About the Book
-
Author:
- Christina Meredith
- Genres:
- Contemporary
- YA Romance
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: The Spiderman
BFF Charm: Meh
Swoonworthy Scale: 6 & -5
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Bonus Factors: Parking
Anti-Bonus Factors: Dan Scott Horrible Parent Award
Relationship Status: Makeout Buddy
Cover Story: The Spiderman
Okay, so I thought maybe publishers might need me to lay this out for them. This scene in a movie: hot. This scene on the cover of a book: not. Lord, is this an embarrassing cover and title! It’s also kind of misleading, because this book stays pretty much within the limits of PG, and due to the aforementioned combination, I was hoping for at least an R.
The Deal:
Leah Johnson is rightly the envy of her school. She is super pretty, dates the quarterback, and is on track to be valedictorian. And she doesn’t even have to TRY at anything. Just like her older sister and even older sister before her, who are all — of course — following in the footsteps of their mother. Being the youngest, Leah can see her life as it will be played out in 1 year, 3 years, 30 years. It is expected. It is demanded. Of course, like you do, Leah wants more than to be a carbon copy of her sisters, and wants more than the douchenugget frat boy she’ll be expected to wed. But how can she break free of the mold when even her older sisters couldn’t? And more importantly, can she actually ENGAGE in life itself, instead of following along numbly?
BFF Charm: Meh
I actually mostly LIKED Leah, and had empathy for her as she floated through her life in a stupor, choosing to follow the path laid before her without really participating, instead of fighting against the predestined molds left behind by her older siblings Freddie and Yorke. There were times when I just wanted her to WAKE UP ALREADY, and stand up to her family, but then I remembered myself at 17, (or hell, 27) an cut her some slack, because, hey, she’s young. By the end of the story, I was proud enough of her to want to hang out, but I would have much rather become BFFs with Valerie, Leah’s competition for valedictorian. Although we don’t really get to know Valerie that well, I think she and I would have actually gotten along just fine, even though Leah would have probably Regina George-d us, at least before she started thinking for herself.
Swoonworthy Scale: 6 & -5
What do we know about Porter? He’s hot. He’s mysterious. He might just be a bad boy. OR he might turn out to be super smart and sweet. The main thing we know about him is that he lights Leah on fire, and that there is some pretty hot kissage that takes place between them. Nevertheless, I wanted more, because it felt like the author had the ability to deliver some serious sexytimes, but was held back to keep the book PG. On the other hand, we have Leah’s boyfriend Shane, who we gather is a dreamboat in a dude-bro way, and that his heavy, meaty hands paw and weigh down and suffocate. In other words, Shane is just about the ew-iest type of guy I can imagine. He might not deserve to be cheated on, but he DEFINITELY deserves to be dear johned.
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Meredith’s voice felt incredibly authentic to me, which will resonate with actual YAs more than adults (on account of the whole above mentioned immaturity). Her prose is vivid and beautifully descriptive without being too flowery, and I enjoyed her storytelling even though I predicted what was going to happen at every turn. However, I wanted to KNOW the characters more, and in the end, I felt like I didn’t really know them much more than when I started.
Bonus Factor: Parking
I’m not talking about parallel here, people, I’m talking about teenagers favorite pastime! Making out in cars! It’s why parents really shouldn’t be too permissive with their kids. Forget morals and safety, don’t let your kids have sex under your roof JUST so they’ll be forced to do it uncomfortably in an automobile! Without getting too spoilery, I can tell you that Leah gets to make out in some pretty awesome cars.
Anti-Bonus Factor: Dan Scott Horrible Parent Award
Oh, Leah’s Mother! In my opinion, she’s worse than a straight out crazy mom, because she’s the type of mother who “only wants what’s best for you.” Her heart might be in the right place, only, she’s the one who decides what “best” is. At every turn. And you are not allowed to disappoint her. That kind of good-intentioned helicopter parenting needs a good Moonstruck smack (a service for which I often wish I could hire myself out). YOU WILL SQUASH THE SOUL OUT OF YOUR CHILD, LADY. Plus, everything has to be perfect. Example: She chose matching outfits for her daughters from the time they were little, complete with complementary colors: blue, yellow and pink. It didn’t matter that Freddie hated yellow, she was the yellow one. Even at 18. Even at her elder sister’s wedding. BACK OFF, LADY!
Relationship Status: Makeout Buddy
Let’s be honest, book. You and I do not have a future together. But that’s alright, we’re just in different places. I want something deep and meaningful, and you’re more into surface relationships right now. That said, you are an AMAZING kisser, so maybe sometimes we can get together and go for a, um, drive, okay?
FTC Full Disclosure: I received neither money nor cocktails for writing this review (dammit!). Kiss Crush Collide is available now.
