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Ripple
When their too-adult lives lead them down self-destructive paths, these broken teens find a way to heal in this YA novel perfect for fans of Ellen Hopkins.
With her impossible-to-please grandmother on her back about college and her disapproving step-dad watching her every move, Tessa would do anything to escape the pressure-cooker she calls home. So she finds a shot of much-needed power and confidence by hooking up with boys, even though it means cheating on her boyfriend. But when she's finally caught red-handed, she’ll do anything she can to cover up what she's done.
Jack is a prankster who bucks the system every chance he gets—each transgression getting riskier and riskier. He loves the thrill, and each adventure allows a little release because his smug smile and suave demeanor in the face of authority doesn’t make life at home with his mom any less tough. He tries to take care of her, but the truth is he's powerless in the face of her fragile mental health. So he copes in his own way, by defacing public property and pulling elaborate pranks, though he knows in the end this’ll only screw up his life even more.
As they both try not to let their self-destructive patterns get the best of them, Tessa and Jack gravitate toward one another, discovering the best parts of themselves in the process. An honest portrayal of the urges that drive us and finding the strength to overcome them.
With her impossible-to-please grandmother on her back about college and her disapproving step-dad watching her every move, Tessa would do anything to escape the pressure-cooker she calls home. So she finds a shot of much-needed power and confidence by hooking up with boys, even though it means cheating on her boyfriend. But when she's finally caught red-handed, she’ll do anything she can to cover up what she's done.
Jack is a prankster who bucks the system every chance he gets—each transgression getting riskier and riskier. He loves the thrill, and each adventure allows a little release because his smug smile and suave demeanor in the face of authority doesn’t make life at home with his mom any less tough. He tries to take care of her, but the truth is he's powerless in the face of her fragile mental health. So he copes in his own way, by defacing public property and pulling elaborate pranks, though he knows in the end this’ll only screw up his life even more.
As they both try not to let their self-destructive patterns get the best of them, Tessa and Jack gravitate toward one another, discovering the best parts of themselves in the process. An honest portrayal of the urges that drive us and finding the strength to overcome them.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
About the author
Heather Smith Meloche
1 book60 followersHeather Smith Meloche has had the honor of winning the Katherine Paterson Prize and the Writer's Digest National Competition for her children's/Young Adult writing. She studied video production and poetry at Michigan State University, and then got her Master's in Teaching English as a Second Language at Bowling Green State University. She spends her days in her home in Michigan sampling a wide variety of chocolate, letting her dogs in and out constantly, and writing and reading as much as she can.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 28, 2016
OMG! This book was painful to read at times. The things the people go through in this book, I can't even!
This is a story about Tessa and Jack.
Tessa lives with her mom, stepdad and little sister Willow. Tessa's stepdad is an alcoholic. Things are not all that great. Tessa's grandmother (who is the mom of her biological dad that walked out on Tessa and her mom) is rich and owns a business called Leighton Custom Homes. She wants Tessa to go to the U of M and work at LCH and take over one day. Tessa wants to be an artist, but she feels forced to do what her grandmother wants because of reasons I won't say due to no spoilers.
Jack and his mom move in next door to Tessa and her family. Jack's mom used to be a big attorney and still does some tiny cases. She was always an alcoholic, but now she's worse and she has schizophrenia. Jack's father left after a tragedy happened and caused Jack's mom to lose it. Jack's dad wants him to come and live with him but Jack needs to take care of his mom. He goes to school, gets in trouble, is very smart though, and he works a few different jobs to try to pay the bills. He also plays the violin.
Tessa has a boyfriend on the football team and his name is Seth. But Tessa does some terrible things to try to make herself feel better. They are not good things and she knows it but for now she feels that is all she has got.
Jack is a trouble maker. He doesn't do really bad things, mostly funny stuff that does get him into a lot of trouble. It's sort of a way to get his mind off all of the bad things in his life. But he's also a good guy, he plays his violin for the nursing home. He's just stuck.
Tessa and Jack find each other and can be honest with each other with their most terrible secrets. They don't have to be afraid of each other. This does take some time to happen but it's nice to find a true friend and they do have a love interest with each other. But this isn't a big time love book. It's about people going through things and helping each other. It's really bittersweet.
There is a moment in the book when something else bad happens that I should have seen. I am usually good at that, but it slipped right by me. One of those parts that breaks your heart for so many people and almost gets someone killed! This is why I like reading with other people so we can talk about the OMG moments!
Anyway, I thought the book was really good. I loved most of the characters even with their flaws. Well, okay the not so good characters were very well played as well.
I also like that the author put in some websites at the end concerning, sex, alcoholics and mental health. All of these things are real and need to be addressed and people helped if they can be.
For guidance with alcohol/drug abuse and mental disorders contact: samhsa.gov
*I would like to thank Penguin Books and The First Reads Program for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
July 27, 2019
I've had Ripple sitting on my shelf for years... I cannot believe I waited so long to read. It was so good! I was off yesterday, so I literally spent my whole day reading it.
February 19, 2017
Un drama, demasiado dramático. La autora abarca mil y un problemas todos al mismo tiempo, que no quiero decir "no le puede pasar tanto a alguien", pero me parece que era demasiado para la historia.
Los protagonistas eran los típicos clichés de estas historias.
Reseña completa en Gracias a los Libros.
Los protagonistas eran los típicos clichés de estas historias.
Reseña completa en Gracias a los Libros.
June 2, 2016
This is a beautifully written dark and suspenseful YA debut. Two high schoolers, Tessa and Jack, navigate lives filled with pain, grief and anxiety by engaging in dangerous and harmful actions. Tessa battles the abandonment of her father, the emotional abuse by her stepfather and the rigid college and career demands of her grandmother. Her coping mechanism: casual sexual encounters with strangers all the while keeping it from her quarterback boyfriend. Jack's family has been destroyed by the death of his younger brother and his mother's alcoholism and schizophrenia; Jack fights to keep his tiny family together while watching his own dreams for his future fade away. To handle the stress, Jack is well-known to both school and police as a prankster and his risk-taking grows in direct relationship to his mother's downward spiralling.
This story moves fast and Meloche is tremendously skilled at creating a tension and suspense that builds steadily as different subplots take on greater significance. The chemistry between Tessa and Jack is electric and one of my favorite parts was how Meloche developed a true friendship before any romance. Dialogue and characters shine here and Meloche is just a flat-out gorgeous writer. Don't miss this fascinating, fast paced, hard-to-put down debut!!
This story moves fast and Meloche is tremendously skilled at creating a tension and suspense that builds steadily as different subplots take on greater significance. The chemistry between Tessa and Jack is electric and one of my favorite parts was how Meloche developed a true friendship before any romance. Dialogue and characters shine here and Meloche is just a flat-out gorgeous writer. Don't miss this fascinating, fast paced, hard-to-put down debut!!
May 25, 2017
* I received a copy of this via my local bookstore. This does not impact my review in any way.
Sometimes you read a book that's just utterly forgettable in every way, and that's how I felt here. Ripple has a lot of potential with its characters, but ended up as a simple bad boy meets good girl romance.
This book doesn't really have a ton of positives, but it did manage to avoid outright slutshaming. Tessa's sleeping around is a specific issue because it involves cheating, not because she's sleeping around in the first place.
Now, for the issues.
The romance promised to be two troubled characters finding solace in each other. It didn't work out, and it's hard to point to why. They've got a hint of instalove, but that shouldn't have stopped me from believing in their connection.
The main fault of this book is the lack of character work. Tessa and Jack are so cliche. Neither of them had any personality beyond “good girl letting loose” and “bad boy with heart of gold”. Which sounds pretty good, right? Unfortunately neither of these characters are interesting unless you develop them well. There were some good character moments, but they were few and far between. No character made me feel connected, and no book can survive when I don't connect to the characters.
In terms of other factors: the writing was nothing special, the plot is paper-thin, and with no interest in the characters, I couldn't forgive either of these things.
There were moments where I believed in the characters and their connection. But all in all, this book didn't make me feel anything. Not recommended.
Although shoutout to this being my first-ever arc! Can't believe this has only lasted June-February and I've already read 42 arcs.
Sometimes you read a book that's just utterly forgettable in every way, and that's how I felt here. Ripple has a lot of potential with its characters, but ended up as a simple bad boy meets good girl romance.
This book doesn't really have a ton of positives, but it did manage to avoid outright slutshaming. Tessa's sleeping around is a specific issue because it involves cheating, not because she's sleeping around in the first place.
Now, for the issues.
The romance promised to be two troubled characters finding solace in each other. It didn't work out, and it's hard to point to why. They've got a hint of instalove, but that shouldn't have stopped me from believing in their connection.
The main fault of this book is the lack of character work. Tessa and Jack are so cliche. Neither of them had any personality beyond “good girl letting loose” and “bad boy with heart of gold”. Which sounds pretty good, right? Unfortunately neither of these characters are interesting unless you develop them well. There were some good character moments, but they were few and far between. No character made me feel connected, and no book can survive when I don't connect to the characters.
In terms of other factors: the writing was nothing special, the plot is paper-thin, and with no interest in the characters, I couldn't forgive either of these things.
There were moments where I believed in the characters and their connection. But all in all, this book didn't make me feel anything. Not recommended.
Although shoutout to this being my first-ever arc! Can't believe this has only lasted June-February and I've already read 42 arcs.
April 15, 2017
Well, "Ripple" by Heather Smith Meloche was a disappointment. I had such high hopes for the books, maybe they were too high. And maybe I made the mistake to let the cover do the talking when buying this book.
It's been a week now that I finished and I already can't tell you much about the characters. Or the story. There was nothing memorable for me about this book.
Maybe it was me, maybe it was the story. Maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to read it. I don't know.
What I do know is that I don't think I could care less about the characters if I tried. They felt one-dimensional and stereotypical.
Especially Tessa was one of the worst characters I've read in a long time. Self-centered, selfish, irritating - if she had disappeared mid-book, I wouldn't have cared.
The writing didn't engage me. I can't put my finger on what the reason was but it didn't evoke any emotions that made it worth-while. It was too dry in a way.
2 this-wasn't-for-me stars.
It's been a week now that I finished and I already can't tell you much about the characters. Or the story. There was nothing memorable for me about this book.
Maybe it was me, maybe it was the story. Maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to read it. I don't know.
What I do know is that I don't think I could care less about the characters if I tried. They felt one-dimensional and stereotypical.
Especially Tessa was one of the worst characters I've read in a long time. Self-centered, selfish, irritating - if she had disappeared mid-book, I wouldn't have cared.
The writing didn't engage me. I can't put my finger on what the reason was but it didn't evoke any emotions that made it worth-while. It was too dry in a way.
2 this-wasn't-for-me stars.
July 9, 2016
I’ve been looking forward to this novel ever since I read Heather’s award-winning short story in verse in Hunger Mountain a few years ago. Her writing is lyrical and evocative, and her debut novel lived up to my high expectations.
This is a story for older teens with cross-over appeal into the New Adult market. At first glance, it might sound like a familiar tale, two struggling teens intensely attracted to one another, who finally help each other recognize and move beyond their self-defeating behavior. What elevates Heather’s story is the deep characterization, luscious prose, and much needed humor in the midst of challenging circumstances. The dialogue is snappy, the heat is raging, and Tessa and Jack are characters to root for. There were moments when I wanted to shake some sense into them, and moments when I cringed knowing there was an emotional train wreck ahead. Heather digs beneath the surface to show the shades of gray and depth of love. Most importantly, she shows that self-destructive patterns, even those that are deeply rooted in a family’s history, can be broken and mended with the compassionate help of a community.
This is a story for older teens with cross-over appeal into the New Adult market. At first glance, it might sound like a familiar tale, two struggling teens intensely attracted to one another, who finally help each other recognize and move beyond their self-defeating behavior. What elevates Heather’s story is the deep characterization, luscious prose, and much needed humor in the midst of challenging circumstances. The dialogue is snappy, the heat is raging, and Tessa and Jack are characters to root for. There were moments when I wanted to shake some sense into them, and moments when I cringed knowing there was an emotional train wreck ahead. Heather digs beneath the surface to show the shades of gray and depth of love. Most importantly, she shows that self-destructive patterns, even those that are deeply rooted in a family’s history, can be broken and mended with the compassionate help of a community.
September 26, 2016
3.5 stars
Tessa and Jack have a lot on their plates for being so young, but they find an uneasy solace in each other. To read my full review for Ripple, visit Books & Beauty Are My Bag.
ARC from Penguin First to Read.
Tessa and Jack have a lot on their plates for being so young, but they find an uneasy solace in each other. To read my full review for Ripple, visit Books & Beauty Are My Bag.
ARC from Penguin First to Read.
January 1, 2017
Oh wow, what a gem of a story that I might not have gotten to for a long time. But once I started reading it, I could. not. stop. I LOVED IT. I loved the two main characters; two broken, scarred kids just trying to grasp some kind of power while their lives spiral out of control. But this never became a story about two teens saving each other, never became a love cures all type of deal. Tessa and Jack helped each other, challenged each other, and fell hard. But only THEY could turn their lives around and make them better. But they had each other through the bad parts, and the ugly ones. Neither of them is perfect. They both could be judgmental, and so, so self-destructive. There were some comments from Jack that pissed me off. They weren't easily likable. But they were easily rootable (my computer is telling me this isn't a word, but I'm keeping it, whatever). Under pressure, stressed to the max, and filled with a need to not confide in or ask for help from others, the two of them nearly destroy their futures before realizing like, hey, they can do better. They can be better. I loved that, and I loved watching the two of them get to that beautiful and heartwarming ending. An ending that made me tear up so much, omg. Ripple completely surprised me. I wasn't expecting to love it so much. But I did. It was an addicting and raw read about two teens who needed to figure out that only they can determine who they are. And that it's okay to lean on others every once in awhile, that it's okay to not be strong all the time, and that they deserved better, from themselves and from the people in their lives. Wonderful!
Rating: 4.5 Paw Prints!
Rating: 4.5 Paw Prints!
September 11, 2016
*I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This has not influenced my opinion in any way.*
Actual rating is probably around a 2.5-ish? Yeah, that seems about right.
Well, well, well....
So, I must admit that I approached this book expecting a lot more than what I received instead. So frankly, this was a bit underwhelming.
Wait, scratch that. This was very underwhelming, and my expectations for this book weren't even that high to begin with. Exceeding, or meeting , at least, my expectations, should not have been hard at all.
Because in all honesty.. this should've worked. It really should have. This book is, loosely, about two teenagers dealing with their own problems in their own way. The synopsis sounded interesting enough. But apart from that.. That's really all the praise I can give it.
So what didn't work? Well, for starters, the characters. They felt a bit..cliché. Very. Perhaps I slightly liked Jack more than Tessa, but really, that's as far as my concern went out to either of them.
The writing, too, felt a bit..disengaging. It just couldn't hold my attention and felt more distracting than descriptive.
But for those now thinking: then why two stars instead of one?
Well, for a very simple reason: this is a debut, and I usually ease up a bit when rating those. Just a bit.
You're welcome, Ripple.
This review also appears on my blog, JustAddAWord.com
Actual rating is probably around a 2.5-ish? Yeah, that seems about right.
Well, well, well....
So, I must admit that I approached this book expecting a lot more than what I received instead. So frankly, this was a bit underwhelming.
Wait, scratch that. This was very underwhelming, and my expectations for this book weren't even that high to begin with. Exceeding, or meeting , at least, my expectations, should not have been hard at all.
Because in all honesty.. this should've worked. It really should have. This book is, loosely, about two teenagers dealing with their own problems in their own way. The synopsis sounded interesting enough. But apart from that.. That's really all the praise I can give it.
So what didn't work? Well, for starters, the characters. They felt a bit..cliché. Very. Perhaps I slightly liked Jack more than Tessa, but really, that's as far as my concern went out to either of them.
The writing, too, felt a bit..disengaging. It just couldn't hold my attention and felt more distracting than descriptive.
But for those now thinking: then why two stars instead of one?
Well, for a very simple reason: this is a debut, and I usually ease up a bit when rating those. Just a bit.
You're welcome, Ripple.
This review also appears on my blog, JustAddAWord.com
June 30, 2016
This is a fast-paced story about addiction’s ripple effect on families and two teenagers who find a way to leave the ever-widening circle of self-destruction.
Through the alternating voices of Tessa and Jack, Meloche reveals the psyches of teenagers who find temporary affirmation in the wrong places when their parents’ alcoholism and other troubles at home become too much to bear. Jack compares the thrill he gets from pulling pranks to climbing cliffs. “It’s like I’m dangling up high, seeing everything sharper,” he says. “Hearing things louder. Hyperfocusing on the words, the strategy, and the wit I know I can use to get myself out of trouble….” Tessa lets her mind float above her random hook-ups “so I can picture it all, a scene with that girl who looks like me—only more attractive, more confident, who has a boyfriend who can’t get enough of her. And I fly toward dizzy, toward the awesome high of it.”
As Tessa’s and Jack’s risky behaviors put them in ever-greater danger, they begin to open up to each other. Meloche’s emotionally-taut prose makes the pressures weighing on Tessa and Jack feel real and overwhelming. When they become “Strong Friends without Benefits,” as whip-smart Jack puts it, he and Tessa discover the solace they both crave and the strength they need to forge healthy futures. The novel’s resolution is uplifting and convincing.
Through the alternating voices of Tessa and Jack, Meloche reveals the psyches of teenagers who find temporary affirmation in the wrong places when their parents’ alcoholism and other troubles at home become too much to bear. Jack compares the thrill he gets from pulling pranks to climbing cliffs. “It’s like I’m dangling up high, seeing everything sharper,” he says. “Hearing things louder. Hyperfocusing on the words, the strategy, and the wit I know I can use to get myself out of trouble….” Tessa lets her mind float above her random hook-ups “so I can picture it all, a scene with that girl who looks like me—only more attractive, more confident, who has a boyfriend who can’t get enough of her. And I fly toward dizzy, toward the awesome high of it.”
As Tessa’s and Jack’s risky behaviors put them in ever-greater danger, they begin to open up to each other. Meloche’s emotionally-taut prose makes the pressures weighing on Tessa and Jack feel real and overwhelming. When they become “Strong Friends without Benefits,” as whip-smart Jack puts it, he and Tessa discover the solace they both crave and the strength they need to forge healthy futures. The novel’s resolution is uplifting and convincing.
June 16, 2016
Tessa and Jack, two teenagers whose lives are spinning out of control, become one another’s unlikely confidants – and maybe more – in this gripping coming-of-age story. Paralyzed by her stepfather’s drunken verbal abuse and her wealthy grandmother’s well-meaning yet myopic plans for her future, Tessa seeks comfort in a series of meaningless hook-ups that she will do anything to hide from her popular boyfriend. Jack is flip and cocky, but also hard working, earnest, and fiercely protective of his brilliant mother even as her mental illness makes her more and more dangerous to herself and others, and his only outlet is the elaborate pranks he pulls to buck the system. When Tessa and Jack meet, the electricity of their connection is more than just romantic – each recognizes the desperation of the other and is able to see through the layers of hurt and artifice to the goodness underneath. Both of their roads to redemption are paved with hard truths and painful confrontations, but in finding the good in each other, they are finally able to see the good in themselves. In alternating first-person narratives, Meloche takes us into the imperfect lives of these imperfect, entirely relatable characters, and shows how good as well as bad can ripple out of human connections.
July 30, 2016
I received a free e-copy of RIPPLE in exchange for my honest review
GRADE: B
Tessa deals with the stress of her absent father and drunk, verbally abusive stepfather by sleeping with random guys to blunt her emotions. Jack copes with his brother's death and his alcoholic, schizophrenic mother with his smart ass mouth and harmless but illegal pranks. The two open up to each other about their secrets, but danger lurks around every corner, for Borg Tessa and Jack and the loved ones they're trying to protect.
Both Tessa and Jack here sympathetic, likable, flawed characters. I was especially glad to see promiscuity as a defense mechanism portrayed in such a sympathetic, realistic manner and that Tessa's behavior had its roots in low self esteem.
Heather Smith Meloche's writing style, while pleasant, lacked a strong style. Both Jack's and Tessa's chapters lacked differentiation in voice. Some of the dialogue felt clunky and artificial. I wish I felt more of a connection to the emotions of the characters.
THEMES: sexuality, alcoholism, mental illness, schizophrenia, friendship, dating, family
RIPPLES is a sensitive story about a friendship between teens battling family difficulties.
GRADE: B
Tessa deals with the stress of her absent father and drunk, verbally abusive stepfather by sleeping with random guys to blunt her emotions. Jack copes with his brother's death and his alcoholic, schizophrenic mother with his smart ass mouth and harmless but illegal pranks. The two open up to each other about their secrets, but danger lurks around every corner, for Borg Tessa and Jack and the loved ones they're trying to protect.
Both Tessa and Jack here sympathetic, likable, flawed characters. I was especially glad to see promiscuity as a defense mechanism portrayed in such a sympathetic, realistic manner and that Tessa's behavior had its roots in low self esteem.
Heather Smith Meloche's writing style, while pleasant, lacked a strong style. Both Jack's and Tessa's chapters lacked differentiation in voice. Some of the dialogue felt clunky and artificial. I wish I felt more of a connection to the emotions of the characters.
THEMES: sexuality, alcoholism, mental illness, schizophrenia, friendship, dating, family
RIPPLES is a sensitive story about a friendship between teens battling family difficulties.
January 28, 2023
So many thoughts, so many questions. I'm just gonna say Jack is hot. Smash.
July 23, 2017
Review Originally Posted on Books & Prejudice
This book guys. This book. I'm not even totally sure what to say.
We follow Jack and Tessa, who have both had to grow up a bit too fast. Tessa sleeps around to deal with her problems. And Jack causes as much mischief and trouble for authority figures as he can. Tessa's home life is terrible. Whereas Jack is hiding a secret. If anyone learns the secret, his life will forever change.
I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did. There were a lot of parts that were difficult to read (I mean in the"omg this hurts it's just such an awful situation" kind of way). But the characters were surprisingly likable, and constantly made me want them to have a happy ending.
Ripple deals beautifully with issues that caregivers go through--caregivers for those with mental illnesses specifically. It even shows little bits of certain kinds of abuse and/or neglect, and what kind of effect that can have on a person.
While I wouldn't say the romance was anything steamy, I did enjoy it. Mainly because I loved how Jack and Tessa became pillars for each other. Each became the other's strength. It was really nice to see them grow a friendship when they didn't have anyone else to turn to. And so their friendship grows. Until they learn of something that happened that has affected everyone. Jack was a surprising character to me. I hadn't expected him to be what he was. And I certainly didn't expect to like Tessa. But I did. She's just trying to figure out what to do with her life when everyone is laying plans for her and not asking what she wants.
Reasons to read this book
1) The idea that one event can change everyone around you is pretty interesting.
2) The characters are interesting.
3) It deals with mental issues.
Reasons not to read
1) Cheating is involved.
2) Mental issues (if that is an issue)
Overall
This was a really good read. If you like darker contemporary, you'd probably enjoy this one.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book guys. This book. I'm not even totally sure what to say.
We follow Jack and Tessa, who have both had to grow up a bit too fast. Tessa sleeps around to deal with her problems. And Jack causes as much mischief and trouble for authority figures as he can. Tessa's home life is terrible. Whereas Jack is hiding a secret. If anyone learns the secret, his life will forever change.
I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did. There were a lot of parts that were difficult to read (I mean in the"omg this hurts it's just such an awful situation" kind of way). But the characters were surprisingly likable, and constantly made me want them to have a happy ending.
Ripple deals beautifully with issues that caregivers go through--caregivers for those with mental illnesses specifically. It even shows little bits of certain kinds of abuse and/or neglect, and what kind of effect that can have on a person.
While I wouldn't say the romance was anything steamy, I did enjoy it. Mainly because I loved how Jack and Tessa became pillars for each other. Each became the other's strength. It was really nice to see them grow a friendship when they didn't have anyone else to turn to. And so their friendship grows. Until they learn of something that happened that has affected everyone. Jack was a surprising character to me. I hadn't expected him to be what he was. And I certainly didn't expect to like Tessa. But I did. She's just trying to figure out what to do with her life when everyone is laying plans for her and not asking what she wants.
Reasons to read this book
1) The idea that one event can change everyone around you is pretty interesting.
2) The characters are interesting.
3) It deals with mental issues.
Reasons not to read
1) Cheating is involved.
2) Mental issues (if that is an issue)
Overall
This was a really good read. If you like darker contemporary, you'd probably enjoy this one.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2016
I LOVED this book! Perhaps growing up in a blended family with addiction issues and mental illness made these characters believable and real to me, but I fell in love with them! Jack and Tessa are complex characters that navigate not only the day-to-day issues facing high schoolers, but the very real issues of growing up in highly dysfunctional families while finding ways to both cope and escape. I loved the storyline and enjoyed Meloche's writing style. There were sentences and phrases I stopped to re-read because the words were strung together so artfully. This book left me with a "hangover". Waking up the morning after finishing the book, I was still pondering the story and the characters and wished the adventure wasn't over. I missed Jack and Tessa! I can't wait for Meloche's next novel!
I put together a short playlist of songs that speak to me about Jack, Tessa or both.
In no particular order...
Beth Hart - Leave the Light On
Beth Hart - Broken and Ugly
James Bay - Scars
Miranda Lambert - Vice
Breaking Benjamin - I will Not Bow
Nickelback - Burn it to the Ground
3 Doors Down - The Road I'm On
Jack's Mannequin - Swim
Halestorm - Beautiful With You
Dashboard Confessional - Thick as Thieves
I put together a short playlist of songs that speak to me about Jack, Tessa or both.
In no particular order...
Beth Hart - Leave the Light On
Beth Hart - Broken and Ugly
James Bay - Scars
Miranda Lambert - Vice
Breaking Benjamin - I will Not Bow
Nickelback - Burn it to the Ground
3 Doors Down - The Road I'm On
Jack's Mannequin - Swim
Halestorm - Beautiful With You
Dashboard Confessional - Thick as Thieves
June 22, 2016
Great read!! The characters are fascinating, the plot satisfying, and the writing superb.
The story revolves around Tessa and Jack, who each have their own troubled home lives to deal with while navigating the minefield that is their senior year of high school. They find each other and the stakes intensify as they fight their mutual attraction and attempt to keep secrets that refuse to stay hidden.
The book is intense as it deals with the issues surrounding addiction and mental illness, but more importantly, it is a great story. It’s fast-moving, suspenseful, heartbreaking and even humorous at times as it follows Tessa and Jack as their lives spin out of control, hurtling them toward each other and to a dramatic conclusion. It is difficult not to become obsessed with these characters. Once you pick this book up, it is hard to put down.
The story revolves around Tessa and Jack, who each have their own troubled home lives to deal with while navigating the minefield that is their senior year of high school. They find each other and the stakes intensify as they fight their mutual attraction and attempt to keep secrets that refuse to stay hidden.
The book is intense as it deals with the issues surrounding addiction and mental illness, but more importantly, it is a great story. It’s fast-moving, suspenseful, heartbreaking and even humorous at times as it follows Tessa and Jack as their lives spin out of control, hurtling them toward each other and to a dramatic conclusion. It is difficult not to become obsessed with these characters. Once you pick this book up, it is hard to put down.
July 18, 2016
This provocative novel is about two teens whose lives are like pressure cookers. Tessa feels she needs to meet her wealthy grandmother's expectations or her family will lose her grandmother's support and become homeless. Jack has a mother whose mental illness is rapidly causing her to unravel. He feels obligated to take care of her and hide the extent of her disability.
Both teens engage in destructive behaviors in order to let off steam. But, it they are caught, their carefully constructed facades will crumble and everyone who is relying on them will suffer. When fate throws them together, sparks fly.
Meloche has written an engaging book that explores the inner urges and fears that drive human behaviors. Bravo!
Both teens engage in destructive behaviors in order to let off steam. But, it they are caught, their carefully constructed facades will crumble and everyone who is relying on them will suffer. When fate throws them together, sparks fly.
Meloche has written an engaging book that explores the inner urges and fears that drive human behaviors. Bravo!
August 11, 2016
I really loved this book. At first I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but the more I read the more I was drawn into the lives of the characters. The topics the author tackles are tough - promiscuous sex, schizophrenia, alcoholism, verbal abuse, low self-esteem. By the end of the book I was pulling for the two main characters to find a way through the chaos of their lives and come out stronger. Very emotional at times. I would definitely recommend this book to teens and adults. I received an advanced reader copy from Penguin Books and First to Read in exchange for my honest review.
August 15, 2016
I think, because I picked this up shortly after reading FIRSTS and THE YEAR WE FELL APART, both of which deals with many similar themes to RIPPLE, the fact that this MC Tessa paled in comparison was especially distracting.
I found Jack's story and perspective much more interesting, but his descriptions of Tessa were so cliched and, in the end, I was very put off.
Not for me, but check out some other reviews as some seemed to really love this one!
I found Jack's story and perspective much more interesting, but his descriptions of Tessa were so cliched and, in the end, I was very put off.
Not for me, but check out some other reviews as some seemed to really love this one!
August 25, 2016
This is a quick YA read which deals with really heavy subject matter of alcohol abuse, mental illness (schizophrenia), and teenagers making self destructive choices to try to feel in control in reaction to a horrible home environment. I would have rated this higher if Tessa had been more likable. Jack made the book for me. I did feel like things tied up a bit too neatly but appreciate the author's willingness to address such difficult subject matter.
July 1, 2016
Tessa and Jack both have issues but are dealing with it in different ways. Tessa is hooking up others and Jack is causing mischief. They meet and are friends and neighbors. This book deals with mental illness and family, and drinking. This book is amazing and made me cry a couple of times. ❤❤❤❤
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 27, 2016DNF at 1/4 mark
Though I know that self-destructive characters in contemporaries are not usually my thing I decided to give this one a go anyway. I went in with a clear mind but I just wasn't feeling it. For me, the stakes just weren't high enough and I didn't feel enough of an emotional connection to continue on with this book.
Though I know that self-destructive characters in contemporaries are not usually my thing I decided to give this one a go anyway. I went in with a clear mind but I just wasn't feeling it. For me, the stakes just weren't high enough and I didn't feel enough of an emotional connection to continue on with this book.
September 21, 2016
Dark and moody, I read this book in one sitting. Because I had to know what happened. And because I wanted to see how Heather put words together. I loved the writing as much as the vibrant and dark story that unfolded.
August 19, 2016
Enjoyable. Interested in seeing how the final version ends up after a bit of editing.
Read
August 29, 2016DNF - This one sounded like it should have been for me, but ultimately it wasn't my kind of book. I had to put it down.
Read
October 16, 2016An amazing book that I couldn't put down. Heartbreaking yet full of hope and beautifully written. It made me cry just a little, but in a good way. A must-read.
June 19, 2017
Tessa lives on the wrong side of the tracks in a nasty house permeated with the smell of their wood burning stove. Her stepdad is a drunk and is mentally abusive. Although her immediate family is poor, her paternal grandmother is loaded and has grand plans for Tessa. Grandmother paid for Tessa’s mom and stepdad’s hovel but with the expectation that Tessa will go to the college of Grandmother’s choosing and will major in business so that Tessa will one day take over Grandmother’s real estate business. Tessa is an artist and has no interest in business or real estate. Jack and his ailing mother have just moved next door to Tessa. They were forced to leave their neighboring town because of all the trouble Jack got into at school and with the police. And because of the gossip in town that the death of Jack’s little brother was his mother’s fault. Jack’s mother suffers from schizophrenia and is an alcoholic. Jack has to work hard to pay the bills and cover up for his mother’s illness. To say that Tessa and Jack’s lives are out of control is an understatement. What do they do in order to garner some kind of power over their lives? For Tessa, it’s promiscuous sex with strangers. For Jack, it’s the orchestration and implementation of elaborate pranks. Told in alternating POVs, as Tessa and Jack meet, become friends, and eventually fall in love, they see their unhealthy choices begin to take tolls on not only themselves but those they love. Can they shape themselves up, get the help they need, and make their relationship work or will their lives continue to spiral downward until there’s no hope for salvation?
Even though this book had me turning the pages to see how this trainwreck would play out, it was a mess. Most of the situations are unbelievable. Tessa finds herself being blackmailed, involved in drug deals, and leaves the scene of a hit and run where she sees a friend stranded on the side of the road - alone and injured. Jack has to work to pay the bills as well as do community service for his pranks. Here is a list of his jobs/volunteer work: flower shop, car wash, hospital maintenance guy, tutor, plays the violin at an old-folks home (btw, he is a self-taught, violin virtuoso), plus he goes to school and takes care of his mom. Speaking of his mom, she has full-blown, unmedicated schizophrenia and drinks a bottle of vodka per day and is in need of Jack’s care, but she is still able to do her work as a LAWYER. Many situations are cliche (one of Jack’s pranks is to spike the punch at a dance) and every one of the supporting characters is completely one-dimensional. Obviously, not the best writing (so it’s a no for Gateway) but I can think of lots of teens that will eat this up.
Even though this book had me turning the pages to see how this trainwreck would play out, it was a mess. Most of the situations are unbelievable. Tessa finds herself being blackmailed, involved in drug deals, and leaves the scene of a hit and run where she sees a friend stranded on the side of the road - alone and injured. Jack has to work to pay the bills as well as do community service for his pranks. Here is a list of his jobs/volunteer work: flower shop, car wash, hospital maintenance guy, tutor, plays the violin at an old-folks home (btw, he is a self-taught, violin virtuoso), plus he goes to school and takes care of his mom. Speaking of his mom, she has full-blown, unmedicated schizophrenia and drinks a bottle of vodka per day and is in need of Jack’s care, but she is still able to do her work as a LAWYER. Many situations are cliche (one of Jack’s pranks is to spike the punch at a dance) and every one of the supporting characters is completely one-dimensional. Obviously, not the best writing (so it’s a no for Gateway) but I can think of lots of teens that will eat this up.
November 20, 2016
To get inside both of the characters' heads is likely one of the reasons the book is okay. I think I've read way too many YAs recently that are contemporary fiction where it seems like the only way the characters can be saved is through a relationship. Is it me? No? I didn't think so. Jack is struggling with working, playing his violin, and taking care of his mentally unwell mother. Tessa is torn between loyalties to her grandmother, her artistic talent, and her penchant to cheat on her quarterback boyfriend with multiple, random men.
Check-- they're both unhappy with their situations and it takes each other to help steer them in a more positive direction. It's certainly not a cure-all for all of their family and personal ills, but it seems to put a big band-aid on it and as I mentioned, I think I need something a little deeper right now. This didn't go deeper like Our Chemical Hearts or My Heart and Other Black Holes, so it was decent, but not inspiring, generally heartbreaking in a beautiful way, or bittersweet the way The Way I Used to Be was. I'd take these over this one, though I can see the thread that pulls them together.
Check-- they're both unhappy with their situations and it takes each other to help steer them in a more positive direction. It's certainly not a cure-all for all of their family and personal ills, but it seems to put a big band-aid on it and as I mentioned, I think I need something a little deeper right now. This didn't go deeper like Our Chemical Hearts or My Heart and Other Black Holes, so it was decent, but not inspiring, generally heartbreaking in a beautiful way, or bittersweet the way The Way I Used to Be was. I'd take these over this one, though I can see the thread that pulls them together.
October 29, 2016
"Chaos theory is the theory that a single event can begin a cataclysmic series of events. Like, actions have reactions. ... I mean, you and I, we have our issues. ... They seem like different problems." I shake my head. "But they aren't. Not really. Not if you think about chaos theory."
Ripple is a rollercoaster ride. That's the best way I can say it.
Tessa and Jack have had to grow up too quickly. Tessa, abandoned by her father, suffering the emotional abuse of her stepfather, and struggling under her grandmother's expectations, sleeps around behind her boyfriend's back, waiting for someone to tell her she's beautiful. Jack, meanwhile, deals with his mother's alcoholism and worsening paranoid schizophrenia, keeping up a prankster facade to hide his fear of leaving his mother alone for too long.
Here's what's great about this book: It isn't insta-love. There's some aspect of attraction, but it's not overpowering. It's believable, to the point where you want them to get together before even the two characters do. And it's a fantastic and frank look at mental health.
Though I did have some issues with the book, I do recommend it. Ripple is the kind of novel you wish you could read for the first time again.
Ripple is a rollercoaster ride. That's the best way I can say it.
Tessa and Jack have had to grow up too quickly. Tessa, abandoned by her father, suffering the emotional abuse of her stepfather, and struggling under her grandmother's expectations, sleeps around behind her boyfriend's back, waiting for someone to tell her she's beautiful. Jack, meanwhile, deals with his mother's alcoholism and worsening paranoid schizophrenia, keeping up a prankster facade to hide his fear of leaving his mother alone for too long.
Here's what's great about this book: It isn't insta-love. There's some aspect of attraction, but it's not overpowering. It's believable, to the point where you want them to get together before even the two characters do. And it's a fantastic and frank look at mental health.
Though I did have some issues with the book, I do recommend it. Ripple is the kind of novel you wish you could read for the first time again.
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