Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend (Confessions, #2)

by Louise Rozett

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Sophomore year does not go how Rose expected. At the beginning of Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend she’s determined to find her place in High School society while staying out of other people’s business. She’s also trying to get a reign on her anger and channel it into something positive as her therapist suggested. Easier said than done to all of the above. Trouble has a way of finding Rose and sticking her right in the middle of some tough situations. She does try to be more mature in her decision making and reactions, but there are still moments when Rose is still that immature freshman from Angry Girl.

Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend continues with that slightly darker tone which the previous book ended on. However, instead of sex being a prominent topic, this time it’s abuse. But once again, Rose is on the outside looking in. She learns that a couple of her classmates were abused by their father, and now one of them is being hit by her boyfriend. What is Rose suppose to do about this? Does she tell? Is it even her place to tell, just because she knows? Rose doesn’t want to be known as the tattle-tale again, but she knows what’s happening is wrong. It’s a tough situation, and even at the age of 23, I’m not sure how I would handle it. Another major issue that Rose deals with is witnessing a hate crime and being the only one to step in. This is actually the catalyst to her wanting to keep her mouth shut about her classmates wrong doings.

Of course Jamie Forta plays a bigger role this time. His relationship with Rose is so frustrating! Why must Jamie be so cryptic and brooding all the time? Rose isn’t even sure Jamie likes her despite some super steamy make out sessions. He always up and disappears when things start getting too much, and his communication skills suck! He does begin to open up, but then he runs, then comes back, then runs again. I’m sure Rose is getting whiplash from his indecision, but I think by the end of Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend, Rose realizes that it’s his problem that he won’t let her in, not hers.

I really enjoyed watching Rose try to find out who she is and what she’s good at, even if it meant she had to lose people along the way. Again, I think these books touch on things that almost anyone can relate to even if their situation isn’t exactly like Rose’s. She doesn’t want to be in the shadow of her more popular friends, and maybe she doesn’t want to fit in at all. She’s also still grieving her father, but not in a way that her mother approves of. There’s also the strained relationship with her brother. It seems like a lot of subjects for one book, but I think it all comes together really well in Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.