Review: Experience the emotions of your first kiss and crush again. Loved it!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 1, 2013
I read the novella SKID OUT last year when my friend The Autumn Review suggested it because of my love for music and musicians. I had no idea at the time that it was just the prequel to First Kiss (The Heavy Influence Trilogy). I was fit to be tied after reading Skid Out. It was so good and such a tease for a story I knew I was going to love. I was so lucky to be given and ARC of First Kiss.First Kiss is the story of Aly and Jake. Aly is just fourteen and has known her neighbor Jake most of her life. Once her older brother's friend, Jake is now the hot soon-to-be rock star. Aly and her crew of friends are ready to start their summer as they prepare to be high school freshmen. All of sudden Jake isn't just her neighbor. Hormones have jumped into overdrive for Aly and she is clueless about what to do with the new attraction she has for Jake. Her friend Nadine is a little ahead in the flirting game and encourages Aly to introduce her to "Abercrombie Status" Jake. But of course Jake now has eyes for Aly. He's seventeen and use to the groupie type girls with all their make-up and fake nails and over done hair. He's drawn to all-natural Aly who knows him as just Jake, not the part he plays as a rocker.As I was reading the story I could remember just how it felt to be fourteen and crushing on a guy. I remember exactly what it was like to be friends with the guys and other girls getting pissy about it because they wanted to be their girlfriends. The same girls  were testing out new experiences with the guys while I was being the good little girl too scared to show my inexperience. Aly is so sweet and I love that she says what she feels to Jake and actually looks to him for an explanation of the new sensations she having because of him. The author writes it so well that I could feel the giddy butterflies as Aly gets her first kiss and first experiences of being close to a guy that makes you feel like you're going to melt into a puddle. Aly and her friends get to experience their first high-school party thanks to Jake too. Now Rachel, bitch and one-time hook-up of Jakes, shows her true colors(mainly green with jealousy) at the party and gives Aly a little push into the pool. But I love how this brings Aly's sister more into the story. She goes "off like she has Tourette's" on Rachel. Allison tries to discourage Aly from getting involved with Jake though by pointing out that he's about to make it a big as a musician and will be hooking up with girls all over the country on tour. Allison has a heart to heart with Aly about choices she had to make and her fears that Aly is about to make the same mistakes she did.Jake is feeling so inspired by his feelings for Aly. His music begins to reflect those emotions and his band members like what they hear. Everyone except the guitarist Mike. He's as big a douchebag as Rachel is a bitch. They become quite the team trying to mess things up between Aly and Jake. Jake convinces Aly to sing one of his new songs with him. They record it before he leaves on tour.Unfortunately things spiral out of control. Jake starts making really poor choices. Parents get involved and Jake is forced to stayaway from Aly. Aly goes through the common issues I remember going through when three girls try to be best friends, one is always left out or feels rejected. Aly's brother and sister really come through and try to stand up for Jake and Aly. I love Aly's friend Marshall. They help each other through a lot of the rough spots teens deal with. It was really hard reading about Jake and Aly as they admit that they can't have a relationship right now. I'm sucker for emo musicians. Jake makes efforts to move on. I am so NOT happy about that by the way. I know it's more like what would happen in reality but that's why I read fiction. He was not suppose to really take a break from Aly. Any way, Mike decides to take what he wants from Aly, her willing or not. Rachel almost has a redeeming moment, almost. Mike gets what's coming to him.The last few chapters really kill me. I'm such a sap. Yes there was tears and snot. Jake and his band leave for a European tour. Through everything, Jake can't run from his feelings for Aly. She owns his heart. I can only hope for happier moments for them in the next book. Over all I love First Kiss but I prefer happier ever afters.**One of the coolest things about First Kiss is the music included. The lyrics are a part the story. I've heard some of the songs and can't wait to get the soundtrack. My favorite is a duet between Jake and Aly.