Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: May 20th, 2014
Paperback, 336 pages
4 Gold Stars
(summary from Goodreads)
Tia just wants to have fun. She's worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she's ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can't get enough of his Midwestern accent and laid back swagger.
As sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia's seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn't interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it's no big deal... until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will's new relationship - and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated.
After finishing a very depressing book, I knew I needed to find something light and fun. Everything about this book and cover screamed a feel good read that would make me feel good inside. Echols has captured the lives of teens in a Florida school perfectly and this series seems like it will be a fun little adventure following different friends. Tia is a girl who isn't ashamed of how she rolls. She doesn't want a boyfriend, but she likes having fun. She's known as the life of the party and no one judges her for that. It's a nice relief not to see slut-shaming, and instead just having everyone accept her for who she is. The minute Will transfers to the school and meets Tia at a party, they hit it off. Before they know it, they are back in her room and could be getting into mischief but are interrupted. Suddenly Will is asking her to be his girlfriend and Tia wants to run in the opposite direction. And things only get more complicated from there. Hijinks and awkward moments follow suit.
The characters really stand out in this one. Tia is a no holds bar kind of girl who does what she wants and doesn't care what people might think. Will is her polar opposite, he is very calm and collected and just wants to find someone to love. Tia's friends, Harper and Kaye are always there to support her, and I can't wait to read their stories in the next books in this series. The dialogue and situations were realistic and fell into the story quickly, ready for the drama to start between Tia and Will. It felt like real high school moments, especially the parties and late nights on the beach. Tia's family life stands out. Her dad works a lot and all three of her sisters left in their teens to have babies and get married. I can totally see why Tia would be the way she is about boys, after seeing everything her sisters have gone through.
It was a quick read and certainly did what I wanted it to do and made me feeling happy and in love by the end of it. I love a cute story like this and this one was no different. I can see why Echols is one of the big names in YA Contemporary. This one stood strongly along side Miranda Kenneally and Sarah Dessen books. I'd definitely recommend picking this one up if you like a cute high school read with a bit of drama thrown in.
No comments:
Post a Comment