A wild and satisfying romp.
A romantic, fast-paced thriller inspired by a classic.
Things start off sweet in San Diego, where swimmer Micaela and aspiring photographer Veronica meet by chance at a party and romance instantly sparks between them. After Veronica snaps a perfect photo of camera-shy Mick, their relationship complicates and escalates as hesitant Mick suddenly becomes the subject of Veronica’s budding photography career. Meanwhile, the two girls engage with the local activist scene along with Veronica’s longtime artist friend Nico, but the stakes rise with every rebellious art installation—even leading to death for some of those involved. Mick and Veronica pursue their increasingly unstable relationship while parental neglect, illegal activity, and the threat of violence set them on an escalating, dangerous path. The story unravels in colorful, electric prose through Mick’s and Veronica’s first-person points of view, alternating between past and present. The tension builds well, leading to an exhilarating and twisty final third. Believable and clever banter bounces back and forth between sympathetic characters, and allusions to The Picture of Dorian Gray provide a scaffold without requiring readers’ prior knowledge of the original to appreciate the story. This dark, winding novel expertly interweaves suspense and romance. Mick is cued as White and Veronica is Latinx; both are queer.
A wild and satisfying romp. (Thriller. 14-adult)Pub Date: March 30, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-24675-2
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Dec. 9, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship.
A battered girl and an injured rugby star spark up an ill-advised romance at an Irish secondary school.
Beautiful, waiflike, 15-year-old Shannon has lived her entire life in Ballylaggin. Alternately bullied at school and beaten by her ne’er-do-well father, she’s hopeful for a fresh start at Tommen, a private school. Seventeen-year-old Johnny, who has a hair-trigger temper and a severe groin injury, is used to Dublin’s elite-level rugby but, since his family’s move to County Cork, is now stuck captaining Tommen’s middling team. When Johnny angrily kicks a ball and knocks Shannon unconscious (“a soft female groan came from her lips”), a tentative relationship is born. As the two grow closer, Johnny’s past and Shannon’s present become serious obstacles to their budding love, threatening Shannon’s safety. Shannon’s portrayal feels infantilized (“I looked down at the tiny little female under my arm”), while Johnny comes across as borderline obsessive (“I knew I shouldn’t be touching her, but how the hell could I not?”). Uneven pacing and choppy sentences lead to a sudden climax and an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending. Repetitive descriptions, abundant and misogynistic dialogue (Johnny, to his best friend: “who’s the bitch with a vagina now?”), and graphic violence also weigh down this lengthy tome (considerably trimmed down from its original, self-published length). The cast of lively, well-developed supporting characters, especially Johnny’s best friend and Shannon’s protective older brother, is a bright spot. Major characters read white.
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship. (author’s note, pronunciations, glossary, song moments, playlists) (Romance. 16-18)Pub Date: Nov. 28, 2023
ISBN: 9781728299945
Page Count: 626
Publisher: Bloom Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
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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