Review: Enjoyable, mature YA romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 14, 2013
Original review posted at Sizzling Hot YA BooksOkay, I'm going to be honest here. I am STILL reeling-angry mad over the ending of this book. Like, I threw my phone across the room when I hit the end. (very true story too...) Not many books can get my emotions going like that, but Stay With Me sure the heck took the prize. I don't know where to begin with my review. I mean, I really, really liked this book. Like, really, really did. I loved the story line, the plot itself, and the newer contemporary aspects thrown in. But what I didn't like AT ALL was the main character's choices. I can't get into that though without being overly spoilerish. But just know that Stay With Me tops that angst chart in a way you won't even begin to fathom.So here we go...Bailey, the tough, sporty, takes-no-crap-from-anyone-heroine has been trying to move past yucky breakup for a while now. But seeing as though she comes from a small town, everywhere she turns, and everyone she talks to, only somehow reminds her of all the bad things she's been through. But a new boy moves to town. An adorable sexy new boy named TY. A boy that makes her heart beat again. Only this new boy has secrets of his own. BIG secrets that Bailey can't seem to draw out of him for nothing. At least not for a while. Together though, this pair begins to heal each other...for a while that is. And then things just turn a bit...intense, so to speak.I don't know where Ms. Kerber plans on taking this story line in book two. All I know is that Stay With Me, wrecked me. Utterly tore me up with that ending, that emotional angst that I hate to love! Not only that, but Stay With Me was a roller coaster that did not let up on my emotions. AT ALL. EVER!! Okay, maybe once or twice, but that was short lived and with any sort of happiness she threw in, the sad, angry feelings came back with a vengeance even more later on down the road. I did not fall for the hero. I will say that. He made me mad. I didn't trust him. To me, he was just too deceitful for my taste. Buuuut, he's redeemable, and I really hope he gets that status from me in the next book. I did find myself caring for Bailey though. She was smart and sweet and a heroine that stood her ground. A girl that cried for things, but moved on.I'd probably label Stay With Me as more of a mature YA than regular YA, due to some more graphic scenes. But I will say that it was right up my ally. I love the YA books that push the boundaries. It's good to hear the teen voice not dumbed down. Teens cuss, they have sex, they drink. That's real. And that's why I loved this book. It pushed the boundaries, held my interest, and left me reeling for more. I recommend it to fans who enjoy angsty reads, but can handle a hero that doesn't make you swoon ALL the time. Just...some of the time. :)