Double Clutch (Brenna Blixen, #1) in The Indie Bookshelf

Jun 06, 2012 Madison rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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Double Clutch was the first Liz Reinhardt book that I read - and boy, does that chick know how to write high school. I think she does such a great job of writing realistic drama, tension and dialogue without the fluff or corny moment a YA book (especially with a high school setting) usually has. Not to mention, those boys she created, Saxon Maclean and Jake Kelly - hello, delish!

The book starts with Brenna getting ready to enter her sophomore year of h Read this and other reviews at Madison Says.

Double Clutch was the first Liz Reinhardt book that I read - and boy, does that chick know how to write high school. I think she does such a great job of writing realistic drama, tension and dialogue without the fluff or corny moment a YA book (especially with a high school setting) usually has. Not to mention, those boys she created, Saxon Maclean and Jake Kelly - hello, delish!

The book starts with Brenna getting ready to enter her sophomore year of high school, after living abroad in Denmark with her mother and stepfather for the past year. That being said, she didn't keep in touch with friends she left after eighth grade, so really she's going into this like a total new girl at a new school. She meets Saxon first - the quintessential tall, dark and smoking hot. He's mysterious, charming and arrogant and he and Brenna hit it off right away - but in a more teasing way. He dishes it out and she takes it and throws it back. Saxon loves that Brenna can cut through his BS and tells her immediately how he wants to hook up with her to "get her out of his system." As you can imagine, she's less than flattered, but internally, she's also intrigued.

Fast forward to that same afternoon, Brenna heads to the Tech school where she will spend her afternoons studying graphic design, as part of a Share Time program. Upon walking into class, she is paired with Jake Kelly. Polar opposite of Saxon, Jake has that simple, country hotness to him. He seems shy, but does exude some confidence in talking with Brenna a little more, and he's sweet. He makes Brenna feel warm and comfortable, without the mind game aspect she knows is there with Saxon.

While there's a love triangle, it's not really as cut and dry as most love triangles. Brenna is WITH Jake; she's his girlfriend, and she never actually cheats on him...physically. But emotionally, she is somewhat tethered to Saxon Maclean. He elicits feelings in her that scare her. With Saxon, she feels like there's constant mind games, and with Jake, things are easier. They have a good banter, but she doesn't have to guess what's going on in his head.

There isn't necessarily a right or wrong choice, and I do enjoy that in my love triangles - although, I will say, Jake would be my pick, even though I do think he could be kind of a pushover when it came to Bossy Blixen sometimes. Both boys, though, are bad boys in their own right, and that makes for added conflict. Neither is perfect, but what's great is they are flawed in different ways. Speaking of conflict, while there was plenty of drama and tension, there wasn't one really HUGE problem that blew up in everyone's faces...it just sort of coasted. Glad it's a series, because I know that conflict is coming :).

I really liked that Brenna was such a strong girl - she loved her mom and dad, her friends and she had a good head on her shoulders. I liked that she wanted to take her relationship seriously, but not too seriously. She realizes she's in high school, and she wants things for herself. All too often, YA books have the main characters damn near married off by senior year because they've fallen so head-over-heels in love, and while I do get that that is sometimes a reality, it makes it a great read, when a character decides she won't let boys get in the way of her future - or her relationship with her parents. I loved that she was nice to her parents. Don't see that a lot in characters this age - and probably because it's not a huge reality, but it is one - even in a small way. Some kids are just nice! :) Thank you Liz for portraying that in Brenna. I also appreciated the fact that Brenna's mom was involved in her life - like every aspect of her life - because lots of times we see YA books where the parents are so absent, it's no wonder they get away with what they do!

Lastly, gotta mention the sexiness in the book. I like it because it's sort of coming-of-age and while it's not new to Jake (he's been a bit of a man-whore), it's new in the way it happens with Brenna. And it's definitely new to Brenna. I think, again, it's such a realistic portrayal of teen love and the physical aspect. Some parts had me laughing over the dialogue, but remembering these are inexperienced young kids, made it all that much better!

I give Double Clutch 4 stars. This is a great read for an older YA audience. The writing is superb and the voice is clean and clear. Liz gives us a wonderful introduction to the characters, which are more developed with bigger conflicts in the sequel, Junk Miles.
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Jul 04, 2012 Kristy rated it liked it

2.5 stars. I'm undecided if I will continue this series. Maybe if I can get the books for $.99. I like books to have more to the plot than just the romance. This book completely revolved around the love triangle and nothing else - and from what I have read of reviews for Junk Miles, it appears this is true in the sequel as well. I enjoyed the romance, I just feel like I need something else to keep my interest. ...more

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May 30, 2012 April rated it liked it

I loved all the firsts in this book, it's a fun easy read! ...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Kimberly Russell rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary-ya

This is a re-read for me and I think I'm going to bump it down a star. There is so much wonderful YA out there and this doesn't register with me. I had to re-read because I didn't remember what happened. ...more

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