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Girl Upside Down
Quinn knows better than to believe in happy endings, but she always assumed her mom would be by her side. When tragedy strikes, Quinn is sent to live with her estranged father, Nick, who walked out on their family years ago.
Set on hating her new life, Quinn is surprised when she meets Kel. Her new classmate has a reputation around town as a phenom at both baseball and attracting trouble. Even Kel has told Quinn she should stay away, but that only makes him more enticing.
Once Kel starts bailing on school--and plans with Quinn--even she can't ignore the facts. Quinn is determined to uncover Kel's secrets, but will more than just her heart get hurt in the process?
Set on hating her new life, Quinn is surprised when she meets Kel. Her new classmate has a reputation around town as a phenom at both baseball and attracting trouble. Even Kel has told Quinn she should stay away, but that only makes him more enticing.
Once Kel starts bailing on school--and plans with Quinn--even she can't ignore the facts. Quinn is determined to uncover Kel's secrets, but will more than just her heart get hurt in the process?
224 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2019
8 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Williams
52 books9,588 followersNicole is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author who got her humble start dictating books to her parents at the age of three and her big break nearly three decades later when she signed her first publishing deal. She grew up an avid reader and writer who majored in Economics because a Creative Writing degree was lofty and impractical, not to mention a pipe dream. Irony, you wily fiend.
When she isn’t embroiled in a book, she spends her time playing wife and mom to her two favorite people in the world, and referee to their three rescue pets/wildlings. Nicole lives in the Evergreen State on the quieter side, ideal for an admitted recluse who enjoys the diversity of outdoor endeavors the Great Northwest offers.
Nicole loves hearing from her readers. You can connect with her on:
Facebook: Author Nicole Williams
Instagram: author_nicole_williams
Twitter: nwilliamsbooks
When she isn’t embroiled in a book, she spends her time playing wife and mom to her two favorite people in the world, and referee to their three rescue pets/wildlings. Nicole lives in the Evergreen State on the quieter side, ideal for an admitted recluse who enjoys the diversity of outdoor endeavors the Great Northwest offers.
Nicole loves hearing from her readers. You can connect with her on:
Facebook: Author Nicole Williams
Instagram: author_nicole_williams
Twitter: nwilliamsbooks
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 4, 2019
I feel pretty bad that I'm the first person to review this, but I really did not have fun with this book.
So, the only reason I didn't give it a one star is because it did have some parts when I was like hmm, maybe this book isn't so bad? Or maybe this book just isn't for me? Maybe middle school/early high school Julie would've liked this better? Hell, maybe middle school or high school Julie wrote something similar lol. I definitely flashed back to 8th grade NaNoWriMo during some parts. I feel like this book could've been helped if it was longer so certain parts could've been fleshed out. I feel like it just followed a specific outline and there were no in between details.
To start, the writing was pretty bad. Some of the dialog was just too painful for me to read. It took me so long to finish this because I would read a line, groan and would then have to put the book down for a bit. Sometimes I was like they're 15/16 year olds flirting! It's going to be awkward! But then sometimes I was like who actually talks like this??
The characters were very one dimensional. They felt like they were definitely fictional made up characters with absolutely no personalities beyond their tragic backstories and relationships. Like even their names seemed so fake to me. Quinn Winters and Kel Remington? I don't know maybe I'm being too harsh. Kel is such a caricature of a "bad boy." He's always skipping and getting bad grades. He's always getting into fights and he's got a big secret. It's never explained why Kel got into fights. There was a scene where they went to some random party in an abandoned car wash. While they were awkwardly dancing together (dancing with him wasn't like with other boys), some random dude named McAllister came to fight Kel for no reason. Quinn tries to stop the fight and gets accidentally punched in the face and promptly gets stopped by a security guard that tries to break up the party. Like this whole scene was just used as a "oh stay away from Kel! He runs with a bad crowd." Whole time he was trying to stay out of said party and just walk her straight home from the library.
Quinn... just doesn't listen? And she's very dramatic. Any time Kel didn't want her to do something (and not in a like controlling boyfriend way, but in a hey this is dangerous stop way), she would just straight up ignore him and do it anyway then get super dramatic and in her feelings when things ended up bad. Also it's said she liked baseball, but I think it was just a way to connect the characters? Because Kel is on the baseball team, but the extent of her love for it is knowing a random baseball fact.
Her relationship with her father is weird. He apparently left when she was 5 without a word and she's bitter about it, which is understandable, but she remembered so much about him?? Like my dad left when I was 4 or 5 and I remember 0 details about him... But she had so many like events and moments with him that she could recall. Maybe my memory just sucks. She barely talks about her mom. Like her mom was not a real person, because like there were a couple of details in the beginning, but then she's just background noise. She gave this man that left her custody of her kid. (I don't know much about laws, but like even if she didn't write it down I feel like Quinn would've gone to next of kin anyway right?) But that's it. Quinn and her dad's relationship is very strained. They don't really communicate, which also understandable, but I don't know it just came off weird.
I feel like I've been left with so many unanswered questions. Why did Kel lie about his mom? What happened to his mom? Why did this McAllister kid randomly come up to fight Kel?? Why was Kel always getting into fights? Just why, why, why?? I just feel like this book was poorly executed and not fleshed out enough. A book like this could've been good if it was more thought out (and if the dialog was better). I'm sorry for this very long rant. I hope someone picks this up and really likes it, but I am not the one.
So, the only reason I didn't give it a one star is because it did have some parts when I was like hmm, maybe this book isn't so bad? Or maybe this book just isn't for me? Maybe middle school/early high school Julie would've liked this better? Hell, maybe middle school or high school Julie wrote something similar lol. I definitely flashed back to 8th grade NaNoWriMo during some parts. I feel like this book could've been helped if it was longer so certain parts could've been fleshed out. I feel like it just followed a specific outline and there were no in between details.
To start, the writing was pretty bad. Some of the dialog was just too painful for me to read. It took me so long to finish this because I would read a line, groan and would then have to put the book down for a bit. Sometimes I was like they're 15/16 year olds flirting! It's going to be awkward! But then sometimes I was like who actually talks like this??
The characters were very one dimensional. They felt like they were definitely fictional made up characters with absolutely no personalities beyond their tragic backstories and relationships. Like even their names seemed so fake to me. Quinn Winters and Kel Remington? I don't know maybe I'm being too harsh. Kel is such a caricature of a "bad boy." He's always skipping and getting bad grades. He's always getting into fights and he's got a big secret. It's never explained why Kel got into fights. There was a scene where they went to some random party in an abandoned car wash. While they were awkwardly dancing together (dancing with him wasn't like with other boys), some random dude named McAllister came to fight Kel for no reason. Quinn tries to stop the fight and gets accidentally punched in the face and promptly gets stopped by a security guard that tries to break up the party. Like this whole scene was just used as a "oh stay away from Kel! He runs with a bad crowd." Whole time he was trying to stay out of said party and just walk her straight home from the library.
Quinn... just doesn't listen? And she's very dramatic. Any time Kel didn't want her to do something (and not in a like controlling boyfriend way, but in a hey this is dangerous stop way), she would just straight up ignore him and do it anyway then get super dramatic and in her feelings when things ended up bad. Also it's said she liked baseball, but I think it was just a way to connect the characters? Because Kel is on the baseball team, but the extent of her love for it is knowing a random baseball fact.
Her relationship with her father is weird. He apparently left when she was 5 without a word and she's bitter about it, which is understandable, but she remembered so much about him?? Like my dad left when I was 4 or 5 and I remember 0 details about him... But she had so many like events and moments with him that she could recall. Maybe my memory just sucks. She barely talks about her mom. Like her mom was not a real person, because like there were a couple of details in the beginning, but then she's just background noise. She gave this man that left her custody of her kid. (I don't know much about laws, but like even if she didn't write it down I feel like Quinn would've gone to next of kin anyway right?) But that's it. Quinn and her dad's relationship is very strained. They don't really communicate, which also understandable, but I don't know it just came off weird.
I feel like I've been left with so many unanswered questions. Why did Kel lie about his mom? What happened to his mom? Why did this McAllister kid randomly come up to fight Kel?? Why was Kel always getting into fights? Just why, why, why?? I just feel like this book was poorly executed and not fleshed out enough. A book like this could've been good if it was more thought out (and if the dialog was better). I'm sorry for this very long rant. I hope someone picks this up and really likes it, but I am not the one.
July 19, 2019
3-3.5 STARS
Cute YA read. Love the cover!
May 10, 2021
This is the 2nd book I've read by Nicole Williams ("Almost Impossible" being the first). And since I thoroughly enjoyed that one, I thought I'd give this one a go.
Quinn moves in with her estranged father in the Seattle area after the death of her mother. While there, she discovers more about what she wants out of life and starts to fall for the mysterious baseball player classmate Kel.
I'm beginning to notice a pattern here in the author's works...the male love interest has some kind of big secret. No spoilers for any of the books here, but it's interesting to learn why Kel acts the way he does.
This story felt real, with real characters. I understood why Quinn felt the way she did towards her father (why she called him by his first name instead of Dad). I too was curious as to what secret Kel was trying to keep under wraps and separate from his life with Quinn. I found myself wanting to read more and find out the answers to what would happen in Kel and Quinn's life. Would she ever be ready to visit her mom's grave? Would he let her in more, or always be n his guard?
This is a cute, realistic, YA romance that deals with serious issues. A good read for YA romance fans.
Quinn moves in with her estranged father in the Seattle area after the death of her mother. While there, she discovers more about what she wants out of life and starts to fall for the mysterious baseball player classmate Kel.
I'm beginning to notice a pattern here in the author's works...the male love interest has some kind of big secret. No spoilers for any of the books here, but it's interesting to learn why Kel acts the way he does.
This story felt real, with real characters. I understood why Quinn felt the way she did towards her father (why she called him by his first name instead of Dad). I too was curious as to what secret Kel was trying to keep under wraps and separate from his life with Quinn. I found myself wanting to read more and find out the answers to what would happen in Kel and Quinn's life. Would she ever be ready to visit her mom's grave? Would he let her in more, or always be n his guard?
This is a cute, realistic, YA romance that deals with serious issues. A good read for YA romance fans.
June 28, 2019
First of all I want to say that Nicole Williams is a very talented author. I have read almost all of her adult and new adult novels and really loved them. I have also read one of her other YA novels.
Girl Upside Down by Nicole Williams is the story of girl learning to adjust to her new life. After her mother’s death she is forced to live with her father who had abandoned them ten years earlier. At age fifteen perceptions are a bit muddled because they are based off of pure emotions rather than life experiences.
When Quinn starts her new high school, it is completely different than what she has experienced. Living with her father is weird because they really don’t know one another but are making the best of it. When she meets Kel Remmington, , the mysterious bad boy, she doesn’t know if he is friend or foe. The one thing she does know is that he is only one who talks to her regardless if it is nice or downright mean.
Both Quinn and Kel are dealing with their own issues and both could really use a friend. Kel is hiding his secrets. Her father is trying but doesn’t know how to deal with a teenage girl. Quinn is at crossroads and could really use the wisdom of her mother.
While this book was geared for the YA genre, I think the younger teens are going to connect better than the more mature teens.
The story had holes and descriptions were “too careful”. There was not enough backstory to understand Kel’s life nor was there enough explanation concerning Quinn’s father. What little was revealed was fluffed over rather than adding a substantial meaning to this story.The pacing is a bit off and the story didn’t flow well. I found the characters personalities were a bit vague and one dimensional rather than vibrant, angsty teens. The issues with Kel and how they were dealt with was a bit unrealistic even in a big inner city school. The solutions and conclusions were a bit hard to swallow because I can't see this happening from a social or legal stand point.
As an adult I can see where this story was heading but felt it failed to deliver. It needed sassier characters, snarkier dialogue, and more emotional angst with a dramatic flare. I honestly don’t think most teens will embrace it.
January 19, 2020
DO NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, IT'S JUST A LITTLE TALE.
I ventured reading this book thinking it would be one of those sort of epic contemporary YA romances with a learning experience in the end... It didn't take much for me to realize that it wouldn't be that, there were many holes left that could have made this one more interesting or, you know, more alive; and that's just a general overview. When it comes to specifications, the relationship was pretty sexist and almost starcrossed kinda like but with no apparent soul and toxic af to a certain degree, the dad was too exploitive, and I mean I get the infatuation with Kel's good looks, but other than that he seemed to plain. Anyways, those were the flaws besides being such a cliché storyline, but I strangely enjoyed it, I mean once you become self-aware about this book, you find yourself entertained and even interested in how this things are obviously going to end up. It's not a complex book to learn some lesson, nor to be awed by it, but to help us go through the day, to be more of a filler in between a tough as nails book and a tear filled one. No disrespect to the author, since it managed to keep me reading.
I ventured reading this book thinking it would be one of those sort of epic contemporary YA romances with a learning experience in the end... It didn't take much for me to realize that it wouldn't be that, there were many holes left that could have made this one more interesting or, you know, more alive; and that's just a general overview. When it comes to specifications, the relationship was pretty sexist and almost starcrossed kinda like but with no apparent soul and toxic af to a certain degree, the dad was too exploitive, and I mean I get the infatuation with Kel's good looks, but other than that he seemed to plain. Anyways, those were the flaws besides being such a cliché storyline, but I strangely enjoyed it, I mean once you become self-aware about this book, you find yourself entertained and even interested in how this things are obviously going to end up. It's not a complex book to learn some lesson, nor to be awed by it, but to help us go through the day, to be more of a filler in between a tough as nails book and a tear filled one. No disrespect to the author, since it managed to keep me reading.
January 1, 2020
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book, the story was enjoyable but I felt like their were some plot holes that left then book a little unsatisfying. I really enjoyed the main character, Quinn, but I pictured her older than a sophomore in high school. I felt like her arc was really interesting to watch but a lot of events seemed to take place outside of the actual narrative. I know it sounds like I'm being really hard on the book but it's really my only issue with the novel, there was a lot of the plot that seemed to speed by or was glossed over until the final quarter of the book when the plot pace finally seems to fit.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book, the story was enjoyable but I felt like their were some plot holes that left then book a little unsatisfying. I really enjoyed the main character, Quinn, but I pictured her older than a sophomore in high school. I felt like her arc was really interesting to watch but a lot of events seemed to take place outside of the actual narrative. I know it sounds like I'm being really hard on the book but it's really my only issue with the novel, there was a lot of the plot that seemed to speed by or was glossed over until the final quarter of the book when the plot pace finally seems to fit.
April 17, 2022
This was a very quick read, but that isn't to say it lacked anything. Both Quinn and Kel are teens I've seen in my work life as a mental health professional. Her dad, Nick is also someone I've also seen, more than once in my own recovery from alcoholism. The growing attraction between Quinn and Kel is done nicely. His desire to hold her at arms length, while she's conflicted about her feelings toward him is pretty realistic, as is Kel's need to keep her in the dark about what/who he lives with. It's a good book for library collections that serve teens with family violence and/or substance abuse issues. Props to the author for using Mom's journal as a way to help Quinn when she really needs it.
July 2, 2019
I adored this book so much. Quinn's story broke my heart. And Kel... SWOON! I loved him and wanted to hug him.
I loved the way it all unfolded. I didn't know exactly where Nicole was going to take us with Kel's story, but I loved the way it was woven into Quinn's. I loved that they both were broken for different reasons, but that it brought them together.
Of course I loved the bad boy! Nicole writes great bad boys!!!!!
The ending was great.
I loved the way it all unfolded. I didn't know exactly where Nicole was going to take us with Kel's story, but I loved the way it was woven into Quinn's. I loved that they both were broken for different reasons, but that it brought them together.
Of course I loved the bad boy! Nicole writes great bad boys!!!!!
The ending was great.
July 4, 2019
Girl Upside Down was a wonderful YA story. Quinn and Kel have kindred spirits from the start. I really enjoyed her journey to a new school, dealing with her grief and new situation. Kel was someone she could connect with, even though he tried to stay away. His situation was a mystery for awhile. I kept wondering what was going on with him. The truth was heartbreaking. I really felt for these characters and wanted the best for them.
July 8, 2019
I loved this book. It made me feel happy after I finished it.
It's about a girl name Quinn who has to go live with her dad after her mother died, leaving the life she was happy in. She was 15 and her world was upside down. But she didn't spend time venting her frustration. Instead she started learning how to adjust how to manage her life. She was helpful and did not give up on people and let other people give up on themselves.
Its quite a short book but It was something.
And I loved it ❤️
It's about a girl name Quinn who has to go live with her dad after her mother died, leaving the life she was happy in. She was 15 and her world was upside down. But she didn't spend time venting her frustration. Instead she started learning how to adjust how to manage her life. She was helpful and did not give up on people and let other people give up on themselves.
Its quite a short book but It was something.
And I loved it ❤️
January 8, 2023
This was a sweet, coming of age novel. It does contain some heavy subjects such as loss of a parent and physical abuse by a parent, so avoid if necessary.
So, so easy to read, fun, flirty and found family.
Definitely short and sweet with strong characters who all deserve a happy ending... other than Mr Remington Snr...
So, so easy to read, fun, flirty and found family.
Definitely short and sweet with strong characters who all deserve a happy ending... other than Mr Remington Snr...
July 11, 2019
Honestly, I am an avid Nicole Williams fan having followed her career since she wrote the Crash series. And although I am a sucker for a YA romance, unfortunately this book just didn’t do much for me in terms of capturing my thoughts or rousing any kind of emotions besides regretful discomfort.
“Find the good, and you’ll deflect the bad.”
For a quick and uncomplicated read, this book was all right. But it is definitely not Nicole Williams’ finest work. The prose and the storyline is easy to follow, however it lacks the flair of heartwrenching dialogue and emotions and dimensional characters that I have come to expect from Nicole’s stories. The story and characters had great bones and potential but regrettably they were executed with poor tact and haste that made this book a poor read.
“The bigger the act, the bigger the fake.”
I might be biased based on Nicole’s other great pieces of fiction that I have cherish and revere to this day. Therefore, it is possible for someone to find this book a good, but personally this book left me with a lot of unfulfilled expectations.
“Find the good, and you’ll deflect the bad.”
For a quick and uncomplicated read, this book was all right. But it is definitely not Nicole Williams’ finest work. The prose and the storyline is easy to follow, however it lacks the flair of heartwrenching dialogue and emotions and dimensional characters that I have come to expect from Nicole’s stories. The story and characters had great bones and potential but regrettably they were executed with poor tact and haste that made this book a poor read.
“The bigger the act, the bigger the fake.”
I might be biased based on Nicole’s other great pieces of fiction that I have cherish and revere to this day. Therefore, it is possible for someone to find this book a good, but personally this book left me with a lot of unfulfilled expectations.
July 29, 2019
Great romance of moving to a new town and slowly finding one's place with a dad and rebel. Great story.
August 12, 2019
This book. It’s awesome. That’s it. That’s the review
November 17, 2019
Super quick, easy read. At 211 pages I flew through this today!
May 13, 2022
Very cute very quick read
May 21, 2022
Easy, quick read. Doesn't really pull you in or get you invested in the characters very much but great if you just want something light to pass the time.
June 5, 2024
Pros: This was such a fun quick read. It was glued to my hands honestly! I loved how they had the concept of her coming to live with her dad and being able to try to restore the relationship they didn't really get to develop when she was younger. Due to her dad leaving her at a young age. I also loved how they gave the explanation of why the dad (Nick) left. I truly was not expecting that and it definitely gave me the element of surprise. I also enjoyed the cheesy concept of the " bad boy (Kel) " matches with the " good girl (Quinn) ".The emotional element was also there but lightly, which is a good choice for this type of reading. And the formatting, WAS SO COOL! I loved how the format included quotes from her moms' journal. This opened my appetite to reading a lot more this year and definitely, I would re-read in the near future!
Cons: Although it was a nice read it was kind of predictable and cringy in some parts of the books. Not only that, but I wished the Author gave more detail into their relationship and lives to create more of an attachment to the characters and added just a little bit of romance in between. I would also like for the author to elaborate on what happened to the characters when she would cut off a paragraph and lead into the next. It left me with unnecessary small cliffhangers.
Overall this was a really good book. I would suggest it for those that are a younger audience (such as me) and suckers for a cheesy, cute, teenage romance and a quick read to pass the time. But for an older audience, I would suggest it as much because it may not be as developed as they would like and may miss that level of satisfaction for them.
Cons: Although it was a nice read it was kind of predictable and cringy in some parts of the books. Not only that, but I wished the Author gave more detail into their relationship and lives to create more of an attachment to the characters and added just a little bit of romance in between. I would also like for the author to elaborate on what happened to the characters when she would cut off a paragraph and lead into the next. It left me with unnecessary small cliffhangers.
Overall this was a really good book. I would suggest it for those that are a younger audience (such as me) and suckers for a cheesy, cute, teenage romance and a quick read to pass the time. But for an older audience, I would suggest it as much because it may not be as developed as they would like and may miss that level of satisfaction for them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2019
Review coming soon
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews