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Saving June

Hannah Harrington

Start date: October 1, 2012

Finish date: November 1, 2012

Discussion: Book Of The Month

Discussion leader: Zee

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Nov 05, 2012 Andreea rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

"Your sister is dead. Your family's falling apart. How do you remember who you are?" This and the fact that the book had a 4.1 rating on Goodreads really grabbed my attention. Then I read the description and I really thought I was going to like it very much. I thought it was going to be dramatic, but it turned out to be just another "girl meets boy, girl falls in love, happy ending" book. I admit it. I liked the first few chapters, but then it sort of went downhill for me, mainly because I didn' "Your sister is dead. Your family's falling apart. How do you remember who you are?" This and the fact that the book had a 4.1 rating on Goodreads really grabbed my attention. Then I read the description and I really thought I was going to like it very much. I thought it was going to be dramatic, but it turned out to be just another "girl meets boy, girl falls in love, happy ending" book. I admit it. I liked the first few chapters, but then it sort of went downhill for me, mainly because I didn't like the main character.

So, Harper is a 16 years old girl whose life is far from perfect. Her parents are divorced and her sister, June, just committed suicide. The relationship between Harper and June was never the best one, but Harper is very shocked by her sister's choice - to take her own life, just a week before her graduation, without even explaining why. Since her sister always wanted to move to California, Harper takes the ultimate decision: to go with her best friend there and spill June's ashes in the ocean. There is just one problem: they can't afford the trip. Here is where Jake Tolan enters the story and offers to accompany the two girls to California. Apparently, he had a connection with June, so Harper takes his offer. Then, an almost-two-weeks-journey begins....

Like I previously said, I didn't like the main character. Yes, there were moments when I felt sorry for her and I tried to sympathise with her, but, overall, I couldn't connect with Harper. Firstly, I think she was very selfish to steal the urn and decide what to do with it, without telling her parents. I understand that they didn't get along very well, but June was their daughter too. Harper is treated like an outcast, but just because she is acting like one. She just tries too hard to be something she's not, to differentiate herself from her sister. She is constantly mean and judgy towards Jake, but at the same time she can't stop thinking about him. They finally kiss after a week or so and, in the same day, Harper loses her virginty to him. What does she do the next day? She's complaining again about him... What I liked about Harper was her loyalty to Laney, she was always defending her and taking her side.

I guess Laney was an ok character. She is Harper's best friend and she is very supportive. She is kind of fun, and, as opposed to Harper, she makes friends very easily. At the same time, she enjoys sleeping with boys and she even ends up getting pregnant. But don't worry because everything is resolved: she has a misscariage. I still don't understand what was the point in this pregnancy event since it didn't add anything to the story.

Last but not least, we have Jake, a boy who loves music, smokes, dresses in black and owns a van. He is the "bad boy" to whom Harper falls in love. He has a sad backstory, which we discover slowly throughout the entire book. He reminded me a little of Adam from If I Stay and Where She Went, but I didn't like him as much. He is obsessed with music, and even though that was what I loved the most about him, sometimes he tries to shove his passion down everyone's throats.

I didn't hate Saving June, but I think the book would have been better without the romance aspect, or at least if that would have been handled in a different way. I couldn't stand the love-hate relationship between Harper and Jake. I also think it should have been more focused on June and the relationship between the two sisters. There were moments when June was completely forgotten, even though she is the main reason of this book. I loved the music references and that the author included the playlist at the end of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley.com and Mira Ink for sending me this e-book. ...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Rachael rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, chick-lit, 2012, books-i-own, review-copy, reviewed, 2012-favorites

If you want to see more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!

Disclaimer: The fact that I received a free copy of this book as part of a promotion and of Harlequin Teen Panel has not affected my rating. This review expresses my honest opinion.

I'm struggling to rate this book. It's definitely a realistic and emotional book, which always rates highly for me. On the other hand, the plot was kind of repetitive, and a little cliche, and sometimes I felt a little annoyed at the protagonis ...more

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