The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

The Avery Shaw Experiment

by Kelly Oram

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

Reviewed by ladygrey on

4 of 5 stars

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[a:Kelly Oram|3203095|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1455838915p2/3203095.jpg] is always like a perfect YA beach read. Her books are a fun, sweet, quick read and this one is no different. Her writing isn't always sophisticated, but her dialog brings the characters vibrantly to life. And I love how honest they all are with themselves and with each other. There's no stupid pretending to feel one way or hiding how they feel to create drama.

The synopsis, while true, doesn't really capture the smitten, playful tone of the book or the way everything changes for Grayson and Avery in one very shocking moment. And Oram obviously knows there's nothing quite so appealing as a guy who admits what he wants and goes for it.

And the thing I really loved was that what he wanted was to help her. Truly. He wanted her to be confident and emotionally stable and it made him a really good guy. And I liked that his touch calmed her. That was a sweet, interesting aspect to their relationship.

You'd think Grayson would be the appeal of the book because he's all determined and sweet and charming. But the real element that makes this book so much fun is the colorful cast of characters around them. The cool kids and the science nerds were all so much fun and made me laugh. If it'd just been Grayson and Avery it would have just been this typical sort of book.

When it's actually like a perfect teen romp comedy - but in a book instead of a movie. This should totally be a 90s teen movie!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 18 January, 2014: Finished reading
  • 18 January, 2014: Reviewed