A soapy romance mired in contrivance.
In 1849 New England a girl with a scandalous past finds herself at a crossroads.
With a mane of wild curls, unconventional beauty Valentine DeLuca lives in a dilapidated estate with her aloof father. Her mother was hanged for the murder of Nigel Blackshaw, an eminent member of her small town of Feavers Crossing. Due to a benefactor shrouded in mystery, Valentine attends the prestigious Drake Academy, where Nigel’s heir, Rowan Blackshaw, is also a student. Despite their troublesome connection, Valentine and Rowan predictably fall for each other. However, many dark secrets threaten to rip the ill-fated lovers apart. Valentine must eventually decide between a simple life with Sam, the boy next door; going on the lam with Rowan; and her own independence. Bleak, inclement Connecticut features prominently in this gothic melodrama which is refreshingly free of any paranormal content, despite its otherworldly title. An indecisive heroine, Valentine’s inability to make a decision may be polarizing; either readers will swoon as she agonizes or leave frustrated. While complications and conspiracies run rampant, the plot still feels a bit wooden, with its boilerplate love triangle, contrived plot twists, and endless descriptions of smoldering eyes and pouty mouths. Valentine and the other denizens of Feavers Crossing are white; one adult character is developmentally disabled and is treated kindly by Valentine, in contrast to the behavior of other residents.
A soapy romance mired in contrivance. (Gothic romance. 13-adult)Pub Date: Aug. 7, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-7653-9948-9
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Tor Teen
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2018
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
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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