Mini-Reviews: Recent YA Contemporary Novels

Open Road Summer
Author:  Emery Lord
Publisher:  Walker, 342 pages
Publication Date:  April 15, 2014

From Goodreads:
After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

Review:
I enjoyed this book, but I was disappointed.  After reading so many rave reviews, I was prepared to absolutely love this book, and I just didn't.  I did like the fact that the book focused on friendship, and Matt Finch was oh so swoony (big fan), but I just didn't like the main character, Reagan.  I completely understood why she liked Matt, but what did he see in her?  She was gorgeous (of course), knew it and used it (which was annoying), but honestly, she was a bitch.  Yes, she had her reasons.  But still.  So why did he like her?  She wasn't nice, she wasn't funny or fun to be around.  And the way she treats him, especially at the end.  What. A. Bitch.  I know I'm in the minority, but I just couldn't stand Reagan and that kept me from loving this book.  

What I Thought Was True
Author:  Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publisher:  Dial Books for Young Readers, 416 pages
Publication Date:  April 15, 2014

From Goodreads:
Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

Review:
I enjoyed this book too, but again, I was disappointed.  So many things bothered me.  First, we're dropped into the middle of the story and the slow reveal was just painful.  It's not a mystery so to be kept in the dark was frustrating.  I think the only reason the author keeps the reader in the dark is because otherwise everyone would hate Cass.  He's no Jase, that's for sure.

And it just wasn't clear what the timeline was with what happened in the past so the flashbacks were confusing.  And then once I found out what happened between Cassidy and Gwen…why in the world did she even talk to him again?  Not to mention have feelings for him.  What? Why didn't he ever try and explain what happened?  It just made no sense.  And then when we get an explanation, it's the biggest non-explanation I've ever read.  I still don't really know what happened because HE DOESN"T EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.  So I didn't like Cass at all.  I've already ranted to Nicole at The Quiet Concert about this so I'll just stop there.  

Other than that, there was just too much going on and important things that happen to secondary characters behind the scenes.  Why?  What was the purpose?  I ended up absolutely hating her best friend and it was all just unnecessary to the story.  And her dad…what?  The advice he gives her…what?  Worst. Parenting. Ever.  Just too many sub-plots, really.  The book does show how messy and complicated relationships are and I loved the setting.  

Posted by:  Pam