Although it’s a bit overlong, McGarry’s fans as well as those fond of realistic romances will greet it eagerly.
McGarry continues her absorbing series about a group of street kids and their romances (Dare You To, 2013, etc.).
Here, the romance follows tough-on-the-surface Isaiah and Rachel, a rich girl so shy panic attacks put her in the hospital. Despite her private school background, Rachel is every bit as addicted to cars as Isaiah, and they meet at an illegal street race. When the cops arrive, she and Isaiah flee together, sparking their unlikely romance. Rachel sees no problem in hoping for a romance with this tattooed foster-care refugee, only worrying that he’s still in love with his former girlfriend, Beth, who left him in the previous book. Plenty of suspense arises from that first illegal drag race, when Eric, the hoodlum who runs the races, demands $5,000 from Isaiah and Rachel. The two decide to earn the money through legal drag races, but unlikely events continually thwart their progress. The author ties all of her books together by focusing on the same group of characters and introducing new romances. She displays a deft touch, devoting much space on the teens’ feelings and physical encounters but balancing it with naturally arising tension and the difficulties each faces in his or her family situation. While this book’s circumstances are not as realistic as in earlier offerings, McGarry’s skill makes it all seem plausible.
Although it’s a bit overlong, McGarry’s fans as well as those fond of realistic romances will greet it eagerly. (Fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: Nov. 26, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-373-21099-2
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2013
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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