Breathe (Sea Breeze, #1) in The Not-So Austen Bookclub

Jul 16, 2011 Katrina Passick Lumsden rated it did not like it

Yet another YA romance that has managed to garner far more positive reviews than it deserves. I don't expect much from these books, but sympathetic characters are kind of important, and the only characters I could bring myself to sympathize with at all were the peripheral characters (NOT Marcus, I didn't like him much, either). Ms. Mary was sweet and unassuming and the gardener (forgot his name already) could have been amazing, but he was underutilized.

Sadie is a young girl who's had to grow up Yet another YA romance that has managed to garner far more positive reviews than it deserves. I don't expect much from these books, but sympathetic characters are kind of important, and the only characters I could bring myself to sympathize with at all were the peripheral characters (NOT Marcus, I didn't like him much, either). Ms. Mary was sweet and unassuming and the gardener (forgot his name already) could have been amazing, but he was underutilized.

Sadie is a young girl who's had to grow up fast. Her mother is a former-beauty-queen-turned-young-single-mother who apparently hasn't managed, in 17 years, to care for anyone other than herself. Not even her own child. Now she's pregnant again and Sadie, on her first day of summer break from high school, must take her mother's place as housekeeper at one of the rich houses. Sadie manages to earn her place on the staff and quickly discovers that it is the family home of teen heartthrob rock star Jax Stone.

The author continually shoves in our faces the fact that Sadie is "mature for her age", but having a mature work ethic, bitter outlook on life, and self-proclaimed aversion to rock stars does not make a girl mature. In most important ways, Sadie is no more mature than any other teenage girl, and in a few, she is even less mature than her peers. She is naive, gullible, and far too innocent. I quickly grew tired of her uninteresting statements, her moping, her petty jealousy, and her constant indecision.

Jax Stone is the modern YA cliche'; rich, devastatingly hot, oh-so-sweet....and let's not forget, creepily obsessed with Sadie. I can't get over how behavior like his is praised in some love stories while simultaneously being repulsive and oftentimes illegal in reality.

The one-liners in this particular romance far surpassed my expectations, however. While I was expecting some cheese, I had no idea how often I would be fighting my gag reflex. They're the kinds of lines that, were they spoken to me (no matter who was speaking them), I would roll my eyes, laugh, and move quickly away.

The romance was, predictably, based primarily on physical attraction. There are some moments, here and there, where it would appear Sadie and Jax were falling for each other for other reasons, but these are never fully explored. The main reason for Jax (aside from how much he likes Sadie's looks) is that she's "different" from any of the other girls he's ever met. "Different" in this case apparently means nothing more than that she's a normal teenage girl, not some rich, pampered starlet. I have a revelation for him; there are millions of those all around the world.

Its unrealistic portrayals, sappy, nauseating dialog, unresolved plot points, convenient write-offs, and unsympathetic, shallow characters made this yet another disappointment for me.

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Sep 03, 2012 Dayla rated it liked it

Sleep? What's that?

—re-read June 2020—

I was craving a re-read of some of Abbi Glines’s books and now I feel content. I remembered why I enjoyed this book and I’m glad I got it out of my system. I remember being surprised that this was categorized as a YA novel when this is more of a New Adult because of how descriptive the sex was.

—re-read in July 2022—

I just...I have so many questions for past me LOL. Was this book awful? No, but it was a funny and entertaining experience that I might re-read ...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, contemporary, own, favorite, ya, young-adult, wishlist

I absolutely loved Breathe. This story invoked such a deep emotional connection to these characters, I could not put it down. A perfect mixture of love, family friendship, sacrifice...did I mention that I loved this book. Read it! If you love a heart felt, sweet romances you should read this book. Abbi Gline definitely hit the WOW factor, book withdraw, I'm still reeling, reaction from me. Now what do I read next...w e l l I purchased more of Abbi Gline's books. :D I also want to mention that I ...more

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May 30, 2013 Sarah (Head Stuck In A Book) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: finished-copy

This was my very first Abbi Glines novel, and while I had definitely heard of her, I'd never gotten the chance before now to pick up one of her books, and after reading Breathe I realised I should have made time, so good is her storytelling.
Abbi's writing will keep you engaged, entranced and on tenterhooks as you navigate your way through this thoroughly addictive novel.
I love the concept of this story, the idea of not just the fact that a world famous rock-star Jax and a normal, everyday teenag ...more

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