens in this curious story about a teen who is still figuring stuff out. I've never read a story about a gender fluid person, but I have known one. And this person was a teen at the time and they struggled, painfully. While this story makes it clear that such a life is hard and confusing, it is also told with a lighter touch full of hope. I was really cheering on Chance to find the way to contentment and some happy.
The story opens with Chance Cesare, a flaming gay teen, in tight pumpkin colored tuxedo and spiky matching hair strutting down the Miss Harvest Moon Festival runway. He is not ashamed of his feminine side and will show all those who voted him in for a joke that he is a true, gracious, poised winner. His small town in New Hampshire may not know what to think of Chance, his parents are indifferent to him, and he is the joke of his high school and butt of the bully's jokes, but he holds his head high, smiles, laughs, and shows the world what inner strength really is.
Now if he has an aversion to any discussion or thoughts about gender particularly with his outspoken best friend or anyone else? Nobody's perfect. Chance has never fit into any box or label. He wishes it were that simple. Who wants to go through life not having everything fixed and settled about themselves? He wished he knew. He? She? He wouldn't care either way, but Chance is somewhere in the middle and he ties this confusion in with confusion about everything in his future.
But then he encounters Jasper. Jasper's easygoing, accepting nature stymies Chance. Is Jazz just friendly or his he gay, is Chance his brand of gay if he is? Chance decides to make Jasper his project and goes on line finding ten steps to making a guy fall in love with you. Chance is confident that with his charisma, taste, style, and skills, Jazz is a shoe-in. Except those last steps of 'being yourself' and 'being a friend' are merely optional, right? Much better to cast a lovespell than those lame steps.
So, this was told in a light, sassy style with Chance as the narrator. His internal monologues and his dialogues are pure teen talk just as his reasoning and everything else about him. I thought the author did a good job of writing her characters and their world. This book is all Chance and rises or falls on how well the reader can connect with him. I adored him and was rooting for him from page one.
Chance is a brilliant, warm, and sweet person though he can serve up sarcasm and smart-butt pretty thick as his defense mechanism. It is amazing how he has turned out considering his parents have always been indifferent. He lives with them, they provide for him, but there is no nurturing. So sad. Others do feel strongly about him and he's bullied or treated like a pariah though there are a few that tentatively try or at least stay neutral. Chance has one loyal, good friend who is also bullied for her geekiness and her weight. Neither seems to care what others think as long as they are in the same corner. I liked seeing them care and confront each other when necessary.
The dynamics change right at the beginning of the story. Chance is one confused guy and I'm not just referring to his need to figure stuff out with his gender. He sees Jasper and crushes on him, but struggles to approach Jasper. Chance can think circles around most people and finds it easy to interact until he encounters someone he really cares about what Jasper thinks. He is scared that Jasper won't like Chance stripped of the persona he wears in public so he finds anything a better way than just being real and himself when it comes to Jasper. It is humorous, heartwarming, and a little bittersweet as the story progressed through his efforts.
Jasper is an interesting character and pretty much Chance's polar opposite. He's a bit of a mystery to Chance. Even if somethings are not known until later, the reader understands what Chance cannot. The clues are there to understanding Jasper so it is a matter of hoping Chance will pay attention before it's too late. Jasper is a stalwart and responsible person if not as sharp or scholarly as Chance. He's upfront, self-aware, and with a simple outlook on the world. He doesn't know what to make of all Chance's machinations and I cringed each time Chance inadvertently hurt him through his trial and error method of trying to attract Jasper. Jasper is salt of the earth and I fell in love with him right alongside Chance. I wish every Chance in the world could find their Jazzy Jasper.
If I had a niggle, it was the end. I wasn't quite done with Chance and Jasper. This story ends more on a Happy For Now note and I enjoyed the characters so much that I wanted it tied up complete with a bow. I wanted to know at least a strong hint. But then again, it wasn't a bad place to end things, either and I can use my imagination.
So, this was a delightful coming of age story that stays on the lighter side, but still confronts some serious issues. It is a sweet, slow-developing YA romance that I can easily recommend.
My thanks to Lola's Blog Tours for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens with Chance Cesare, a flaming gay teen, in tight pumpkin colored tuxedo and spiky matching hair strutting down the Miss Harvest Moon Festival runway. He is not ashamed of his feminine side and will show all those who voted him in for a joke that he is a true, gracious, poised winner. His small town in New Hampshire may not know what to think of Chance, his parents are indifferent to him, and he is the joke of his high school and butt of the bully's jokes, but he holds his head high, smiles, laughs, and shows the world what inner strength really is.
Now if he has an aversion to any discussion or thoughts about gender particularly with his outspoken best friend or anyone else? Nobody's perfect. Chance has never fit into any box or label. He wishes it were that simple. Who wants to go through life not having everything fixed and settled about themselves? He wished he knew. He? She? He wouldn't care either way, but Chance is somewhere in the middle and he ties this confusion in with confusion about everything in his future.
But then he encounters Jasper. Jasper's easygoing, accepting nature stymies Chance. Is Jazz just friendly or his he gay, is Chance his brand of gay if he is? Chance decides to make Jasper his project and goes on line finding ten steps to making a guy fall in love with you. Chance is confident that with his charisma, taste, style, and skills, Jazz is a shoe-in. Except those last steps of 'being yourself' and 'being a friend' are merely optional, right? Much better to cast a lovespell than those lame steps.
So, this was told in a light, sassy style with Chance as the narrator. His internal monologues and his dialogues are pure teen talk just as his reasoning and everything else about him. I thought the author did a good job of writing her characters and their world. This book is all Chance and rises or falls on how well the reader can connect with him. I adored him and was rooting for him from page one.
Chance is a brilliant, warm, and sweet person though he can serve up sarcasm and smart-butt pretty thick as his defense mechanism. It is amazing how he has turned out considering his parents have always been indifferent. He lives with them, they provide for him, but there is no nurturing. So sad. Others do feel strongly about him and he's bullied or treated like a pariah though there are a few that tentatively try or at least stay neutral. Chance has one loyal, good friend who is also bullied for her geekiness and her weight. Neither seems to care what others think as long as they are in the same corner. I liked seeing them care and confront each other when necessary.
The dynamics change right at the beginning of the story. Chance is one confused guy and I'm not just referring to his need to figure stuff out with his gender. He sees Jasper and crushes on him, but struggles to approach Jasper. Chance can think circles around most people and finds it easy to interact until he encounters someone he really cares about what Jasper thinks. He is scared that Jasper won't like Chance stripped of the persona he wears in public so he finds anything a better way than just being real and himself when it comes to Jasper. It is humorous, heartwarming, and a little bittersweet as the story progressed through his efforts.
Jasper is an interesting character and pretty much Chance's polar opposite. He's a bit of a mystery to Chance. Even if somethings are not known until later, the reader understands what Chance cannot. The clues are there to understanding Jasper so it is a matter of hoping Chance will pay attention before it's too late. Jasper is a stalwart and responsible person if not as sharp or scholarly as Chance. He's upfront, self-aware, and with a simple outlook on the world. He doesn't know what to make of all Chance's machinations and I cringed each time Chance inadvertently hurt him through his trial and error method of trying to attract Jasper. Jasper is salt of the earth and I fell in love with him right alongside Chance. I wish every Chance in the world could find their Jazzy Jasper.
If I had a niggle, it was the end. I wasn't quite done with Chance and Jasper. This story ends more on a Happy For Now note and I enjoyed the characters so much that I wanted it tied up complete with a bow. I wanted to know at least a strong hint. But then again, it wasn't a bad place to end things, either and I can use my imagination.
So, this was a delightful coming of age story that stays on the lighter side, but still confronts some serious issues. It is a sweet, slow-developing YA romance that I can easily recommend.
My thanks to Lola's Blog Tours for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2015
Mia Kerick’s cleverness and wit are more evident than ever in her most recent publication. Kerick’s new YA novel, “Love Spell,” goes above and beyond in its informational, enjoyable and hilarious attributes. I hope that “Love Spell” acts as a printed haven for LGBTQ adolescents and young adults, who too experience the same mental turmoil as Kerick’s main character, Chance César.
Chance César, a high schooler living in a country-town in New Hampshire, struggles with his own gender fluidity, thus, battles with love and projecting that uncertainty on his crush, Jasper (known as Jazz). As Chance says, he is “caught between genders,” sure of his body but unsure of how he wants other to see him.
Fortunately, Jazz is unique in that he recognizes Chance’s dilemma and doesn’t verbalize his differences nor demand change. Jazz doesn’t desire Chance to draw a clear determining his gender in order to fall for him; he just needs Chance.
Uncertain and gender-fluid, Chance falls quickly for the ruggedly handsome boy at the local Harvest Moon Festival in Fiske, New Hampshire. For once in his life, someone other than his devoted best friend Emily, treats him with genuinely and kindness. Chance reacts in disbelief and with his usual sassy comeback. (Chance’s comebacks are some of my favorite aspects of the novel, “they are totes awesomesauce!”)
Kerick really captured the essence of today’s generation. She utilizes modern lingo of the LGBTQ community and that of high school students. I didn’t feel like I was reading an author’s interpretation of today’s issues. I felt like I was ready actual issues, honest problems, and innocent love.
It is charmingly refreshing to hear a young adult speak with such mature and progressive words. Honestly, everyone should act through the words of Mia Kerick’s characters. I truly loved this cheeky novel. It is comical, youthful, enchanting, adorable, clever, fast paced and never boring. “Love Spell” will satisfy needs for all hopeless romantic readers out there. It engenders innocence and sincerity. Chance’s plans to make Jazz fall in love with him, (which he found on the internet), are surprisingly accurate. Who hasn’t executed these actions in gaining someone’s affection… oldest tricks in the book. These tricks really make “Love Spell” timeless, for all ages of readers.
I would read love spell again, and quite honestly I would recommend it to all readers of the younger generation. This is an innocent book that will educate adolescences in equality, acceptance, and love. It is exactly what we need. Thank you Mia. I recommend this book to anyone who desires a good laugh, a tear up, and a happy ending.
As a pre-reader, I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Chance César, a high schooler living in a country-town in New Hampshire, struggles with his own gender fluidity, thus, battles with love and projecting that uncertainty on his crush, Jasper (known as Jazz). As Chance says, he is “caught between genders,” sure of his body but unsure of how he wants other to see him.
Fortunately, Jazz is unique in that he recognizes Chance’s dilemma and doesn’t verbalize his differences nor demand change. Jazz doesn’t desire Chance to draw a clear determining his gender in order to fall for him; he just needs Chance.
Uncertain and gender-fluid, Chance falls quickly for the ruggedly handsome boy at the local Harvest Moon Festival in Fiske, New Hampshire. For once in his life, someone other than his devoted best friend Emily, treats him with genuinely and kindness. Chance reacts in disbelief and with his usual sassy comeback. (Chance’s comebacks are some of my favorite aspects of the novel, “they are totes awesomesauce!”)
Kerick really captured the essence of today’s generation. She utilizes modern lingo of the LGBTQ community and that of high school students. I didn’t feel like I was reading an author’s interpretation of today’s issues. I felt like I was ready actual issues, honest problems, and innocent love.
It is charmingly refreshing to hear a young adult speak with such mature and progressive words. Honestly, everyone should act through the words of Mia Kerick’s characters. I truly loved this cheeky novel. It is comical, youthful, enchanting, adorable, clever, fast paced and never boring. “Love Spell” will satisfy needs for all hopeless romantic readers out there. It engenders innocence and sincerity. Chance’s plans to make Jazz fall in love with him, (which he found on the internet), are surprisingly accurate. Who hasn’t executed these actions in gaining someone’s affection… oldest tricks in the book. These tricks really make “Love Spell” timeless, for all ages of readers.
I would read love spell again, and quite honestly I would recommend it to all readers of the younger generation. This is an innocent book that will educate adolescences in equality, acceptance, and love. It is exactly what we need. Thank you Mia. I recommend this book to anyone who desires a good laugh, a tear up, and a happy ending.
As a pre-reader, I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Want to read
May 21, 2015KIRKUS REVIEWS (Here is the Kirkus Review of Love Spell by Mia Kerick)
LOVE SPELL
Kerick, Mia CoolDudes Publishing June 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
A teenage boy has a crush on a fellow student in Kerick’s (The Red Sheet, 2014, etc.) first-person YA charmer.
High schooler Chance César is no shrinking violet—not with his “hair dyed the flamboyant shade of a Cheez Doodle” and most certainly not while wearing “a scandalously snug-in-all-the-wrong (right)-places orange tuxedo and four-inch black pumps” while strutting down a fall-festival catwalk for the title of Miss Harvest Moon. He’s come to terms with being gay, but he’s still confused by some gender-related issues. Instead of owning up to having a feminine side, for example, he acknowledges to his best friend, Emily, that he has a “soft side.” He’s also told her about his romantic interest in Jasper Donahue, another student, whom he nicknames “Jazz.” The two boys eventually become friends, but Chance can’t figure out if Jazz is gay as well. As he tries to get Jazz interested in him, he first relies on an online list (“Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love With You”) and later follows a website’s instructions on how to cast a love spell on “The Target.” Kerick devotes most of the book to sassy fun and first-love desire, but her depiction of the loneliness caused by apathetic parents, the insecurity of extra pounds, the stress of college applications, the meanness of bullies, the importance of forgiveness, and especially the uneasiness of being “stuck in the gray area between girl and boy” make this novel thoroughly enjoyable. The book not only hits upon all manner of teenage angst, but also on the significance of true family values and on the joys of such simple pleasures as high–thread-count sheets, sharing homemade pizza, and playing card games instead of “head games” on a Friday night. The characters are memorable and the dialogue is consistently bright and believable, featuring authentic-sounding teenspeak. The author even defines Chance’s invented vocabulary words (such as “Randatorbs” and “Dooza-palooza”) in a back-of-the-book glossary for readers who can’t keep up.
A comical, thought-provoking YA novel for those who believe in the magic of love without all the hocus-pocus. Kirkus Reviews
LOVE SPELL
Kerick, Mia CoolDudes Publishing June 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
A teenage boy has a crush on a fellow student in Kerick’s (The Red Sheet, 2014, etc.) first-person YA charmer.
High schooler Chance César is no shrinking violet—not with his “hair dyed the flamboyant shade of a Cheez Doodle” and most certainly not while wearing “a scandalously snug-in-all-the-wrong (right)-places orange tuxedo and four-inch black pumps” while strutting down a fall-festival catwalk for the title of Miss Harvest Moon. He’s come to terms with being gay, but he’s still confused by some gender-related issues. Instead of owning up to having a feminine side, for example, he acknowledges to his best friend, Emily, that he has a “soft side.” He’s also told her about his romantic interest in Jasper Donahue, another student, whom he nicknames “Jazz.” The two boys eventually become friends, but Chance can’t figure out if Jazz is gay as well. As he tries to get Jazz interested in him, he first relies on an online list (“Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love With You”) and later follows a website’s instructions on how to cast a love spell on “The Target.” Kerick devotes most of the book to sassy fun and first-love desire, but her depiction of the loneliness caused by apathetic parents, the insecurity of extra pounds, the stress of college applications, the meanness of bullies, the importance of forgiveness, and especially the uneasiness of being “stuck in the gray area between girl and boy” make this novel thoroughly enjoyable. The book not only hits upon all manner of teenage angst, but also on the significance of true family values and on the joys of such simple pleasures as high–thread-count sheets, sharing homemade pizza, and playing card games instead of “head games” on a Friday night. The characters are memorable and the dialogue is consistently bright and believable, featuring authentic-sounding teenspeak. The author even defines Chance’s invented vocabulary words (such as “Randatorbs” and “Dooza-palooza”) in a back-of-the-book glossary for readers who can’t keep up.
A comical, thought-provoking YA novel for those who believe in the magic of love without all the hocus-pocus. Kirkus Reviews
July 29, 2015
'Love Spell' is somewhat of a departure from this author's previous books. I've grown accustomed to her tackling weighty topics, whether sexual abuse or the struggle to reconcile religion and homosexuality, and so was pleasantly surprised when I picked this up. Though this novella touches on some important issues, those of gender identity and learning to be true to oneself, it's also packed with moments ranging from the laugh-out-loud to the downright cringeworthy, and the overall feel is one of pure entertainment.
Chance César is fabulousness personified, and no one knows this better than Chance himself. He struts around his small-town high school, flaunting his vibrant clothes and screw-the-world attitude, deflecting the frequent bullying with cutting retorts. Yet, beneath the flamboyant exterior lies a deep-rooted uncertainty. For as long as he can recall, Chance has existed in the middle space between genders, unable to wholly identify as male or female, something he finds increasingly difficult to handle.
When he meets Jasper Donahue, gorgeous, steady, and unequivocally masculine, Chance falls head over pointy-toed boots. Of course, he has no idea whether Jazz is even gay, but he doesn't let a little detail like this stop him. With the help of Emily, his ever enthusiastic best friend, as well as an article in a women's magazine, Chance sets out to win Jazz's heart. In his pursuit of love, however, he ends up discovering far more about himself and the person he wants to be than he could have anticipated.
This might be a deviation from the style and tone readers have come to expect from Mia Kerick, but her gift for bringing across the unique viewpoint of her protagonists remains the same. She has captured Chance's voice and outlook so authentically that it was as if he were speaking in my ear. Chance is many things—fun-loving and generous, confident and vulnerable, clueless and intensely irritating. Still, the one thing he could never be is dull, and I know he'll stay with me for a long time.
Written for Rainbow Book Reviews and Boys on the Brink
Chance César is fabulousness personified, and no one knows this better than Chance himself. He struts around his small-town high school, flaunting his vibrant clothes and screw-the-world attitude, deflecting the frequent bullying with cutting retorts. Yet, beneath the flamboyant exterior lies a deep-rooted uncertainty. For as long as he can recall, Chance has existed in the middle space between genders, unable to wholly identify as male or female, something he finds increasingly difficult to handle.
When he meets Jasper Donahue, gorgeous, steady, and unequivocally masculine, Chance falls head over pointy-toed boots. Of course, he has no idea whether Jazz is even gay, but he doesn't let a little detail like this stop him. With the help of Emily, his ever enthusiastic best friend, as well as an article in a women's magazine, Chance sets out to win Jazz's heart. In his pursuit of love, however, he ends up discovering far more about himself and the person he wants to be than he could have anticipated.
This might be a deviation from the style and tone readers have come to expect from Mia Kerick, but her gift for bringing across the unique viewpoint of her protagonists remains the same. She has captured Chance's voice and outlook so authentically that it was as if he were speaking in my ear. Chance is many things—fun-loving and generous, confident and vulnerable, clueless and intensely irritating. Still, the one thing he could never be is dull, and I know he'll stay with me for a long time.
Written for Rainbow Book Reviews and Boys on the Brink
June 15, 2018
When I started reading Love Spell, I wasn't a fan of Chance's lingo; however, his manner of speech grew on me. To be fair, I'm not a fan of some of the slang used today though I suspect adults felt the same way about it when I was a teenager.
I really liked that Chance was the main character and not relegated to being somebody's sidekick. He had a lot of exploration ahead of him because not only was he a teenager searching for his identity but also figuring out whether he feels he's male or female. That's a lot to work out, especially during the teenage years which aren't easy to begin with!
I often wondered about the friendship between Chance and his BFF Emily because it seemed to be a one-way street. He didn't always treat her like a best friend should. Sometimes he mentioned things she said that hurt him without her realizing it. I wish he had addressed that more thoroughly with her, but he never did.
Chance had an exceptionally difficult time in high school going through emotional changes and though he made a lot of mistakes, I reminded myself he's a teenager and everyone makes mistakes. That's how you grow and learn.
I was rooting for him to just take the direct approach and ask if Jasper (Jazz) was interested in him. I can completely understand why he wouldn't do that with the risk of getting hurt. Seeing how sharp witted and clever Chance is, I couldn't see why he'd be turned down by Jazz unless Jazz wasn't gay. That's where the internet and love spell come into play.
I took off a star from my rating because I think Chance's parents' lack of concern for him should have been addressed. It's pretty serious if your parents don't care about you, but there wasn't much of a resolution of this by the end of the book. This is what likely makes it a more realistic ending, but I wanted more explanation as to how he felt about it and how he would deal with it.
Overall, Love Spell was a fun story and also included important issues teens face, especially the complicated relationships Chance had with his parents, his friends, and his potential love interest. He's a character you won't forget anytime soon. I read this book a couple of years ago, but I still think of him and his story to this day. Highly recommended!
I really liked that Chance was the main character and not relegated to being somebody's sidekick. He had a lot of exploration ahead of him because not only was he a teenager searching for his identity but also figuring out whether he feels he's male or female. That's a lot to work out, especially during the teenage years which aren't easy to begin with!
I often wondered about the friendship between Chance and his BFF Emily because it seemed to be a one-way street. He didn't always treat her like a best friend should. Sometimes he mentioned things she said that hurt him without her realizing it. I wish he had addressed that more thoroughly with her, but he never did.
Chance had an exceptionally difficult time in high school going through emotional changes and though he made a lot of mistakes, I reminded myself he's a teenager and everyone makes mistakes. That's how you grow and learn.
I was rooting for him to just take the direct approach and ask if Jasper (Jazz) was interested in him. I can completely understand why he wouldn't do that with the risk of getting hurt. Seeing how sharp witted and clever Chance is, I couldn't see why he'd be turned down by Jazz unless Jazz wasn't gay. That's where the internet and love spell come into play.
I took off a star from my rating because I think Chance's parents' lack of concern for him should have been addressed. It's pretty serious if your parents don't care about you, but there wasn't much of a resolution of this by the end of the book. This is what likely makes it a more realistic ending, but I wanted more explanation as to how he felt about it and how he would deal with it.
Overall, Love Spell was a fun story and also included important issues teens face, especially the complicated relationships Chance had with his parents, his friends, and his potential love interest. He's a character you won't forget anytime soon. I read this book a couple of years ago, but I still think of him and his story to this day. Highly recommended!
December 29, 2015
I received a copy to review for Rainbow Awards
8 Plot Development
8 Setting Development
9 Characters Development
9 Writing Style
34 total
Written from a waaaay out veeerrryyyy fem teenage kid with his first real crush. A turn off to start, then I warmed up. Still would not go out of my way, but somehow these over-the-top ideas can be a good show.
8 Plot Development
8 Setting Development
9 Characters Development
9 Writing Style
34 total
Written from a waaaay out veeerrryyyy fem teenage kid with his first real crush. A turn off to start, then I warmed up. Still would not go out of my way, but somehow these over-the-top ideas can be a good show.
September 27, 2015
3.5
История очень миленькая, и Чэнс очаровательный в своих попытках завоевать предмет своих сердечных волнений.
Картинку мне сильно подпортила его подруга, которая меня раздражала, а также язык повествования от лица героя, любящего приправлять речь разными акцентами, оборотами, слэнгом.
История очень миленькая, и Чэнс очаровательный в своих попытках завоевать предмет своих сердечных волнений.
Картинку мне сильно подпортила его подруга, которая меня раздражала, а также язык повествования от лица героя, любящего приправлять речь разными акцентами, оборотами, слэнгом.
September 14, 2018
Man, that cover is gorgeous!
Kerick is a master at creating fabulously sassy and unique characters, and Chance, the star of Love Spell, fits the bill. He is "a boy without a box”, and struggling with gender identity. I loved his outrageous personality, his outlandish crazy sense of style, and all the pop culture references. His best friend, Emily, on the other hand, becomes a little too over-the-top about halfway through the story. I could have used less of her silly made up words and self-created drama. For me, they weren’t the best match as bffs, but given Chance’s choices of possible friends, perhaps Emily was his best bet.
Following along with Chance’s plan to capture the fancy of Jasper (who he nicknames Jazz) is at times funny and other times heartbreaking. Taking cues from a magazine article and “love spells”, Chance sets his sights on Jazz, who is delightfully clueless. I so enjoyed Jazz’s personality and go-with-the-flow nature. Chance’s misguided attempts at seduction are endearing.
Chance and Jazz have two completely different home life experiences, and it was interesting to see Chance’s realization of what family means and what’s most important in life by becoming close with Jazz. Honestly, I think Love Spell is a story about family.
Kerick is a master at creating fabulously sassy and unique characters, and Chance, the star of Love Spell, fits the bill. He is "a boy without a box”, and struggling with gender identity. I loved his outrageous personality, his outlandish crazy sense of style, and all the pop culture references. His best friend, Emily, on the other hand, becomes a little too over-the-top about halfway through the story. I could have used less of her silly made up words and self-created drama. For me, they weren’t the best match as bffs, but given Chance’s choices of possible friends, perhaps Emily was his best bet.
Following along with Chance’s plan to capture the fancy of Jasper (who he nicknames Jazz) is at times funny and other times heartbreaking. Taking cues from a magazine article and “love spells”, Chance sets his sights on Jazz, who is delightfully clueless. I so enjoyed Jazz’s personality and go-with-the-flow nature. Chance’s misguided attempts at seduction are endearing.
Chance and Jazz have two completely different home life experiences, and it was interesting to see Chance’s realization of what family means and what’s most important in life by becoming close with Jazz. Honestly, I think Love Spell is a story about family.
June 5, 2015
I was given a copy of this book for free in order to receive a fair and honest review. My receiving this book in no way affects my opinion of the story. Original review found on blog This review was done by guest review Alexa Graham. Follow her blog for more on her.
Mia Kerick’s Love Spell is a quirky, entertaining read, and one that addresses issues that are drastically underrepresented in YA fiction. The main character, high school senior Chance Cesar, not only identifies as homosexual, but also as a person struggling with their own gender identity. That makes dating in a rural New Hampshire town a lot more complicated, especially when Chance falls for the quietly sweet Jasper “Jazz” Donahue. But to approach Jazz as male or female? And how to do either when Chance isn’t sure which one they are? Love Spell doesn’t necessarily answer that question and doesn’t have to; it is a sweet tale about love, friendship, coming out, and being true to yourself.
One of the best things about Love Spell is its humor. Chance’s voice is sarcastic and drop-dead funny, though sometimes overly flamboyant. There are definitely some great one-liners in this story–some that will make you literally laugh out loud. However, the most compelling writing is when Chance struggles internally with their gender identification. One of the best things Kerick does here is show us how agonizing everyday life can be for genderfluid and genderqueer persons who are still questioning their identity and gender expression. Chance serves as the perfect vessel to question societal standards on the issue, wherein it is seen as “normal” for people to be strictly male or female and “abnormal” to be otherwise.
One of the issues that I had with this story is that the writing is so strong in these moments of reflection, but weak in others. These quiet moments alone with Chance make us love them, but then they pull a complete 180 and make us question that; Chance is rude, self-centered, and can be extremely inconsiderate of others’ feelings. There is also a blatant stereotyping [of homosexuals] that can at times be borderline offensive. In addition, the language itself is a complicated issue, wherein the slang is overused (which will not only alienate some readers, but also not hold up well over time) and the swearing is simply ostentatious. Seriously, there is so much swearing in this book that I had to triple check to make sure this was YA. I don’t think I’ve ever read a young adult novel with so many f-bombs in my life. Though I understand high schoolers speak this way (for the record, I did too, and still swear like a sailor) but I think that toning that language down would have been a better strategy.
Another issue I have is the integration of the title in the story. The “love spell” does not even feature until the last 30-45 pages of the book, and by that point, it feels like an afterthought. I think that Kerick was trying to stick to the Halloween-esque theme she presented at the beginning of the book, but it fell flat by this point. The “spell” business does not offer anything to to the plot of the book except additional word count.
(My final comment on the book is a bit minute and silly, but something someone should have caught: honestly, you can’t play Apples to Apples with just two people. Just saying.)
Overall, the book certainly delivered in entertainment and touched on something very little YA is focused on now: the struggles of a genderfluid teen. But did it represent both male homosexuality and genderqueerness properly, without shaming or resulting to stereotyping? That will be up to the reader to decide.
Mia Kerick’s Love Spell is a quirky, entertaining read, and one that addresses issues that are drastically underrepresented in YA fiction. The main character, high school senior Chance Cesar, not only identifies as homosexual, but also as a person struggling with their own gender identity. That makes dating in a rural New Hampshire town a lot more complicated, especially when Chance falls for the quietly sweet Jasper “Jazz” Donahue. But to approach Jazz as male or female? And how to do either when Chance isn’t sure which one they are? Love Spell doesn’t necessarily answer that question and doesn’t have to; it is a sweet tale about love, friendship, coming out, and being true to yourself.
One of the best things about Love Spell is its humor. Chance’s voice is sarcastic and drop-dead funny, though sometimes overly flamboyant. There are definitely some great one-liners in this story–some that will make you literally laugh out loud. However, the most compelling writing is when Chance struggles internally with their gender identification. One of the best things Kerick does here is show us how agonizing everyday life can be for genderfluid and genderqueer persons who are still questioning their identity and gender expression. Chance serves as the perfect vessel to question societal standards on the issue, wherein it is seen as “normal” for people to be strictly male or female and “abnormal” to be otherwise.
One of the issues that I had with this story is that the writing is so strong in these moments of reflection, but weak in others. These quiet moments alone with Chance make us love them, but then they pull a complete 180 and make us question that; Chance is rude, self-centered, and can be extremely inconsiderate of others’ feelings. There is also a blatant stereotyping [of homosexuals] that can at times be borderline offensive. In addition, the language itself is a complicated issue, wherein the slang is overused (which will not only alienate some readers, but also not hold up well over time) and the swearing is simply ostentatious. Seriously, there is so much swearing in this book that I had to triple check to make sure this was YA. I don’t think I’ve ever read a young adult novel with so many f-bombs in my life. Though I understand high schoolers speak this way (for the record, I did too, and still swear like a sailor) but I think that toning that language down would have been a better strategy.
Another issue I have is the integration of the title in the story. The “love spell” does not even feature until the last 30-45 pages of the book, and by that point, it feels like an afterthought. I think that Kerick was trying to stick to the Halloween-esque theme she presented at the beginning of the book, but it fell flat by this point. The “spell” business does not offer anything to to the plot of the book except additional word count.
(My final comment on the book is a bit minute and silly, but something someone should have caught: honestly, you can’t play Apples to Apples with just two people. Just saying.)
Overall, the book certainly delivered in entertainment and touched on something very little YA is focused on now: the struggles of a genderfluid teen. But did it represent both male homosexuality and genderqueerness properly, without shaming or resulting to stereotyping? That will be up to the reader to decide.
July 9, 2015
4.5 stars for this clean YA LGBTQ contemporary romance.
Chance Cesar is an out gay teen, a senior in his rural New Hampshire high school and the new Miss Harvest Moon. That's right, he was voted to be the pageant queen, as a cruel joke, but he werks it, strutting down the aisle in an orange tux and black pumps. That's how we meet Chance, and henceforth his fabulousness cannot be denied.
Chance has always known he's attracted to boys/men, but he's still not clear on his gender identity. He struggles with his daily wardrobe--dress or pants--and he wants a boyfriend. A nice boyfriend. He kinda has his heart set on a boy from the vocational school, Jasper Donahue. "Jazz," as Chance dubs him, is a burly boy with lots of responsibilities. He works to help support his mother and sister, and when he isn't working, he's babysitting his sister so his mom can work. Still, Chance is smitten, and he's not even sure if Jazz swings his direction. Jazz seems to invite Chance's attention, but there is no clear movement into Boyfriendland. All the discussions and intimate moments could be construed as simple friendliness.
So, Jazz comes up with The Plan--well it's more like The List for The Plan--of ten things to do to capture the heart of a boy. He spends weeks getting to know Jazz, hooking him in--if he can--and having hilarious misadventures. At the heart of this is a serious connection that Chance needs to make with himself, coming to terms with his gender and how that might affect a potential partner. Chance is a a reliable narrator, and his narration is funny. He's a diva, and his brilliance is often overwhelming to his objective: getting Jazz to love him. Thing is, he is super insecure, and that softens his manic edges. It's a lot Notting Hill, with a boy standing in front of a boy, asking him to love him. This is a completely innocent book, sexually. The romance appears to be completely one-sided but it develops into a very tender friendship as Chance learns to love, and to give love, for no other reason than to help Jazz find happiness. Also, I enjoyed how Chance saw Jazz's life, and how his privilege of money didn't make for near as happy a home as Jazz's criminally broke but bursting with love family.
I think the Love Spell part of it was rather short, and not the main focus, at all. It was great to walk through Chance's gender-fluid shoes and get a better sense of the insecurity and frustration of not really KNOWING if he was a he-girl or a she-boy or somewhere in the middle, and I'm certain it will resonate with questioning teens. This is the second LGBTQ YA novel I've read from Ms. Kerick and the characters are always intense and sincere with real life plights that are honestly told. It took me a little time to settle into Chance's voice because he's got a flamboyant speech pattern, which is part of his quirky charm.
Chance Cesar is an out gay teen, a senior in his rural New Hampshire high school and the new Miss Harvest Moon. That's right, he was voted to be the pageant queen, as a cruel joke, but he werks it, strutting down the aisle in an orange tux and black pumps. That's how we meet Chance, and henceforth his fabulousness cannot be denied.
Chance has always known he's attracted to boys/men, but he's still not clear on his gender identity. He struggles with his daily wardrobe--dress or pants--and he wants a boyfriend. A nice boyfriend. He kinda has his heart set on a boy from the vocational school, Jasper Donahue. "Jazz," as Chance dubs him, is a burly boy with lots of responsibilities. He works to help support his mother and sister, and when he isn't working, he's babysitting his sister so his mom can work. Still, Chance is smitten, and he's not even sure if Jazz swings his direction. Jazz seems to invite Chance's attention, but there is no clear movement into Boyfriendland. All the discussions and intimate moments could be construed as simple friendliness.
So, Jazz comes up with The Plan--well it's more like The List for The Plan--of ten things to do to capture the heart of a boy. He spends weeks getting to know Jazz, hooking him in--if he can--and having hilarious misadventures. At the heart of this is a serious connection that Chance needs to make with himself, coming to terms with his gender and how that might affect a potential partner. Chance is a a reliable narrator, and his narration is funny. He's a diva, and his brilliance is often overwhelming to his objective: getting Jazz to love him. Thing is, he is super insecure, and that softens his manic edges. It's a lot Notting Hill, with a boy standing in front of a boy, asking him to love him. This is a completely innocent book, sexually. The romance appears to be completely one-sided but it develops into a very tender friendship as Chance learns to love, and to give love, for no other reason than to help Jazz find happiness. Also, I enjoyed how Chance saw Jazz's life, and how his privilege of money didn't make for near as happy a home as Jazz's criminally broke but bursting with love family.
I think the Love Spell part of it was rather short, and not the main focus, at all. It was great to walk through Chance's gender-fluid shoes and get a better sense of the insecurity and frustration of not really KNOWING if he was a he-girl or a she-boy or somewhere in the middle, and I'm certain it will resonate with questioning teens. This is the second LGBTQ YA novel I've read from Ms. Kerick and the characters are always intense and sincere with real life plights that are honestly told. It took me a little time to settle into Chance's voice because he's got a flamboyant speech pattern, which is part of his quirky charm.
August 9, 2018
Totes Adorbs
Mia Kerick must have cast a spell on me because I loved this book. Funny and sassy Chance needs to read better magazines if he’s going to use their “list for getting a guy”. You know that can only spell D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R.
Fast pace and fun to read. No tears from me, but I did get a little throat soreness. 4.0 for Cracker Tranquilizers.
Mia Kerick must have cast a spell on me because I loved this book. Funny and sassy Chance needs to read better magazines if he’s going to use their “list for getting a guy”. You know that can only spell D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R.
Fast pace and fun to read. No tears from me, but I did get a little throat soreness. 4.0 for Cracker Tranquilizers.
June 1, 2015
Mia Kerick hits another one out of the park with Love Spell. When gender-bending/fluid/queer/something or other Chance Cesar meets Jasper Donahue after Chance's win as the Pumpkin Pageant Queen, he decides that Jasper WILL become his first boyfriend. That is, if he can figure out how to make it happen. Mia takes us on a journey of questioning, pain, and insecurity through the struggles of two very different teenagers in a very real way. You can feel Chance's hurt as each and every googled step of making Jasper fall for him fails spectacularly, as well as the physical and mental hurt he endures from the bullies at his school - a very real world scenario. I think the best part of this novel is that it is not filled with twists and turns and complicated back stories that you have to navigate and keep track of. It is a simple, straight forward look at some of the most marginalized kids out there - the ones who are trying to figure out their gender identity, which we all know MUST be one way or the other, right? Love Spell fits right in with my experiences working with LGBTQ youth, and Mia's research on how it all works, the language teens use today, and what it takes to make a relationship make this a compelling story that I think every reader will thoroughly enjoy.
October 3, 2015
This is a light read, but that doesn't mean Chance's identity crisis should be taken lightly. He really does struggle with how to label himself, and I am really glad that he finds some self-acceptance by the end.
The use of the article that is supposed to help him snag his crush is an interesting device because it also reflects his own internal struggles. There is some very dodgy advice (use manipulation), which fortunately Chance abandons, but the one sensible statement 'be yourself', is largely ignored until the end.
Being himself is exactly what Jasper wants.
Anyway, it's fun and funny, and it still asks us to think.
The use of the article that is supposed to help him snag his crush is an interesting device because it also reflects his own internal struggles. There is some very dodgy advice (use manipulation), which fortunately Chance abandons, but the one sensible statement 'be yourself', is largely ignored until the end.
Being himself is exactly what Jasper wants.
Anyway, it's fun and funny, and it still asks us to think.
July 12, 2015
Full review/Цялото ревю - click, click
Note: I received a free copy of the book in exchange of my honest review
After-read thoughts:
The first few chapters I was feeling bit weird. I couldn't figure where, why and what was going on. There was some kind of festival, but it didn't seem to be at school, and what exactly it was about anyway. It took me some time to find my pace. My first impression of Chance as a character (and a person) was of someone I'll probably like, surely admire, but most likely couldn't stand to be whole day around, because it would be too tiring. You may have guessed by now, but Chance is a very bright person, and the way he tell the story is just the same (the book is first person narrative). His thought jump here and there, he takes moments to speak to himself, and he often uses hashtags like #sorrynotsorry and various make up words (and it's not only him). I couldn't help but grinn at the thought that this book would be a nightmare to translate XD
But as the story went on, I was proven wrong. Not only I was capable of spending the day in Chance's company - I did just that and couldn't unstick myself of the book. More I read about him, dearer he became to me. I think I was completely won over by the fact that he always walked with his head up high. Wether it was on the catwalk when most of the people who voted for him did so only to humiliate him. Or when he had a gummy bear head in his teeth while executing rule number one of the List (Smile often!). Nor when the school bullies tried to corner him and Chance showed them the meaning of catfight. Respect. I really have so much respect for him. All alonge the book Chance was very worried about his unability to pick the right "box". Expecting a happy ending, the conclusion didn't come as a surprise, but still I was extremely happy when he realised that there is only one label or box worth checking - the one named "Chance Cesar".
Jazz - or the Target, when in context of the Plan - was as adorable as it can get. He was so cute and cool, I would've kept him if they weren't so sweet together with Chance. At times, I was bit mad at him for being slow and lacking initiative, but at the same time I was sorry for all Chance made him go through. And after all, one just can't be angry for too long with Jazz.
When I first read the blurb, I thought there would be lots of clumsy situations when executing the List. Well, there sure were, but it wasn't as overdone as I was afraid it'd be. And for every such scene, there was another - sweet and genuine, and totally melting my heart. I wish the book was longer - it was less than 200 pages - and that Emily's storly line got somewhat a conclusion, and hopefully for Jazz's friend to be more than a background. They seemed like decent kids.
When I picked Love spell for reading I was naturally expecting to like it, but not as much as I ended up to. I thought I'd give it 4 stars, but the novel was so funny, sweet and nice, without relying on something shocking, that I couldn't help but give it 5.
~~~
Следпрочитно:
Първите няколко глави се чувствах доста... странно, защото не можех да разбера какво, защо и къде се случва. Има някакъв конкурс, или може би е фестивал, но май не е в училище, ама какво всъщност става? Чанс, както сигурно вече сте се досетили, е много ярък и емоционален герой, и начинът му на разказване (защото книгата е от първо лице) е същият. Мисълта му скача насам-натам, влиза в диалози със себе си и буквално говори с хаштагове като #sorrynotsorry. След тези първи страници си направих заключението, че Чанс е от хората (и героите), които като цяло харесвам, със сигурност уважавам, но не мога да прекарам цял ден в компанията им (било то книжна или реална), просто защото ме уморяват.
Напредвайки с книгата обаче, се оказа че греша - можех да си прекарам цял ден безпроблемно с Чанс, Джаз и Емили, и точно това и направих - не се и отлепих. Колкото повече четях за него, и научавах повече за семейството му, за тревогите му, за характера, толкова Чанс ми ставаше по-скъп и накрая много го заобичах. Окончателно ме спечели с факта, че каквото и да ставаше, си държеше главата високо вдигната. Независимо дали се озоваваше с глава на гумено мече между зъбите, докато изпълнява точка едно от плана ("Усмихвай се често!"). Или когато си взима короната от конкурса, в който повечето хора са гласували за него с идеята да го унизят. Или когато училищните горили го причакват, и ��ой им показва, че и да не раздава юмруци, може да дере като дива котка. Респект. През цялата книга Чанс много се терзаеше, че не може да намери верния етикет за себе си. Въпреки че заради очаквания хепи енд си знаех, че накрая ще го осъзнае, но все пак бях много щастлива, когато го разбра - единственият етикет или кутийка, която е нужно да отметне е "Чанс Сезар".
Джаз, още известен като "Мишената" в кодираните разговори за Плана и Списъка, беше олицетворението на думата "душка". Супер мил и супер готин. От време на време му се ядосвах, че е малко бавен и не��остатъчно инициативен, но същевременно го съжалявах, заради всичко, което Чанс му изсипваше отгоре, следвайки Плана. А и в крайна сметка е просто невъзможно да се сърдиш на Джаз.
Когато четох анотацията, си мислих, че при изпълнението на списъка ще възникнат много конфузни ситуации. Това донякъде беше така, но нямаше нищо хиперболизирано - самият Чанс бе по-скоро умерен в изпълнението на повечето съвети; и за всяка подобна случка имаше някоя, която да е искрена, и сърдечна, и да ме накара да се умиля. Щеше ми се книгата да беше по-дълга (няма и 200 странички) и линията за Емили да си има заключение, а приятелите на Джаз да не са само фон и да имат повече участие (сториха ми се готини).
Когато си избрах "Любовна магия" за четене, очаквах да ми хареса (иначе нямаше да я взема изобщо), но очаквах да ми хареса по-малко, за четири звездички например. Но в крайна сметка толкова забавна, интересна и много мила, дори и без да е непредвидима или шокираща, че не издържах на изкушението и ѝ дадох максимална оценка.
Note: I received a free copy of the book in exchange of my honest review
After-read thoughts:
The first few chapters I was feeling bit weird. I couldn't figure where, why and what was going on. There was some kind of festival, but it didn't seem to be at school, and what exactly it was about anyway. It took me some time to find my pace. My first impression of Chance as a character (and a person) was of someone I'll probably like, surely admire, but most likely couldn't stand to be whole day around, because it would be too tiring. You may have guessed by now, but Chance is a very bright person, and the way he tell the story is just the same (the book is first person narrative). His thought jump here and there, he takes moments to speak to himself, and he often uses hashtags like #sorrynotsorry and various make up words (and it's not only him). I couldn't help but grinn at the thought that this book would be a nightmare to translate XD
But as the story went on, I was proven wrong. Not only I was capable of spending the day in Chance's company - I did just that and couldn't unstick myself of the book. More I read about him, dearer he became to me. I think I was completely won over by the fact that he always walked with his head up high. Wether it was on the catwalk when most of the people who voted for him did so only to humiliate him. Or when he had a gummy bear head in his teeth while executing rule number one of the List (Smile often!). Nor when the school bullies tried to corner him and Chance showed them the meaning of catfight. Respect. I really have so much respect for him. All alonge the book Chance was very worried about his unability to pick the right "box". Expecting a happy ending, the conclusion didn't come as a surprise, but still I was extremely happy when he realised that there is only one label or box worth checking - the one named "Chance Cesar".
Jazz - or the Target, when in context of the Plan - was as adorable as it can get. He was so cute and cool, I would've kept him if they weren't so sweet together with Chance. At times, I was bit mad at him for being slow and lacking initiative, but at the same time I was sorry for all Chance made him go through. And after all, one just can't be angry for too long with Jazz.
When I first read the blurb, I thought there would be lots of clumsy situations when executing the List. Well, there sure were, but it wasn't as overdone as I was afraid it'd be. And for every such scene, there was another - sweet and genuine, and totally melting my heart. I wish the book was longer - it was less than 200 pages - and that Emily's storly line got somewhat a conclusion, and hopefully for Jazz's friend to be more than a background. They seemed like decent kids.
When I picked Love spell for reading I was naturally expecting to like it, but not as much as I ended up to. I thought I'd give it 4 stars, but the novel was so funny, sweet and nice, without relying on something shocking, that I couldn't help but give it 5.
~~~
Следпрочитно:
Първите няколко глави се чувствах доста... странно, защото не можех да разбера какво, защо и къде се случва. Има някакъв конкурс, или може би е фестивал, но май не е в училище, ама какво всъщност става? Чанс, както сигурно вече сте се досетили, е много ярък и емоционален герой, и начинът му на разказване (защото книгата е от първо лице) е същият. Мисълта му скача насам-натам, влиза в диалози със себе си и буквално говори с хаштагове като #sorrynotsorry. След тези първи страници си направих заключението, че Чанс е от хората (и героите), които като цяло харесвам, със сигурност уважавам, но не мога да прекарам цял ден в компанията им (било то книжна или реална), просто защото ме уморяват.
Напредвайки с книгата обаче, се оказа че греша - можех да си прекарам цял ден безпроблемно с Чанс, Джаз и Емили, и точно това и направих - не се и отлепих. Колкото повече четях за него, и научавах повече за семейството му, за тревогите му, за характера, толкова Чанс ми ставаше по-скъп и накрая много го заобичах. Окончателно ме спечели с факта, че каквото и да ставаше, си държеше главата високо вдигната. Независимо дали се озоваваше с глава на гумено мече между зъбите, докато изпълнява точка едно от плана ("Усмихвай се често!"). Или когато си взима короната от конкурса, в който повечето хора са гласували за него с идеята да го унизят. Или когато училищните горили го причакват, и ��ой им показва, че и да не раздава юмруци, може да дере като дива котка. Респект. През цялата книга Чанс много се терзаеше, че не може да намери верния етикет за себе си. Въпреки че заради очаквания хепи енд си знаех, че накрая ще го осъзнае, но все пак бях много щастлива, когато го разбра - единственият етикет или кутийка, която е нужно да отметне е "Чанс Сезар".
Джаз, още известен като "Мишената" в кодираните разговори за Плана и Списъка, беше олицетворението на думата "душка". Супер мил и супер готин. От време на време му се ядосвах, че е малко бавен и не��остатъчно инициативен, но същевременно го съжалявах, заради всичко, което Чанс му изсипваше отгоре, следвайки Плана. А и в крайна сметка е просто невъзможно да се сърдиш на Джаз.
Когато четох анотацията, си мислих, че при изпълнението на списъка ще възникнат много конфузни ситуации. Това донякъде беше така, но нямаше нищо хиперболизирано - самият Чанс бе по-скоро умерен в изпълнението на повечето съвети; и за всяка подобна случка имаше някоя, която да е искрена, и сърдечна, и да ме накара да се умиля. Щеше ми се книгата да беше по-дълга (няма и 200 странички) и линията за Емили да си има заключение, а приятелите на Джаз да не са само фон и да имат повече участие (сториха ми се готини).
Когато си избрах "Любовна магия" за четене, очаквах да ми хареса (иначе нямаше да я взема изобщо), но очаквах да ми хареса по-малко, за четири звездички например. Но в крайна сметка толкова забавна, интересна и много мила, дори и без да е непредвидима или шокираща, че не издържах на изкушението и ѝ дадох максимална оценка.
July 8, 2015
Love Spell
By Mia Kerick
Four stars
It’s so great when an author can take the YA/LGBT novel and make it fresh and appealing. Personally, I never get tired of seeing the awkward loneliness of my own teenage years filtered through another teen’s eyes; and Mia Kerick has managed to give my ancient anxieties a totally new spin.
Chance César (really? Say it fast) is very gay. And very flamboyant. He’s been voted Miss Harvest Moon of his small New Hampshire town, and instead of letting it become a cruel prank at his expense, he brazenly vamps his way across the stage, ginger hair spiked and orange tuxedo a-glitter.
Convinced that his aging hippie parents simply don’t care, Chance has allowed his style ambitions to run wild. He has embraced the role of the “only out gay boy” in his high school by using his wit and his outrageous fashion sense as both a beacon and as a shield. He is supported and advised by his best friend Emily, who is something of a Hermione Granger and, like him, is socially marginalized.
But Chance, with all his flamboyance, seems to have overlooked Jasper Donahue, a classmate who is in the vo-tech side of the school and who has no college ambitions. Quiet and jocky, Jasper seems to spend most of his time taking care of his little sister Jo, while their widowed mother works multiple jobs to make ends meet.
This doesn’t really register with Chance, because he is smitten. He and Emily cook up a plan to make Jasper (instantly dubbed “Jazz” by Chance) fall for Chance by using a fool-proof plan from a woman’s magazine. Good grief.
Chance is really a lovable character—at least I loved him. But he has all that self-obsessed blindness that most teenagers have (myself at that age, and my own kids included). He envies Jasper’s little family and their loving interaction—but doesn’t see how desperate they are, how hard they have to struggle just to get by. On the other hand, he dismisses his parents as uncaring and disinterested (which might, after all be true); but they have never given him trouble for being gay, and seem happy to support his shopping and leisure time without complaint (as long as he gets good grades, which he does).
Chance gets so caught up in wooing Jasper that he doesn’t really pay any attention to who Jasper is and what he might need, emotionally, in his own life.
It’s a good thing that the adults in this book seem to support Chance. It’s also a good thing that Chance is, at heart, a kind and generous soul, so that when finally faced with reality, he steps up like the good man he is.
And this is another point. Chance is really not completely clear on his gender. He’s not transgender, but he feels strongly pulled to the girl side of things. He knows he’s gay and is drawn to boys, but he doesn’t quite feel all boy all the time.
For me, this book was an opportunity to really think about what gender identity is, and how many ways one can look at it. It is tough for my generation—who struggled with the whole idea of being gay (or even, radically, bi)—to really get a grip on the issue of gender fluidity. We (or, at least, I) take comfort in tidy labels. Chance, however, is not remotely comfortable with either Box A or Box B.
And, perhaps, maybe we shouldn’t care about labels. Life isn’t tidy. Love isn’t tidy. People need love more than tidiness.
Bravo, Mia Kerick, for helping an old gay man get a grip.
By Mia Kerick
Four stars
It’s so great when an author can take the YA/LGBT novel and make it fresh and appealing. Personally, I never get tired of seeing the awkward loneliness of my own teenage years filtered through another teen’s eyes; and Mia Kerick has managed to give my ancient anxieties a totally new spin.
Chance César (really? Say it fast) is very gay. And very flamboyant. He’s been voted Miss Harvest Moon of his small New Hampshire town, and instead of letting it become a cruel prank at his expense, he brazenly vamps his way across the stage, ginger hair spiked and orange tuxedo a-glitter.
Convinced that his aging hippie parents simply don’t care, Chance has allowed his style ambitions to run wild. He has embraced the role of the “only out gay boy” in his high school by using his wit and his outrageous fashion sense as both a beacon and as a shield. He is supported and advised by his best friend Emily, who is something of a Hermione Granger and, like him, is socially marginalized.
But Chance, with all his flamboyance, seems to have overlooked Jasper Donahue, a classmate who is in the vo-tech side of the school and who has no college ambitions. Quiet and jocky, Jasper seems to spend most of his time taking care of his little sister Jo, while their widowed mother works multiple jobs to make ends meet.
This doesn’t really register with Chance, because he is smitten. He and Emily cook up a plan to make Jasper (instantly dubbed “Jazz” by Chance) fall for Chance by using a fool-proof plan from a woman’s magazine. Good grief.
Chance is really a lovable character—at least I loved him. But he has all that self-obsessed blindness that most teenagers have (myself at that age, and my own kids included). He envies Jasper’s little family and their loving interaction—but doesn’t see how desperate they are, how hard they have to struggle just to get by. On the other hand, he dismisses his parents as uncaring and disinterested (which might, after all be true); but they have never given him trouble for being gay, and seem happy to support his shopping and leisure time without complaint (as long as he gets good grades, which he does).
Chance gets so caught up in wooing Jasper that he doesn’t really pay any attention to who Jasper is and what he might need, emotionally, in his own life.
It’s a good thing that the adults in this book seem to support Chance. It’s also a good thing that Chance is, at heart, a kind and generous soul, so that when finally faced with reality, he steps up like the good man he is.
And this is another point. Chance is really not completely clear on his gender. He’s not transgender, but he feels strongly pulled to the girl side of things. He knows he’s gay and is drawn to boys, but he doesn’t quite feel all boy all the time.
For me, this book was an opportunity to really think about what gender identity is, and how many ways one can look at it. It is tough for my generation—who struggled with the whole idea of being gay (or even, radically, bi)—to really get a grip on the issue of gender fluidity. We (or, at least, I) take comfort in tidy labels. Chance, however, is not remotely comfortable with either Box A or Box B.
And, perhaps, maybe we shouldn’t care about labels. Life isn’t tidy. Love isn’t tidy. People need love more than tidiness.
Bravo, Mia Kerick, for helping an old gay man get a grip.
June 9, 2015
This is a wonderfully funny lighthearted book that tells the story of chance and how he journeys to realize that being confused about himself is okay and that he doesn’t have to fit in a category but just be himself.
Chance is a snarky fun gay young man who is out and proud and shakes things up. He becomes Miss Harvest moon and captures the eye of Jasper. In his efforts to capture Jasper in his heart he follows these rules from a online dating column to get him. Except along the way he journeys to find out where he fits in. He is feminine and masculine. He is smart and fun. But he ignores two pieces of advice from the column and almost loses it all.
Each outrageous rule chance follows has a different interesting reaction for Jasper. My favorite act that chance does is the love spells. when one has honey drip off the paper and on his pants was a hoot. Or the smiling where the gummy bears were stuck in his teeth. Classic.
Jasper is the hardworking loves is family sweet genuine guy who likes Chance but can’t figure him out. He hopes that they can be friends and more but with all of chance’s antics he thinks he may be too simple for chance. He has a hard life because he helps his mom raise his little sister and in the process has had to give up his life and go for a simple road so he has money for his family. chance for him is a breath of air. It is Jasper who shows Chance that being himself is the best person he can be and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks as long as you are the best you you can be.
Emily is chance’s best friend and there for Chance no matter what. She helps him do the research on how to get Jasper and even helps with the love spell. She sees chance for who he is a great guy.
This is a fun book that teaches us to just be who we are. To stay in the box we create and not what others have for not everyone fits neatly in one place. The writing is fun and lighthearted and keeps a smile on your face as you watch Chance do crazy things to make Jasper his when along when he was himself is when he gets the guy.
Chance is a snarky fun gay young man who is out and proud and shakes things up. He becomes Miss Harvest moon and captures the eye of Jasper. In his efforts to capture Jasper in his heart he follows these rules from a online dating column to get him. Except along the way he journeys to find out where he fits in. He is feminine and masculine. He is smart and fun. But he ignores two pieces of advice from the column and almost loses it all.
Each outrageous rule chance follows has a different interesting reaction for Jasper. My favorite act that chance does is the love spells. when one has honey drip off the paper and on his pants was a hoot. Or the smiling where the gummy bears were stuck in his teeth. Classic.
Jasper is the hardworking loves is family sweet genuine guy who likes Chance but can’t figure him out. He hopes that they can be friends and more but with all of chance’s antics he thinks he may be too simple for chance. He has a hard life because he helps his mom raise his little sister and in the process has had to give up his life and go for a simple road so he has money for his family. chance for him is a breath of air. It is Jasper who shows Chance that being himself is the best person he can be and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks as long as you are the best you you can be.
Emily is chance’s best friend and there for Chance no matter what. She helps him do the research on how to get Jasper and even helps with the love spell. She sees chance for who he is a great guy.
This is a fun book that teaches us to just be who we are. To stay in the box we create and not what others have for not everyone fits neatly in one place. The writing is fun and lighthearted and keeps a smile on your face as you watch Chance do crazy things to make Jasper his when along when he was himself is when he gets the guy.
May 28, 2015
QUILTBAG Content: Well, Love Spell offers us (first and foremost) a gender-fluid young gay man who thinks "Gender Labels Suck Donkey Balls." He’s out (other kids call him girly-boy), he’s proud (a self-professed queen), and he’s infatuated with a boy named Jazz. As for Jazz, he’s friendly and kind of shy, but Chance can’t figure out whether he’ll “desire a sexily feminine Chance, a boyishly charming Chance, or no Chance at all, because he isn't gay.”
Fetish Content: Actually, despite this being YA fiction, there is a bit of a cross-dressing fetish here. It’s not sexual or kinky, but I know some readers will enjoy Chance’s fashion sense, his love of lip gloss, and his experiments with eyeliner.
Literary Quality: This is a hard story to judge. Personally, I didn’t care for the narrative structure. To me, it was often a jumbled mix of styles, with a very teenaged narrator often talking directly to the reader, but it will probably work very well for its intended audience. The dialogue sounded realistic, if a bit exaggerated sometimes, but I’m really the wrong age to say whether the slang rings true (fortunately, there is a glossary at the back). There were some nice descriptive passages, however, and they do well to set the scene.
Overall: Love Spell was a story that has a lot of fun with the material, but which also has a strong heart and a wonderful message. Even if I got lost in some of the slang, the characters were well-developed and the mystery of the core romance was interesting enough to keep me reading right through to the end. He was exasperating at times, but I really did like Chance, and I sympathised with him as often as I emphasized. I hope it finds an audience because it’s a fun, uplifting, gender-affirming story that doesn’t come across as preachy or condescending, and that’s not easy.
As reviewed by Trevor at Bending the Bookshelf
Fetish Content: Actually, despite this being YA fiction, there is a bit of a cross-dressing fetish here. It’s not sexual or kinky, but I know some readers will enjoy Chance’s fashion sense, his love of lip gloss, and his experiments with eyeliner.
Literary Quality: This is a hard story to judge. Personally, I didn’t care for the narrative structure. To me, it was often a jumbled mix of styles, with a very teenaged narrator often talking directly to the reader, but it will probably work very well for its intended audience. The dialogue sounded realistic, if a bit exaggerated sometimes, but I’m really the wrong age to say whether the slang rings true (fortunately, there is a glossary at the back). There were some nice descriptive passages, however, and they do well to set the scene.
Overall: Love Spell was a story that has a lot of fun with the material, but which also has a strong heart and a wonderful message. Even if I got lost in some of the slang, the characters were well-developed and the mystery of the core romance was interesting enough to keep me reading right through to the end. He was exasperating at times, but I really did like Chance, and I sympathised with him as often as I emphasized. I hope it finds an audience because it’s a fun, uplifting, gender-affirming story that doesn’t come across as preachy or condescending, and that’s not easy.
As reviewed by Trevor at Bending the Bookshelf
May 17, 2015
The story begins with Chance strutting his stuff being voted as Miss(ter) Harvest Moon. It was meant to be a prank and insult since Chance is openly, flamboyantly gay, but he loved every minute of it.. Not only is he gay, he is confused by his gender. Sometimes he feels more like a girl at others he feels very much like a boy. This makes it even harder for him to think about relationships since he isn’t sure another man would be able to understand and accept him.
At the festival, he meets Jasper (Jazz) and falls in love. He and his best friend Emily decide to find a way to get Jazz to fall in love with Chance even if it takes casting some love spells.
This book is a very charming, funny young adult story. It covers gender fluidity very well. When the book first began I was thrown a bit by the style. Chance is telling the story then it had paragraphs in parentheses where he was thinking to himself or answering himself. It was a bit confusing. However, as the story goes along this seemed to stop and it was less confusing.
There is also a lot of slang, made-up words and clichés throughout the story. They are there I understand to make a pot and show the characters personality and voice, but for me it was a bit much. I did like the cute words and there is a dictionary in the back that explains them, but I think they were overused.
So for me the story was a very fun read. Cute and sweet. It made me smile quite a bit and I laughed out loud a few times. His name alone tells you how funny the story will be, Chance Ce’sar (Chances are)
If you like a light, humorous story, young adults, coming of age, finding oneself, friends to lovers, gender fluidity, and an overall sweet, funny romance this is for you.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
At the festival, he meets Jasper (Jazz) and falls in love. He and his best friend Emily decide to find a way to get Jazz to fall in love with Chance even if it takes casting some love spells.
This book is a very charming, funny young adult story. It covers gender fluidity very well. When the book first began I was thrown a bit by the style. Chance is telling the story then it had paragraphs in parentheses where he was thinking to himself or answering himself. It was a bit confusing. However, as the story goes along this seemed to stop and it was less confusing.
There is also a lot of slang, made-up words and clichés throughout the story. They are there I understand to make a pot and show the characters personality and voice, but for me it was a bit much. I did like the cute words and there is a dictionary in the back that explains them, but I think they were overused.
So for me the story was a very fun read. Cute and sweet. It made me smile quite a bit and I laughed out loud a few times. His name alone tells you how funny the story will be, Chance Ce’sar (Chances are)
If you like a light, humorous story, young adults, coming of age, finding oneself, friends to lovers, gender fluidity, and an overall sweet, funny romance this is for you.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
May 26, 2015
Chance has long felt (for all of his young life, actually) that he's caught between genders and 'neither fish nor fowl', but he's been pegged as gay and in his rural high school the other kids, sensing that his gender isn't clear, avoid him.
But the real trouble begins when he meets a boy who returns his love at the Harvest Moon Festival, and decides to make his underlying differences more public.
Love Spell is his exploration of gender, being gay, coming out, and most of all, surviving in a world that is only half accepting of his sexuality.
The first thing to note about the story line is that, like its main character, the first-person dialogue is edgy; and by this it is meant that descriptions are filled with observation, slang, and occasional profanity and delivered with an almost sassy style.
There's a sense of self here that doesn't come across in most similar stories of gay or questioning youth. It's inherent in the first-person dialogues, in Chance's varied interactions with all kinds of people coming from all kinds of viewpoints, and in a story line that excels in capturing all the nuances of a teen who fairly well knows what he is, but doesn't yet know how that fits into the bigger worldviews of life.
Love Spell isn't for the mild reader who wants a simple love story: there's nothing simple about Chance or his relationships. Conversely, its delight lies in its complexity and its unique ability to involve all readers in Chance's story. As flamboyant and outrageous as Chance himself, Love Spell presents the rare ability to shock, awe, and educate mature teen to adult readers alike.
But the real trouble begins when he meets a boy who returns his love at the Harvest Moon Festival, and decides to make his underlying differences more public.
Love Spell is his exploration of gender, being gay, coming out, and most of all, surviving in a world that is only half accepting of his sexuality.
The first thing to note about the story line is that, like its main character, the first-person dialogue is edgy; and by this it is meant that descriptions are filled with observation, slang, and occasional profanity and delivered with an almost sassy style.
There's a sense of self here that doesn't come across in most similar stories of gay or questioning youth. It's inherent in the first-person dialogues, in Chance's varied interactions with all kinds of people coming from all kinds of viewpoints, and in a story line that excels in capturing all the nuances of a teen who fairly well knows what he is, but doesn't yet know how that fits into the bigger worldviews of life.
Love Spell isn't for the mild reader who wants a simple love story: there's nothing simple about Chance or his relationships. Conversely, its delight lies in its complexity and its unique ability to involve all readers in Chance's story. As flamboyant and outrageous as Chance himself, Love Spell presents the rare ability to shock, awe, and educate mature teen to adult readers alike.
June 9, 2015
Independent reveiwer for Archaeolibrarian I Dig Good Books.
Chance is the Pumpkin Pageant Queen, and when he gets his sights on the Pumpkin Pageant King, Jasper, he pulls out all the stops to make him his.
I struggled a bit with this one. I have listened to another of Mia Kerick's books, and loved that but this one doesn't carry as much of a punch.
I LOVED the plot line, the gender identity issue that Chance has, its dealt with beautifully, very well put across from Chance's POV. Its only Chance who has his say, though. And, being 17, his lingo and that of Emily's, his best friend, a tad too.....young for me!
The lingo used is what I struggled most with. With the characters being young, and it did get a bit repetitive I found, saying the same things over and over. This and the fact that only Chance gets his say, in the first person, is why i scored it what I did. Its entirely a personal choice and some readers may well love Chance and his very...active, floaty, off on a tangent brain. Its quite hard to keep up with him at points!
I LOVED, absolutely LOVED there is no sexual activity in this book, none whatsoever. Just that first kiss for Chance and Jazz that happens right near the end. Loved that.
Soory, but not one for me.
3.5 stars
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk**
Chance is the Pumpkin Pageant Queen, and when he gets his sights on the Pumpkin Pageant King, Jasper, he pulls out all the stops to make him his.
I struggled a bit with this one. I have listened to another of Mia Kerick's books, and loved that but this one doesn't carry as much of a punch.
I LOVED the plot line, the gender identity issue that Chance has, its dealt with beautifully, very well put across from Chance's POV. Its only Chance who has his say, though. And, being 17, his lingo and that of Emily's, his best friend, a tad too.....young for me!
The lingo used is what I struggled most with. With the characters being young, and it did get a bit repetitive I found, saying the same things over and over. This and the fact that only Chance gets his say, in the first person, is why i scored it what I did. Its entirely a personal choice and some readers may well love Chance and his very...active, floaty, off on a tangent brain. Its quite hard to keep up with him at points!
I LOVED, absolutely LOVED there is no sexual activity in this book, none whatsoever. Just that first kiss for Chance and Jazz that happens right near the end. Loved that.
Soory, but not one for me.
3.5 stars
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk**
May 31, 2015
Mia Kerick hits another one out of the park with Love Spell. When gender-bending/fluid/queer/something or other Chance Cesar meets Jasper Donahue after Chance's win as the Pumpkin Pageant Queen, he decides that Jasper WILL become his first boyfriend. That is, if he can figure out how to make it happen. Mia takes us on a journey of questioning, pain, and insecurity through the struggles of two very different teenagers in a very real way. You can feel Chance's hurt as each and every googled step of making Jasper fall for him fails spectacularly, as well as the physical and mental hurt he endures from the bullies at his school - a very real world scenario. I think the best part of this novel is that it is not filled with twists and turns and complicated back stories that you have to navigate and keep track of. It is a simple, straight forward look at some of the most marginalized kids out there - the ones who are trying to figure out their gender identity, which we all know MUST be one way or the other, right? Love Spell fits right in with my experiences working with LGBTQ youth, and Mia's research on how it all works, the language teens use today, and what it takes to make a relationship make this a compelling story that I think every reader will thoroughly enjoy.
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