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Save Steve
Steve Stevenson is an asshole. That might not be a cool thing to say about someone with cancer, but it’s true. Yeah, he throws legendary parties and is the most popular guy in school, but he also loves humiliating pranks, Cardi B, and doesn’t recycle. Worst of all, he’s dating Kaia—the girl of nice guy Cam’s dreams.
But when a desperate Kaia asks Cam to help her raise money to pay for Steve’s experimental treatment, Cam offers to organize the biggest, most viral fundraising campaign—SaveSteve.com. Maybe then Kaia will finally see Cam as the perfect, thoughtful, altruistic, good guy for her. But Steve’s no fool. He’s totally on to Cam’s plan. And to stop him from stealing his girlfriend, he’s going to do whatever it takes to make Cam’s life as miserable as his own.
But when a desperate Kaia asks Cam to help her raise money to pay for Steve’s experimental treatment, Cam offers to organize the biggest, most viral fundraising campaign—SaveSteve.com. Maybe then Kaia will finally see Cam as the perfect, thoughtful, altruistic, good guy for her. But Steve’s no fool. He’s totally on to Cam’s plan. And to stop him from stealing his girlfriend, he’s going to do whatever it takes to make Cam’s life as miserable as his own.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2020
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July 11, 2020Hey all, just to be clear, Book 2 is a stand alone. Not a sequel to Unpregnant. So get ready for new characters! New jokes! Sharks! Bees!
More soon.
More soon.
February 8, 2022
Cam had been pining away for Kaia, and he finally thought the time was right to make his move. Little did he know that she already had a boyfriend, and even worse, that boyfriend was Steve, Oh, and even worse than that, Steve had cancer. In an attempt to impress Kaia (and win her heart), Cam offered to help with a fundraiser to "Save Steve". What seemed like a good idea at the time turned into a nightmare, when Steve decided to to beat Cam at his own game.
• Pro: This book is hilarious! The humor leans slightly darker employing some gallows humor and it's often over the top, but still, hilarious. Lots of laughter was heard in these parts as I made my way through this story.
• Pro: I loved that the book pokes fun at some well known tropes. One character warns Cam, over and over, not to mess with a "cancer love story". At different points throughout the book, she name-drops a bunch of books and movies, such as: The Fault in Our Stars, Here on Earth, Love Story, A Walk to Remember, etc. Every reference was well placed and Cam's reactions were always priceless.
• Pro: I could not get over the hoops poor Cam had to jump through. Some of the stunts he was challenged to complete were worthy of being in an episode of Jackass.
• Pro: Steve was what I would call the anti-Cam. These two were opposites in almost every way. The striking contrast resulted in a lot of really lively and entertaining situations, but I also love the idea of such different people being able to work together in some capacity as they found some common ground.
• Pro: I thought this would be a romance and was not disappointed when it wasn't. I loved the friendship that formed between Steve and Cam. So unexpected, but a really nice touch. I was quite impressed by some of the more tender moments they shared too.
• Pro: Way to surprise me! The story took a few unexpected turns. They were interesting choices, and more interesting was that I was ok with these unanticipated twists.
Overall: I came for the over the top hilarious antics, but I was happy to find a buddy story with quite a bit of heart.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
• Pro: This book is hilarious! The humor leans slightly darker employing some gallows humor and it's often over the top, but still, hilarious. Lots of laughter was heard in these parts as I made my way through this story.
• Pro: I loved that the book pokes fun at some well known tropes. One character warns Cam, over and over, not to mess with a "cancer love story". At different points throughout the book, she name-drops a bunch of books and movies, such as: The Fault in Our Stars, Here on Earth, Love Story, A Walk to Remember, etc. Every reference was well placed and Cam's reactions were always priceless.
• Pro: I could not get over the hoops poor Cam had to jump through. Some of the stunts he was challenged to complete were worthy of being in an episode of Jackass.
• Pro: Steve was what I would call the anti-Cam. These two were opposites in almost every way. The striking contrast resulted in a lot of really lively and entertaining situations, but I also love the idea of such different people being able to work together in some capacity as they found some common ground.
• Pro: I thought this would be a romance and was not disappointed when it wasn't. I loved the friendship that formed between Steve and Cam. So unexpected, but a really nice touch. I was quite impressed by some of the more tender moments they shared too.
• Pro: Way to surprise me! The story took a few unexpected turns. They were interesting choices, and more interesting was that I was ok with these unanticipated twists.
Overall: I came for the over the top hilarious antics, but I was happy to find a buddy story with quite a bit of heart.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
July 7, 2022
“Today was the day I would finally ask Kaia Gonzalez out.”
I loved Unpregnant so I figured that I’d try this one. It’s not as funny since that book made me cry laughing but it has some hilarious and memorable moments. Steve and Cam’s banter during all the fundraiser challenges was extremely entertaining, and the moments following those.
Steve is a jerk, as Cam says, but I do believe everyone was kind of dumb in their own way. (Kaia too. She doesn’t walk free from this). They all had their flaws and felt like real people to me. Everyone changed and developed more as the book progressed, the boys more than others since the story centred on them.
But I love how in this sort-of love triangle, the two guys who were after/had the same girl had their own enemies-to-friends story. I love a good bromance. I appreciate how the story focused more on that theme. If a few things were tweaked, it could’ve been a Cyrano retelling which would’ve been cool. Also, the ending subverted my expectation but I’m glad it went that way since I wanted it to.
Slight
I loved Unpregnant so I figured that I’d try this one. It’s not as funny since that book made me cry laughing but it has some hilarious and memorable moments. Steve and Cam’s banter during all the fundraiser challenges was extremely entertaining, and the moments following those.
Steve is a jerk, as Cam says, but I do believe everyone was kind of dumb in their own way. (Kaia too. She doesn’t walk free from this). They all had their flaws and felt like real people to me. Everyone changed and developed more as the book progressed, the boys more than others since the story centred on them.
But I love how in this sort-of love triangle, the two guys who were after/had the same girl had their own enemies-to-friends story. I love a good bromance. I appreciate how the story focused more on that theme. If a few things were tweaked, it could’ve been a Cyrano retelling which would’ve been cool. Also, the ending subverted my expectation but I’m glad it went that way since I wanted it to.
Slight
September 1, 2020
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to review an early copy of Save Steve by Jenni Hendricks and Ted Caplan before it's September 1st release date!
FULL REVIEW HERE
This book was SO fun and full of antics, making me love every second of it!
First off, I loved how Steve loved Cardi B and she was in so many scenes in this book because I love her and she's my Queen.
Secondly, I loved reading about the pranks that Steve would make Cam do to raise money and how Cam did it, no matter how embarrassing, and from that, we see Steve and Cam's friendship grow and the two really began to open up to one another. There were so many scenes of banter between Cam and Steve that had me laughing to myself like a lunatic. Steve had such a crazy, free-spirit whereas Cam was more reserved and politically correct. Despite their differences, I felt like Steve and Cam really learned a lot from one another. It was a nice change to have a male character narrate the story as opposed to the typical female. Steve was really unlikable at first and kind of an ass, but I felt like he was really opening up to Cam and redeeming himself towards the end of the book. Kaia felt kind of like a useless character to me, and she didn't really add much to the story besides being a big plot point.
The writing is so laid-back and easy to follow. It flows and it feels natural. There is sarcasm in the writing that gives the story a lot of depth and makes the experience that much more enjoyable. The writing made you want to not put the book down and know what would happen next. There were a lot of themes present in this book as well, which I always enjoy when a book has multi-layers and is able to pull it off well.
FULL REVIEW HERE
This book was SO fun and full of antics, making me love every second of it!
First off, I loved how Steve loved Cardi B and she was in so many scenes in this book because I love her and she's my Queen.
Secondly, I loved reading about the pranks that Steve would make Cam do to raise money and how Cam did it, no matter how embarrassing, and from that, we see Steve and Cam's friendship grow and the two really began to open up to one another. There were so many scenes of banter between Cam and Steve that had me laughing to myself like a lunatic. Steve had such a crazy, free-spirit whereas Cam was more reserved and politically correct. Despite their differences, I felt like Steve and Cam really learned a lot from one another. It was a nice change to have a male character narrate the story as opposed to the typical female. Steve was really unlikable at first and kind of an ass, but I felt like he was really opening up to Cam and redeeming himself towards the end of the book. Kaia felt kind of like a useless character to me, and she didn't really add much to the story besides being a big plot point.
The writing is so laid-back and easy to follow. It flows and it feels natural. There is sarcasm in the writing that gives the story a lot of depth and makes the experience that much more enjoyable. The writing made you want to not put the book down and know what would happen next. There were a lot of themes present in this book as well, which I always enjoy when a book has multi-layers and is able to pull it off well.
August 30, 2020
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
After reading this author duo's lovely debut, Unpregnant , last year, I added this book to my TBR basically immediately. And it had the same humor mixed with important lessons and character development that its predecessor had! So, what did I like and what did I not enjoy as much? Read on!
Yays:
►There were lots of funny moments! This is definitely what I expected from this writing duo, and it didn't disappoint. Especially considering that it's a fairly serious premise (young person with cancer is always rough!), the dark humor was just really on point. Is it absurd at times? Sure, but that's part of the fun!
►I liked that Cam was really close with his mom! I'll get to that more later (yes, it happens to be a part of my "nays" as well, but that's okay!), but I really admired that they both worked at their relationship. Cam really did embrace a lot of the (very important, tbh) lessons that his mom tried so hard to impart on him, even if he slipped up (and he did, again, see below).
►I 100% liked the will-they-won't-they bromance more than the actual love interest. Kaia was fine, but she wasn't what propelled me forward. I kept hoping that Steve would come around, and that Cam's motives would become purer. I wanted these two to be besties, forever. I won't tell you what happens and whether they do, but it was so fun to read!
►All of the characters do grow and learn a lot. They might start out pretty questionably, but everyone starts to engage in some much needed self-reflection, yay!
Nays:
►This is completely a personal thing, but Cam's cringiness got to me. See, Cam's mom is a single mom trying to raise him to be... not a typical white guy jerk. Which is admirable! And like, same! It is my whole life's goal that my son is not a white guy jerk too! Which is why, when Cam is so, it just... ouch. But like, he did eventually realize it, which is why I still enjoyed the book.
Bottom Line: Save Steve is... look, it's a funny yet heartfelt cancer book. And yes, those things can coexist, and they do so beautifully here!
After reading this author duo's lovely debut, Unpregnant , last year, I added this book to my TBR basically immediately. And it had the same humor mixed with important lessons and character development that its predecessor had! So, what did I like and what did I not enjoy as much? Read on!
Yays:
►There were lots of funny moments! This is definitely what I expected from this writing duo, and it didn't disappoint. Especially considering that it's a fairly serious premise (young person with cancer is always rough!), the dark humor was just really on point. Is it absurd at times? Sure, but that's part of the fun!
►I liked that Cam was really close with his mom! I'll get to that more later (yes, it happens to be a part of my "nays" as well, but that's okay!), but I really admired that they both worked at their relationship. Cam really did embrace a lot of the (very important, tbh) lessons that his mom tried so hard to impart on him, even if he slipped up (and he did, again, see below).
►I 100% liked the will-they-won't-they bromance more than the actual love interest. Kaia was fine, but she wasn't what propelled me forward. I kept hoping that Steve would come around, and that Cam's motives would become purer. I wanted these two to be besties, forever. I won't tell you what happens and whether they do, but it was so fun to read!
►All of the characters do grow and learn a lot. They might start out pretty questionably, but everyone starts to engage in some much needed self-reflection, yay!
Nays:
►This is completely a personal thing, but Cam's cringiness got to me. See, Cam's mom is a single mom trying to raise him to be... not a typical white guy jerk. Which is admirable! And like, same! It is my whole life's goal that my son is not a white guy jerk too! Which is why, when Cam is so, it just... ouch. But like, he did eventually realize it, which is why I still enjoyed the book.
Bottom Line: Save Steve is... look, it's a funny yet heartfelt cancer book. And yes, those things can coexist, and they do so beautifully here!
April 11, 2021
This had its moments and it’s a very readable story.
But this is set up wrong. With Steve being a mythical teenage stereotype set up as the foil for Cam being some weird male subdivision of the manic pixie dream girl stereotype. This should have been set up as friends who had fallen out who were both chasing the same girl ... but find their friendship again in the end. Not an adversarial contest for a girl who had made a choice.
Steve is awful and a bully. Until he’s not, he turns into just a normal jerk. A jerk who is deemed likable by his maybe terminal cancer.
Cam, who is supposed to be some enlightened-feminist- higher plane of existence manic pixie dream of a teenage boy against toxic masculinity, actually isn’t if he’s actively chasing a girl with a boyfriend. A girl who hasn’t yet turned him down or rejected him ... BUT SHOULDN’T BE IN PLAY OR AN OPTION BECAUSE HER OWN CHOICES TAKE HER OUT OF THE GAME. And as enlightened as his character is made to be ... and as concerned with consent and agency ... he should have backed the hell all the way off when he found out that Kaia was with Steve.
And speaking of Kaia’s agency ... it’s sad that it’s not addressed until the last 5 pages when so much of this is framed within Cam’s feminist viewpoint. In a book that will likely be most popular among female teenage readers - this is a huge misstep.
This will get checked out at the library ... but it may be reinforcing the same old trite social messages that we have been getting for seemingly forever instead of trying to counter them like the character of Cam half-heartedly attempted to do ...
But this is set up wrong. With Steve being a mythical teenage stereotype set up as the foil for Cam being some weird male subdivision of the manic pixie dream girl stereotype. This should have been set up as friends who had fallen out who were both chasing the same girl ... but find their friendship again in the end. Not an adversarial contest for a girl who had made a choice.
Steve is awful and a bully. Until he’s not, he turns into just a normal jerk. A jerk who is deemed likable by his maybe terminal cancer.
Cam, who is supposed to be some enlightened-feminist- higher plane of existence manic pixie dream of a teenage boy against toxic masculinity, actually isn’t if he’s actively chasing a girl with a boyfriend. A girl who hasn’t yet turned him down or rejected him ... BUT SHOULDN’T BE IN PLAY OR AN OPTION BECAUSE HER OWN CHOICES TAKE HER OUT OF THE GAME. And as enlightened as his character is made to be ... and as concerned with consent and agency ... he should have backed the hell all the way off when he found out that Kaia was with Steve.
And speaking of Kaia’s agency ... it’s sad that it’s not addressed until the last 5 pages when so much of this is framed within Cam’s feminist viewpoint. In a book that will likely be most popular among female teenage readers - this is a huge misstep.
This will get checked out at the library ... but it may be reinforcing the same old trite social messages that we have been getting for seemingly forever instead of trying to counter them like the character of Cam half-heartedly attempted to do ...
July 23, 2024
nemám slov...
September 2, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. I had a lot of trouble with this book, and I’ll explain more - in detail - upon publication.
Updated 9/1/20
2 stars
I really liked _Unpregnant_ and so was excited to read this next installment, but WOW did I have problems with this novel.
The first 90% of the novel is nearly intolerable. Cam is very connected to what's right and wrong in the world but cannot manage to keep himself out of the most ridiculous series of calamities with Steve and Kaia. He gets fooled over and over again by the same person and somehow can never think of a way to avoid this scenario, even when he has clear outs. Character growth? It's not for him. I found it impossible to root for him at any point. As a side note but one that I keep coming back to, Cam also uses the term "prostitute" at some point (as in he'll "save the prostitutes" in a video game), and I found it wild that a character who is obsessed with his own #wokelyfe would use this outdated and offensive word. Of all of the odd incidents, choices, twists, etc., this was one that really demonstrated inconsistency for me. Kaia also seems weirdly oblivious to the people around her, even though she is admittedly more concerned with everyone else's happiness than her own. The most likable character is Steve - the villain - and he is like a 3 out of 10 at his best. There's so much gross-out humor that is...not funny. From having taught Stephen King's _The Body_ many times, I know how sensitive some folks are to vomit. There is vomit. It's not the only offender of this childish kind. The antics read way too young overall.
By the end, the characters do evidence some development, but it feels quite minimal in relation to their experiences and ages. It bums me out to say this is a disappointing novel in general but especially in light of how much I liked the predecessor.
Updated 9/1/20
2 stars
I really liked _Unpregnant_ and so was excited to read this next installment, but WOW did I have problems with this novel.
The first 90% of the novel is nearly intolerable. Cam is very connected to what's right and wrong in the world but cannot manage to keep himself out of the most ridiculous series of calamities with Steve and Kaia. He gets fooled over and over again by the same person and somehow can never think of a way to avoid this scenario, even when he has clear outs. Character growth? It's not for him. I found it impossible to root for him at any point. As a side note but one that I keep coming back to, Cam also uses the term "prostitute" at some point (as in he'll "save the prostitutes" in a video game), and I found it wild that a character who is obsessed with his own #wokelyfe would use this outdated and offensive word. Of all of the odd incidents, choices, twists, etc., this was one that really demonstrated inconsistency for me. Kaia also seems weirdly oblivious to the people around her, even though she is admittedly more concerned with everyone else's happiness than her own. The most likable character is Steve - the villain - and he is like a 3 out of 10 at his best. There's so much gross-out humor that is...not funny. From having taught Stephen King's _The Body_ many times, I know how sensitive some folks are to vomit. There is vomit. It's not the only offender of this childish kind. The antics read way too young overall.
By the end, the characters do evidence some development, but it feels quite minimal in relation to their experiences and ages. It bums me out to say this is a disappointing novel in general but especially in light of how much I liked the predecessor.
June 29, 2020
Okay, this one was kind of a surprise! I went in thinking this would be a love-triangle/cancer romance, but it actually turned out to be a fun and funny male friendship story. A hat tip to the authors for building in some really heartfelt moments that let the two male characters feel real feelings and prioritize their friendship over girls (sort of). AND it included a choreographed dance to Cardi B. Way to smash toxic masculinity! On another note, I’ve read a few books lately that were just really badly written and it was so nice to read one that was really polished with a tight plot and fully developed characters.
Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperTeen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperTeen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2020
It just...annoyed me so much. The protagonist is this self-righteous dude who decided that because he kinda cares about feminism and environmental rights, he deserves the girl, and gets mad (after having done nothing for six months) when she starts dating someone who makes her happy.
February 11, 2022
My opinions on this book are very divided, but overall it’s a bit of a miss for a few reasons (2,75/5)
The characters begin as very stereotypical archetypes: the hot and smart love interest that somehow never messed up anytime in her life, the cool and popular bully that everyone unreasonably admires, and the boy who’s too into studies and environmental causes to let himself live. However, the fact that we discover more of each of them through the story made it interesting and harder to let go. Somehow, the depth added into Steve’s personality wasn’t as boring as I thought it might be, and the distrust put in place between him and Cam tricked me more than once. I found myself as gullible as Cam every time, and I could almost feel Cam’s feelings through his narration.
That is another positive point: the narration feels realistic. It’s kind of like a diary, in a way. The author wasn’t scared to break usual narration boundaries, such as swearing and giving the characters actual emotional responses (those felt particularly real when Cam was dramatically screaming in his pillow about how stupid he was), it was pleasing and pretty amusing! The characters’ interactions were funny, even if pretty cliché sometimes (I mean it’s a high school romance book, I don’t know what I expected), and the emotional parts were particularly well written.
Last thing I liked was the question of ethics regarding each character’s actions. Cam is someone who’s very into deciding what’s right and what’s wrong, and I enjoyed watching him go from believing that Steve was monstrous to understanding he actually was the monster. It was the development he needed after thinking so highly of himself, even while fighting over a woman with another man, as if she was a piece of meat who wasn’t able to make her own choices.
A part of this is the biggest misstep to me: Kaia’s character management. She was supposed to stand with feminism (among other causes), yet all the story is about her getting treated awfully by two men fighting over her, and her never reacting other than in very cliché ways that could’ve been more elaborated. It was very disappointing to see that she never got a development, because she actually just played the role of the love interest: the whole story revolved around her, yet she never got to speak for herself, she was constantly overshadowed. Now it could’ve made sense if it was exploited to make her grow stronger and raise above it: but her potential was put aside at the second Cam and Steve stopped fighting, to once again only serve their character developments instead of her own.
In conclusion:
- The narration was nice and realistic, the dialogues were fine when they weren’t cliché; the emotional parts were handled very well
- The male characters got some good development considering they definitely lacked depth at first
- The question of morals was pretty well exploited, I wish we saw more of how pathetic it was of them to fight over a girl who could do her own choices from the start
- Kaia’s character potential was terribly managed, she was used only for the sake of Steve and Cam’s developments
- What mainly saved the book is the lovely ending that, I admit, I wanted more of
The characters begin as very stereotypical archetypes: the hot and smart love interest that somehow never messed up anytime in her life, the cool and popular bully that everyone unreasonably admires, and the boy who’s too into studies and environmental causes to let himself live. However, the fact that we discover more of each of them through the story made it interesting and harder to let go. Somehow, the depth added into Steve’s personality wasn’t as boring as I thought it might be, and the distrust put in place between him and Cam tricked me more than once. I found myself as gullible as Cam every time, and I could almost feel Cam’s feelings through his narration.
That is another positive point: the narration feels realistic. It’s kind of like a diary, in a way. The author wasn’t scared to break usual narration boundaries, such as swearing and giving the characters actual emotional responses (those felt particularly real when Cam was dramatically screaming in his pillow about how stupid he was), it was pleasing and pretty amusing! The characters’ interactions were funny, even if pretty cliché sometimes (I mean it’s a high school romance book, I don’t know what I expected), and the emotional parts were particularly well written.
Last thing I liked was the question of ethics regarding each character’s actions. Cam is someone who’s very into deciding what’s right and what’s wrong, and I enjoyed watching him go from believing that Steve was monstrous to understanding he actually was the monster. It was the development he needed after thinking so highly of himself, even while fighting over a woman with another man, as if she was a piece of meat who wasn’t able to make her own choices.
A part of this is the biggest misstep to me: Kaia’s character management. She was supposed to stand with feminism (among other causes), yet all the story is about her getting treated awfully by two men fighting over her, and her never reacting other than in very cliché ways that could’ve been more elaborated. It was very disappointing to see that she never got a development, because she actually just played the role of the love interest: the whole story revolved around her, yet she never got to speak for herself, she was constantly overshadowed. Now it could’ve made sense if it was exploited to make her grow stronger and raise above it: but her potential was put aside at the second Cam and Steve stopped fighting, to once again only serve their character developments instead of her own.
In conclusion:
- The narration was nice and realistic, the dialogues were fine when they weren’t cliché; the emotional parts were handled very well
- The male characters got some good development considering they definitely lacked depth at first
- The question of morals was pretty well exploited, I wish we saw more of how pathetic it was of them to fight over a girl who could do her own choices from the start
- Kaia’s character potential was terribly managed, she was used only for the sake of Steve and Cam’s developments
- What mainly saved the book is the lovely ending that, I admit, I wanted more of
August 11, 2020
Plot:
Cam waited for the perfect moment to ask Kaia out on a date. After a summer night protesting to Save the Wetland, where Kaia and Cam bonded, he knew she was the girl for him. If only the perfect moment would arrive. After seven failed attempts to ask Kaia out, Cam thought one of Steve Stevenson’s famous parties would be the right chance. Yet by that point, it was too late. With a very intoxicated Steve helping Cam on the search for Kaia, making fun of him along the way, it was when they reached Kaia that Cam found out Steve was her boyfriend, and that they have recently gotten together. What is worse is that Steve got diagnosed with cancer, a 94% curable “good cancer”, but now Steve and Kaia have a cancer love story, and nothing could break up that, right? Still trying, Cam uses his power of positive change by helping Kaia create a Save Steve campaign, helping to raise the $20000 needed for Steve’s medical expenses. Knowing Cam is going after his girlfriend, Steve hacks the SaveSteve.com account, and forces Cam to do embarrassing stunts to raise money, basically trying to lower his chances with Kaia. But Kaia is the girls of his dreams, and Cam will do everything to get her, even if that means wearing a diaper to school and rapping to Cardi B.
Thoughts:
Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan wrote this novel about Cam, a true not sarcastically white knight, who tries to do the best in the world. This boy never says anything that could be classified as homophobic or racist, he attends a protest to save the sharks, protect wetlands, ban straws, whose role model is Michelle Obama. Literally the nicest kid you could ever meet, and the boy Kaia should be dating. Yet Hendriks and Caplan wrote him with this rude intention to steal Steve’s girlfriend by fundraising money for Steve. Which is the opposite of what our humanitarian Cam is supposed to do. This entire fundraiser is done for a selfish reason, even if you cannot blame Cam for taking his chance to spend time and form a romantic relationship with Kaia. Kaia, was a similar overachieve, Type A personality student, whom you could see going out with either Steve or Cam. Where Cam and she did share similar personalities and hobbies, it was Steve who showed her how to have fun and someone to make her take a pause in life and watch Netflix for an evening. While writing Kaia, the authors did a good job of keeping Kaia in the middle, showing her ability to swing from being in love with Steve to falling in love with Cam. Steve on the other hand was a totally opposite character, a jock, party boy, who is here to have fun and not care too much that he has cancer. Steve, for the majority of the novel, was living by the saying “here for a good time, not a long time”, and only slightly worried that Cam would successfully steal Kaia away from him. In their own unique ways they are likable characters with their own flaws that they recognize and grow from, thus, showing major character growth from the beginning of the book to the end. With a fast-moving plot, and some very funny twists in there, especially involving Steve’s pranks on Cam, and Cardi B made an appearance, this is definitely an okay novel, and one that can join others on the cancer romance shelf.
Cam waited for the perfect moment to ask Kaia out on a date. After a summer night protesting to Save the Wetland, where Kaia and Cam bonded, he knew she was the girl for him. If only the perfect moment would arrive. After seven failed attempts to ask Kaia out, Cam thought one of Steve Stevenson’s famous parties would be the right chance. Yet by that point, it was too late. With a very intoxicated Steve helping Cam on the search for Kaia, making fun of him along the way, it was when they reached Kaia that Cam found out Steve was her boyfriend, and that they have recently gotten together. What is worse is that Steve got diagnosed with cancer, a 94% curable “good cancer”, but now Steve and Kaia have a cancer love story, and nothing could break up that, right? Still trying, Cam uses his power of positive change by helping Kaia create a Save Steve campaign, helping to raise the $20000 needed for Steve’s medical expenses. Knowing Cam is going after his girlfriend, Steve hacks the SaveSteve.com account, and forces Cam to do embarrassing stunts to raise money, basically trying to lower his chances with Kaia. But Kaia is the girls of his dreams, and Cam will do everything to get her, even if that means wearing a diaper to school and rapping to Cardi B.
Thoughts:
Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan wrote this novel about Cam, a true not sarcastically white knight, who tries to do the best in the world. This boy never says anything that could be classified as homophobic or racist, he attends a protest to save the sharks, protect wetlands, ban straws, whose role model is Michelle Obama. Literally the nicest kid you could ever meet, and the boy Kaia should be dating. Yet Hendriks and Caplan wrote him with this rude intention to steal Steve’s girlfriend by fundraising money for Steve. Which is the opposite of what our humanitarian Cam is supposed to do. This entire fundraiser is done for a selfish reason, even if you cannot blame Cam for taking his chance to spend time and form a romantic relationship with Kaia. Kaia, was a similar overachieve, Type A personality student, whom you could see going out with either Steve or Cam. Where Cam and she did share similar personalities and hobbies, it was Steve who showed her how to have fun and someone to make her take a pause in life and watch Netflix for an evening. While writing Kaia, the authors did a good job of keeping Kaia in the middle, showing her ability to swing from being in love with Steve to falling in love with Cam. Steve on the other hand was a totally opposite character, a jock, party boy, who is here to have fun and not care too much that he has cancer. Steve, for the majority of the novel, was living by the saying “here for a good time, not a long time”, and only slightly worried that Cam would successfully steal Kaia away from him. In their own unique ways they are likable characters with their own flaws that they recognize and grow from, thus, showing major character growth from the beginning of the book to the end. With a fast-moving plot, and some very funny twists in there, especially involving Steve’s pranks on Cam, and Cardi B made an appearance, this is definitely an okay novel, and one that can join others on the cancer romance shelf.
September 27, 2020
"I love that title" -- Jeff's stepdad, Steve
First abortion, now cancer; is there anything Jenni and Ted can't find humor in? These two prove once again that they are two of the funniest writers working full stop. Fingers crossed it follows in the footsteps of Unpregnant and finds its way to the big/streaming screen, that way we get a chance to see Cam's bee beard in all its glory.
My only wish is that the wrote "Save Steve" after Cardi released WAP, because I think we can all agree that should've been the song Cam performed in front of the school.
First abortion, now cancer; is there anything Jenni and Ted can't find humor in? These two prove once again that they are two of the funniest writers working full stop. Fingers crossed it follows in the footsteps of Unpregnant and finds its way to the big/streaming screen, that way we get a chance to see Cam's bee beard in all its glory.
My only wish is that the wrote "Save Steve" after Cardi released WAP, because I think we can all agree that should've been the song Cam performed in front of the school.
March 26, 2023
Kniha rozhodně byla spíše oddechovkou.
Cam byl zvláštním hlavním hrdinou a jeho přemýšlení mě občas trochu znepokojovalo.
První polovina mě vůbec nebavila, postavy mi připadaly ploché a hrozně stereotypní. Někde za polovinou se začalo konečně dít něco (celkem) smysluplného, postavy a vztahy mezi nimi se začaly vyvíjet, vzhledem ke stavu Steva se konečně trochu začalo mluvit na vážnější notu a ne jen hloupoučky. Cením konec a způsob jakým se rozhodla Kaia - doufala jsem, že to tak dopadne.
Cam byl zvláštním hlavním hrdinou a jeho přemýšlení mě občas trochu znepokojovalo.
První polovina mě vůbec nebavila, postavy mi připadaly ploché a hrozně stereotypní. Někde za polovinou se začalo konečně dít něco (celkem) smysluplného, postavy a vztahy mezi nimi se začaly vyvíjet, vzhledem ke stavu Steva se konečně trochu začalo mluvit na vážnější notu a ne jen hloupoučky. Cením konec a způsob jakým se rozhodla Kaia - doufala jsem, že to tak dopadne.
April 4, 2021
best book i've read in a really long time. it's hilarious and crushing and i wish i could read it for the first time again
January 1, 2023
**3.5**
August 25, 2024
1,6/5⭐️
*už nikdy*
*už nikdy*
August 29, 2020
This was a very different coming-of-age story about a boy trying to beat cancer—meaning, the boy with cancer whom his crush is dating.
Cam has wanted to ask Kaia out many protests and campaigns ago but never saw the perfect moment, until he finds out she's dating popular boy Steve. Who also happens to have (the good kind and very curable) cancer. To impress her, he ends up fronting a new campaign with Kaia to get funds for Steve's treatment, but Steve is onto this good guy act and makes sure the campaign doesn't run so smoothly by making Cam do crazy stunts until he gives up.
3.5.
This was uncommon and unpredictable but it also dragged a lot. Whenever there was something funny, it wasn't funny enough to make me laugh hard and compensate how this is basically a sarcastic story. I didn't remember the writers worked for television but I still kept thinking how much better this would work as a movie or some short series. As a book, it's hard to identify why but it didn't work so well; great idea, bad execution. It was hard to really cheer for Cam, not because he was using a boy with cancer to get a girl because Steve really wasn't any better, but he was just kind of a drag. And it was hard to like Kaia, when she seemed to change her mind the moment Cam did what she wanted and then make things harder for him—in a "just because the writer wanted" way, I mean.
This is a fun story, there's a couple of hilarious moments too, but I just went ha ha most of the time. I feel the visuals, the dynamics of a movie would fill in what seemed to be missing here. It's still different and a good break from the romantic YA's that seem to overwhelm the non-fantasy side of the genre. But I really hope for a live action version.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Cam has wanted to ask Kaia out many protests and campaigns ago but never saw the perfect moment, until he finds out she's dating popular boy Steve. Who also happens to have (the good kind and very curable) cancer. To impress her, he ends up fronting a new campaign with Kaia to get funds for Steve's treatment, but Steve is onto this good guy act and makes sure the campaign doesn't run so smoothly by making Cam do crazy stunts until he gives up.
3.5.
This was uncommon and unpredictable but it also dragged a lot. Whenever there was something funny, it wasn't funny enough to make me laugh hard and compensate how this is basically a sarcastic story. I didn't remember the writers worked for television but I still kept thinking how much better this would work as a movie or some short series. As a book, it's hard to identify why but it didn't work so well; great idea, bad execution. It was hard to really cheer for Cam, not because he was using a boy with cancer to get a girl because Steve really wasn't any better, but he was just kind of a drag. And it was hard to like Kaia, when she seemed to change her mind the moment Cam did what she wanted and then make things harder for him—in a "just because the writer wanted" way, I mean.
This is a fun story, there's a couple of hilarious moments too, but I just went ha ha most of the time. I feel the visuals, the dynamics of a movie would fill in what seemed to be missing here. It's still different and a good break from the romantic YA's that seem to overwhelm the non-fantasy side of the genre. But I really hope for a live action version.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
September 28, 2020
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
3.5
Cam is a good guy- better than that even, he's a woke. Protests are the majority of Cam's life, and they only get better when the gorgeous Kaia becomes part of them. The problem is, it never feels like the right time to ask her out. And then, when he thinks she's giving him the greenlight, he finds himself in the embarrassing situation of discovering she has a boyfriend, and that her boyfriend now knows he likes her. Cam's plans to hide from Kaia for the rest of the year change when she tells him that her boyfriend, the uber popular Steve, has cancer. When he suggests the fundraiser it seems like the perfect way to do something good and get to spend more time with Kaia. That is, until Steve hacks into the website, and starts to get creative about their fundraising ideas.
This is basically entirely a humor book. Not much growth happens, and the heavy bits are completely outweighed by the goofiness. So if you want a quick read to take your mind off of things, or alleviate your boredom, this one might be for you. If you're hoping for something a little more meatier- even just as meaty as this duo's previous work, UNpregnant- you won't find that here.
I appreciated the little things in this book that miss tropes. Like, how Cam could have easily been a "nice guy" but, while he is occasionally terrible, is actually woke and usually pretty cool. What he has to figure out for himself actually has nothing to do with privilege or masculinity. And Steve is remarked several times to be smart, and in AP classes, even though he's also a popular, immature jock. Kaia, as well, is beautiful and kind of popular, and her interest in social justice and saving the planet isn't used as a joke, or something Steve likes her despite. In fact, her social justice personality seems to rub off, a little, on Steve. There's also some fresh ideas in how this book ends, though I won't spoil that.
For the most part, the thing that put a damper on this novel, was that is seemed like it was written to be a movie. Now, that isn't really surprising, since these are people who work in the tv/film industry, and UNpregnant is being adapted for the screen. But where UNpregnant had moments that seemed like they'd do well as a movie but also worked in the book, and mostly didn't call attention to visuals, a lot of this book boils down to visuals and gags. I do actually think this will make a fun movie (because it's obviously going to be a movie), but it took me out of the book. I can imagine a choreographed lip sync routine, but explaining the motions and the lyrics and everything inbetween is never going make it as interesting as actually watching the lip synch routine.
The really weird thing about this book is, I find myself in the rare space of actually wishing this book were either half of a book, or the prequel for a really cool different book. I do, in reality, like Cam, Steve, and Kaia, and the friendship they work out between them. But this book doesn't explore that friendship at all until the end, and before that it only shows it between two people at a time, and timidly. I want to see them together! I want to follow their strange friend group while they learn things! It turns out that what I was most interested in in this book, was barely even shown. Give me a spin off or a sequel!
This book was a quick read with plenty of practical jokes, tense relationships, and conversations about sharks. While I wound up liking the characters a lot, I wish that they'd gotten more time together. Oh, and I really, really wish that this cover had Kaia looking like she was POC.
3.5
Cam is a good guy- better than that even, he's a woke. Protests are the majority of Cam's life, and they only get better when the gorgeous Kaia becomes part of them. The problem is, it never feels like the right time to ask her out. And then, when he thinks she's giving him the greenlight, he finds himself in the embarrassing situation of discovering she has a boyfriend, and that her boyfriend now knows he likes her. Cam's plans to hide from Kaia for the rest of the year change when she tells him that her boyfriend, the uber popular Steve, has cancer. When he suggests the fundraiser it seems like the perfect way to do something good and get to spend more time with Kaia. That is, until Steve hacks into the website, and starts to get creative about their fundraising ideas.
This is basically entirely a humor book. Not much growth happens, and the heavy bits are completely outweighed by the goofiness. So if you want a quick read to take your mind off of things, or alleviate your boredom, this one might be for you. If you're hoping for something a little more meatier- even just as meaty as this duo's previous work, UNpregnant- you won't find that here.
I appreciated the little things in this book that miss tropes. Like, how Cam could have easily been a "nice guy" but, while he is occasionally terrible, is actually woke and usually pretty cool. What he has to figure out for himself actually has nothing to do with privilege or masculinity. And Steve is remarked several times to be smart, and in AP classes, even though he's also a popular, immature jock. Kaia, as well, is beautiful and kind of popular, and her interest in social justice and saving the planet isn't used as a joke, or something Steve likes her despite. In fact, her social justice personality seems to rub off, a little, on Steve. There's also some fresh ideas in how this book ends, though I won't spoil that.
For the most part, the thing that put a damper on this novel, was that is seemed like it was written to be a movie. Now, that isn't really surprising, since these are people who work in the tv/film industry, and UNpregnant is being adapted for the screen. But where UNpregnant had moments that seemed like they'd do well as a movie but also worked in the book, and mostly didn't call attention to visuals, a lot of this book boils down to visuals and gags. I do actually think this will make a fun movie (because it's obviously going to be a movie), but it took me out of the book. I can imagine a choreographed lip sync routine, but explaining the motions and the lyrics and everything inbetween is never going make it as interesting as actually watching the lip synch routine.
The really weird thing about this book is, I find myself in the rare space of actually wishing this book were either half of a book, or the prequel for a really cool different book. I do, in reality, like Cam, Steve, and Kaia, and the friendship they work out between them. But this book doesn't explore that friendship at all until the end, and before that it only shows it between two people at a time, and timidly. I want to see them together! I want to follow their strange friend group while they learn things! It turns out that what I was most interested in in this book, was barely even shown. Give me a spin off or a sequel!
This book was a quick read with plenty of practical jokes, tense relationships, and conversations about sharks. While I wound up liking the characters a lot, I wish that they'd gotten more time together. Oh, and I really, really wish that this cover had Kaia looking like she was POC.
July 19, 2023
If I could give zero stars, I would. I have a rule for myself not to dnf books, but this one really tested my resolve.
We start with two detestable characters. The mc is so stupid and gullible and passive that you can hardly stand to read about him. The titular character of Steve is a huge asshole and it is dreadful to make his acquaintance through the pages of the book.
It is hard for me to criticize these authors after reading their afterword where they talk about personal losses caused by cancer, so I'll just say that the mixing of genres (farce + dumb junior high gross-out humor + kid dying from cancer) does not work for me. Also the winking sort of meta nature of the book when it references many, many "cancer love story" movies leaves me cold. I won't go further. This is dreadful. I truly believe any reader will infinitely prefer one of those straightforward "cancer love stories" to this. TFIOS is still the king of 'em all, y'all. "Everything, Everything" is runner up and "Five Feet Apart" is a decent attempt at the genre.
We start with two detestable characters. The mc is so stupid and gullible and passive that you can hardly stand to read about him. The titular character of Steve is a huge asshole and it is dreadful to make his acquaintance through the pages of the book.
It is hard for me to criticize these authors after reading their afterword where they talk about personal losses caused by cancer, so I'll just say that the mixing of genres (farce + dumb junior high gross-out humor + kid dying from cancer) does not work for me. Also the winking sort of meta nature of the book when it references many, many "cancer love story" movies leaves me cold. I won't go further. This is dreadful. I truly believe any reader will infinitely prefer one of those straightforward "cancer love stories" to this. TFIOS is still the king of 'em all, y'all. "Everything, Everything" is runner up and "Five Feet Apart" is a decent attempt at the genre.
September 3, 2020
*special thanks to harpercollins and edelweiss + for the arc*
this book started off with a particular note i did not like. how obsessed he was with this girl, who, he didn't know that well (creepy vibes right here) and the way the chapters started with that; however as the story progressed, as the characters grew, as they got to know each other, i grew fond of it.
it's not the best book out there but it's one that teaches you about friendship and about being mature enough to take a no for an answer with a good heart! 3/5
this book started off with a particular note i did not like. how obsessed he was with this girl, who, he didn't know that well (creepy vibes right here) and the way the chapters started with that; however as the story progressed, as the characters grew, as they got to know each other, i grew fond of it.
it's not the best book out there but it's one that teaches you about friendship and about being mature enough to take a no for an answer with a good heart! 3/5
November 25, 2021
Inhalt:
Gemeinsam hatten Cam und Kaia an einem Projekt zur Rettung der Santa Clara Wetlands teilgenommen. Die Planungen hierfür absorbierten den ganzen Sommer. In diesem anspruchsvollen Unterfangen freundeten sich die beiden jungen Umweltschützer an. Cam empfindet allerdings mehr als Freundschaft für Kaia. Nun waren sie wieder daheim und Cam ging der Gedanke, wie er Kaia endlich seine Gefühle gestehen könnte, einfach nicht mehr aus dem Kopf.
Als Kaia eines Tages auf Cam zukommt und fragt, ob dieser zu Steve's nächster legendärer Party kommen würde, will dieser erst ablehnen. Doch Kaias Begeisterung ist ansteckend und Cam ist so hochgradig verliebt, so dass nur ein Wort, ja ein einziger Blick reicht, um ihn weich werden zu lassen.
Vor Ort bewahrheiten sich allerdings Cams schlimmste Befürchtungen. Der Typ, der bekannt dafür ist, dass er an keinem Schließfach vorbeigehen kann, ohne einen Penis darauf zu malen, steht nun direkt auf einem Sprungbrett am hauseigenen Pool, mit einem Mikrofon in der Hand, und rappt zur Musik von Cardi B. Er ist der Mittelpunkt der Party und der inoffizielle Chef.
Das erste Zusammentreffen von Steve und Cam ist katastrophal. Steve zieht ein Paintballgewehr und schießt ohne Warnung auf den Neuankömmling. Die Gäste amüsieren sich, Cam ist verstört. Jedoch setzt er seine Suche nach Kaia auf der Party fort. Dumm nur, dass Steve ihn dabei vermeintlich unterstützen möchte.
Als Cam Kaia mit Hilfe von Steve, der keine Möglichkeit auslässt, um seinen neuen “Spielkameraden“ vorzuführen, endlich trifft, erwartet ihn jedoch die schlimmste Überraschung des Abends. Kaia, das Mädchen, für das Cam alles tun würde, fällt Steve in die Arme.
Nachdem Cam den Schock überwunden hat, steht für ihn aber fest, dass er Kaia so schnell nicht aufgeben wird. Er möchte ihr Herz erobern. Doch muss er hierfür an Steve vorbei. Einer Persönlichkeiten wie Niccolò Machiavelli, nur mit einer X-Box.
Meinung:
Zugegeben: Der Klappentext des neuesten Buches von Jenni Hendriks & Ted Caplan hat mich anfangs nicht angesprochen. Ein Junge, der Krebs hat, und sich als absoluter Fiesling herausstellt. Ein Protagonist, der bereit ist, diesem Jungen die Freundin auszuspannen. Bereits nach der Lektüre des Klappentextes befürchtete ich, dass dem Buch eine Figur mit Identifikationspotential fehlt.
Dennoch habe ich mich, nachdem ich bereits den Titel „Unpregnant“ aus der Feder des Autorenduos gelesen habe, an dieses Buch herangewagt.
Auf den ersten Seiten lernt man den Protagonisten Cam kennen, der in den höchsten Tönen von dem Mädchen schwärmt, das mit ihm bereits einige Projekte im Umwelt- und Tierschutz angegangen ist. Kaia ist tough. Sie ist immer an vorderster Front dabei, wenn es darum geht, etwas Gutes zu tun. Sie nimmt kein Blatt vor den Mund.
Cam lebt gemeinsam mit seiner Mutter zusammen. Einer Frau, die der Meinung ist, dass ihr Junge seine eigenen Erfahrungen sammeln muss. Sie unterstützt ihren Sohn dabei, wenn dieser sich mit Leib und Seele für gemeinnützige Zwecke engagiert. Jedoch erhält Cam von ihr auch nicht unbedingt Orientierung. Auch scheint seine Mutter nur wenig Zeit für ihn zu haben. Cam, der, gerade im Vergleich zu Steve eher introvertiert und zurückhaltend wirkt, der nur wenig Freunde hat, sucht in der Not Rat und Trost bei seinem Idol. Sein Schrein ist ein Foto von Michelle Obama auf seinem Nachttisch.
Cam möchte eigentlich nur eines: Sich für seine Projekte einsetzen und das am liebsten dauerhaft mit Kaia. Diese jedoch hat ihr Herz ausgerechnet an Steve verschenkt.
Als Kaia eines Tages weinend vor Cam steht, wittert dieser seine Chance: Haben sie und Steve vielleicht Schluss gemacht? Doch das, was Kaia Cam kurz darauf gesteht, übertrifft Cams schlimmste Erwartungen. Steve hat Krebs.
Kaia und Cam beschließen spontan eine Spendenaktion für Steve ins Leben zu rufen. Beide jedoch aus völlig unterschiedlicher Motivation heraus. Während Cam alles tun würde, um Kaia glücklich zu machen und eben nur ihr Herz erobern will, ist Kaias Ziel viel offensichtlicher: Sie möchte – wie stets – etwas Gutes bewirken. Als Steve von dem Plan der beiden erfährt, wittert er sofort, was Sache ist: Cam will ihm seine Freundin ausspannen.
Es bricht ein unerbittlicher Kampf um den Platz an Kaias Seite aus, wobei Cam, eindeutig stets auf der Verliererseite steht. Steve nutzt ihn als Spielball für allerlei Gemeinheiten. Ziel ist es, Cam systematisch und nachhaltig fertig zu machen.
Jenni Hendriks & Ted Caplan provozieren mit ihrer Geschichte. Sie rütteln jedoch auch zugleich wach. Selbstverliebte Menschen mit Geltungsdrang, wie Steve, knüpfen schneller Kontakte und werden umgehend populär. Als Resultat beklatschen oder befördern wir sie. Steve ist der Junge, der zu manipulieren weiß. Gegenüber Kaia und seinen Freunden zeigt er seine gute Seite. Nur Cam und der Leser scheinen sein “wahres Ich“ zu sehen.
Als Leser fühlte ich Ekel, Wut und Mitleid. Letzteres jedoch eher für Cam als für Steve.
Das Buch hat viel Drama, welches oftmals übertrieben daherkommt, jedoch genau dadurch seinen Unterhaltungswert bekommt.
Fazit:
Jenni Hendriks & Ted Caplan lieben es zu provozieren. Das merkt man als Leser schnell.Wie oft hat man schon gehört: Ich habe Sinn für Humor - aber: das geht zu weit! Nun, da wo es denen zu weit geht, da fängt der Humor für die beiden erst an.
Das Buch stellt im Großen und Ganzen aber keine seichte Unterhaltung dar. Es hat vielmehr den Anspruch mehr zu sein. Teilweise werden aber Stereotype und Klischees sehr überspitzt dargestellt.Wenn man aber darüber hinwegsehen kann, vielleicht ja sogar danach sucht, dann hält man mit dem Werk ein äußerst unterhaltsames Buch in der Hand. Die Erwartungshaltung ist also maßgeblich.
Neben der bekannten sprachlichen Finesse ist es insbesondere die Fähigkeit des Autorenduos aus Figurenbeschreibungen heraus die Geschichte zu entwickeln und die Protagonisten aufeinander treffen zu lassen, um zu sehen, wie deren Beziehung eskaliert.
Gemeinsam hatten Cam und Kaia an einem Projekt zur Rettung der Santa Clara Wetlands teilgenommen. Die Planungen hierfür absorbierten den ganzen Sommer. In diesem anspruchsvollen Unterfangen freundeten sich die beiden jungen Umweltschützer an. Cam empfindet allerdings mehr als Freundschaft für Kaia. Nun waren sie wieder daheim und Cam ging der Gedanke, wie er Kaia endlich seine Gefühle gestehen könnte, einfach nicht mehr aus dem Kopf.
Als Kaia eines Tages auf Cam zukommt und fragt, ob dieser zu Steve's nächster legendärer Party kommen würde, will dieser erst ablehnen. Doch Kaias Begeisterung ist ansteckend und Cam ist so hochgradig verliebt, so dass nur ein Wort, ja ein einziger Blick reicht, um ihn weich werden zu lassen.
Vor Ort bewahrheiten sich allerdings Cams schlimmste Befürchtungen. Der Typ, der bekannt dafür ist, dass er an keinem Schließfach vorbeigehen kann, ohne einen Penis darauf zu malen, steht nun direkt auf einem Sprungbrett am hauseigenen Pool, mit einem Mikrofon in der Hand, und rappt zur Musik von Cardi B. Er ist der Mittelpunkt der Party und der inoffizielle Chef.
Das erste Zusammentreffen von Steve und Cam ist katastrophal. Steve zieht ein Paintballgewehr und schießt ohne Warnung auf den Neuankömmling. Die Gäste amüsieren sich, Cam ist verstört. Jedoch setzt er seine Suche nach Kaia auf der Party fort. Dumm nur, dass Steve ihn dabei vermeintlich unterstützen möchte.
Als Cam Kaia mit Hilfe von Steve, der keine Möglichkeit auslässt, um seinen neuen “Spielkameraden“ vorzuführen, endlich trifft, erwartet ihn jedoch die schlimmste Überraschung des Abends. Kaia, das Mädchen, für das Cam alles tun würde, fällt Steve in die Arme.
Nachdem Cam den Schock überwunden hat, steht für ihn aber fest, dass er Kaia so schnell nicht aufgeben wird. Er möchte ihr Herz erobern. Doch muss er hierfür an Steve vorbei. Einer Persönlichkeiten wie Niccolò Machiavelli, nur mit einer X-Box.
Meinung:
Zugegeben: Der Klappentext des neuesten Buches von Jenni Hendriks & Ted Caplan hat mich anfangs nicht angesprochen. Ein Junge, der Krebs hat, und sich als absoluter Fiesling herausstellt. Ein Protagonist, der bereit ist, diesem Jungen die Freundin auszuspannen. Bereits nach der Lektüre des Klappentextes befürchtete ich, dass dem Buch eine Figur mit Identifikationspotential fehlt.
Dennoch habe ich mich, nachdem ich bereits den Titel „Unpregnant“ aus der Feder des Autorenduos gelesen habe, an dieses Buch herangewagt.
Auf den ersten Seiten lernt man den Protagonisten Cam kennen, der in den höchsten Tönen von dem Mädchen schwärmt, das mit ihm bereits einige Projekte im Umwelt- und Tierschutz angegangen ist. Kaia ist tough. Sie ist immer an vorderster Front dabei, wenn es darum geht, etwas Gutes zu tun. Sie nimmt kein Blatt vor den Mund.
Cam lebt gemeinsam mit seiner Mutter zusammen. Einer Frau, die der Meinung ist, dass ihr Junge seine eigenen Erfahrungen sammeln muss. Sie unterstützt ihren Sohn dabei, wenn dieser sich mit Leib und Seele für gemeinnützige Zwecke engagiert. Jedoch erhält Cam von ihr auch nicht unbedingt Orientierung. Auch scheint seine Mutter nur wenig Zeit für ihn zu haben. Cam, der, gerade im Vergleich zu Steve eher introvertiert und zurückhaltend wirkt, der nur wenig Freunde hat, sucht in der Not Rat und Trost bei seinem Idol. Sein Schrein ist ein Foto von Michelle Obama auf seinem Nachttisch.
Cam möchte eigentlich nur eines: Sich für seine Projekte einsetzen und das am liebsten dauerhaft mit Kaia. Diese jedoch hat ihr Herz ausgerechnet an Steve verschenkt.
Als Kaia eines Tages weinend vor Cam steht, wittert dieser seine Chance: Haben sie und Steve vielleicht Schluss gemacht? Doch das, was Kaia Cam kurz darauf gesteht, übertrifft Cams schlimmste Erwartungen. Steve hat Krebs.
Kaia und Cam beschließen spontan eine Spendenaktion für Steve ins Leben zu rufen. Beide jedoch aus völlig unterschiedlicher Motivation heraus. Während Cam alles tun würde, um Kaia glücklich zu machen und eben nur ihr Herz erobern will, ist Kaias Ziel viel offensichtlicher: Sie möchte – wie stets – etwas Gutes bewirken. Als Steve von dem Plan der beiden erfährt, wittert er sofort, was Sache ist: Cam will ihm seine Freundin ausspannen.
Es bricht ein unerbittlicher Kampf um den Platz an Kaias Seite aus, wobei Cam, eindeutig stets auf der Verliererseite steht. Steve nutzt ihn als Spielball für allerlei Gemeinheiten. Ziel ist es, Cam systematisch und nachhaltig fertig zu machen.
Jenni Hendriks & Ted Caplan provozieren mit ihrer Geschichte. Sie rütteln jedoch auch zugleich wach. Selbstverliebte Menschen mit Geltungsdrang, wie Steve, knüpfen schneller Kontakte und werden umgehend populär. Als Resultat beklatschen oder befördern wir sie. Steve ist der Junge, der zu manipulieren weiß. Gegenüber Kaia und seinen Freunden zeigt er seine gute Seite. Nur Cam und der Leser scheinen sein “wahres Ich“ zu sehen.
Als Leser fühlte ich Ekel, Wut und Mitleid. Letzteres jedoch eher für Cam als für Steve.
Das Buch hat viel Drama, welches oftmals übertrieben daherkommt, jedoch genau dadurch seinen Unterhaltungswert bekommt.
Fazit:
Jenni Hendriks & Ted Caplan lieben es zu provozieren. Das merkt man als Leser schnell.Wie oft hat man schon gehört: Ich habe Sinn für Humor - aber: das geht zu weit! Nun, da wo es denen zu weit geht, da fängt der Humor für die beiden erst an.
Das Buch stellt im Großen und Ganzen aber keine seichte Unterhaltung dar. Es hat vielmehr den Anspruch mehr zu sein. Teilweise werden aber Stereotype und Klischees sehr überspitzt dargestellt.Wenn man aber darüber hinwegsehen kann, vielleicht ja sogar danach sucht, dann hält man mit dem Werk ein äußerst unterhaltsames Buch in der Hand. Die Erwartungshaltung ist also maßgeblich.
Neben der bekannten sprachlichen Finesse ist es insbesondere die Fähigkeit des Autorenduos aus Figurenbeschreibungen heraus die Geschichte zu entwickeln und die Protagonisten aufeinander treffen zu lassen, um zu sehen, wie deren Beziehung eskaliert.
April 26, 2022
What it's about: Teenager Cam is all about activism. He's helped save the wetlands, he cleans up litter, he helped get a plastic straw ban passed.
He's also all about Kaia, who's even more passionate about saving the planet than Cam is. Kaia is also part of every club, and is popular, and on top of it all, she's fun and attractive.
Cam can't wait to find that perfect moment to ask her out.
Unfortunately, just when Cam thinks he's found the perfect moment, he learns that Kaia has started dating Steve Stevenson, the incredibly popular dude-bro jerk.
Cam is crushed. But when he learns that Steve has a (highly treatable) form of cancer, he hatches the perfect plan: He'll head the effort to "Save Steve" by raising money to cover Steve's treatments. Kaia will see what an amazing guy Cam is and ditch the jerk for the good guy.
Unfortunately for Cam, Steve is a lot smarter than Cam gives him credit for. And pretty soon, Cam finds himself at the center of some painful, humiliating fundraising stunts.
But Cam refuses to give up as he and Steve vie to see who can woo Kaia.
Oh, and there's a shark.
What I thought: I could not get a handle on the tone of this story, and yet, I couldn't put it down. Cam starts out as a very earnest, forthright "good guy", and then becomes very problematic as he abandons his principles to try to steal a girl away from a cancer patient.
And Steve is an evil genius - in fact, he's so good at what he does, it's hard to feel any sympathy for him. It's also impossible to know how deep his deceptions go.
And yet, despite the enmity between the two, the weird sort-of friendship they strike up was still touching? It didn't seem to make ANY sense, and yet, I found myself rolling with it.
Why my chosen shelves: Trigger warning for cancer; this book was weird, but also funny; multiple characters are conning others; love triangle; mentions of plenty of environmental issues, plus the issue of healthcare costs, and cancer; the story is all from Cam's POV; Kaia is a very strong figure, as is Cam's mom
Why I rated it like I did: This book reads like a '90s high school high jinks film. I kept seeing Sean William Scott as Steve, and Jay Baruchel as Cam, with Mila Kunis as Kaia. Seriously - it just played out in my head like it was on a screen. It's a bit illogical in spots, but it's also entertaining and enjoyable!
He's also all about Kaia, who's even more passionate about saving the planet than Cam is. Kaia is also part of every club, and is popular, and on top of it all, she's fun and attractive.
Cam can't wait to find that perfect moment to ask her out.
Unfortunately, just when Cam thinks he's found the perfect moment, he learns that Kaia has started dating Steve Stevenson, the incredibly popular dude-bro jerk.
Cam is crushed. But when he learns that Steve has a (highly treatable) form of cancer, he hatches the perfect plan: He'll head the effort to "Save Steve" by raising money to cover Steve's treatments. Kaia will see what an amazing guy Cam is and ditch the jerk for the good guy.
Unfortunately for Cam, Steve is a lot smarter than Cam gives him credit for. And pretty soon, Cam finds himself at the center of some painful, humiliating fundraising stunts.
But Cam refuses to give up as he and Steve vie to see who can woo Kaia.
Oh, and there's a shark.
What I thought: I could not get a handle on the tone of this story, and yet, I couldn't put it down. Cam starts out as a very earnest, forthright "good guy", and then becomes very problematic as he abandons his principles to try to steal a girl away from a cancer patient.
And Steve is an evil genius - in fact, he's so good at what he does, it's hard to feel any sympathy for him. It's also impossible to know how deep his deceptions go.
And yet, despite the enmity between the two, the weird sort-of friendship they strike up was still touching? It didn't seem to make ANY sense, and yet, I found myself rolling with it.
Why my chosen shelves: Trigger warning for cancer; this book was weird, but also funny; multiple characters are conning others; love triangle; mentions of plenty of environmental issues, plus the issue of healthcare costs, and cancer; the story is all from Cam's POV; Kaia is a very strong figure, as is Cam's mom
Why I rated it like I did: This book reads like a '90s high school high jinks film. I kept seeing Sean William Scott as Steve, and Jay Baruchel as Cam, with Mila Kunis as Kaia. Seriously - it just played out in my head like it was on a screen. It's a bit illogical in spots, but it's also entertaining and enjoyable!
January 31, 2021
Before I get into it, there are some solid gags in this book.
"Your elbows were really soft," he observed.
"My mom moisturizes them while I sleep."
"F***ing . . . Intense," he said, weakly.
And it's hard not to feel at least a little bit sorry for a kid when even his hallucinations are mean to him:
It was Michelle Obama . . . and she was pissed.
Cardi crouched over me and remarked, "Damn, you hallucinated two women of color to do your emotional labor. That is next level."
...but, wow, this is cringy. So cringy. Death by cringe.
Reminds me of Goldy Moldavsky's No Good Deed, which is also about smug hyperwoke little shits. This is worse, though, because the joke goes on too long. Cam never gets to be less of a guilt-riddled little asshole. It felt like reading Hot Dog Girl, another book about a dickhead who tries to sabotage someone's relationship.
I read it because I'm a sucker for unlikely friendships. But the friendship aspect is too little, too late; and the character development is forced at best.
The love triangle stuff toward the end and all the stuff about the shark has a similar vibe to xl by Scott Brown (but without the bampow hilarious writing style). I think the bones of this book's plot are good, especially toward the end, but it wasn't enjoyable because . . . as usual, the secondary characters' development was shallow and forced (though Kaia becomes awesome at the end) and the protagonist is so cringy that I don't really care about him getting anything he's looking for.
Even while he's being super heroic at the aquarium (which I really liked), it was like watching someone do reasonably well at a middle school talent show. The bar was low already, so it's kinda painful.
I think whoever came up with the ideas behind this book was better than all the excruciating gags at the beginning...and the forced writing style in general. Relying on embarrassment humor was lazy and ruined it for me.
This is so typical of authors of young adult books nowadays, but I sort of wonder if the main character is named after the friend in Ferris bueller. That movie gets mentioned a few times over the course of the thing, which of course I hate. I think maybe the author wanted to write a book with Cam as the main character. Siiiiiigggggghhhhhhhh. Authors, please stop with the eighties nostalgia. It's so weird and gross. That movie is garbage, dude. Garbage. Ferris Bueller is a sociopathic human dumpster fire.
"Your elbows were really soft," he observed.
"My mom moisturizes them while I sleep."
"F***ing . . . Intense," he said, weakly.
And it's hard not to feel at least a little bit sorry for a kid when even his hallucinations are mean to him:
It was Michelle Obama . . . and she was pissed.
Cardi crouched over me and remarked, "Damn, you hallucinated two women of color to do your emotional labor. That is next level."
...but, wow, this is cringy. So cringy. Death by cringe.
Reminds me of Goldy Moldavsky's No Good Deed, which is also about smug hyperwoke little shits. This is worse, though, because the joke goes on too long. Cam never gets to be less of a guilt-riddled little asshole. It felt like reading Hot Dog Girl, another book about a dickhead who tries to sabotage someone's relationship.
I read it because I'm a sucker for unlikely friendships. But the friendship aspect is too little, too late; and the character development is forced at best.
The love triangle stuff toward the end and all the stuff about the shark has a similar vibe to xl by Scott Brown (but without the bampow hilarious writing style). I think the bones of this book's plot are good, especially toward the end, but it wasn't enjoyable because . . . as usual, the secondary characters' development was shallow and forced (though Kaia becomes awesome at the end) and the protagonist is so cringy that I don't really care about him getting anything he's looking for.
Even while he's being super heroic at the aquarium (which I really liked), it was like watching someone do reasonably well at a middle school talent show. The bar was low already, so it's kinda painful.
I think whoever came up with the ideas behind this book was better than all the excruciating gags at the beginning...and the forced writing style in general. Relying on embarrassment humor was lazy and ruined it for me.
This is so typical of authors of young adult books nowadays, but I sort of wonder if the main character is named after the friend in Ferris bueller. That movie gets mentioned a few times over the course of the thing, which of course I hate. I think maybe the author wanted to write a book with Cam as the main character. Siiiiiigggggghhhhhhhh. Authors, please stop with the eighties nostalgia. It's so weird and gross. That movie is garbage, dude. Garbage. Ferris Bueller is a sociopathic human dumpster fire.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2021
Ein ziemlich durchgeknalltes und witziges Buch:
Cam ist ein lieber Junge und Aktivist, der sich für alle möglichen guten und wichtigen Belange einsetzt. Heimlich steht er auf Kaia, die auch ähnlich tickt und in wahnsinnig vielen Kommitees usw ist, wie er nur Fairtrade-Kaffee trinkt und die Umwelt retten will. Cam traut sich aber nicht, sie nach einem Date zu fragen, bis es irgendwann zu spät ist: Kaia ist nun mit Steve zusammen, dem proletischsten Jungen der Schule! Steve hat nur Saufen, Sport und Videospiele zocken im Kopf. Was will Kaia bloß mit dem?!
Zu blöd nur, dass bei Steve Krebs festgestellt wurde. Und Cam, um Kaia weiterhin nah sein zu können, kurzerhand eine Rettungsaktion ins Leben ruft. Leider wittert Steve Cams Interesse an Kaia und denkt sich immer fiesere Aufgaben aus, die Cam zähneknirschend erledigen muss. 😬😅 Das ist schon sehr lustig und abstrus! Googelt mal „Bienenbart“…
Es ist locker-leicht geschrieben, und ich musste einige Male laut auflachen. Gleichzeitig behandelt es aber auch ernste Themen (neben dem offensichtlichen Krebsthema/Krankheit von Jugendlichen): Selbstzweifel; die Dynamik zwischen Eltern und Kindern und was gewisse Erwartungshaltungen auch für einen Druck ausüben können; dass man nicht immer allen gefallen muss; dass es ok ist, Angst zu zeigen oder nicht immer perfekt zu sein. Alles in allem ein unterhaltsames Jugendbuch, bei dem die Charaktere eine Entwicklung durchmachen und schön „grau“ sind.
Eine Kleinigkeit muss ich allerdings bemeckern: Was mich leider immer mal wieder rausgerissen hat, waren lektorische Dinge. Alle paar Seiten fehlte ein Wort oder war ein Fehler enthalten, unter anderem Kaias Name war falsch geschrieben oder "dass" statt "das".
Und an einigen Stellen gab es Szenenwechsel oder Zeitsprünge von einem Satz in den nächsten, völlig unabhängig von Kapiteln, noch nicht mal ein Absatz dazwischen. Das könnte man in der zweiten Auflage noch verbessern!
Cam ist ein lieber Junge und Aktivist, der sich für alle möglichen guten und wichtigen Belange einsetzt. Heimlich steht er auf Kaia, die auch ähnlich tickt und in wahnsinnig vielen Kommitees usw ist, wie er nur Fairtrade-Kaffee trinkt und die Umwelt retten will. Cam traut sich aber nicht, sie nach einem Date zu fragen, bis es irgendwann zu spät ist: Kaia ist nun mit Steve zusammen, dem proletischsten Jungen der Schule! Steve hat nur Saufen, Sport und Videospiele zocken im Kopf. Was will Kaia bloß mit dem?!
Zu blöd nur, dass bei Steve Krebs festgestellt wurde. Und Cam, um Kaia weiterhin nah sein zu können, kurzerhand eine Rettungsaktion ins Leben ruft. Leider wittert Steve Cams Interesse an Kaia und denkt sich immer fiesere Aufgaben aus, die Cam zähneknirschend erledigen muss. 😬😅 Das ist schon sehr lustig und abstrus! Googelt mal „Bienenbart“…
Es ist locker-leicht geschrieben, und ich musste einige Male laut auflachen. Gleichzeitig behandelt es aber auch ernste Themen (neben dem offensichtlichen Krebsthema/Krankheit von Jugendlichen): Selbstzweifel; die Dynamik zwischen Eltern und Kindern und was gewisse Erwartungshaltungen auch für einen Druck ausüben können; dass man nicht immer allen gefallen muss; dass es ok ist, Angst zu zeigen oder nicht immer perfekt zu sein. Alles in allem ein unterhaltsames Jugendbuch, bei dem die Charaktere eine Entwicklung durchmachen und schön „grau“ sind.
Eine Kleinigkeit muss ich allerdings bemeckern: Was mich leider immer mal wieder rausgerissen hat, waren lektorische Dinge. Alle paar Seiten fehlte ein Wort oder war ein Fehler enthalten, unter anderem Kaias Name war falsch geschrieben oder "dass" statt "das".
Und an einigen Stellen gab es Szenenwechsel oder Zeitsprünge von einem Satz in den nächsten, völlig unabhängig von Kapiteln, noch nicht mal ein Absatz dazwischen. Das könnte man in der zweiten Auflage noch verbessern!
July 14, 2022
2022/25
Na knihu jsem narazila náhodou, když jsem hledala recenze na něco úplně jiného. Upřímně řečeno měla mizerné hodnocení a příběh mě zaujal tak napůl, ale nějak se stalo, že se mi i tak ocitla na seznamu k přečtení. :) Neměla jsem moc očekávání, protože spousta recenzí byla detailní ohledně toho, co lidi štvalo, ale asi právě díky tomu se mi ve finále docela líbila.
Řeknu to takhle: nebylo to žádné veledílo. Protesty na záchranu pralesů a žraloků mi nejsou úplně blízké, takže mi trochu chyběla vazba na hlavního hrdinu. Cam byl všechno tohle - protesty, vegetariánství, feminismus... Na ničem z toho samozřejmě není špatného, ba naopak, ale u náctiletého kluka mi to přišlo podané až trochu na sílu. Hodně dlouho si o sobě myslel, jak je ten skvělý a úžasný 'nice guy', který rád nezjištně pomůže atd, ale kniha je v podstatě o tom, jak se snaží sbalit zadanou holku, takže si asi sami dokážete udělat obrázek.
Špatně jsem taky zvládala to množství trapných scén - hlavně Camových úkolů. Sice jsem je spíš tak prolítla, abych mě ten cringe nezabil, ale kupodivu se tady promítla Camova lepší stránka - že se vším prokousal, nedělal z toho zpětně drama (když už ho tolik bylo na místě) a pořád pokračoval dál. Nakonec to ale ubíhalo rychle a četlo se to dobře. Nikdy jsem nečetla nějaké další cancer lovestory typu Hvězdy nám nepřály, a tady je to věřím bráno o něco odlehčeněji, což mi vyhovovalo. Linka Steva byla vážnější stránka knihy, takže z toho nevznikla úplná fraška, ale zároveň to neznělo nějak hrozně tragicky. Víceméně tedy oddechové čtení.
+SPOILER: Co se mi ale hlavně líbilo, byl konec. To, že v závěru vlastně nevznikl žádný romantický vztah považuju za moudré rozhodnutí, které tomu vlastně dalo i určitou uvěřitelnost. Přátelství postavy potřebovaly v téhle fázi mnohem víc, a i mně jako čtenářovi to takhle víc vyhovovalo.
Na knihu jsem narazila náhodou, když jsem hledala recenze na něco úplně jiného. Upřímně řečeno měla mizerné hodnocení a příběh mě zaujal tak napůl, ale nějak se stalo, že se mi i tak ocitla na seznamu k přečtení. :) Neměla jsem moc očekávání, protože spousta recenzí byla detailní ohledně toho, co lidi štvalo, ale asi právě díky tomu se mi ve finále docela líbila.
Řeknu to takhle: nebylo to žádné veledílo. Protesty na záchranu pralesů a žraloků mi nejsou úplně blízké, takže mi trochu chyběla vazba na hlavního hrdinu. Cam byl všechno tohle - protesty, vegetariánství, feminismus... Na ničem z toho samozřejmě není špatného, ba naopak, ale u náctiletého kluka mi to přišlo podané až trochu na sílu. Hodně dlouho si o sobě myslel, jak je ten skvělý a úžasný 'nice guy', který rád nezjištně pomůže atd, ale kniha je v podstatě o tom, jak se snaží sbalit zadanou holku, takže si asi sami dokážete udělat obrázek.
Špatně jsem taky zvládala to množství trapných scén - hlavně Camových úkolů. Sice jsem je spíš tak prolítla, abych mě ten cringe nezabil, ale kupodivu se tady promítla Camova lepší stránka - že se vším prokousal, nedělal z toho zpětně drama (když už ho tolik bylo na místě) a pořád pokračoval dál. Nakonec to ale ubíhalo rychle a četlo se to dobře. Nikdy jsem nečetla nějaké další cancer lovestory typu Hvězdy nám nepřály, a tady je to věřím bráno o něco odlehčeněji, což mi vyhovovalo. Linka Steva byla vážnější stránka knihy, takže z toho nevznikla úplná fraška, ale zároveň to neznělo nějak hrozně tragicky. Víceméně tedy oddechové čtení.
+SPOILER: Co se mi ale hlavně líbilo, byl konec. To, že v závěru vlastně nevznikl žádný romantický vztah považuju za moudré rozhodnutí, které tomu vlastně dalo i určitou uvěřitelnost. Přátelství postavy potřebovaly v téhle fázi mnohem víc, a i mně jako čtenářovi to takhle víc vyhovovalo.
January 29, 2023
Evergreen Bk Award nominee 2022. Cam Webber has been working hard to be in on every environmental cause, every march, every social justice issue campaign - esp if it means he gets to be near beautiful Kaia Gonzales, fellow student at his high school who not only runs the yearbook, but serves in student council, prom committee, debate society, feminist causes, etc. Unable to get up the nerve to ask her out, he finds out she's now dating the high school's "Mr. Popular" party guy, Steve Stevenson. In spite of enjoying humiliating pranks, and mocking environmental efforts, he's a real jerk in Cam's eyes. And then Steve gets cancer. So "when Kaia wants to find a way to help Steve, Cam offers to organize the biggest fundraising campaign he's ever undertaken-- SaveSteve.org. Maybe then Kaia will finally see Cam as the perfect guy for her. It seems like a fail-proof plan, but Cam's underestimated one thing...Steve's no fool. To stop Cam from stealing his girlfriend, Steve's going to do whatever it takes to make Cam's life as miserable as his own." (front flap). Hilarious scenes emerge when Steve slyly requires his "friend" Cam to commit to more & more ridiculous & humiliating "stunts, in order to raise the $$... although Cam bleakly hopes he'll be seen as altruistic and brave in Kaia's eyes. Last chapters turn more serious as Cam realizes there's more to Kaia then he knew, and more to Steve as well; Cam does some despondent soul searching, tries to save Steve from throwing himself into the local sea world park's shark tank, & tries to come clean with Kaia in the midst of their school prom. Each of three characters have sort of climactic "coming clean" moments -- over the top, but still a fun romp with some realistic insights into teenagers' desperate efforts to figure out how to be genuine & truly see themselves.
May 26, 2023
Activist Cam has been crushing on fellow activist Kaia for years, but hasn't found the right moment to ask her out until the day Kaia invites him to a party at Steve Stevenson's house. When Steve reveals that Kaia is his girlfriend, Cam is humiliated. Then Kaia tells Cam that Steve has been diagnosed with cancer, and Cam sees his opportunity to show Kaia what a great guy he is by launching the Save Steve campaign. Only Steve doesn't want his help, and Cam's crusade to save Steve (and steal his girlfriend) turns into a full-on war involving diapers, Cardi B, and sharks.
This was the perfect light-hearted read after my last book. Much in the vein of Unpregnant's abortion road trip, this takes the typical "cancer love story" and makes it hilarious, with a little heartwarming stuff on the side - turns out that Cam and Steve's rivalry and eventual friendship is more the point of the story than either of their relationships with Kaia, even if Kaia is a full character in her own right. Sure, Steve is a total jerk, but so is Cam in his own way, being that Nice Guy who really isn't all that nice, and both of them still come off as likeable in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this fast read.
Content advisory: Lots of strong language, sexual references and raunchy humor.
This was the perfect light-hearted read after my last book. Much in the vein of Unpregnant's abortion road trip, this takes the typical "cancer love story" and makes it hilarious, with a little heartwarming stuff on the side - turns out that Cam and Steve's rivalry and eventual friendship is more the point of the story than either of their relationships with Kaia, even if Kaia is a full character in her own right. Sure, Steve is a total jerk, but so is Cam in his own way, being that Nice Guy who really isn't all that nice, and both of them still come off as likeable in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this fast read.
Content advisory: Lots of strong language, sexual references and raunchy humor.
September 25, 2020
"I was helping people. Lots of people."
TW: cancer, talks of suicide
Save Steve is a book that follows three teenagers in their messy love triangle. None of the characters are likable in the least and they were super annoying throughout the entire story. Cam is said to be this super social activist but most of it is fake and is just him trying to get with Kaia. I felt like the activism stuff was being shoved down my throat at every turn of the page, and I was just sad that Cam hardly did any of the campaigning and protesting just because he wanted to do something nice. It was constantly said that Cam did all of these things out of the goodness of his heart but that's a whole lot of telling and not enough showing.
The whole Cam and Steve friendship aspect of this story was my favorite and yet it was one of the most underdeveloped parts. And then adding in the absurd amounts of pop-culture references- no thank you. I will say that this book is good at showing performative activism and why people should just be themselves and learn to do the right thing. But other than that, this book was super aggravating (luckily fast-paced) to read.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
TW: cancer, talks of suicide
Save Steve is a book that follows three teenagers in their messy love triangle. None of the characters are likable in the least and they were super annoying throughout the entire story. Cam is said to be this super social activist but most of it is fake and is just him trying to get with Kaia. I felt like the activism stuff was being shoved down my throat at every turn of the page, and I was just sad that Cam hardly did any of the campaigning and protesting just because he wanted to do something nice. It was constantly said that Cam did all of these things out of the goodness of his heart but that's a whole lot of telling and not enough showing.
The whole Cam and Steve friendship aspect of this story was my favorite and yet it was one of the most underdeveloped parts. And then adding in the absurd amounts of pop-culture references- no thank you. I will say that this book is good at showing performative activism and why people should just be themselves and learn to do the right thing. But other than that, this book was super aggravating (luckily fast-paced) to read.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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