Review: Thought-provoking, poignant and interesting this story written in a male's perspective is certainly unexpected.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 30, 2012
"...I had not met her, yet she consumed my every waking hour." The first line of this story grabs your attention, instantly taking hold and pulling you into an absorbing character-driven tale. Teenage romance is captured in this narrative that focuses on David, bringing a sense of nostalgia and high school years flooding back into my subconscious. Written by a female author I was most intrigued at how she captured the male perspective, which I believe to be partly real and true, yet there is also a slight exaggeration as to emphasize the story. These three young males' minds are firmly focused upon the physical part of a relationship with the opposite sex, as their rivalry and competition heightens due to the presence of one particular female. There was definitely an `Edward and Bella' moment at the beginning when he is obsessed and infatuated by her, but I felt it lacked realism due to it ONLY being focused on the sexual aspect and not on the characters deeper inner self. The cliché title connects to the storyline, and which leaves you wondering. Wondering on what might have happened and all the POSSIBILITIES - irony?Amy is the ultimate trophy girl with the gorgeous face, killer body and a vivacious personality. But there's something else about her, something that makes her even more special. Amy is new. A transfer student from out of state, she's starting her senior year without knowing a soul. And that means she's up for grabs, available. Infatuated from the moment he sees her, David is determined to meet Amy, and if the fates are willing, to spend the rest of his life with her. But his shyness prevents him from approaching her--until his friends devise a contest to determine who will be the first to prove their manhood by seducing her. This coming-of-age story about high school dating and relationships contains mature language and situations, and is best suited for a Mature/Adult reader as there is also vulgarity of language...I found the story gripping up until the point that it abruptly ended and left me feeling rather deflated, for I had not discovered much at all about the characters themselves. I would say that although this may be to some extent a study of male teenage youth, it doesn't shine a particularly positive look on the male sex - hence why I feel that the older teenager may disapprove. YA novels and adult romantic fiction that is met with great acclaim and popularity has more substance to it, such as for example Twilight, Beautiful Creatures and even Romeo and Juliet - readers want to know that there is more to the hero & heroine of the tale's relationship than the physical side. I felt this story was lacking that extra element. I would have liked to have seen Amy and David's bond and friendship grow as they grew to know each other and that in addition to their pulse racing, heart fluttering attraction for one another that the reader was shown more.A good story but one with a one-dimensional outlook that lacks substance and which I feel could have been better - it needed an extra `spark'. However it is well-written and I did enjoy Jaye Francis' style, interesting thoughts that were presented through the narrative and high school aspect.