Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen - Restarting May 4th 2018

[Melanie]

Ruby, where is your mother?

Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.

That's how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future; it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

Best-selling author Sarah Dessen explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen circumstances and learning to trust again.

[Kina]

I will start this before the end of next week.

[Melanie]

Okay. :) no rush. I've been sick the past week and am so far behind on BRs :(

[Kina]

I hope you are feeling better! I'm in no rush either. I have several BRs as well. I will probably start Friday or Saturday.

[Kina]

Starting this today

[Kina]

15% done- (view spoiler)[ Ruby has had to live a very sad life. I wonder why her sister cut her completely off. I understand Cora being angry at their mother, but why leave Ruby there to suffer. There is a 16 year age difference between my little sister and I, and I would have gotten her out of that situation asap. (hide spoiler)]

[Kina]

36% done - (view spoiler)[ Harriet is hilarious. Maybe if she lays off the coffee she wouldn't be so wound up. I feel bad that Cora has not been able to get pregnant. (hide spoiler)]

[Kina]

52% done- (view spoiler)[ Ruby's mother is horrible to have kept her sister from her. (hide spoiler)]

[Kina]

Done- I really loved this book!!! (view spoiler)[ All the characters no matter how small were very well developed, and most were likeable. I'm so happy that Ruby was able to heal from her dysfunctional life. (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Yay! I'm so glad you loved it! I'll hopefully be able to start it soon. :)

[Melanie]

Nikinnia wrote: "36% done - [spoilers removed]"

She is a funny character!

[Melanie]

Nikinnia wrote: "52% done- [spoilers removed]"

I agree!

[Melanie]

Nikinnia wrote: "Done- I really loved this book!!! [spoilers removed]"

I'm happy that she was able to heal too. Unfortunately, I didn't care for this book all that much. I think Sarah Dessen's books are just not for me as there hasn't been one out of the four I've read that really stuck with me...I'm glad you loved it, though! :)

[Abi]

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Reading from the 25th of January 2016

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[Amy]

Up to chapter 6 (view spoiler)[ These chapters are so long! I don't like Ruby that much, from what I've read so far Dessen is really good at tapping into that moody teenager vibe though. Cora seems like she really wants to have a relationship with Ruby but their both so closed off. If I was Ruby though I don't think I'd want to be around Cora. She did leave her with their abusive mother after all. Even if she didn't want to see either of them she could have checked in with them or made sure Ruby was okay financially, I mean she was just a kid and obviously needed help! (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Up to chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ I'm surprised Jamie was so upset about what she did but I suppose getting drunk and nobody knowing where ruby was wasn't normal behaviour for him to deal with. Cora already knows that ruby has got habit from their mum (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ I can't believe that all along it's Olivia he has liked not Ruby! I hope Nate is okay, it doesn't seem right that he hasn't contacted Ruby over Christmas. Maybe something happened to him. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Aw, it was really cute that Ruby gave Nate a key to her house and that Jamie said he was now family! I'm glad they are still in touch. Cora getting pregnant was brill news to end the book with. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting April 8th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[Nikki]

Thank you Sarah :)

[Nikki]

Up to chapter 5
(view spoiler)[ I can honestly say I dislike the way Ruby had to be so independent as she was growing up more so especially after her sister left, it can't be easy trying to remain detached from everyone but she did it and all she knows now it how to depend on herself, she feels vulnerable nervous trying to depend on someone else. Her reaction to Nate is quite funny and I'm glad she was quite brutal about the way he was pining over his ex gf. (hide spoiler)]

[prag ♻]

Nikki wrote: "Up to chapter 5
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I kind of admire Ruby for pulling it together after her mum left, but I don't like how she kept pushing her friends away. They cold have helped her, I'm sure. (hide spoiler)]

[Nikki]

Feyde wrote: "Nikki wrote: "Up to chapter 5
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I admire ruby for how fiercely independent she became I just don't think she should have had to, I hope the mums out of the story now but I have a feeling she'll come back somewhere along the way, she should have depended on her friends I think they most definitely would have helped her (hide spoiler)]

[prag ♻]

Nikki wrote: "Feyde wrote: "Nikki wrote: "Up to chapter 5
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I've read this one before, and yeah, her mum will come back (sort of) though she won't really have a big role (hide spoiler)]

[prag ♻]

About halfway through
(view spoiler)[I love Harriet so much! I don't even know why. And she and Reggie? Cute. (hide spoiler)]

[prag ♻]

Done!
(view spoiler)[I've read most of Dessen's books, twice, except for The Moon and More and Someone Like You, and they never bore me.

I'm glad Nate finally (kind of?) stood up to his dad, though I don't know, he could have done that with Heather and not Ruby, what was the difference? If he and Heather were perfect together couldn't they have figured the dad thing out? It just seems so convenient that Ruby came and changed everything. Maybe it was because she understood because of HER mom. I don't know. (hide spoiler)]

[Nikki]

Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[ Well there goes his mr nice neighbour award... I like that Ruby discovered a little more about Cora, that she realised she was still the same sister that looked after her when she was younger (hide spoiler)]

[Nikki]

Up to chapter 11
(view spoiler)[ ah so Cora wasn't the cold hearted sister that Ruby seemed to think she was, it's a shame their mother wanted to keep them separate :( Ruby's reaction to dealing with the truth was a surprise I'd expected the trip to Marshell's even though he's a flat character and really not worth anyone's time, what she discovered there pushed her over the edge and she found booze and drugs and done basically what her mother did... Escape.

The whole day with Nate was quite cute, the descriptions of some of the houses were so apt that I felt I could envision them and like Nate and Ruby it would be quite exciting guessing who lived there and bits and pieces like that.

Oh and I second the I love Harriet and Roger :) so sweet (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ it was nice to see Ruby actually being part of life not an outsider waiting to run away, she'd made relatively nice with Olivia and even had to get involved in the big chaos of thanksgiving. I liked that both Cora and Ruby didn't quite know how to be part of a big family and it was nice to see their solidarity in the closet lol (hide spoiler)]

[Nikki]

Up to chapter 16
(view spoiler)[ Well that was unexpected, Nate walking away but did he really expect Ruby not to call him on it...
Poor Ruby though finding out her mother was in rehab from the way the authors describing it she feels like she's in purgatory not knowing which way to go (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Ruby found Nate and well they both kind of got their happy ever after, only it wasn't together, the wording of the ending was a little cliched but it was still a content kind of ending. (hide spoiler)]

[Luisa]

Wow you girls are fast hehe
I'm a bit late but I'm starting this right now!

[Luisa]

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[ I feel so bad for the main character, her life seems terrible. But I do love that Jamie guy, he would make a great dad! (hide spoiler)]

[Luisa]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[ Ruby and Nate are kind of cute together. I hope they don't become a couple at the last few pages, I wanna see them together <3
Cora is such an enigma. At times it feels like she doesn't care, but then she does something that makes me doubt that. (hide spoiler)]

[Luisa]

Chapter 16: (view spoiler)[ I can't believe Nate won't tell anyone what's going on with him. But I guess I understand. Still, it's really sad.
So.. the mom is back and that is not ideal. I kind of hoped she would die already, so the girls didn't have to deal with her problems anymore. (hide spoiler)]

[Luisa]

The end: (view spoiler)[ This book had a bit of a rocky start, but it was amazing. I loved how Nate and Ruby didn't really date, instead she would rather see him happy in a stable home.
Also, I would love to see Ruby in college. I feel like, now that she is finally able to relax a bit, she would be so much fun. (hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 6th of July 2016

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[onceuponatimeareview]

Thank you :)

[[deleted user]]

Starting.

[[deleted user]]

Ch 3. (view spoiler)[ poor Ruby. She is so desperate for her mom. I feel so bad for her. I hope she gets some kind of help I mean professional help. She could see for herself that she wasn't ok living alone. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ch 7. Big revelation!! (view spoiler)[ Cora didn't leave Ruby without wanting to reach back. But her mom made it so hard (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ch 14 " so many locks not enough keys" talk about irony (view spoiler)[ poor ruby. She wants to help Bate but he is not letting her. How do you help someone that doesn't want help? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ch 19. (view spoiler)[ yeah there is something shady about Nate's dad. I hope Nate is ok though. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished. (view spoiler)[ omg I am sooo happy for Cora! She is getting her dream come true. And Ruby got into college!! Awesome!! (hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 4th of May 2018

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[Allie]

I'm kind of disappointed. The first time I read this book I was totally in love with it but now I'm not really a huge fan of it.

I just hope it will get better.

[Karen]

Ch1-2. Pretty simple start. The account of home life is miserable. Though I want to admire her getting on with things she seems to be in denial.

[Karen]

Up to ch5. Nothing much happening. Surprised her sister hasn’t been more forceful in the conversation.

[Karen]

Up to ch7. They’re all so wholesome, and positive.

[Karen]

Up to ch10. (view spoiler)[ Nate’s dad creeps me out. Bit slow. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Up to ch13. Do hope she manages to find a way to get through to Nate.

[Karen]

Finished. Review on home page. Felt slow at times.