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Where I Belong #1
Where I Belong
Meet Corrinne. She's living every girl's dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . . When Corrinne's father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she's stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she's supposed to be living. She doesn't care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed.
289 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2011
About the author
Gwendolyn Heasley
5 books226 followersGwendolyn Heasley is a graduate of Davidson College and the University of Missouri-Columbia where she earned her master’s degree in journalism. When she was a little girl, she desperately wanted to be the next Ann M. Martin- the author of the beloved The Baby-Sitter’s Club series. She’s incredibly grateful that the recession rendered her unemployed and made her chase her nearly forgotten dream. Her third novel Don't Call Me Baby comes out in April and her digital e-novella The Art of Goodbye (the sequel to Where I Belong) comes out in March.
She loves hearing from readers. Please email her at gwendolyn.heasley@gmail.com
She now lives in Florida with her husband and baby girl.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 496 reviews
April 17, 2011
(3.5 stars)
Shallow, snobby and rich little princess Corrinne gets a taste of what life is really about when the recessions rains on her perfectly plastic lifestyle when her father gets laid off, sending miss-thing to the hard bruel truth of the real world.
It's probably the best thing that could have ever happend to her....
Where I Belong was a decent read but it took forevah for me to like Corrinne, to be fair she was meant to be written all selfish and materialistic and everything I can't stand in a character, so Gwendolyn Heasley did her job well. Still, it was pretty neat to see her transformation and I grew to like her eventually. I really did liked Buddy though, he was quite the charmer and I liked the way he just tells it like it is. I have to admit I was slightly disappointed by the lack of romance, given the cover, I was kinda expecting it, but when I think about it, romance really isn't the point to this storyline and didn't really need it to get the message across.
Overall, I liked this one. It's a good book to open your eyes wide about how the greater gifts life has to offer, hard times don't last forever, money isn't everything and discovering there really is two sides to a coin.
Great debut and I look forward to seeing what Heasley comes up with next.
Shallow, snobby and rich little princess Corrinne gets a taste of what life is really about when the recessions rains on her perfectly plastic lifestyle when her father gets laid off, sending miss-thing to the hard bruel truth of the real world.
It's probably the best thing that could have ever happend to her....
Where I Belong was a decent read but it took forevah for me to like Corrinne, to be fair she was meant to be written all selfish and materialistic and everything I can't stand in a character, so Gwendolyn Heasley did her job well. Still, it was pretty neat to see her transformation and I grew to like her eventually. I really did liked Buddy though, he was quite the charmer and I liked the way he just tells it like it is. I have to admit I was slightly disappointed by the lack of romance, given the cover, I was kinda expecting it, but when I think about it, romance really isn't the point to this storyline and didn't really need it to get the message across.
Overall, I liked this one. It's a good book to open your eyes wide about how the greater gifts life has to offer, hard times don't last forever, money isn't everything and discovering there really is two sides to a coin.
Great debut and I look forward to seeing what Heasley comes up with next.
November 10, 2014
This just goes to show that I probably can't stomach a book like Before I Fall if I was kind of disappointed about a book like this which I'm pretty sure is a lighter read.
This was kind of what I expected it to be but more annoying at the beginning than I thought. Yes, I expected her to be a snob about going to Texas and that she would miss her old life in New York but Corrinne is such a stereotyped spoiled brat who did whatever she wanted. I was hoping it would be funnier but it was mostly just annoying.
I am not sure about this because I don't live in New York but it sounds kind of dumb for Corrine to worry about what she wears because the paparazzi might see her. Other than Paris Hilton I don't know anyone who gets in the tabloids for having rich (not famous just rich) parents. There are also pop references like Paris Hilton, Gossip Girls, Lindsay Lohan, and Lady Gaga which will be lost on future readers of the book.
Also, there are a couple of times were Corrine mentions about having been or gets drunk and apparently there is nothing wrong with this, its normal. But I guess it is normal, even okay, for some people so it isn't exactly unrealistic.
However, it did have its fun moments and a few endearing ones that might just borderline cheesy. Corrine does write a letter to the reader before warning us that we might not like her in the beginning. Corrinne isn't completely mean; she can be coarse but also nice. There is a transformation of sorts so there is more to it than Corrine just whining.
I absolutely adore Corrine's grandpa and brother. They are so endearing even when Corrine is being a pain and just outright rude. There is a hint of romance in this but I'm happy that it was mostly about Corrine coming into her own self instead of her just mooning over a guy.
Corrine makes the right decisions in the end so that was satisfying. She grew on me so it really made up for the first half of the book.
This was kind of what I expected it to be but more annoying at the beginning than I thought. Yes, I expected her to be a snob about going to Texas and that she would miss her old life in New York but Corrinne is such a stereotyped spoiled brat who did whatever she wanted. I was hoping it would be funnier but it was mostly just annoying.
I am not sure about this because I don't live in New York but it sounds kind of dumb for Corrine to worry about what she wears because the paparazzi might see her. Other than Paris Hilton I don't know anyone who gets in the tabloids for having rich (not famous just rich) parents. There are also pop references like Paris Hilton, Gossip Girls, Lindsay Lohan, and Lady Gaga which will be lost on future readers of the book.
Also, there are a couple of times were Corrine mentions about having been or gets drunk and apparently there is nothing wrong with this, its normal. But I guess it is normal, even okay, for some people so it isn't exactly unrealistic.
However, it did have its fun moments and a few endearing ones that might just borderline cheesy. Corrine does write a letter to the reader before warning us that we might not like her in the beginning. Corrinne isn't completely mean; she can be coarse but also nice. There is a transformation of sorts so there is more to it than Corrine just whining.
I absolutely adore Corrine's grandpa and brother. They are so endearing even when Corrine is being a pain and just outright rude. There is a hint of romance in this but I'm happy that it was mostly about Corrine coming into her own self instead of her just mooning over a guy.
Corrine makes the right decisions in the end so that was satisfying. She grew on me so it really made up for the first half of the book.
April 28, 2011
Where I Belong is a cute, fast read. The writing was simple, but engaging. Heasley takes us into the young mind of a New York girl who is fashionable and a shop-a-holic (a version of her own self), and shows us her transformation as she loses everything she knows, and has to adjust to a lowly way of living that she at first finds unacceptable and will do anything to get out of. She does start out unlikeable, she’s stuck on New York, the fashion, the glamour of it and the perfectness of her world. When her dad loses his job and she and her mom and brother move to Texas to live with her mom’s parents, she still has this idea that because she is from the big city, she is superior to all these hicks from Texas who don’t know a thing about fashion or how the real world works. But then she starts to find likeable things there. She makes some friends, gets caught up in the upcoming rodeo, and doesn’t care that there isn’t a fancy restaurant. She changes from a know-it-all New Yorker, to a Texan at heart, realizing her ignorance of the place and the people, and that the glory of New York isn’t all that great.
I loved Tripp, her younger brother. He just has this childlike enthusiasm that is infectious, he’s all smiles and fun, and doesn’t get down because he was uprooted from his life and basically dumped into Podunk Ville. He kind of reminds of the little brother on The Last Song (I’m thinking more of the movie because I loved the kid there, but in the book too.)
There was a little romance. Corrine falls for (or makes herself fall her) a wannabe rocker star who doesn’t care one bit for Corrine, which she comes to realize later. And she realizes that Bubby, the star football player at the Broken Spokes High School is truly sincere, and that he is worth loving. The romance is very light. I think this book is more about Corrine’s transformation, and the true value of friendship, as Corrine’s friendship with her New York best friend is threatened because of their new differences. The messages here were light, yet meaningful. But the romance was sweet, especially the ending :) Overall, Where I Belong is a really enjoyable, quick read that made me smile. Recommened if you want a cute, light read, and not some deeply thoughtful, earthshattering book.
I loved Tripp, her younger brother. He just has this childlike enthusiasm that is infectious, he’s all smiles and fun, and doesn’t get down because he was uprooted from his life and basically dumped into Podunk Ville. He kind of reminds of the little brother on The Last Song (I’m thinking more of the movie because I loved the kid there, but in the book too.)
There was a little romance. Corrine falls for (or makes herself fall her) a wannabe rocker star who doesn’t care one bit for Corrine, which she comes to realize later. And she realizes that Bubby, the star football player at the Broken Spokes High School is truly sincere, and that he is worth loving. The romance is very light. I think this book is more about Corrine’s transformation, and the true value of friendship, as Corrine’s friendship with her New York best friend is threatened because of their new differences. The messages here were light, yet meaningful. But the romance was sweet, especially the ending :) Overall, Where I Belong is a really enjoyable, quick read that made me smile. Recommened if you want a cute, light read, and not some deeply thoughtful, earthshattering book.
March 10, 2011
This was a really fun story, and a very quick read. Seeing Corrinne embrace her inner hick was an enjoyable experience. The focus is definitely on Corrinne and her learning things about herself and about life in general - I think the cover makes it out to be more of a romance than it is. I'm not saying that as a critique, because it didn't bother me. Just fair warning.
Sometimes I let the stupidest things bother me. When Corrinne is first learning her way around Broken Spoke, they talk about the town having only one sit-down restaurant (Chinese) and a Sonic. Then, the school is described as three stories high with several hundred (400 maybe?) students. Now see, that doesn't work for me. If the town is large enough to have a school with that many students, it is definitely too large to have only one sit-down restaurant.
I mean, I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma - the high school was two small hallways jammed together with a cafeteria in the middle. My graduating class was 40 people. And even my town has a little more going for it than one Chinese place. I mean - at the very least there should be like a burger place and/or a Mexican restaurant. God save me from a small town in this part of the country where you can't sit down somewhere and order a burger (Sonic does NOT count).
So, like I said, I realize it is really silly that I'm so focused on that - but it seriously bothered me to the point that I enjoyed the book less. I'm not claiming to be an expert or anything - but that set-up just totally clashes with what I know about small towns.
Anyway, other than that (which probably doesn't bother anyone else anywhere), the story is awesome. There isn't a lot of deep characterization, but the way everyone interacts with each other is very interesting and entertaining nonetheless.
This is a story of a self-centered, spoiled brat learning about life, family and cow manure in the small town of Broken Spoke, Texas. If that sounds like something you'd enjoy - pick up the book and prepare to enjoy the ride!
Sometimes I let the stupidest things bother me. When Corrinne is first learning her way around Broken Spoke, they talk about the town having only one sit-down restaurant (Chinese) and a Sonic. Then, the school is described as three stories high with several hundred (400 maybe?) students. Now see, that doesn't work for me. If the town is large enough to have a school with that many students, it is definitely too large to have only one sit-down restaurant.
I mean, I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma - the high school was two small hallways jammed together with a cafeteria in the middle. My graduating class was 40 people. And even my town has a little more going for it than one Chinese place. I mean - at the very least there should be like a burger place and/or a Mexican restaurant. God save me from a small town in this part of the country where you can't sit down somewhere and order a burger (Sonic does NOT count).
So, like I said, I realize it is really silly that I'm so focused on that - but it seriously bothered me to the point that I enjoyed the book less. I'm not claiming to be an expert or anything - but that set-up just totally clashes with what I know about small towns.
Anyway, other than that (which probably doesn't bother anyone else anywhere), the story is awesome. There isn't a lot of deep characterization, but the way everyone interacts with each other is very interesting and entertaining nonetheless.
This is a story of a self-centered, spoiled brat learning about life, family and cow manure in the small town of Broken Spoke, Texas. If that sounds like something you'd enjoy - pick up the book and prepare to enjoy the ride!
April 23, 2011
A quick fun read!
After an emotional ride with Thirteen Reasons Why, Where I Belong was perfect to dissipate the heavy emotional cloud hanging over me. It was insightful in an entertaining and cute way.
The book follows the story of Corrinne, a 16-year old socialite and fashionista from New York who finds herself moving to small town, Broken Spoke, in Texas with her grandparents amongst cowboys and cowgirls. It takes awhile for Corrinne to get off her high horse and spoiled-brat ways and learn to be nicer and appreciate other things in life aside from designer clothes, shopping, and being given and served everything to her.
It was interesting to read about her NY lifestyle and the extravagance of it all. My head was reeling from all the designer brand name dropping and the prices of things. I almost fell off my chair when I went through those. But most importantly it was quite interesting to read the contrasts between two different lifestyles and worlds: the lifestyle of the rich and affluent versus the lives of a small town middle class and how recession has touched both regardless of financial status and location, and making it more real by letting Corrinne's literary character live both sides of these worlds. Somehow it makes it seem more real and tangible that way. It was interesting to see how her aesthetically beautiful life in NY seemed just so shallow in strong contrast to her seemingly dull life in Texas, which actually eventually builds her character. From living in Texas, Corrinne learns how it is to be a true friend, a good sister to her brother Tripp, how to look past assumptions and prejudices and see people for who they really are, learn to earn a living, and appreciate the small things in life.
Yes, Corrinne has some potential love interests in Rider and Bubby and she does make the right decision in the end and pick the good guy. However, the focus of the book is more on Corrinne finding who she is as a person rather than finding that person through falling in love. The ending almost opens it up to a sequel...the love story you thought you'd find in this book based on its very pretty cover. The book was a good starting point, if that's the case.
Overall, a lighthearted and entertaining read. There were some good quotes I found and it did get me teary eyed when I read Tripp's report about his hero, his sister. I enjoyed the supporting cast as well and especially enjoyed reading about Kitsy, Bubby, and grandpa.
So, if you're looking for a quick distraction and a light read, this is the book for you!
After an emotional ride with Thirteen Reasons Why, Where I Belong was perfect to dissipate the heavy emotional cloud hanging over me. It was insightful in an entertaining and cute way.
The book follows the story of Corrinne, a 16-year old socialite and fashionista from New York who finds herself moving to small town, Broken Spoke, in Texas with her grandparents amongst cowboys and cowgirls. It takes awhile for Corrinne to get off her high horse and spoiled-brat ways and learn to be nicer and appreciate other things in life aside from designer clothes, shopping, and being given and served everything to her.
It was interesting to read about her NY lifestyle and the extravagance of it all. My head was reeling from all the designer brand name dropping and the prices of things. I almost fell off my chair when I went through those. But most importantly it was quite interesting to read the contrasts between two different lifestyles and worlds: the lifestyle of the rich and affluent versus the lives of a small town middle class and how recession has touched both regardless of financial status and location, and making it more real by letting Corrinne's literary character live both sides of these worlds. Somehow it makes it seem more real and tangible that way. It was interesting to see how her aesthetically beautiful life in NY seemed just so shallow in strong contrast to her seemingly dull life in Texas, which actually eventually builds her character. From living in Texas, Corrinne learns how it is to be a true friend, a good sister to her brother Tripp, how to look past assumptions and prejudices and see people for who they really are, learn to earn a living, and appreciate the small things in life.
Yes, Corrinne has some potential love interests in Rider and Bubby and she does make the right decision in the end and pick the good guy. However, the focus of the book is more on Corrinne finding who she is as a person rather than finding that person through falling in love. The ending almost opens it up to a sequel...the love story you thought you'd find in this book based on its very pretty cover. The book was a good starting point, if that's the case.
Overall, a lighthearted and entertaining read. There were some good quotes I found and it did get me teary eyed when I read Tripp's report about his hero, his sister. I enjoyed the supporting cast as well and especially enjoyed reading about Kitsy, Bubby, and grandpa.
So, if you're looking for a quick distraction and a light read, this is the book for you!
March 3, 2011
My Thoughts: Do you want this book summed up into one word? Charming! We are introduced to Corrinne who hails from big city New York to a small quiet hick town in Texas which is called Broken Spoke! She had plans to attend a private school (Kent) with her best friend Waverly so going to public school is like her idea of torture. She is supposed to hook up with the cute guy on campus and become his girlfriend. And to sum it up, her family is broke so how is she going to relieve some of this stress when she can't even go shopping to blow off steam. And on top of this, she has to go live with her grandparents who she doesn't even know with her annoying little brother.
Things could not get any worst for Corrinne. Until she steps foot in Texas, its hot, steamy, and there are people wearing cowboy boots everywhere. And people actually play football. "Yuck", she thinks.
In Texas, she attends the public school and even though she's not quite as popular as she was in New York she does meet a few friends including Kitsy and Bubby. She also gets a crush on the local musician Rider. Kitsy is a cheerleader and she is easy to talk too. Bubby is annoying and Corrinne wants nothing to do with him. Rider has plans to go big and get out of this hick town. She feels like she relates most to Rider and starts crushing on him. We know that Bubby has a crush on her instantly but she pays no attention to him. She has her eyes set on someone else so why pay attention to Bubby; the popular football player?
Texas is a new experience for Corrinne. She has to get to know her grandparents, she learns to drive, she even gets a job shoveling poop. How fun is that? Haha! Her annoying little brother is also always there wanting to hang out with Corrianne. While learning how to handle Texas life, Waverly comes down for a visit and stirs things right up.
I loved this book. Corrinne learns so much about her family she had no clue about including her mother's history there in Texas. She learns that friendship can change and be just as great. She learns how to tolerate her brother and get some sisterly points in. She learns that certain boys aren't who you think they are by first impressions.
I loved taking this journey with Corrinne. This was such a fun book and I loved feeling like I was really in Texas. I loved experiencing the football games through her eyes. I loved the parties in the field following the football games. I loved seeing her friendship with Kitsy and Bubby grow. I loved seeing her change and grow as a person. I loved how this book had a little bit of country to it and I just felt so lukeworm in my heart throughout the book.
Where I Belong should belong in your collection. It should be read and enjoyed over and over.
"If someone were to like you, Corrianne, I think it would be because you surprise people. You turned out to be not who you were, and I like that."
Overall: Loved This! Where I Belong is a uplifting story of hope through the use of sassy and smart dialogue and makes you realize change is not always a bad thing. Where I Belong is a charming debut by Heasley and its pure wonderful.
Cover: This cover is so freaking awesome! Its beautiful and not only is it beautiful, it makes you want to go grab a cowboy and dance around to country music all night long in your short dress and cowboy boots! Wheres the rodeo at? Heeehawww!
What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
Taken from Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
Things could not get any worst for Corrinne. Until she steps foot in Texas, its hot, steamy, and there are people wearing cowboy boots everywhere. And people actually play football. "Yuck", she thinks.
In Texas, she attends the public school and even though she's not quite as popular as she was in New York she does meet a few friends including Kitsy and Bubby. She also gets a crush on the local musician Rider. Kitsy is a cheerleader and she is easy to talk too. Bubby is annoying and Corrinne wants nothing to do with him. Rider has plans to go big and get out of this hick town. She feels like she relates most to Rider and starts crushing on him. We know that Bubby has a crush on her instantly but she pays no attention to him. She has her eyes set on someone else so why pay attention to Bubby; the popular football player?
Texas is a new experience for Corrinne. She has to get to know her grandparents, she learns to drive, she even gets a job shoveling poop. How fun is that? Haha! Her annoying little brother is also always there wanting to hang out with Corrianne. While learning how to handle Texas life, Waverly comes down for a visit and stirs things right up.
I loved this book. Corrinne learns so much about her family she had no clue about including her mother's history there in Texas. She learns that friendship can change and be just as great. She learns how to tolerate her brother and get some sisterly points in. She learns that certain boys aren't who you think they are by first impressions.
I loved taking this journey with Corrinne. This was such a fun book and I loved feeling like I was really in Texas. I loved experiencing the football games through her eyes. I loved the parties in the field following the football games. I loved seeing her friendship with Kitsy and Bubby grow. I loved seeing her change and grow as a person. I loved how this book had a little bit of country to it and I just felt so lukeworm in my heart throughout the book.
Where I Belong should belong in your collection. It should be read and enjoyed over and over.
"If someone were to like you, Corrianne, I think it would be because you surprise people. You turned out to be not who you were, and I like that."
Overall: Loved This! Where I Belong is a uplifting story of hope through the use of sassy and smart dialogue and makes you realize change is not always a bad thing. Where I Belong is a charming debut by Heasley and its pure wonderful.
Cover: This cover is so freaking awesome! Its beautiful and not only is it beautiful, it makes you want to go grab a cowboy and dance around to country music all night long in your short dress and cowboy boots! Wheres the rodeo at? Heeehawww!
What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
Taken from Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
March 23, 2011
I adore a good YA Contemporary. While I enjoy being sucked into the world building of paranormal, there’s just something about reading a novel with real people that I can completely relate to and a world just like my own. It has its own special magic.
This weekend I inhaled Gwendolyn Heasley’s WHERE I BELONG, a YA Contemporary about a New York City girl who is sent to the boonies of Texas after her father is laid off during the recession. Corrinne is unlike most of the YA heroines portrayed in the novels I read because she isn’t exactly likeable for much of the book, and she makes fun of my beloved Texas. But by surrounding her with lovable characters who are unique and funny, Ms. Heasley helps the reader relax, knowing Corrinne will be worn down eventually. And until then you can lap up the prose.
Poetic at times, snarky in others, and always authentic, WHERE I BELONG’S narrative and dialogue is superb. It is clear from page one that you are in the hands of a master craftsman. The setting description is very visual and the sprinkling of dialect makes you feel as though you’ve taken a trip to the outskirts of ‘God’s country.’
The romance in this book is lovely. I think there are only two kissing scenes in the entire book, and one of them is on the very last page, but there is a humming tension carried throughout the story. Two boys with two very looks and approaches to life, Bubby and Rider, vie for Corrinne’s attention and while it is obvious from the beginning who she should be with, her path to get there is relatable and believable.
And finally, Corrinne’s character arc is beautifully done. I didn’t particularly like the character in the beginning and she frustrated me to no end in the middle, but it was always done in a way that made you turn the page, waiting to see her redemption. The story doesn’t hit you over the head with a preachy message, or say one lifestyle—city or country life—is necessarily better than the other, but Ms. Heasley uses both settings to explore Corrinne’s emotional journey. When she emerges on the other side, she is softer and more down to earth, yet still retains some of the filterless snark that made you root for her in the beginning.
I was sad to reach the end of this book, and I can’t wait to read Gwendolyn Heasley’s future projects.
This weekend I inhaled Gwendolyn Heasley’s WHERE I BELONG, a YA Contemporary about a New York City girl who is sent to the boonies of Texas after her father is laid off during the recession. Corrinne is unlike most of the YA heroines portrayed in the novels I read because she isn’t exactly likeable for much of the book, and she makes fun of my beloved Texas. But by surrounding her with lovable characters who are unique and funny, Ms. Heasley helps the reader relax, knowing Corrinne will be worn down eventually. And until then you can lap up the prose.
Poetic at times, snarky in others, and always authentic, WHERE I BELONG’S narrative and dialogue is superb. It is clear from page one that you are in the hands of a master craftsman. The setting description is very visual and the sprinkling of dialect makes you feel as though you’ve taken a trip to the outskirts of ‘God’s country.’
The romance in this book is lovely. I think there are only two kissing scenes in the entire book, and one of them is on the very last page, but there is a humming tension carried throughout the story. Two boys with two very looks and approaches to life, Bubby and Rider, vie for Corrinne’s attention and while it is obvious from the beginning who she should be with, her path to get there is relatable and believable.
And finally, Corrinne’s character arc is beautifully done. I didn’t particularly like the character in the beginning and she frustrated me to no end in the middle, but it was always done in a way that made you turn the page, waiting to see her redemption. The story doesn’t hit you over the head with a preachy message, or say one lifestyle—city or country life—is necessarily better than the other, but Ms. Heasley uses both settings to explore Corrinne’s emotional journey. When she emerges on the other side, she is softer and more down to earth, yet still retains some of the filterless snark that made you root for her in the beginning.
I was sad to reach the end of this book, and I can’t wait to read Gwendolyn Heasley’s future projects.
June 10, 2012
When I was reading the reviews for Where I Belong and saw people talking about contractions not being used enough, I thought to myself, "It couldn't possibly be that bad." I was wrong, completely and utterly wrong. Without contractions the writing is really stiff, so I wasn't able to feel like I was in Corrinne's head. It also make the dialogue not believable. Most of the time, I just couldn't believe someone, whether teenager or adult, would say that. It makes the book nearly impossible to read. Really, what spoiled sixteen year old uses proper language like that? Though Corrinne isn't the only one written like that; all the characters talk pretty much the same.
I'm not sure how I managed to finish this book. I guess I just wanted to find some redeeming qualities. I found none. There's more romance with the guy who's using Corrinne to further his music career than with the guy she ends up with and there are no cowboys at all. Corrinne's character grows when she's in Texas, but at the end it seems she's just getting her way again, despite whether or not it makes her happy. This book could have greatly benefitted from a few extra chapters or even an epilogue to explain what happened to Corrinne after the open ending the author left for us.
If someone is reading this review and is still interested in this book, I suggest getting it from the library.
I'm not sure how I managed to finish this book. I guess I just wanted to find some redeeming qualities. I found none. There's more romance with the guy who's using Corrinne to further his music career than with the guy she ends up with and there are no cowboys at all. Corrinne's character grows when she's in Texas, but at the end it seems she's just getting her way again, despite whether or not it makes her happy. This book could have greatly benefitted from a few extra chapters or even an epilogue to explain what happened to Corrinne after the open ending the author left for us.
If someone is reading this review and is still interested in this book, I suggest getting it from the library.
November 4, 2013
If you liked Where I Belong, please check out The Art of Goodbye, a digital sequel e-novella coming out on March 4th!
The heroine of Where I Belong is back in The Art of Goodbye, a romantic digital original novella about first loves and second chances.
It's Corrinne Corcoran's last night in town before heading off to college, and she's determined it'll be the most epic night ever. She's planned every detail of each hour of the night, from what dresses she'll wear, to what parties she'll hit, to which of her best friends will be with her. But Corrinne's perfect plan for her last night in New York goes awry when she runs into a ghost from her past, and the boy she's never been able to forget—her ex-boyfriend, Bubby, from Broken Spoke. And Corrinne starts to wonder if her expertly planned goodbye to New York City was as perfect as it seemed. . . . Set over the twelve-hour period before Corrinne sets off for college, The Art of Goodbye will make you believe that true love can find you when you're least expecting it . . . again.
HarperTeen Impulse is a digital imprint focused on young adult short stories and novellas, with new releases the first Tuesday of each month.
The heroine of Where I Belong is back in The Art of Goodbye, a romantic digital original novella about first loves and second chances.
It's Corrinne Corcoran's last night in town before heading off to college, and she's determined it'll be the most epic night ever. She's planned every detail of each hour of the night, from what dresses she'll wear, to what parties she'll hit, to which of her best friends will be with her. But Corrinne's perfect plan for her last night in New York goes awry when she runs into a ghost from her past, and the boy she's never been able to forget—her ex-boyfriend, Bubby, from Broken Spoke. And Corrinne starts to wonder if her expertly planned goodbye to New York City was as perfect as it seemed. . . . Set over the twelve-hour period before Corrinne sets off for college, The Art of Goodbye will make you believe that true love can find you when you're least expecting it . . . again.
HarperTeen Impulse is a digital imprint focused on young adult short stories and novellas, with new releases the first Tuesday of each month.
June 20, 2012
I wish more YA books were set in small towns in the south. Although I did not grow up in the south, I did grow up in a small town. The varsity football game was a big deal. Our parents didn’t go on business trips or anything, so you had to party in a field. Express was considered ‘designer’.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
August 5, 2019
I want to say this book radiates beginner wattpad story writer energy, but that would be an insult to them. This "book" was completely inconsistent and frustrating to read the entire time. Readers open up to a letter that warns (I see it as a threat), "So if you hate me at first, keep reading. You might just surprise yourself." Oh, was I surprised! She was a brat the entire time! I thought she would have her character growth moment before the middle of the story, yet she was still a stubborn, arrogant, and ungrateful brat. This was a poor excuse to make readers continue reading the story, and I was one of the victims of this tragedy. This is my P.R., not post-recession, but post-read.
In total, I have over 40ish notes of red flags that keep me frustrated throughout the read, and these are the top.
1. Unbearable and poorly named characters that are extremely flat, yet inconsistent.
Ex. Bubby being a reporter, yet it's never mentioned again after 2 conversations and nobody talks about his writing. He's shown to be a snarky, intellectual athlete, but then automatically is a guy who hates the friendzone the next time they talk and keeps flirting with her as if he didn't insult her. He's said to have feelings for Corrinne, yet he's a jerk. Miss me with that "boys will be boys" mentality, he's just an arse.
Ex. We found out the mom dated a guy named "Dusty" and we never actually meet him. He's just a memory despite being Bubby's dad and still alive.
Ex. HANDS???????????? You're going to catch my hands with that clownery of a name.
2. "Then everything turned black" is my absolute pet peeve in books. A poor excuse of a transition yet is overused. Even I wanted to pass out after reading that line.
3. The irony and the double standard the girls have made me disgusted that women are portrayed this way. This was a way to poke fun of women putting themselves against each other, but this aged like milk. Making fun of people's status, their clothing and their lives overall show how miserable a person is. And I can confirm that all the characters in this book, especially the women (except grandma and Ginger), are absolutely miserable and lack personality. I really had Kisty's back until she started to shame "jersey chasers" despite her dating a football guy as well. The stench of double standards is overwhelming, even more than the manure of the horses Corrinne had to clean with her minimum wage job.
4. The lack of family bonding in Corrinne's POV, yet everyone in her family says she's an angel for interacting with them so well and being a "good sport". This is especially towards her brother, Tripp. She did absolutely nothing for him throughout the story, yet readers have to read a paragraph written by Tripp near the end of the story that horribly wraps up all the "good" things she has done with him that made her his hero. She did nothing but complain about how she's too good to be around him. Tripp's standards of a good sibling are so low, that just her talking to him makes him think she's his hero. What a tragedy. Even with her mom, she continues to be a brat and bring up sensitive things (that doesn't get a solution btw).
5. Corrinne is the embodiment of a "white feminist" (they make feminists look bad). She's only a feminist for convenience. She brings up poorly made allusions to real-life terrors, like racism and discrimination, to compare them to her not having designer clothes in this recession. Did she ever state she regrets saying that near the end of the book? No. She even told off Bubby she doesn't need a man to pull her chair out for her, but still has the audacity to look down on other women. Her word choices of describing how other's talk to her are dangerous like how she chose to use the words "harassment" and "assault" towards Bubby's criticism of her. Those words are not words that can be taken with a grain of salt and reveals how poorly this book aged. She even has the audacity to "teach" others how to use chopsticks, yet she doesn't even use them right. Yikes.
6. Lowkey racism and blatant ignorance were radiating. MC saying she didn't want a "foreign exchange student who probably doesn't shower every day" is disgusting and wrong. What kind of ignorance is this? Being disgusted at Chinese food for their usage of MSG and locals being afraid of eating there because they could serve "dog meat". We love casual racism :)))))))))))) Insensitive towards serious topics like "Heart of Darkness" theme of colonialism by using the quote "The horror, the horror" to describe a department store. How dare you compare the tragedy of colonialism and slavery with clothes normal people struggle to afford. She even compares her situation of living a peaceful farm life with Stockholm Syndrome, a serious and real thing. Disgusting.
7. Useless flashbacks that just add more fluff to the background information labeled as B.R., before the recession. We get it, MC bathes in money and spends it like it's nothing. It doesn't show any complex characteristics and necessary information needed to continue reading. You could skip it and be completely okay. Here's a tip: Just skip reading this book!
8. An adult writing in a teen POV is not going to end well (never will too). References such as "Apple", "Lady Gaga", and 2000s stars being the hottest trends are accurate, but they are poorly written in. We are introduced to MC as a girl who likes the old classics over Lady Gaga because shE iSn'T liKE ThE oTheR gIRls!!!!111!!!!11. What teenager says "In this shaky economy" before saying they want to buy something? The word "anecdote" is the only educated word in this story despite her bought education and success. She says petty comments as sarcasm, but it is so bad that it's cringeworthy.
9. Corrinne is just scum. No redeeming moments and thoughts. She only took her brother out for ice cream because he praised her and she felt guilty for not rewards that mindset. Everything is about her wants and needs. She's absolutely childish despite being a 16 y/o and prioritizes personal gain over everything. She stays like this, but all of a sudden, she's a Texan Angel. Miss me with that trash!!!! It went from 0 to 100 and she didn't even do anything to change her mindset. Poorly written and rushed!!! She's still the same trash she was on page one despite being near the end.
10. An unexpected love triangle and everyone is trashy. She keeps using the BS her friend tells her despite them being jealous of each other the whole time and unsupportive. Extremely toxic and unbearable. Rider can choke and so can Bubby.
11. P L O T H O L E S. Each step I take, I fall into another one.
12. There are sentences that are so childish that it shocks me that it's written by a grown woman. "I want to scream and run into the barn to be near Rider." CRINGE.
Lastly, the only moment I laughed at was this plothole on page 33 where the grandparents are driving *80 MPH* on the dark, empty road YET they manage to go closer to each other on *A BENCH* and *HUG* despite driving that fast in a truck. Huh, I didn't a bench would be in a car and I sure didn't know I could hug someone while driving 80 mph safely in the dark. And they say romance is dead...
This book is called "Where I Belong" and it's safe to say that you don't belong here. Bye, 0/5 stars.
In total, I have over 40ish notes of red flags that keep me frustrated throughout the read, and these are the top.
1. Unbearable and poorly named characters that are extremely flat, yet inconsistent.
Ex. Bubby being a reporter, yet it's never mentioned again after 2 conversations and nobody talks about his writing. He's shown to be a snarky, intellectual athlete, but then automatically is a guy who hates the friendzone the next time they talk and keeps flirting with her as if he didn't insult her. He's said to have feelings for Corrinne, yet he's a jerk. Miss me with that "boys will be boys" mentality, he's just an arse.
Ex. We found out the mom dated a guy named "Dusty" and we never actually meet him. He's just a memory despite being Bubby's dad and still alive.
Ex. HANDS???????????? You're going to catch my hands with that clownery of a name.
2. "Then everything turned black" is my absolute pet peeve in books. A poor excuse of a transition yet is overused. Even I wanted to pass out after reading that line.
3. The irony and the double standard the girls have made me disgusted that women are portrayed this way. This was a way to poke fun of women putting themselves against each other, but this aged like milk. Making fun of people's status, their clothing and their lives overall show how miserable a person is. And I can confirm that all the characters in this book, especially the women (except grandma and Ginger), are absolutely miserable and lack personality. I really had Kisty's back until she started to shame "jersey chasers" despite her dating a football guy as well. The stench of double standards is overwhelming, even more than the manure of the horses Corrinne had to clean with her minimum wage job.
4. The lack of family bonding in Corrinne's POV, yet everyone in her family says she's an angel for interacting with them so well and being a "good sport". This is especially towards her brother, Tripp. She did absolutely nothing for him throughout the story, yet readers have to read a paragraph written by Tripp near the end of the story that horribly wraps up all the "good" things she has done with him that made her his hero. She did nothing but complain about how she's too good to be around him. Tripp's standards of a good sibling are so low, that just her talking to him makes him think she's his hero. What a tragedy. Even with her mom, she continues to be a brat and bring up sensitive things (that doesn't get a solution btw).
5. Corrinne is the embodiment of a "white feminist" (they make feminists look bad). She's only a feminist for convenience. She brings up poorly made allusions to real-life terrors, like racism and discrimination, to compare them to her not having designer clothes in this recession. Did she ever state she regrets saying that near the end of the book? No. She even told off Bubby she doesn't need a man to pull her chair out for her, but still has the audacity to look down on other women. Her word choices of describing how other's talk to her are dangerous like how she chose to use the words "harassment" and "assault" towards Bubby's criticism of her. Those words are not words that can be taken with a grain of salt and reveals how poorly this book aged. She even has the audacity to "teach" others how to use chopsticks, yet she doesn't even use them right. Yikes.
6. Lowkey racism and blatant ignorance were radiating. MC saying she didn't want a "foreign exchange student who probably doesn't shower every day" is disgusting and wrong. What kind of ignorance is this? Being disgusted at Chinese food for their usage of MSG and locals being afraid of eating there because they could serve "dog meat". We love casual racism :)))))))))))) Insensitive towards serious topics like "Heart of Darkness" theme of colonialism by using the quote "The horror, the horror" to describe a department store. How dare you compare the tragedy of colonialism and slavery with clothes normal people struggle to afford. She even compares her situation of living a peaceful farm life with Stockholm Syndrome, a serious and real thing. Disgusting.
7. Useless flashbacks that just add more fluff to the background information labeled as B.R., before the recession. We get it, MC bathes in money and spends it like it's nothing. It doesn't show any complex characteristics and necessary information needed to continue reading. You could skip it and be completely okay. Here's a tip: Just skip reading this book!
8. An adult writing in a teen POV is not going to end well (never will too). References such as "Apple", "Lady Gaga", and 2000s stars being the hottest trends are accurate, but they are poorly written in. We are introduced to MC as a girl who likes the old classics over Lady Gaga because shE iSn'T liKE ThE oTheR gIRls!!!!111!!!!11. What teenager says "In this shaky economy" before saying they want to buy something? The word "anecdote" is the only educated word in this story despite her bought education and success. She says petty comments as sarcasm, but it is so bad that it's cringeworthy.
9. Corrinne is just scum. No redeeming moments and thoughts. She only took her brother out for ice cream because he praised her and she felt guilty for not rewards that mindset. Everything is about her wants and needs. She's absolutely childish despite being a 16 y/o and prioritizes personal gain over everything. She stays like this, but all of a sudden, she's a Texan Angel. Miss me with that trash!!!! It went from 0 to 100 and she didn't even do anything to change her mindset. Poorly written and rushed!!! She's still the same trash she was on page one despite being near the end.
10. An unexpected love triangle and everyone is trashy. She keeps using the BS her friend tells her despite them being jealous of each other the whole time and unsupportive. Extremely toxic and unbearable. Rider can choke and so can Bubby.
11. P L O T H O L E S. Each step I take, I fall into another one.
12. There are sentences that are so childish that it shocks me that it's written by a grown woman. "I want to scream and run into the barn to be near Rider." CRINGE.
Lastly, the only moment I laughed at was this plothole on page 33 where the grandparents are driving *80 MPH* on the dark, empty road YET they manage to go closer to each other on *A BENCH* and *HUG* despite driving that fast in a truck. Huh, I didn't a bench would be in a car and I sure didn't know I could hug someone while driving 80 mph safely in the dark. And they say romance is dead...
This book is called "Where I Belong" and it's safe to say that you don't belong here. Bye, 0/5 stars.
February 23, 2015
More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.
WHAT I LIKED: I loved this! It's kind of like Clueless meets Disney's Cars. For a little while there, Corrinne isn't really all that likeable. She's rude to her family, a terrible big sister, and shallow, shallow, shallow. But over time, Corrinne finds the real person she is meant to be. The romance is very slow-building, which I always love. I also enjoyed many laugh-out-loud moments.
The character-building is fantastic. Tripp, who adapts to Texas life very easily, is the cutest and sweetest 12-year old brother ever. Corrinne's grandpa reminds me of Tow-Mater in Cars--so adorable. Corrinne and Waverly remind me of Cher and Deonne in Clueless--all their little New York sayings and acronyms and "clueless" sarcasm. Potential love interest Bubby is a sweet, good ol' boy, and who wouldn't want a best friend like Kitsy?
It's well-paced. I was immersed in Corrinne's voice and story right from the first few pages. I read the whole thing in one sitting.
This story makes me miss Texas! And Sonic!
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: So overall, I loved this book, but I must say that both the Texas and New York characters are a bit stereotyped. I lived in Fort Worth, TX for 18 years. While I may have met a small handful of people with "weird" Texas names (Twila is really the only one I can think of right now, but I'm sure there were others), the vast majority of the people I knew and students I taught had traditional names like Megan and Taylor and Justin and Alex. We had a more Hispanic influence in names than anything else. My point here is, nearly every Texas-born character in this book has a "Texas" name--Kitsy, Billy Bo, Jenny Jo, Bubby, Hands, Rider, Ginger. Maybe it's this way in very small Texas towns, but based on my 18 years as a Texan, it wasn't my experience at all.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Absolutely adorable and highly recommended.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: In my international library, I focus on selecting as many international titles and authors as I can. I would love to get this and may at some point, but it isn't a priority purchase at this time. At my middle school library in Texas, this would have been a no-brainer.
READALIKES: Can't Look Away (Cooner); Deep in the Heart of High School (Goldbach)
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5
Creativity: 4/5
Characters: 5/5--LOVE the characters!
Engrossing: 5/5--read in one sitting
Writing: 5/5
Appeal to teens: 5/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5
CONTENT:
Language: mild-moderate; sh** but no F-bombs
Sexuality: mild; a couple of references to "hooking up"; a couple of kissing scenes
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: medium-high; normalization of teen drinking--teens drink in New York regularly, get served alcohol in restaurants, have fake IDs. In the Texas settings, multiple field parties feature lots of teen drinking.
Read
January 26, 2014Dear Corrinne,
You annoyed me from the first page, but I carried on because I've wanted to read this book for months. Your incessant talk about how rich you were, how poor you are now, and how expensive your outfit is always managed to grate on my nerves. I do realize that you had quite the lifestyle change, moving from a posh New York City lifestyle to a small town in Texas, but you certainly crossed the line into brat territory one too many times for my liking.
Your friend Kitsy, though? Love her. She embraced you and your attitude, though you certainly didn't much deserve it. She's the main reason I was able to finish your story, in fact - any scene with Kitsy got me to smile a little, as she was genuine and polite.
You had love interests, of course. One I thought was silly and neither developed much, though I guess you hadn't been in your new Texas home very long.
By the end you seemed to have learned a few things, but I was not convinced those ideals would stick with you. You're probably better off hanging around the people that like Gossip Girl and The Clique, as that is more your scene. If I had been able to ask you personally before hearing your story if I'd get along with you, you would have been able to tell me I would be better listening to someone else, but alas.
For what it's worth, I wish Kitsy and your brother well.
Sincerely,
Shanyn
You annoyed me from the first page, but I carried on because I've wanted to read this book for months. Your incessant talk about how rich you were, how poor you are now, and how expensive your outfit is always managed to grate on my nerves. I do realize that you had quite the lifestyle change, moving from a posh New York City lifestyle to a small town in Texas, but you certainly crossed the line into brat territory one too many times for my liking.
Your friend Kitsy, though? Love her. She embraced you and your attitude, though you certainly didn't much deserve it. She's the main reason I was able to finish your story, in fact - any scene with Kitsy got me to smile a little, as she was genuine and polite.
You had love interests, of course. One I thought was silly and neither developed much, though I guess you hadn't been in your new Texas home very long.
By the end you seemed to have learned a few things, but I was not convinced those ideals would stick with you. You're probably better off hanging around the people that like Gossip Girl and The Clique, as that is more your scene. If I had been able to ask you personally before hearing your story if I'd get along with you, you would have been able to tell me I would be better listening to someone else, but alas.
For what it's worth, I wish Kitsy and your brother well.
Sincerely,
Shanyn
February 4, 2011
Cute, charming and adorable.
I really enjoyed this book! Yes, its the typical, predictable 'rich and spoiled city girl is forced to live in a small town' story, but it was fun and sweet all the way. The characters were very well done and the plot line was smoothly developed. I loved Corinne and her cool personality. The clash of lifestyles was very interesting to experience through Heasley's writing. Both, Corinne and Waverly, experience hilarious moments while discovering Broken Spoke. Of course, there's also the fact that she comes to Texas and is forced to adapt--and ultimately join-- to the crazy Texan pride (much like I did) and that made me like the book even more!
I also liked the fact that even though there is romance, it does not take front row, nor does it become Corinne's main reason for loving Broken Spoke. It just swiftly blossoms on the background of the story and the reader can feel it throughout the whole book.
This is a heart-felt tale about accepting the situations we face and making the most of them. A fresh debut for those who want to cozy up and read a book that will make you smile.
I really enjoyed this book! Yes, its the typical, predictable 'rich and spoiled city girl is forced to live in a small town' story, but it was fun and sweet all the way. The characters were very well done and the plot line was smoothly developed. I loved Corinne and her cool personality. The clash of lifestyles was very interesting to experience through Heasley's writing. Both, Corinne and Waverly, experience hilarious moments while discovering Broken Spoke. Of course, there's also the fact that she comes to Texas and is forced to adapt--and ultimately join-- to the crazy Texan pride (much like I did) and that made me like the book even more!
I also liked the fact that even though there is romance, it does not take front row, nor does it become Corinne's main reason for loving Broken Spoke. It just swiftly blossoms on the background of the story and the reader can feel it throughout the whole book.
This is a heart-felt tale about accepting the situations we face and making the most of them. A fresh debut for those who want to cozy up and read a book that will make you smile.
August 13, 2019
Rating: 1.5 stars
I guess Cursed Book of the Month™ is really a thing now
Boy was this a yee-haw of a ride, and I don't mean that in a good way. I had to dodge so munch bad writing, poor character development, and red flags that the book is chalk full with annotations. My AP English teachers would be proud lol (or shook idk)
Thoughts and Rants
• Corrine is such a rat and goes through no character development. I thought I was promised some development??? But no, I WAS TRICKED. Seriously, everything was so forced and contrived and it honestly makes me sick. The only reason she "improves" (can you even call it that??) was because it was it of convenience, personal gain, or alternative motive.
• and what really ticks me off is it we're CONSTANTLY being reminded that she's changed which is absolute bs. And besides, there's a golden rule called " show don't tell" or you'll piss off the readers :)))
• we also love racism!! The moment when they mentioned dog meat in the egg rolls at the local Chinese restaurant I was ready to throw all the hands
• I HATE WAVERLY. She's the definition of an absolute toxic friend and I hope she goes and choke because of all the underage drinking she's been doing
• AND when she came to visit and Corrine was basically criticizing everything about her when she LITERALLY DID THE SAME THING A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. I AM SO DONE WITH THESE PEEPS
• bland characters and horrible parenting
• minor pet peeve: all the abbreviations. It screams early Disney/popular girls vocabulary and it makes me cringe so much, especially WWWD. Nasty
• I hated how the author introduced conflicts like the one between the mom and the grandma and it magically gets solved overnight by the end of the book. Where's the tension? I expected at least one fight where everyone just explodes but nope :)))) we just embrace all the plot holes and deus ex machinas
• Rider can drown in that pile of manure and Bubby can choke on his cheap beer for all I care
• the ending is horrible. It literally unraveled the little development that Corrine managed to go to because at the end of the day, she got want she wanted. She's ditching the cowboy lifestyle, goes back to the city, and the end. And she gained what, a bad boyfriend and half a brain cell? It would have been handled better if she asked to stay; that would've shown she did changed from her experiences.
• the 0.5 stars was for the grandpa, Tripp, and Kitsy for dealing with all these terrible people in their lives. They deserve so much better
And of course, economists everywhere are quaking from these revolutionary terms such as, BR and AR :))))
I guess Cursed Book of the Month™ is really a thing now
Boy was this a yee-haw of a ride, and I don't mean that in a good way. I had to dodge so munch bad writing, poor character development, and red flags that the book is chalk full with annotations. My AP English teachers would be proud lol (or shook idk)
Thoughts and Rants
• Corrine is such a rat and goes through no character development. I thought I was promised some development??? But no, I WAS TRICKED. Seriously, everything was so forced and contrived and it honestly makes me sick. The only reason she "improves" (can you even call it that??) was because it was it of convenience, personal gain, or alternative motive.
• and what really ticks me off is it we're CONSTANTLY being reminded that she's changed which is absolute bs. And besides, there's a golden rule called " show don't tell" or you'll piss off the readers :)))
• we also love racism!! The moment when they mentioned dog meat in the egg rolls at the local Chinese restaurant I was ready to throw all the hands
• I HATE WAVERLY. She's the definition of an absolute toxic friend and I hope she goes and choke because of all the underage drinking she's been doing
• AND when she came to visit and Corrine was basically criticizing everything about her when she LITERALLY DID THE SAME THING A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. I AM SO DONE WITH THESE PEEPS
• bland characters and horrible parenting
• minor pet peeve: all the abbreviations. It screams early Disney/popular girls vocabulary and it makes me cringe so much, especially WWWD. Nasty
• I hated how the author introduced conflicts like the one between the mom and the grandma and it magically gets solved overnight by the end of the book. Where's the tension? I expected at least one fight where everyone just explodes but nope :)))) we just embrace all the plot holes and deus ex machinas
• Rider can drown in that pile of manure and Bubby can choke on his cheap beer for all I care
• the ending is horrible. It literally unraveled the little development that Corrine managed to go to because at the end of the day, she got want she wanted. She's ditching the cowboy lifestyle, goes back to the city, and the end. And she gained what, a bad boyfriend and half a brain cell? It would have been handled better if she asked to stay; that would've shown she did changed from her experiences.
• the 0.5 stars was for the grandpa, Tripp, and Kitsy for dealing with all these terrible people in their lives. They deserve so much better
And of course, economists everywhere are quaking from these revolutionary terms such as, BR and AR :))))
December 27, 2013
The book cover is a bit lacking... Ok, maybe a lot lacking.
Then again, maybe that's the point: to not judge a book by its cover?
This book was cute but shallow. Or should I say hollow? Just like Corrinne, who sheds her city roots for some cowboy boots. (I promise I am not trying to rhyme and sound super freaky on purpose.) Basically, I knew what I was getting into when I started reading this. I honestly didn't expect some grand revelation, or some deep socio-political message about consumer culture.
The plot was predictable, and that was fine with me. I did enjoy the snark, wit, sarcasm, and humor Corrinne brought. She was equal parts shallow, and endearing. It was a weird combo that just worked for me.
However, that point where the heroine realizes how much of a fool she'd been: materialistic, shallow, spoiled, stubborn, and whiny? I don't think there was a distinct moment where that actually happened. It was all just very spread out, and kind of implied, which I did not really like. I wanted more drama. And, the major "conflict" was resolved too easily and unrealistically.
I guess even though I knew the plot would be predictable and was OK with it, I was semi disappointed with the execution. The love interest/romance was wholly underdeveloped, and was abruptly cut off toward the end. It just didn't feel *right.* Also, Corrinne's friendship with Kitsy and Waverly were SO vanilla, cookie cutter, and can I say: Disneyesque? (I don't know if that's a word, but you get it, right?) That's OK sometimes, if the message of the story is consistent.
But with this book, I couldn't be sure... At first, I thought it was: money doesn't build character, buy happiness, or friends. And that was good. But then, the ending threw me off. Maybe money IS everything, after all. Or perhaps, the recession could never really touch the people at the very top of the food chain. I don't know.
Either way, I'd prefer an ABC family TV movie over this book. There was only a pinch of romance (I needed way more), very little depth, and a somewhat confusing/conflicting message to take it to the next level. It was light, cute, and had some funny moments, but ultimately unmemorable.
Then again, maybe that's the point: to not judge a book by its cover?
This book was cute but shallow. Or should I say hollow? Just like Corrinne, who sheds her city roots for some cowboy boots. (I promise I am not trying to rhyme and sound super freaky on purpose.) Basically, I knew what I was getting into when I started reading this. I honestly didn't expect some grand revelation, or some deep socio-political message about consumer culture.
The plot was predictable, and that was fine with me. I did enjoy the snark, wit, sarcasm, and humor Corrinne brought. She was equal parts shallow, and endearing. It was a weird combo that just worked for me.
However, that point where the heroine realizes how much of a fool she'd been: materialistic, shallow, spoiled, stubborn, and whiny? I don't think there was a distinct moment where that actually happened. It was all just very spread out, and kind of implied, which I did not really like. I wanted more drama. And, the major "conflict" was resolved too easily and unrealistically.
I guess even though I knew the plot would be predictable and was OK with it, I was semi disappointed with the execution. The love interest/romance was wholly underdeveloped, and was abruptly cut off toward the end. It just didn't feel *right.* Also, Corrinne's friendship with Kitsy and Waverly were SO vanilla, cookie cutter, and can I say: Disneyesque? (I don't know if that's a word, but you get it, right?) That's OK sometimes, if the message of the story is consistent.
But with this book, I couldn't be sure... At first, I thought it was: money doesn't build character, buy happiness, or friends. And that was good. But then, the ending threw me off. Maybe money IS everything, after all. Or perhaps, the recession could never really touch the people at the very top of the food chain. I don't know.
Either way, I'd prefer an ABC family TV movie over this book. There was only a pinch of romance (I needed way more), very little depth, and a somewhat confusing/conflicting message to take it to the next level. It was light, cute, and had some funny moments, but ultimately unmemorable.
December 29, 2017
I really disliked this. Corrinne was whiny, snobby, snotty, and shallow. Her shitty attitude was so obnoxious. I kept waiting for her to stop being such a shallow little witch, and when it finally happens like 60 pages from the end, it seems to happen out of the blue and for me it was too little, too late.
It was like a really crappy Hallmark movie.
There was also a huge emphasis on body shaming in this book that I really had a problem with. Corrinne says that she is a size 4 at the very beginning of the book. Later, she talks about how she is ‘fatter’ than her mom...I’m sorry, but someone who is a size 4 talking about how fat she is disgusts me. And all through the book, there is so much conversation about fattening food and carbs and all that garbage. I was so over it.
The cover would suggest that this is a cutesy southern romance. The cover lies. There is zero real romance in this book, because Corrinne has terrible fucking judgement.
I also thought the ending of this book was so lazy and implausible.
I honestly don’t know what the point of this book was. There is no plot to speak of. I expected it to be one of those coming of age stories where the spoiled rich kid finds themselves out of their comfort zone and learns what is truly important in life...and I guess that’s what it was, but I’ve seen it done much more subtly in other books.
None of the characters have any sort of depth to them. My favorite was probably her friend Kitsy, and we don’t really get to know much about her.
That’s the real problem with this book, in my opinion. We don’t really get to know the supporting characters in this story because it’s told in Corrinne’s POV and she’s too selfish to actually spend any of her energy thinking about other people. It’s all about how everything affects her.
This review is a little ranty and rambling but I am just so annoyed by this book.
It was like a really crappy Hallmark movie.
There was also a huge emphasis on body shaming in this book that I really had a problem with. Corrinne says that she is a size 4 at the very beginning of the book. Later, she talks about how she is ‘fatter’ than her mom...I’m sorry, but someone who is a size 4 talking about how fat she is disgusts me. And all through the book, there is so much conversation about fattening food and carbs and all that garbage. I was so over it.
The cover would suggest that this is a cutesy southern romance. The cover lies. There is zero real romance in this book, because Corrinne has terrible fucking judgement.
I also thought the ending of this book was so lazy and implausible.
I honestly don’t know what the point of this book was. There is no plot to speak of. I expected it to be one of those coming of age stories where the spoiled rich kid finds themselves out of their comfort zone and learns what is truly important in life...and I guess that’s what it was, but I’ve seen it done much more subtly in other books.
None of the characters have any sort of depth to them. My favorite was probably her friend Kitsy, and we don’t really get to know much about her.
That’s the real problem with this book, in my opinion. We don’t really get to know the supporting characters in this story because it’s told in Corrinne’s POV and she’s too selfish to actually spend any of her energy thinking about other people. It’s all about how everything affects her.
This review is a little ranty and rambling but I am just so annoyed by this book.
November 18, 2010
When you read the first page of the book, you know exactly how the main character is going to be. Basically the first page is a letter from Corrinne to the reader. She tells you that when reading this book, you are going to not enjoy her attitude and demeanor. I found this to be very accurate.
When Corrinne's Father loses his job due to the recession, her family is forced to sell their home in New York. While her father travels abroad to find work, Corrinne is forced to move to Broken Spoke, Texas with her brother Tripp. While living with her Grandparent's, Corrinne whines about anything and everything. She can't stand to live in a place where Sonic is considered fine dining, and football is the favorite past time.
Throughout this book I agreed with the letter from the character. I couldn't stand Corrinne. She was spoiled, whined on almost every page, and basically a teenage brat. If she didn't get exactly what she wanted, she made sure to tell everyone who was listening a poor-me tantrum. I didn't see much of an improvement in the character by the end of the book either. Sure, she learned to like Sonic and Texan fun, but she still had the spoiled princess persona that grew irritating with each chapter. There isn't much romance in the book, and it is left with no real resolve at the end with what romance it does have.
To me this was an okay book, but not one that blew me away like I was hoping. I think the ending of the book needed more to it, and a better outcome that what is revealed in the last chapter.
April 20, 2011
more reviews here
I absolutely hated snobby Corinne so much, she didn’t appreciate anything. But I totally understand her point though, going from being rich and being able to go shopping anytime she wanted, to going to a very small town in Texas with nothing.
Still she should respect people more.
I have to admit, I thought I was going to like this book a lot more than I did. I saw the cute cover and immediately was drawn in.
Although being in recession really taught Corinne a great lesson. Not only did she not respect her parents she didn’t respect herself. Her and her brother (Tripp) both left their lives in New York behind. Corinne has a hard time adjusting to her small house, living with her grandparents, no malls, and a little school where she meets some interesting people.
She learns what friendship, gratitude and love really is.
At the end of the book, she finally makes up her mind about the boy that she actually likes, and then she finds out she is going back to New York. It kind of made me frustrated because that’s how it ended and it never told us what happened next. Did they stay in touch?
This story was a great story about accepting the tough situations we face in life. It was a light and fast paced book. So if you’re in the mood to make some tea and cozy up with your favorite blanket, this is the book for you. I hope to see more from this author
I absolutely hated snobby Corinne so much, she didn’t appreciate anything. But I totally understand her point though, going from being rich and being able to go shopping anytime she wanted, to going to a very small town in Texas with nothing.
Still she should respect people more.
I have to admit, I thought I was going to like this book a lot more than I did. I saw the cute cover and immediately was drawn in.
Although being in recession really taught Corinne a great lesson. Not only did she not respect her parents she didn’t respect herself. Her and her brother (Tripp) both left their lives in New York behind. Corinne has a hard time adjusting to her small house, living with her grandparents, no malls, and a little school where she meets some interesting people.
She learns what friendship, gratitude and love really is.
At the end of the book, she finally makes up her mind about the boy that she actually likes, and then she finds out she is going back to New York. It kind of made me frustrated because that’s how it ended and it never told us what happened next. Did they stay in touch?
This story was a great story about accepting the tough situations we face in life. It was a light and fast paced book. So if you’re in the mood to make some tea and cozy up with your favorite blanket, this is the book for you. I hope to see more from this author
March 1, 2011
Meet Corrinne. She's living every girl's dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . .
When Corrinne's father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she's stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she's supposed to be living. She doesn't care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed.
This book was a quick read because I could not put it down. It was funny and sad all at the same time and it even had some love thrown in the mix.
Poor Corrinne is being shipped off to Texas to live wuth her grandparents because her father lost his high paying job. When she gets to Texas she is sad and upset because everything she has ever wanted is no longer avaliable. In time she makes great friends and even falls in love with a hottie!
Great read and a must have for all of you who love love stories!
I am definately team Bubby, after reading it let me know what team you are Team Bubby or Team Rider?
January 27, 2011
This book is a fun read. The main reason for this is that the main character's personality is funny and very engaging. Corrinne is skillfully depicted as a stuck up, self-absorbed city girl gone country. Since I had to move to Texas during high school, some of her comments and/or thoughts cracked me up. Almost every line of this had something that made me smile. Most of the things that annoy her were things that annoyed me even though I moved from small town Maryland to big city Texas. Texas is just Texas.
The character development over the course of the book was well-done as well. Though the reader can predict that Corrinne will have a change of heart, this change of heart comes about in a natural way that makes sense. And the wiser, nicer Corrinne at the end of the book is not a completely different person - she still has her quirks and attitude, but she appreciates the simple things and people rather than the riches she had been accustomed to.
The end seemed a little rushed to me - like things came together too quickly with not as much resolution as I would like, but the fact that Corrinne is real kept me loving it. This is a must-read, especially for those who love or hate Texas (or anyone in between).
The character development over the course of the book was well-done as well. Though the reader can predict that Corrinne will have a change of heart, this change of heart comes about in a natural way that makes sense. And the wiser, nicer Corrinne at the end of the book is not a completely different person - she still has her quirks and attitude, but she appreciates the simple things and people rather than the riches she had been accustomed to.
The end seemed a little rushed to me - like things came together too quickly with not as much resolution as I would like, but the fact that Corrinne is real kept me loving it. This is a must-read, especially for those who love or hate Texas (or anyone in between).
November 14, 2012
I was quite excited waiting for that epic transformation to happen, but I was quite disappointed. Truthfully, I couldn't drop the book after I picked it up. The writing style was really good and the flow of the story was smooth and an attention catcher. The problem to me was the plot. I kept waiting for that moment where I'd be speechless and need a moment to collect myself. I was waiting to find myself questioning if I would follow her steps or live up to be someone who achieves half what she achieved but, no she does not does anything that makes you truly admire her or look up to her. I thought at the end she would prefer staying back at Spoke or she'd change a life. Maybe change the rich's perspective of Texas or even rewrite history. But no she gets her silver spoon back, her life turns out to be everything she wanted at the beginning of the book and she doesn't show any sign of maturing ( she starts a relationship when she is going back to NYC). If you are a teenager you might enjoy you, I personally had a moment with myself to convince myself that there isn't any missing pages and the story ended just like that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2013
Rating: 1.5 stars
Overall thoughts: Did not really enjoy it, but don't regret reading it.
Well I have to admit that the only thing that kept my hopes up for this book was the letter in the beginning of the book that Corrinne wrote for the readers. And I guess she did change her nasty personality and stuck up ways by the end of the book, but I wasn't completely sold. I guess I'm just the kind of person that loves and prefers a happy ending with closure, but I guess that's why I should 'read with caution' when it comes to contemporary novels.
I think what really got me was the characters being so unbearably materialistic and I just can not stand that, but I gave this book a chance because I'm trying this new thing were I don't judge a book by its synopsis. :)
And even though I didn't really enjoy it I'm glad I gave it a chance.
Overall thoughts: Did not really enjoy it, but don't regret reading it.
Well I have to admit that the only thing that kept my hopes up for this book was the letter in the beginning of the book that Corrinne wrote for the readers. And I guess she did change her nasty personality and stuck up ways by the end of the book, but I wasn't completely sold. I guess I'm just the kind of person that loves and prefers a happy ending with closure, but I guess that's why I should 'read with caution' when it comes to contemporary novels.
I think what really got me was the characters being so unbearably materialistic and I just can not stand that, but I gave this book a chance because I'm trying this new thing were I don't judge a book by its synopsis. :)
And even though I didn't really enjoy it I'm glad I gave it a chance.
April 11, 2011
I actually really enjoyed reading this. There is a lot of teenage slang, but some of it is very funny. I got a kick out of Corrinne's character. Here is an example when she is learning to drive for the first time and by stick no less: "And so for the first time in my life, I sit in the driver's seat as Grandpa details the truck's anatomy: the third pedal, the gearshift, the RPM dashboard, and the red line. Can't someone invent iStick that will do this all for you?" Someone said they were disappointed by the ending, but I think it left it open for a sequel as well. There is some language and drinking.
February 6, 2012
OH MY GOD.
Please tell me that my book had a few chapters missing since it totally could've went on for a few more chapters.
UGH. Gwendolyn Heasley you CANNOT end a book like that.
I LOVED this book besides the ending. I will probably be re-reading this during the summer on road trips, laying out on the beach etc.
Rated it 4 out of 5 stars just because the ending ended on a high but would've loved to see where Corrinne took her relationship just a few more chapters.
Hopefully Gwendolyn will write more books just as cute as Where I Belong soon or maybe she already does and I will read them!
Please tell me that my book had a few chapters missing since it totally could've went on for a few more chapters.
UGH. Gwendolyn Heasley you CANNOT end a book like that.
I LOVED this book besides the ending. I will probably be re-reading this during the summer on road trips, laying out on the beach etc.
Rated it 4 out of 5 stars just because the ending ended on a high but would've loved to see where Corrinne took her relationship just a few more chapters.
Hopefully Gwendolyn will write more books just as cute as Where I Belong soon or maybe she already does and I will read them!
Shelved as 'abandonados-para-no-volver'
February 25, 2015No aguanto a Corrine, sé que eventualmente madurará y será golpeado por el rayo de la humildad, pero hasta que eso suceda me fastidia bastante.
Todo sus pensamientos son ofensivos, es insultante, es una cría mimada, malcriada, estúpida, engreída, insensible, superficial, irrespetuosa. No hay nada en ella que me haga querer leer su cambio.
La portada es preciosa, pero me niego a seguir estando en su cabeza. Lo bueno es que tiene un filtro y no dice todo lo que piensa, sino arde Troya.
Todo sus pensamientos son ofensivos, es insultante, es una cría mimada, malcriada, estúpida, engreída, insensible, superficial, irrespetuosa. No hay nada en ella que me haga querer leer su cambio.
La portada es preciosa, pero me niego a seguir estando en su cabeza. Lo bueno es que tiene un filtro y no dice todo lo que piensa, sino arde Troya.
August 9, 2011
Honestly, you'd think that an author would learn how to use conjunctions. Saying 'I am' instead of 'I'm' in every situation actually makes the speaker sound uneducated.
plus this whole storyline had major plot holes and didn't develop nicely at all.
but whatever it was fine to read for an afternoon.
plus this whole storyline had major plot holes and didn't develop nicely at all.
but whatever it was fine to read for an afternoon.
May 4, 2011
I was hoping for more with this book. The ending felt too rushed, and I still would like to know why there's a picture of a boy and girl on the cover? It doesn't suit the story. It should just be one girl- Corinne. I'm rather disappointed.
October 28, 2014
Very cute story.
I liked how Corrinne transformed into a young responsible lady. For the first few chapters, she was annoying. But true to her words, she changed to become a better person.
I liked how Corrinne transformed into a young responsible lady. For the first few chapters, she was annoying. But true to her words, she changed to become a better person.
December 24, 2017
Corrinne is definitely unlikable character. She is snob and complains a lot.
But I really like her character development.
It is fun read ✨✨
But I really like her character development.
It is fun read ✨✨
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