The Problem with Forever

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The Problem with Forever by Jennifer Armentrout pulled me in from page one!  This complex book tells about the present situation of two previously abused teenagers and the protective relationship between the two of them. Mallory and Rider have known each other since they were small and living together in a foster home.  By page thirty-nine, the amazing way that Rider took care of Mallory when they were younger got to me and I began all-out crying because it was so touching.  The Problem with Forever deals with some tough issues and the author handles these issues with dignity and kindness.  After reading this story, I felt inspired and like my soul had been lightened.  It’s like therapy!

This is the first book of Jennifer Armentrout’s that I have read, but it will not be the last!  I am very impressed with her writing and I have a feeling that this realistic fiction book will stick with me for a very long time.

 

What I Read for National Readathon 2016

Posted on by lynndellwatson

I thoroughly enjoyed Saturday, May 21st, which was this year’s National Readathon Day.  Besides taking care of my home and family, I dove into the following books:

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer Armentrout 29962853-_uy200_  ;

Saving April by Sarah A. Denzil  project_cover_image_2-_sx800_ ;

and two books by Katie Finn – Revenge, Ice Cream, and Other Things Best Served Cold   22019274  and Hearts, Fingers, and  Other Things to Cross  512x2bgbmyll-_sy344_bo1204203200_  .   Reviews to follow!

The Last Boy and Girl in the World

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Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc of The Last Boy and Girl in the World. This story revolves around the analysis of Keeley and her relationship with those around her just as much as it deals with the man-made and natural disasters of her town. This intriguing balance kept my interest because the characters were dealing with more than just their own relationships. They were all trying to decide whether to evacuate or stay in the small town that was becoming more flooded by the day. Keeley learns a lot about herself along the way and she loses friends and gains others. She also matures, even though it is a huge struggle for her. The community emergency brings out the best and worst in the town’s residents and also brings to light people’s true characters. A realistic fiction book that will make readers smile and cringe and will ultimately pull on their heartstrings.

The Goat Children

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Lonely teenage girl sitting on the dock on cold winter day.

Thanks to Jordan Mierek for the arc of her wonderful book, The Goat Children! This story is far different from her other books that I have read. Cogling and Treasure Darkly are full-on fantasy fiction, while The Goat Children is definitely a realistic fiction read. It contains a bit of fantasy also, but a very small amount and, even then, it leaves the reader wondering, real or not real?

The closest thing to dementia of a loved one that I had to deal with is when my mother suffered from cancer and she was given strong prescription drugs for the pain. She didn’t make sense or remember sometimes. This didn’t go on for years either, as dementia can. I really sympathize with anyone dealing with this tragic part of life. Dementia has to be one of the most difficult changes to see in a loved one.

Keziah gives up the most important parts of her life to help her grandmother, who she calls Oma. Keziah no longer lives with her immediate family, but with Oma. She moves away from her friends and now is not allowed to have a social life because she has to take care of her grandmother and she can barely attend school daily without the worry of Oma getting harmed. The few friends she does find, lose patience with her because she always has to say no when they ask her to hang out. Keziah loses the major parts of a teenager’s life. She also feels somewhat abandoned by her surrounding family members because they just expect her to take care of Oma with little or no support from anyone. Keziah has always been close to her Oma and struggles with how she is being treated by her used-to-be loving grandmother. Oma can be mean at times, such as not letting Keziah into the house when she accidentally forgets her key. Oma also says rude things to Keziah, so she constantly reminds herself of all the wonderful ways her grandmother helped her in the past. These wonderful moments are in snippets between chapters. These memories helped me to sympathize even more with Keziah and Oma. What a difficult struggle!

The Goat Children is a wonderful realistic fiction read and I look forward to reading more of Jordan Mierek’s work!

Gena/Finn

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Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the arc of Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz! This story is set up in snippets of text, dialogue from letters, online conversations and journal format, which made it difficult to get into. I think that was because I received the arc on a download for my laptop. I think the actual physical book would be easier to become involved in. I struggled with reading it because of the text inconsistency breaking my concentration also. Once I got passed these issues, I found a good story underneath it all. My favorite character is Charlie; I think he’s wonderful. The book is about a complicated relationship that began online and becomes something more and my rating is actually 3.5 stars.

Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend

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Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn begins with Gemma and the explanation of how she came to be Teddy’s girlfriend, then his ex-girlfriend. To overcome her sadness over the breakup, Gemma gets a hair makeover, courtesy of her friend Sophie, and goes to stay with her father in the Hamptons. Gemma goes through a case of mistaken identity because of her hair change and the fact that she hasn’t seen some of these people in five years. She tries to tell them that she is Gemma, but they insist on calling her Sophie since she has her friend Sophie’s name written on her cup. The more I read, the more I enjoyed the story and characters and understood the struggle that Gemma was going through because of her guilt from causing the sabotage of her father’s relationship with another woman while her parents were separated and the frustration and concern of wanting to make things better. This book is thoroughly enjoyable with no swearing, clean romance and a bit of humor. The story doesn’t have complete resolution and will continue in the sequel, Revenge, Ice Cream and Other Things Best Served Cold.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

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Me and Earl and the Dying Girl surprised me with all the different perspectives it contains. Silly, interesting characters made me laugh out loud several times, but this story is also empathetic and emotional. The unique characters bring the book to life. Earl is blunt and sometimes gross. Greg is entertaining and sometimes struck with verbal diarrhea. Touching, emotional, silly and strange run through this book and make it a must-not-miss read!