Johnson, Amber L. - Puddle Jumping - Informal Buddy Read; Starts 16 January 2015

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This thread is for the discussion of Puddle Jumping by Amber L. Johnson.



When it comes to love there’s no such thing as conventional.

Everyone thinks Colton Neely is special.

Lilly Evans just thinks he’s fascinating.

Once friends when they were younger, their bond is cut short due to her accident prone nature and they go their separate ways. Years later, they meet again and Lilly learns that there is something special about the boy she once knew, but she has no idea what it all means. And she’s not sure if she’s ready to find out.

When he walks through the corridor of her school the first day of her senior year, she knows that it’s time to get to know the real Colton Neely. The more she learns, the deeper she falls.

Their friendship grows into love, even as Colton does not express it in words. But one decision threatens to break down the world that Lilly has tried so hard to integrate into and she must figure out if the relationship can survive if they are apart.

[Renee]

Just started
Lichtenberg figure

[K~Terror]

Oh wow Renee - that is not what I pictures really. Very interesting!!!

I'm reading it too! Will post after cleaning up kitchen. (Sports night so we ate late!)

[Renee]

I was always a colour inside the lines, with appropriate realistic colours, doing the edges first to keep it neat. How did you colour in as a kid?

[K~Terror]

Same!! I was a rule follower for sure!!!

Have you gotten through Chapter 1?

(view spoiler)[ "I threw my head back and laughed" LOUDLY at the whole scene involving the mattress! She is hilarious!! (hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Same!! I was a rule follower for sure!!!

Have you gotten through Chapter 1?

[spoilers removed]"

Yes. I could just visualise that bit.

Reminded me of the team building weekends where I used to work. Similar attempts, but with an esky lid, and drunk adults, not 10 year old kids. I never did though - yep I'm a rule following chicken :)

I laughed at this line in Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[ If I was doomed to a life of uncontrollable hard-ons and pretty boys with light green eyes who pointed their sticks at me with wild abandon. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Haha!! I did too! I'm enjoying her writing style. She creates some very good visuals without being overly cliche - so far anyway!

Loving her humor!

[Renee]

Finished Chapter 7

It's taking me back to my teen years and crushes on boys. It is a light fun read.

(view spoiler)[I have read a few books recently from the perspective of someone with Aspergers. I'm enjoying seeing things from the perspective of someone who loves a person with Aspergers. She is being so considerate and understanding of his communication needs - just say it straight. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

I'm on chapter 5 and I have to say that (view spoiler)[ I got kind of teary-eyed when Lily waited with Colton after school until his mom came to pick him up. It has to be so hard for her seeing her son have a hard time making friends through out his life, especially when it sounds like he really wants to have friends. I bet it meant a lot to his mama to see Lily there with him and seeing she seems to really care about her son. (hide spoiler)]

Oh - and I did a couple (view spoiler)[ fist pumps when she broke up with her MEH boyfriend. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Funny I'm reading this tonight after finishing The Rosie Effect

Now I need to get crackin' and catch up. :)

[K~Terror]

Renee wrote: "Finished Chapter 7

It's taking me back to my teen years and crushes on boys. It is a light fun read.

[spoilers removed]"

Yea, she's (view spoiler)[ getting a good handle on his needs. The locker scene after the glitter went everywhere made my heart melt. He's such a sweet boy. HS is tough.. I am surprised (but glad) no one is giving him a hard time.

I'm enjoying this perspective too. I like Colton's parents & laughed at her clutziness after inviting Lily to dinner. Talk about an ice breaker! Ha! (hide spoiler)]

I'm just starting Chapter 8 but may need to put it up until tomorrow.

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Funny I'm reading this tonight after finishing The Rosie Effect

Now I need to get crackin' and catch up. :)"

I read The Rosie Effect and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time recently. I seem to be drawn to these kind of books, probably because I have worked alot with people on the autism spectrum.

[Renee]

Chapter 11
(view spoiler)[ Suck face - I love it! I haven't heard that one for years.

The sex talk with your boyfriends mum......mortifying!

Oooo she touched "it" but didn't do "it". I know exactly how she feels, that's the only terminology I felt comfortable saying at that age too. It's still an effort for me to talk about. I have no trouble reading erotica, but there are some words i have trouble saying out loud, (hide spoiler)]

I'm on a roll, so I'll probably finish this before you wake up.

[Renee]

Chapter 14
(view spoiler)[ Lily is so patient and understanding about Valentines Day dinner. He just forgot about her.

The prom - Wow, I didn't think Colton would punch someone in jealousy!

They have been getting so absorbed in each other. That all consuming young love - but they need to maintain friendships with other people too. Colton has started working, which I think will be good for him, but not sure how much time they will have together.

I'm not sure how this will end. The reference to the movie on Valentines day, where the main character had Aspergers and it was a bit of a romance, but it didn't work out for that couple. I wonder if that is how this will finish too. (hide spoiler)]

[VNerdbooks]

You guys are like super readers lol.
I haven't started it yet, just woke up and getting ready for work, will try and pick it up at lunch.

[Renee]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I got all choked up with the self portrait Colton gave Lily.

What a sweet story. I was happy with the ending. They both got to find themselves first, then came back together. Hopefully for a more balanced relationship now. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Dang Renee - You are the reading machine!

I'm still getting ready to start chapter 8. :)

Hey V!

[K~Terror]

Chapter 8

(view spoiler)[ "Girls are stupid."

How can this not be an awesome chapter when starting with a line like this? Haha! (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Chapter 11

(view spoiler)[ Talia is paint by numbers, you're a water color. (hide spoiler)]

Soooooo sweet....

[Shilpa]

I just finished it today! Does discussing now fetch me BR points?

[K~Terror]

I would think so but Renee can tell you for sure!

[Shilpa]

@Renee: What do you say? I'm waiting for your response! ^_^

[Renee]

Yes, for sure. Come and chat with us.

[Renee]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Chapter 11

[spoilers removed]

Soooooo sweet...."

That's my favorite quote of the book. I've added it to my quotes too.

[K~Terror]

LOL! Renee- Isn't it like after midnight there? :)

I JUST finished the book too..... Going back to read your end of the book spoiler now

[Renee]

11pm. I'm in bed at least, having a sneaky peak on my phone before I read a chapter or two and go to sleep.

[K~Terror]

That was such an emotional book - I'm still trying to sort myself out...

(view spoiler)[
I loved that story - definitely was full of happy tears and sad tears! I thought Lilly & Colton were so adorable and perfect for each other and I'm soooooo glad they got their HEA! The author did a fantastic job writing this book and now I want to read more from her. I even had to look to see if she actually WAS an 18 year old girl because her writing was so in-tune with how I remembered HS and first love to be like. (She's not.)

I also want to see Colton's artwork - loved the descriptives but now I have to SEE them! :)

There were just two things that hit me as odd in this book, and maybe it was just me, but here they are -

One thing I had to get used to was their age difference - which is funny because Lilly wasn't even really a whole year older than Colton, but I think because she met him as his "babysitter", it seemed like she was older than that. Plus, boys mature so much slower than girls typically anyway - and with his aspergers, even though intellectually he seemed older, emotionally he seemed even younger than his actual age. If that makes sense? I think it helped that they both tried to take their relationship slow and she was very patient with him and made sure she did not push him to do more than he was ready for. By the end of the book, I felt like they had both grown enough that there was no longer the large "emotional" age gap but it took awhile for me to get there.

The other thing was how she was one semester into college and both sets of parents & her boyfriend decided she would go to Europe with Colton and bought her plane tickets and apparently worked it all out. While reading her story, I felt 95% sure she would want to go too, but it just seems like such a big life-altering change, that she should have been involved in making that decision... A lot of colleges have programs where you can study abroad - did her college offer that too? Or was it just assumed she'd take the second semester off from school? Did I miss something in these plans because logistically I am still trying to work through that ending...


(hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Renee wrote: "Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Chapter 11

[spoilers removed]

Soooooo sweet...."

That's my favorite quote of the book. I've added it to my quotes too."

The book had some awesome quotes for sure!

[Renee]

Kristin I agree with both those points you made. I was thinking the same thing.
(view spoiler)[ I always liked older boys. My hubby is 5 years older. She seemed more mature than her age and Colton less mature especially with the Aspergers.

I would have liked Lily to be involved in the decision to move and have a college place worked out. She had decided what she wanted to study. Or at least explain that she got the course subjects she wanted and was able to defer until the next year. I don't want her to throw away her study worth no plan to get back to it. (hide spoiler)]
Going to sleep now :)

[K~Terror]

Renee wrote: "Kristin I agree with both those points you made. I was thinking the same thing..."

Exactly!!! :)
Night!

[Shilpa]

The prolgue was so beautiful that I immediately started expecting this book to be super awesome! :)

In the initial chapters: (view spoiler)[ Those baby-sitting sessions when they were young were hilarious! Can any be madder than Lilly! She is one mad mad girl! :P
1.And then lightning hit! :P
2.The mattress! It came down just after her and on her! :P (hide spoiler)]

No wonder Mrs.Neely was (view spoiler)[ surprised to see her alive and kicking when they met later! ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Shilpa]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Renee wrote: "Finished Chapter 7

It's taking me back to my teen years and crushes on boys. It is a light fun read.

[spoilers removed]"

Yea, she's getting a good handle on his needs. The locke..."

(view spoiler)[ No one gave Colton a hard time as there was a PEERS class for ones like him. So he was accepted just as well. :)
It was very touching to see Lilly grasp the truth and accept him rather than pushing him away.. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Shilpa]

Renee wrote: "Chapter 14
Lily is so patient and understanding..."

(view spoiler)[ That punch was something! Totally out of the blue! :D

Lily was behaving very maturedly but sometimes her teenage hormones came into action and those are the times I really needed to remind myself that it is a 17 year old I am reading about! :) (hide spoiler)]

[Shilpa]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "That was such an emotional book - I'm still trying to sort myself out...


I loved that story - definitely was full of happy tears and sad tears! I thought Lilly & Colton were so adorable and pe..."

Totally agree with what you said.. :)

It was so beautiful.. And I was confused while rating it..couldn't decide to rate it 4 or 5 stars as my actual rating is 4.5 stars! :P
Stupid GR! It should start the half-star rating system..I had to debate a long while before settling!
The beginning gave me super high expectations and then it couldn't keep up for a while..but by the end of the book it showed that those expectations weren't for nothing.. :)
I really loved the way the characters grew so much and so well through the length of the book..
This one will probably make it to the to-be-reread pile.. ^_^

[Shilpa]

Renee wrote: "Finished...


That really broke my heart.. (view spoiler)[ Colton is simply amazing.. He conveyed so much with that painting.. *teary eyed*

And that toothbrush thing after she went to meet him totally cracked me up! :D ;) (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

I felt the same way with struggling to rate it. I would have given it a 4.5 for sure!

Your spoilers are making me laugh and get teary eyed all over again. There are so many feelings contained in this book! Agree it will need to be re-read!! Thoroughly enjoyed!

(view spoiler)[ hopefully she starts packing toothbrushes now wherever she goes! I'd hate to see him get punched in his junk!! HaHa! Nice she was able to refrain!
(hide spoiler)]

[Shilpa]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "I felt the same way with struggling to rate it. I would have given it a 4.5 for sure!

Your spoilers are making me laugh and get teary eyed all over again. There are so many feelings contained in..."


Yeah Kristin! Those feels! ^_^

I sincierly hope so too! ;)
It is amazing,the amount of emotions that have been packed into this tiny-minee book is unbelievable! :)

[Shinjini]

Dang! I finished this one on January 2nd. No discussion points for me, is there? :(

I really, really loved this book. What an adorable story. :)

(view spoiler)[ I loved the narration. So easy and free-flowing, Lilly's narrative voice is perfect! There have been times when I just wanted to hug the girl because she was so full of mischief. Also, the parts where Colton freaked after Lilly got herself into an accident, was so cute! I was imagining him running all around and shrieking for his parents.

I loved Colton. I'm not sure how far you all have reached so I'm not going to make a specific comment about why I love him so much but this book might just stay my best read of 2015. I just loved it too much. (hide spoiler)]

[VNerdbooks]

And I'm still to start it **shakes fist at Perry and Dex **

[VNerdbooks]

Renee wrote: "Just started
Lichtenberg figure
"

Just started and was going to Google this till I saw your image, that is mad, but very cool!

[VNerdbooks]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Same!! I was a rule follower for sure!!!

Have you gotten through Chapter 1?

[spoilers removed]"

Lol I actually did the same!

I was a little like that when I was younger (view spoiler)[ Climbed to the top of the slide and then on to the top of the cage thing, fell off and nearly broke my back!
Also fell off the monkey bars at the park and broke my arm in 2 places, resulting in a nasty scar that I still have to this day as I had to have an operation on it!
Stuck my hand through a fence to stroke a dog, and promptly got bitten badly, again with a scar still visible (my scars are weird I don't heal like normal humans lol, I think they are called Keloid scars or something)
Tried to open the washing machine from the top (as the door was broken!) forgot to turn it off and had an electric shock that threw me across the room...........I'm sure there is more, I could go on and on, I'm surprised my poor mother isn't grey lol. (hide spoiler)]

[VNerdbooks]

Wow he has (view spoiler)[ Aspergers, my step son has this, he is 18 now so seems to have grown out of most of his quirky habits but there are still some that won't disappear (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

V Audio Nerd wrote: "

I was a little lik..."

OMG! You are probably Lilly's long lost relative - and very lucky to still be alive and kicking too!! You are a nut!!

My cousin's son has aspergers - he's about 14 now. Seems like they must learn how to deal as they grow up because anymore you can hardly tell. There's probably a wide range of severity too.. Like wonder if you can have a "touch" of aspergers?? Like sometimes I think I have a touch of OCD... :)

[K~Terror]

Shinjini wrote: "Dang! I finished this one on January 2nd. No discussion points for me, is there? :(

I really, really loved this book. What an adorable story. :)

I loved the narration. So easy and free-flowing, ..."

I really loved this book too, Shinjini! I finished this book this morning Nd have been thinking about it ever since...

PS - I think as long as you read the book after the start of the tower teams challenge (11/8?), you can participate in buddy reads and get points for those books. (You might need to double check what I say is right, but that's my understanding anyway.). :)

[VNerdbooks]

I'm up to chapter 8, this is sooo cute.

I think they say that everyone has a touch of autism in them, sometimes it's a little OCD and sometimes it's more extreme, everyone gets that "have I left the gas on?" moment sometimes!

[VNerdbooks]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "V Audio Nerd wrote: "

I was a little lik..."

OMG! You are probably Lilly's long lost relative - and very lucky to still be alive and kicking too!! You are a nut!!"

Haha that was me on "normal" days, you should have seen me when I was trying to impress a boy haha it was cringe worthy lol.

[Renee]

Shinjini wrote: "Dang! I finished this one on January 2nd. No discussion points for me, is there? :(

I really, really loved this book. What an adorable story. :)

I loved the narration. So easy and free-flowing, ..."

Yes, you can have 30 points too :)

It was such a sweet adorable story. I agree, the author got Lily's voice just right.

[Renee]

V Audio Nerd wrote: "Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Same!! I was a rule follower for sure!!!

Have you gotten through Chapter 1?

[spoilers removed]"

Lol I actually did the same!

I was a little lik..."

Vicci "Audio Nerd" Evans?

[Renee]

Shilpa wrote: "Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Renee wrote: "Finished Chapter 7

It's taking me back to my teen years and crushes on boys. It is a light fun read.

[spoilers removed]"

Yea, she's ..."

(view spoiler)[ The PEERS class is great. They have similar groups at the primary school where I work. I work in the Special Education Support Unit and often provide 1:1 support for kids like Colton. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

I loved how unique the story and her writing was. It wasn't one of those that I felt like I knew how the story was going to flow before I got there so I enjoyed the entire journey of reading it.

I'm laughing at your "normal" days! HaHa! As my daughter reminds me, I'm not exactly the picture of normalcy myself - but I always tell her, who is?!

BTW - I'm gonna start Colleen Hoover tomorrow! YAY! That's another short story but over 100 pages. :)