Ok, so I randomly chose this book from a list of YA books I found on Goodreads, and when I checked with my library to see if they had it, which they did, I figured what the hell. And as soon as I got it I started it, and then finished it, in one fell swoop. I had so many things planned today, in the end I spent the majority of it curled on the couch reading. Needless to say, I enjoyed this book. It was the perfect dosage of romance I felt like reading, and I found most of the characters likeable. It carried a strong moral too, which at the end makes you feel like a better person for having read a book concerning itself with it.
There were however, some things I didn't fully like in the novel. First, the main character, Ruby. I found I just couldn't relate, but mostly because I couldn't relate at all. A major theme in the book is family, and I found myself more closely related to Jamie's (the brother-in-law) vast and friendly family to Ruby's dysfunctional relationship with her drunk, abusive and controlling mother.
The plot was stretched a little thinly (near the middle I wondered just where it was heading and found the development a little slow), and I found the end a bit unsatisfying (I like a good definite closure for the characters...), but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would still recommend it to others.
I will just add one more thing: there was definitely NOT enough kiss scenes, and whenever there was one, just as it was beginning, the author skipped ahead a couple of hours in her story, and I was almost left wondering if there was a "dot, dot, dot" she was avoiding or something for her younger readers... But I would have liked to see what happened as Ruby and Nate left each other after a make-out session. Did they prolong the moment? Just mutually decided they had smooched enough for one day? Were they almost discovered by someone..?
So, that's my only regret, the romance was there, but I would have liked it a little more... well, let's say... graphic. *giggle*
Needless to say, I enjoyed this book. It was the perfect dosage of romance I felt like reading, and I found most of the characters likeable. It carried a strong moral too, which at the end makes you feel like a better person for having read a book concerning itself with it.
There were however, some things I didn't fully like in the novel. First, the main character, Ruby. I found I just couldn't relate, but mostly because I couldn't relate at all. A major theme in the book is family, and I found myself more closely related to Jamie's (the brother-in-law) vast and friendly family to Ruby's dysfunctional relationship with her drunk, abusive and controlling mother.
The plot was stretched a little thinly (near the middle I wondered just where it was heading and found the development a little slow), and I found the end a bit unsatisfying (I like a good definite closure for the characters...), but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would still recommend it to others.
I will just add one more thing: there was definitely NOT enough kiss scenes, and whenever there was one, just as it was beginning, the author skipped ahead a couple of hours in her story, and I was almost left wondering if there was a "dot, dot, dot" she was avoiding or something for her younger readers... But I would have liked to see what happened as Ruby and Nate left each other after a make-out session. Did they prolong the moment? Just mutually decided they had smooched enough for one day? Were they almost discovered by someone..?
So, that's my only regret, the romance was there, but I would have liked it a little more... well, let's say... graphic. *giggle*