So, deciding to read this book didn't come easy. It was back when I'd just started reading contemporary books, and while it did sound like something I might like based on the other contemporaries I tried, the rating on GR wasn't that high, and some of the reviews I had read (and one particular spoiler that was totally out of context) made me hesitant.
But eventually, I decided to give it a shot. And good thing I did, because I really enjoyed this book!
"You have a crush on me?"
"No," I replied regally. "I just said I didn't."
"But you did before?" I had him completely baffled. "I thought I heard your brother say you had Rick Getty's picture all over your wall." I cringed. Just how much had he heard in the store? Oh well, I'd worry about that later.
"That was last year," I said. "You're the hot topic this year."
"Me?" I didn't think he was trying to be vain and draw compliments out of me, because the poor boy honestly sounded confused.
I loved it.
The book, quite surprisingly, opens up with the promise of a death. We find ourselves in the middle of a funeral, but we have no idea whose and what does it have to do with the story. Carrie, our main character and the voice of the story, starts recalling just how we got there.
The plot itself is pretty "standard" - girl at the bottom of the social pyramid meets the boy ruling said pyramid and can't help falling for his charms - and vice versa. What made the book interesting were the characters, starting with Carrie herself.
Carrie is kind of hard to pin down, mostly because I had a love-hate relationship with her. She was kind of mean sometimes, and she had a tendency to overreact, but she was also very honest and sassy. And I love sassy. And I totally approve of how she dealt with loving Luke, even if in real life I'll probably never be able to be like her and just tell the guy I like that I do like that.
Speaking of the love interest... he was very sweet. He wasn't the mean, bad boy jock stereotype at all. I loved how he worked to change Carrie's judgmental view of the rich people in town. Did he make some mistakes along the way? sure. But that just made him so much more real and believable. Really, I don't understand how you can dislike this guy.
As for the two of them together? Once they started (sort of) going out, it was so extremely sweet! Luke is someone who can ground Carrie, while Carrie is someone to inspire and encourage Luke. They just... fit. And the ending on these two... I APPROVE.
What I don't approve of is all the heartache Marty went through *sniff*. Okay, okay, I don't actually disapprove of it, this is just my broken heart speaking...
Old Version:
To read a newer and more detailed and organized version of this review, go to; Drugs Called Books!
"You have a crush on me?"
"No," I replied regally. "I just said I didn't."
"But you did before?" I had him completely baffled. "I thought I heard your brother say you had Rick Getty's picture all over your wall."
I cringed. Just how much had he heard in the store? Oh well, I'd worry about that later. "That was last year," I said. "You're the hot topic this year."
"Me?" I didn't think he was trying to be vain and draw compliments out of me, because the poor boy honestly sounded confused.
I loved it.
This was an excellent read.
I admit I shuffled a bit at the reviews on Goodread before and while reading, because at first I wasn't too sure what to make of this story. I both hated and loved the Carrie at first, and wasn't sure which emotion will end victorious. I mean, she was kind of mean, at first. But she was also honest and sassy.
Then I read something on Goodreads, about Luke, and was appalled.
I mean, I read he basically made her duck her head so he won't be seen with her. Like – WTF? That's just wrong.. I was kind of upset about it because I liked him. Then I actually read the part (because, boy, I just liked what I read so far enough to decided I'll read it for myself) and wanted to strangle the person who said that. That was not how things went, and I was relieved, because I really, really liked Luke. He was so sweet, while Carrie was sometimes darn right mean.
My heart clenched at the last pages, with everything that Marty (Carrie's brother) went through and Abby's death. I wasn't surprised – the book began promising a death, and I had a really strong feeling of who it was going to be.
Carrie and Luke's romance, once they sort of started going out, was so extremely sweet, and I loved the ending so very much. I'll keep my eyes on Linda Kage from now on, and I kinda want another book about these two, or maybe about Marty so we'll see him, but also Carrie and Luke…
Anyway, this was a really nice read. Sweet, a bit annoying at times and with interesting (though mostly predictable) twists. I found that despite it being predictable at points, it was not disappointing and worked well.
I gave it 3.5 stars on a scale of 1 to 5
7 stars on a scale of 1 to 10.