Book Review: Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

Bright Before Sunrise
Author:  Tiffany Schmidt
Publisher:  Walkers Children, 288 pages
Expected Publication Date:  February 18, 2014
*Received ARC from publisher via NetGalley

From Goodreads:
When Jonah is forced to move from Hamilton to Cross Pointe for the second half of his senior year, "miserable" doesn't even begin to cover it. He feels like the doggy-bag from his mother's first marriage and everything else about her new life—with a new husband, new home and a new baby—is an upgrade. The people at Cross Pointe High School are pretentious and privileged—and worst of all is Brighton Waterford, the embodiment of all things superficial and popular. Jonah’s girlfriend, Carly, is his last tie to what feels real... until she breaks up with him. 

For Brighton, every day is a gauntlet of demands and expectations. Since her father died, she’s relied on one coping method: smile big and pretend to be fine. It may have kept her family together, but she has no clue how to handle how she's really feeling. Today is the anniversary of his death and cracks are beginning to show. The last thing she needs is the new kid telling her how much he dislikes her for no reason she can understand. She's determined to change his mind, and when they're stuck together for the night, she finally gets her chance. 

Jonah hates her at 3p.m., but how will he feel at 3 a.m.? 

One night can change how you see the world. One night can change how you see yourself.

Review:
What a fun, cute read...I loved it.  The book is told from both Brighton's and Jonah's POV and it really works.  They start off not really liking each other at all, but through the course of one night, slowly get to know each other and themselves.  At first, Brighton only talks to Jonah because she's determined to have all of the students participate in volunteering somewhere (she's the president of Key Club).  Jonah doesn't want to be at his new high school and so he doesn't want to have anything to do with anyone.  He's actually quite rude to Brighton but she doesn't give up.  Then circumstances throw them together and even though they're very different people (he's bitter and cynical while she's always smiling and trying to make the world a better place), they begin to like and feel an attraction to each other.  It felt natural, the dialogue was realistic, and I enjoyed the romantic tension between them.  I also liked the fact that the characters weren't stereotypes, they were more layered and complex.  This book just felt real.  Surprising and sweet, it made me smile.  Definitely recommend.

Posted by:  Pam