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Love, Life, and the List #3
Moment of Truth
At sixteen, Hadley Moore knows exactly who she is—a swimmer who will earn a scholarship to college. Totally worth all the hard work, even if her aching shoulders don’t agree. So when a guy dressed as Hollywood’s latest action hero, Heath Hall, crashes her swim meet, she isn’t amused. Instead, she’s determined to make sure he doesn’t bother her again. Only she’s not sure exactly who he is.
The swim meet isn’t the first event the imposter has interrupted, but a little digging turns up a surprising number of people who could be Heath Hall, including Hadley's ex-boyfriend and her best friend’s crush. She soon finds herself getting caught up in the mysterious world of the fake Heath Hall.
As Hadley gets closer to uncovering the masked boy’s identity she also discovers some uncomfortable truths about herself—like she might resent the long shadow her late brother has cast over her family, that she isn’t as happy as she pretends to be with her life choices… and that she is falling for the last guy she ever thought she would like.
The swim meet isn’t the first event the imposter has interrupted, but a little digging turns up a surprising number of people who could be Heath Hall, including Hadley's ex-boyfriend and her best friend’s crush. She soon finds herself getting caught up in the mysterious world of the fake Heath Hall.
As Hadley gets closer to uncovering the masked boy’s identity she also discovers some uncomfortable truths about herself—like she might resent the long shadow her late brother has cast over her family, that she isn’t as happy as she pretends to be with her life choices… and that she is falling for the last guy she ever thought she would like.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
About the author
Kasie West
25 books17.3k followersI write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND, PS I LIKE YOU, BY YOUR SIDE, LUCKY IN LOVE, LOVE LIFE and the LIST, LISTEN TO YOUR HEART, FAME FATE and the FIRST KISS, MAYBE THIS TIME, and MOMENT OF TRUTH. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,059 reviews
Want to read
October 28, 2014Anybody else getting some serious Teen Wolf vibes from that title...
March 3, 2020
Another cute and fluffy Kasie West book! I really enjoyed this one and it’s perfect for springtime!
Shelved as 'must-read'
May 6, 2015Getting a Teen Wolf vibe. I'm sure it's nothing to do with Teen Wolf but still, written by Kasie West? I'm definitely reading this!!!
March 22, 2020
Aside from the romance as a whole as such, I think the novel was really neat, though. The family and friendship dynamics were A+, and the Heath Hall mystery was actually super fun.
April 6, 2020
3.5 stars
Kasie West does a great job writing sweet and cute YA. Moment of Truth was fun to read and had a bit of suspense with a heartfelt ending.
This story follows Hadley Moore. Hadley is a serious swimmer and a bit of an overachiever. She always strives to be the best and is dedicated to all that she does. She feels like she has something to prove to her parents and to herself. When the masked Heath Hall distracts her from her swim meet, she has a bone to pick with him. She's on a quest to find out who this masked character is...
Hadley and her best friend Amelia are on the search and have different suspects in mind. A lot of the book is about them trying to find out who this is. There is also a romantic interest in the story, Jackson. Jackson shows Hadley she doesn't have to be perfect at everything and to take life a little less seriously. I liked the fun loving side he brought out of Hadley.
Moment of Truth is narrated by Caitlin Kelly. She did a great job voicing Hadley. Sometimes in YA I feel the narrators sound too old, but I could picture Hadley talking as I listened to this one. I always find Kasie West's books more enjoyable to listen to rahter than to read, so I'm glad I was able to pick up this audio book from my library.
I enjoyed this book for the most part, though the suspenseful aspect fell a little flat for me and I didn't love how much the hero was compared to the heroine's dead brother... aside from those two things it was a good read. If you're looking for a YA contemporary with some heart, pick this one up.
Kasie West does a great job writing sweet and cute YA. Moment of Truth was fun to read and had a bit of suspense with a heartfelt ending.
This story follows Hadley Moore. Hadley is a serious swimmer and a bit of an overachiever. She always strives to be the best and is dedicated to all that she does. She feels like she has something to prove to her parents and to herself. When the masked Heath Hall distracts her from her swim meet, she has a bone to pick with him. She's on a quest to find out who this masked character is...
Hadley and her best friend Amelia are on the search and have different suspects in mind. A lot of the book is about them trying to find out who this is. There is also a romantic interest in the story, Jackson. Jackson shows Hadley she doesn't have to be perfect at everything and to take life a little less seriously. I liked the fun loving side he brought out of Hadley.
Moment of Truth is narrated by Caitlin Kelly. She did a great job voicing Hadley. Sometimes in YA I feel the narrators sound too old, but I could picture Hadley talking as I listened to this one. I always find Kasie West's books more enjoyable to listen to rahter than to read, so I'm glad I was able to pick up this audio book from my library.
I enjoyed this book for the most part, though the suspenseful aspect fell a little flat for me and I didn't love how much the hero was compared to the heroine's dead brother... aside from those two things it was a good read. If you're looking for a YA contemporary with some heart, pick this one up.
June 27, 2020
Reading this one reminded me of the Cazalet chronicles, because of its hypnotic addictive quality. The chapters were bite sized, the prose and the ideas behind them were simple, logical, pertinent, and efficient. What's not to like?
I never thought I would discover something so freshly compatible on the YA scene. I had been reading books by Patricia Briggs, where the romance was not graphic, but the stalling was dull as dishwater. I also read books by Kim Harrison and Darynda Jones. Too much supernatural fawning and seduction.
Books like this, especially if they happen to be written by Kasie West, fall in a snuggly Goldilocks zone. The only fly in the ointment was a worrying tendency to be formulaic, and that I noticed after just two books. Hopefully the best is ahead. I'm still having visions of the characters interacting. This was a great read indeed.
I never thought I would discover something so freshly compatible on the YA scene. I had been reading books by Patricia Briggs, where the romance was not graphic, but the stalling was dull as dishwater. I also read books by Kim Harrison and Darynda Jones. Too much supernatural fawning and seduction.
Books like this, especially if they happen to be written by Kasie West, fall in a snuggly Goldilocks zone. The only fly in the ointment was a worrying tendency to be formulaic, and that I noticed after just two books. Hopefully the best is ahead. I'm still having visions of the characters interacting. This was a great read indeed.
September 17, 2020
4 stars
Moment of Truth is about Hadley, a junior in high school who is very focused on swimming. When a prankster wearing a mask of a celebrity ruins her focus at a swim meet, Hadley sets out to find his secret identity and to confront him.
Kasie West is one of my favorite young adult authors. Her books are able to cover deep topics but they don’t completely overwhelm me. In this book we had a teen dealing with feeling like she was competing with a sibling who passed away and I thought West did a great job with this storyline. The romance wasn’t as strong, but also maybe I am getting old and teens in love don’t appeal to me as much anymore haha. Anyways, a great escape from reality and fun to listen to the audio on my commute to work.
Moment of Truth is about Hadley, a junior in high school who is very focused on swimming. When a prankster wearing a mask of a celebrity ruins her focus at a swim meet, Hadley sets out to find his secret identity and to confront him.
Kasie West is one of my favorite young adult authors. Her books are able to cover deep topics but they don’t completely overwhelm me. In this book we had a teen dealing with feeling like she was competing with a sibling who passed away and I thought West did a great job with this storyline. The romance wasn’t as strong, but also maybe I am getting old and teens in love don’t appeal to me as much anymore haha. Anyways, a great escape from reality and fun to listen to the audio on my commute to work.
Want to read
April 24, 2015Did somebody say Kasie West?
April 14, 2020
This was soooooo good! Idk if it's because I haven't read a contemporary in a while because I've been reading a lot of fantsay but I loved it. It wasn't a 5 star rating for me but I enjoyed Moment of Truth by Kasie west. I read almost all but 3 of Kasie's novel now so hopefully I will read those three novels until she releases a new one. Lol more thoughts to come in the morning when my brain isn't mushed with English 101 work!(:
Moment of truth audiobook was narrated by: Catlin Kelly 4/5
Moment of truth physical read 4/5
Ps. Read this book in one day!(:
Moment of truth audiobook was narrated by: Catlin Kelly 4/5
Moment of truth physical read 4/5
Ps. Read this book in one day!(:
May 15, 2021
“Just because you can’t see the future, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. You don’t have to see everything clearly or know exactly where you’re going to move forward.”
Moment in Time is the third book in a series of stand alone novels, each following different set of characters, but some may make comebacks. You can read any of the three books without having read any of the others.
I definitely liked this one more than Love, Life, and the List (had my least favourite romance of KW), but my favorite from the series is Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss (the characters worked for me better there, as well as the love interest and romance).
The plot of this one is definitely different. I can't say too much because it would a be a spoiler, but I think this is one of the more new and quite creative concepts from recent Kasie West works. The plot has a bit of a mystery going on, which I did guess, but it was definitely less obvious than in P.S. I Like You - which also has pen pals.
Basically, this story follows Hadley. She is very driven and ambitious. She sometimes has a bit emotionally closed off relationship with her family, her brother had died before she was even born and she feels like his shadow is always looming over their family, her parents cring more about him than her. (While I definitely felt for her there were times, I have to admit, when I was like "boo hoo" because she still had two parents who did love her and a good life).
One day, bafore a swim contest, a strange guy dressed in a Heath Hall mask (superhero spy played by a character who appears in Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss) jumps into the pool in her lane a swims across it, disrupting her concentration and making her have less stellar score than she'd usually have. He always wears a Heath Hall mask and does strange or risky things, gaining people's attention at school. That day, she stends him a message warning him away from the pool again, saying she knows his identity. Soon it becsomes apparent he doesn't belive her, so to make him stay away from her swimming for real, she decides to find out his identity.
I thought all of the characters were ok. I liked that Hadley was dedicated and everything, and her story was nice. The love interest seemed a bit too childish sometimes, I did like him as a character as well, but he wouldn't be my favourite choice of a Kasie West love interest (that'd be in On the Fence, Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss, The Distance Between Us, The Fill-In Boyfriend, Lucky in Love). We got a bit more complexity to the love interest as well later on (although I wished his issues were a bit more).
Overall, cute, light and fast read. Sometiems a little bit dramatic (but at the same time in a good way). Definitely recommended for fans of KW, those who want to start out on her books or just read an easy light and cute YA contemporary.
The Distance Between Us 4 stars
On the Fence 5 stars
The Fill-In Boyfriend 4 stars
P.S. I Like You 3 stars
By Your Side 2 stars
Pivot Point 3 stars
Split Second 2 stars
Love, Life, and the List 1 star
Lucky in Love 1 star
Listen to Your Heart 3 stars
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss 4 stars
Maybe This Time 3 stars
Moment of Truth 3 stars
Moment in Time is the third book in a series of stand alone novels, each following different set of characters, but some may make comebacks. You can read any of the three books without having read any of the others.
I definitely liked this one more than Love, Life, and the List (had my least favourite romance of KW), but my favorite from the series is Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss (the characters worked for me better there, as well as the love interest and romance).
The plot of this one is definitely different. I can't say too much because it would a be a spoiler, but I think this is one of the more new and quite creative concepts from recent Kasie West works. The plot has a bit of a mystery going on, which I did guess, but it was definitely less obvious than in P.S. I Like You - which also has pen pals.
Basically, this story follows Hadley. She is very driven and ambitious. She sometimes has a bit emotionally closed off relationship with her family, her brother had died before she was even born and she feels like his shadow is always looming over their family, her parents cring more about him than her. (While I definitely felt for her there were times, I have to admit, when I was like "boo hoo" because she still had two parents who did love her and a good life).
One day, bafore a swim contest, a strange guy dressed in a Heath Hall mask (superhero spy played by a character who appears in Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss) jumps into the pool in her lane a swims across it, disrupting her concentration and making her have less stellar score than she'd usually have. He always wears a Heath Hall mask and does strange or risky things, gaining people's attention at school. That day, she stends him a message warning him away from the pool again, saying she knows his identity. Soon it becsomes apparent he doesn't belive her, so to make him stay away from her swimming for real, she decides to find out his identity.
I thought all of the characters were ok. I liked that Hadley was dedicated and everything, and her story was nice. The love interest seemed a bit too childish sometimes, I did like him as a character as well, but he wouldn't be my favourite choice of a Kasie West love interest (that'd be in On the Fence, Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss, The Distance Between Us, The Fill-In Boyfriend, Lucky in Love). We got a bit more complexity to the love interest as well later on (although I wished his issues were a bit more).
Overall, cute, light and fast read. Sometiems a little bit dramatic (but at the same time in a good way). Definitely recommended for fans of KW, those who want to start out on her books or just read an easy light and cute YA contemporary.
The Distance Between Us 4 stars
On the Fence 5 stars
The Fill-In Boyfriend 4 stars
P.S. I Like You 3 stars
By Your Side 2 stars
Pivot Point 3 stars
Split Second 2 stars
Love, Life, and the List 1 star
Lucky in Love 1 star
Listen to Your Heart 3 stars
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss 4 stars
Maybe This Time 3 stars
Moment of Truth 3 stars
March 7, 2020
2.5 stars
I wasn't that impressed with either the story or the characters. I was initially intrigued by who the mysterious Heath Hall was and that's basically what kept me listening to the audiobook. The rest of the story felt a bit superficial and predictable.
I wasn't that impressed with either the story or the characters. I was initially intrigued by who the mysterious Heath Hall was and that's basically what kept me listening to the audiobook. The rest of the story felt a bit superficial and predictable.
April 9, 2020
Jackson stole my heart ❤️
Want to read
December 22, 2015Didn't even read the blurb, but Kasie West is perfect so of course I'm going to read it.
July 15, 2020
4.5⭐️
Kasie West just really knows how to write a fun and cute yet meaningful YA romance. She’s always my go-to when I want a light read with relatable characters and some of the sweetest moments and this book has all of that.
Moment of Truth follows a high school competitive swimmer, Hadley, as she deals with the pressures of perfecting everything she can with her swimming while living in the shadow of her late brother. She breaks out of the mold she’s set for her life when she’s determined to discover the true identity behind the prankster in the Heath Hall mask.
This is a book full of cute romance and funny situations, but it’s also so much more than that. It’s about confronting your fears and voicing your needs. It’s about friendship, family, grief and discovering people for who they really are.
I had such a great time reading this book and I will continue to read every book Kasie West writes!
Kasie West just really knows how to write a fun and cute yet meaningful YA romance. She’s always my go-to when I want a light read with relatable characters and some of the sweetest moments and this book has all of that.
Moment of Truth follows a high school competitive swimmer, Hadley, as she deals with the pressures of perfecting everything she can with her swimming while living in the shadow of her late brother. She breaks out of the mold she’s set for her life when she’s determined to discover the true identity behind the prankster in the Heath Hall mask.
This is a book full of cute romance and funny situations, but it’s also so much more than that. It’s about confronting your fears and voicing your needs. It’s about friendship, family, grief and discovering people for who they really are.
I had such a great time reading this book and I will continue to read every book Kasie West writes!
October 21, 2022
This is the first book I read by Kasie West, and it was quite simply amazing. It was the perfect amount of fluffy and heavy for a contemporary romance. I loved Hadley and her problems felt so real and tragic. Jackson was… kind of perfect 😍🤧 I thought I had Heath Hall figured out but the twist really shocked me!
All in all, the famous Kasie West did not disappoint! I will definitely be looking into more of her works. Highly recommended!
~God bless and Happy Reading ❤️~
All in all, the famous Kasie West did not disappoint! I will definitely be looking into more of her works. Highly recommended!
~God bless and Happy Reading ❤️~
December 27, 2021
Ahhh this was so freaking cute. Maybe my favorite Kasie West book to date? Anyways, I want to be 17 again just so I can have a cute high school romance. I feel like my teenage years were cheated.
Read
April 21, 2020Some masks unveil great things.
Swimming is Hadley Moore's present and future. So when a guy dressed up as Heath Hall, Hollywood latest action Hero, crashes her swim meet, she's not happy. Instead she is going to make sure he doesn't bother her again. The only problem is, she doesn't know who he really is... Nobody does.
After doing a little digging with her best friend, Amelia, it turns out that the imposter could be almost anyone, even her ex-boyfriend, or her best friend's crush. As she gets closer to discovering the identity of the fake Heath Hall, she brushes up against some of her own uncomfortable shadows.
A story of identity and who we really are. A tale of heroes and hearts.
Trigger warnings for death of a sibling and leukemia.
Ambitious, hyper focused Hadley set out to be the very best at whatever she did. She just wanted to step out from her brother's shadow. Her dedication shown as she went after a swimming scholarship and attempted to unmask Heath Hall. The young girl was very relatable, in wanting to be recognized for her own talents, but her resentment towards her brother was mishandled and rushed.
From her long mourning family to a persistent best friend, to her humorous love interest, the people who cared about her the most were simultaneously the ones she struggled with. Even though I loved the characters and their dynamics, I just wanted more substance.
Hadley and her family had delt with something very heavy, and while the feelings and repercussions from that played out, I don't feel like the right parts of it were given the adequate time they needed to be properly impactful. On the other hand, I found her friendship with Amelia to be steadily supportive. Easy going and fun, her love interest helped her deal with her emotions and brought out a lighter, happier side of her.
Who's behind the mask? A romantic tale with just the right amount of suspense, the journey of discovering the Heath Hall fake was cleverly cute. A Kasie West story is a guaranteed dose of predictably sweet goodness that infuses your soul with warmth. Not everything was perfect, but her lovely prose encapsulated the facing of fears, projecting your identity into the world, and learning to live in the present. Moment of Truth was a perfectly paced stand-alone, but the cameos from other characters in the loosely intertwined Love, Life, and the List series made my heart sing. I can't wait to see what this author writes next!
In all truthfulness, I hope you'll read this book.
Swimming is Hadley Moore's present and future. So when a guy dressed up as Heath Hall, Hollywood latest action Hero, crashes her swim meet, she's not happy. Instead she is going to make sure he doesn't bother her again. The only problem is, she doesn't know who he really is... Nobody does.
After doing a little digging with her best friend, Amelia, it turns out that the imposter could be almost anyone, even her ex-boyfriend, or her best friend's crush. As she gets closer to discovering the identity of the fake Heath Hall, she brushes up against some of her own uncomfortable shadows.
A story of identity and who we really are. A tale of heroes and hearts.
Trigger warnings for death of a sibling and leukemia.
Ambitious, hyper focused Hadley set out to be the very best at whatever she did. She just wanted to step out from her brother's shadow. Her dedication shown as she went after a swimming scholarship and attempted to unmask Heath Hall. The young girl was very relatable, in wanting to be recognized for her own talents, but her resentment towards her brother was mishandled and rushed.
From her long mourning family to a persistent best friend, to her humorous love interest, the people who cared about her the most were simultaneously the ones she struggled with. Even though I loved the characters and their dynamics, I just wanted more substance.
Hadley and her family had delt with something very heavy, and while the feelings and repercussions from that played out, I don't feel like the right parts of it were given the adequate time they needed to be properly impactful. On the other hand, I found her friendship with Amelia to be steadily supportive. Easy going and fun, her love interest helped her deal with her emotions and brought out a lighter, happier side of her.
Who's behind the mask? A romantic tale with just the right amount of suspense, the journey of discovering the Heath Hall fake was cleverly cute. A Kasie West story is a guaranteed dose of predictably sweet goodness that infuses your soul with warmth. Not everything was perfect, but her lovely prose encapsulated the facing of fears, projecting your identity into the world, and learning to live in the present. Moment of Truth was a perfectly paced stand-alone, but the cameos from other characters in the loosely intertwined Love, Life, and the List series made my heart sing. I can't wait to see what this author writes next!
In all truthfulness, I hope you'll read this book.
March 26, 2020
Fears, secrets, and truths are complicated little buggers. They can be hidden, hard to find, and even harder to say out loud. We need a good listener, a push, and a mountain of courage to share what we feel, fear, and want the most in this world. It might even require an action hero mask and a big moment of truth!
Sixteen year old, Hadley Moore knows what she wants and goes after it with intensity and focus. This girl is motivated! She’s a swimmer who pushes herself to compete, train, and be the best. Competition gets her blood pumping. But is Hadley missing out on life outside of the pool? Her coach, parents, and sore shoulders think she may be pushing herself too hard, but Hadley continues to work and fight for more. Why? Why is Hadley so determined? Perhaps it has something to do with her older brother, Eric, who died before she was born. The loss of a loved one leaves a hole in a family that can easily fill up with misunderstanding and silence. There’s still so much about Eric left unsaid between Hadley and her parents. Can Hadley finally face her fears and voice her feelings out loud to her family and herself. Dive in and find out.
Along the way, we meet Amelia—Hadley’s BFF, a cute boy or two, and a masked mystery prankster that’s distracting Hadley from her swimming. This mystery person shows up at random places wearing a mask of the popular Hollywood action hero, Heath Hall. He bungee jumps, performs, paints, and dives into pools during swim meets. Needless to say, Hadley wasn’t happy about that last one. This unexpected guest cost Hadley the race! So now she’s determined to unmask Heath Hall. Who is behind the mask?
“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”—Oscar Wilde
Let the games begin! I loved the guessing game and hunt for the identity of Heath Hall. All sorts of suspects are thrown in our path, but Ms. West hides the truth in clever ways and twists and turns for most of the book. As Hadley gets closer and closer to Heath Hall, she begins to uncover feelings and truths about herself as well. A journey filled with fun, flirting, and likeable side characters and suspects. One particular suspect stood out for me though. I was totally “Jackson-ed”! :)
Jackson Holt is such a cutie! On the surface, Jackson is the class clown with oodles and oodles of charm that everyone likes. Everyone except Hadley Moore. But there is so much more underneath the jokes and laughs. Jackson’s charm, smile, and knack of popping up at all the right places slowly begin to melt Hadley’s heart. I can’t and won’t tell you if Hadley and Jackson become friends or more, but I will tell you it’s a joy to watch these two jab and joke with each other. The boy is a sweetheart. And persistent! I adored him. Hope you decide to meet him.
So just to recap…we have a strong main character to root for, fun side characters who will make you smile, a little mystery, and a huge potential for romantic entanglements. But there’s more too! One of my favorite Kasie West traits is the huge heart and messages of hope she infuses in her tales. Hadley’s story taught me to just go for it! Life is too short to be afraid of saying what you mean, want, and feel.
Recommended. A must read for Kasie West fans!
April 15, 2020
5 Stars!!
“Just because you can’t see the future, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Kasie West is a PEACH!! I love her writing style so much and the Joy that her books bring to my heart. I love reading romance but something about her books just make me feel like I learned something, and I take away something from each of her books- EVEN though her books are geared toward YA- As an adult Woman I still walk away with some piece of wisdom. So thank you for that Mrs. West!!
I adored this book and the message throughout it! The characters were easy to love and learn with. This book had some moments that made me cry and feel all the feels. I would totally recommend this and any other of Wests books!! They are just soup for the soul!
May 8, 2020
5/5
On my god. I think this may be my favourite Kasie West book of the ones I’ve read. Her books have this addicting style of cuteness and romance. I loved Jackson and Hadley’s relationship because it was so pure and sweet. It was well developed and their texts and encounters and conversations were all just so wholesome and cute. Like I can’t say enough how cute they were in this book. I honestly would love a sequel about them. Amelia was a kind and supportive best friend that helped Hadley so much. The whole situation with swimming’s Nd her brother played it so well and the entire part of her and Jackson’s late night trip was amazing. Gosh this was good!!!
On my god. I think this may be my favourite Kasie West book of the ones I’ve read. Her books have this addicting style of cuteness and romance. I loved Jackson and Hadley’s relationship because it was so pure and sweet. It was well developed and their texts and encounters and conversations were all just so wholesome and cute. Like I can’t say enough how cute they were in this book. I honestly would love a sequel about them. Amelia was a kind and supportive best friend that helped Hadley so much. The whole situation with swimming’s Nd her brother played it so well and the entire part of her and Jackson’s late night trip was amazing. Gosh this was good!!!
Want to read
January 30, 2015WHAT OMFG THAT TITLE
IT SCREAMS TEENWOLF!!!!!
HUHUHUHU SEASON 5 SOON OMG BUT YES ANOTHER KASIE WEST BOOK: AUTO-BUY, AUTO-READ
IT SCREAMS TEENWOLF!!!!!
HUHUHUHU SEASON 5 SOON OMG BUT YES ANOTHER KASIE WEST BOOK: AUTO-BUY, AUTO-READ
March 10, 2020
As much as I love Kasie West, I think I really have to admit how ‘hit or miss’ she is for me. And this one was a miss.
This book follows Hadley, a 16 year old swimmer that’s hyper-fixated on being the best swimmer she can be. She doesn’t eat sugar, doesn’t do anything but practice swimming, and needs an entire superstitious ritual in order to get in the zone for races. She’s preparing for one when a person wearing a mask of Heath Hall (an in-universe movie character) jumps into the pool in her lane before they start, throwing her off.
This… just didn’t work. The premise of the plot is that Hadley is incensed by the Fake Heath Hall ruining her ritual and throwing off her race, so she becomes “obsessed” with finding out who he is. The problem is… that doesn’t really make sense, and throughout the book she seems like… really dumb and only half into figuring it out? Don’t get me wrong, that’s almost ALL the book talks about (and Hadley’s swimming / dead brother, both plotlines lacking emotion for me), but the book is told from her perspective and she’s like “oh hmm this person totally looks out of breath and their hair is messed up after this Fake Heath Hall sighting, wonder what that’s about” and then her friend spends more time looking into it by herself than Hadley does. It just seemed weird. She sends DMs to the Fake Heath Hall instagram account, and those conversations were so weird for me to read? Like they just felt really out of place and obvious, while Hadley continued to be like “oh shucks hope I can crack this case!!!”
And the main issue is this just… lacked soul. There were scenes that I should have liked, should have felt moved by, but I just didn’t. Kasie West’s cute romcom plots have always been her strength over prose, but here it was just shocking how little emotion I felt for… anything. The crux of the story, living in the shadow of someone you never met, is a good one, but it just didn't land for me. Even the romance, which was cute in THEORY, did nothing for me. I had started the book feeling one thing because her family had a ritual for Hadley’s brother that I have for my mom, but once that was over I just… found nothing to care about. It’s a shame, and I hope my friends like this more than I did.
This book follows Hadley, a 16 year old swimmer that’s hyper-fixated on being the best swimmer she can be. She doesn’t eat sugar, doesn’t do anything but practice swimming, and needs an entire superstitious ritual in order to get in the zone for races. She’s preparing for one when a person wearing a mask of Heath Hall (an in-universe movie character) jumps into the pool in her lane before they start, throwing her off.
This… just didn’t work. The premise of the plot is that Hadley is incensed by the Fake Heath Hall ruining her ritual and throwing off her race, so she becomes “obsessed” with finding out who he is. The problem is… that doesn’t really make sense, and throughout the book she seems like… really dumb and only half into figuring it out? Don’t get me wrong, that’s almost ALL the book talks about (and Hadley’s swimming / dead brother, both plotlines lacking emotion for me), but the book is told from her perspective and she’s like “oh hmm this person totally looks out of breath and their hair is messed up after this Fake Heath Hall sighting, wonder what that’s about” and then her friend spends more time looking into it by herself than Hadley does. It just seemed weird. She sends DMs to the Fake Heath Hall instagram account, and those conversations were so weird for me to read? Like they just felt really out of place and obvious, while Hadley continued to be like “oh shucks hope I can crack this case!!!”
And the main issue is this just… lacked soul. There were scenes that I should have liked, should have felt moved by, but I just didn’t. Kasie West’s cute romcom plots have always been her strength over prose, but here it was just shocking how little emotion I felt for… anything. The crux of the story, living in the shadow of someone you never met, is a good one, but it just didn't land for me. Even the romance, which was cute in THEORY, did nothing for me. I had started the book feeling one thing because her family had a ritual for Hadley’s brother that I have for my mom, but once that was over I just… found nothing to care about. It’s a shame, and I hope my friends like this more than I did.
June 17, 2021
⭐2.5 stars⭐
This was very different then Kasie's other works I feel like (or maybe its just been a while since I read her other books). Not to say I didn't love this book, but it wasn't what I was expecting maybe?
I'm not much into competitive swimming so I couldn't really connect to our mc as her only passion throughout this book is swimming. And the romance was more of a secondary theme, I feel like this was more of a light mystery; trying to discover who is under the mask of "Heath Hall" and I enjoyed that part of the story but I didn't go into it wanting a mystery. This is a Romance book at the end of the day and I expected a lot more than what I got. It was a big build up and you know I LOVE slow burn but this isn't even technically a slow burn romance. It's the last 5-8 chapters where you get to really have a bit of fun light hearted romance. And mind you this book is 40 chapters long (including the epilogue).
Maybe now that I have read so many other romances (dark, New Adult, Adult, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, etc) maybe this is a long awaited parting with High School YA Romance. Not to say that I'm not going to keep reading YA but I think now that I have dipped my toes in the deep end of the swimming pool and found so many new types of subgenres in romance that I like, I think its safe to say that I will keep my High School Romance just for when I'm on the beach and can't be blushing like an idiot.
ALSO I love YA I'm not bashing it at all and I will always be a YA lover. I think that Romance wise I enjoy more mature books. These characters in this book are in high school and they think they are going to grow old together and its just so cheesy knowing how SLIM of a chance it is that it works out like that. Good for them if it does work and since its fiction it can be whatever it wants but there's always that reality looming over my head.
I still enjoyed this book and I feel obligated to love anything that Kasie West creates but this wasn't my favorite.
This was very different then Kasie's other works I feel like (or maybe its just been a while since I read her other books). Not to say I didn't love this book, but it wasn't what I was expecting maybe?
I'm not much into competitive swimming so I couldn't really connect to our mc as her only passion throughout this book is swimming. And the romance was more of a secondary theme, I feel like this was more of a light mystery; trying to discover who is under the mask of "Heath Hall" and I enjoyed that part of the story but I didn't go into it wanting a mystery. This is a Romance book at the end of the day and I expected a lot more than what I got. It was a big build up and you know I LOVE slow burn but this isn't even technically a slow burn romance. It's the last 5-8 chapters where you get to really have a bit of fun light hearted romance. And mind you this book is 40 chapters long (including the epilogue).
Maybe now that I have read so many other romances (dark, New Adult, Adult, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, etc) maybe this is a long awaited parting with High School YA Romance. Not to say that I'm not going to keep reading YA but I think now that I have dipped my toes in the deep end of the swimming pool and found so many new types of subgenres in romance that I like, I think its safe to say that I will keep my High School Romance just for when I'm on the beach and can't be blushing like an idiot.
ALSO I love YA I'm not bashing it at all and I will always be a YA lover. I think that Romance wise I enjoy more mature books. These characters in this book are in high school and they think they are going to grow old together and its just so cheesy knowing how SLIM of a chance it is that it works out like that. Good for them if it does work and since its fiction it can be whatever it wants but there's always that reality looming over my head.
I still enjoyed this book and I feel obligated to love anything that Kasie West creates but this wasn't my favorite.
Want to read
November 23, 2014Kasie West has another book coming out!!
But I have to wait another full year for it!
But I have to wait another full year for it!
April 6, 2020
Oh I really loved this! Lots of feelings as usual and Jackson stole my heart!!
November 14, 2022
|5 Stars|
Pshhh. No. I haven't read this book 3 times this year. What are you talking about? RTC
Pshhh. No. I haven't read this book 3 times this year. What are you talking about? RTC
February 6, 2021
kasie west tiene esa cosa de que cada libro que escribe es tierno y te llena tu corazoncito. siempre es un placer leer sus libros, ella hace mis malos días buenos.
April 18, 2020
Book: Moment of Truth
Author: Kasie West
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars
Kasie West is one of those few authors who always manages to put a smile on my face. I love how cute, simple, and, yet, hard hitting her books can be. This one deals with grief and losing a child, but, yet, manages to have all of those cute moments that you would expect from a Kasie West book. I love all of the light hearted moments that were mixed in with the more difficult moments.
Hadley lives the shadow of her dead older brother, who she has never met. She feels like the replacement child and feels like she must live up to him. All she’s heard is how prefect he is and so on. She feels like she must give up her life for him, because it’s what makes her family happy. She swims and is very good at it. However, it’s all a competition against her brother. When the going gets tough, she also shuts out the world around her. I find Hadley to be very relatable. She’s always in the shadow of someone else, feels like she has to prove herself, and is trying to please her parents. We get to see her internal struggle with trying to be supportive of her parents, but wanting them to actually see her.
There is also our side characters, who are along for the ride. We have this bit with someone dressing up in a mask and going around and facing their fears. No one knows who this person is and a lot of the book is spent trying to figure it out. As the book goes on, it becomes more about facing your fears than finding out who is under the mask. This, of course, sends up on a wave of adventure, fun, and cuteness. Yes, there is a lot of serious scenes in the this book, but we still have the romance, cuteness, and friendships that we have come to expect from a Kasie West book.
The writing is light, but still has that serious undertone to it. I like that it does explore grief and how different people process it. However, I also like that we still get that fluff that we have all come to know and expect from this author. I like that balance.
Overall, I had a great time reading this. With everything that is currently going on in our world, this is a nice way to escape from the harsh world for a few hours.
Author: Kasie West
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars
Kasie West is one of those few authors who always manages to put a smile on my face. I love how cute, simple, and, yet, hard hitting her books can be. This one deals with grief and losing a child, but, yet, manages to have all of those cute moments that you would expect from a Kasie West book. I love all of the light hearted moments that were mixed in with the more difficult moments.
Hadley lives the shadow of her dead older brother, who she has never met. She feels like the replacement child and feels like she must live up to him. All she’s heard is how prefect he is and so on. She feels like she must give up her life for him, because it’s what makes her family happy. She swims and is very good at it. However, it’s all a competition against her brother. When the going gets tough, she also shuts out the world around her. I find Hadley to be very relatable. She’s always in the shadow of someone else, feels like she has to prove herself, and is trying to please her parents. We get to see her internal struggle with trying to be supportive of her parents, but wanting them to actually see her.
There is also our side characters, who are along for the ride. We have this bit with someone dressing up in a mask and going around and facing their fears. No one knows who this person is and a lot of the book is spent trying to figure it out. As the book goes on, it becomes more about facing your fears than finding out who is under the mask. This, of course, sends up on a wave of adventure, fun, and cuteness. Yes, there is a lot of serious scenes in the this book, but we still have the romance, cuteness, and friendships that we have come to expect from a Kasie West book.
The writing is light, but still has that serious undertone to it. I like that it does explore grief and how different people process it. However, I also like that we still get that fluff that we have all come to know and expect from this author. I like that balance.
Overall, I had a great time reading this. With everything that is currently going on in our world, this is a nice way to escape from the harsh world for a few hours.
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1647896333i/31792110._UX200_CR0,96,200,200_.jpg)
March 18, 2020
I’ve heard lots of good things about Kasie West, who seems to be widely considered a fresh and funny voice in YA contemporary. I went into this with high hopes.
Naturally, I was disappointed. This book was, on the whole, bland and peopled with forgettable characters.
Sixteen-year-old Hadley Moore is obsessed with swimming. Day (and sometimes night) she’s at the pool, practising. Partially this is because she uses it as a form of validation; her older brother Ethan died before she was born, and she’s always felt second-best. When a boy dressed as Hollywood action hero Heath Hall crashes one of her races and makes her lose, she’s determined to ferret out his identity and exact revenge with the help of her best friend Amelia.
This is basically all the plot summary you need. Yes, there’s a romance with a cute and slightly puppyish boy named Jackson, but he emotions are so tepid that I have no investment whatsoever in them. I actually forgot Jackson’s name, and had to look it up again for this review. Hadley herself is occasionally interesting; she’s like a highly watered-down version of a Miranda Kennealley heroine. More often than not she’s just uninteresting, though.
The plot is just ridiculous levels of suspension of disbelief. Somehow, we’re expected to believe that there’s a mask so realistic it actually looks like the wearer’s own face, and it keeps getting passed around a bunch of people, and nobody has cracked and spilt the secret.
Overall
A disappointing first foray into Kasie West, and it will probably also be my last.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
Naturally, I was disappointed. This book was, on the whole, bland and peopled with forgettable characters.
Sixteen-year-old Hadley Moore is obsessed with swimming. Day (and sometimes night) she’s at the pool, practising. Partially this is because she uses it as a form of validation; her older brother Ethan died before she was born, and she’s always felt second-best. When a boy dressed as Hollywood action hero Heath Hall crashes one of her races and makes her lose, she’s determined to ferret out his identity and exact revenge with the help of her best friend Amelia.
This is basically all the plot summary you need. Yes, there’s a romance with a cute and slightly puppyish boy named Jackson, but he emotions are so tepid that I have no investment whatsoever in them. I actually forgot Jackson’s name, and had to look it up again for this review. Hadley herself is occasionally interesting; she’s like a highly watered-down version of a Miranda Kennealley heroine. More often than not she’s just uninteresting, though.
The plot is just ridiculous levels of suspension of disbelief. Somehow, we’re expected to believe that there’s a mask so realistic it actually looks like the wearer’s own face, and it keeps getting passed around a bunch of people, and nobody has cracked and spilt the secret.
Overall
A disappointing first foray into Kasie West, and it will probably also be my last.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
June 11, 2020
Really, Really Cute
Really, really cute, young adult, growing up story. The characters were fun with clear personalities. They showed growth and increasing self awareness that was satisfying as a reader. I loved that the hard things seemed real and reasonable. I believed it. This is a sweet story. My teenage daughter is a fan of this author and I can see why.
Content: kissing
Really, really cute, young adult, growing up story. The characters were fun with clear personalities. They showed growth and increasing self awareness that was satisfying as a reader. I loved that the hard things seemed real and reasonable. I believed it. This is a sweet story. My teenage daughter is a fan of this author and I can see why.
Content: kissing
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