Review: A mature YA read full of emotion and very thought-provoking.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 15, 2013
This book was such a great read. I think if you are a fan of the arts or have dabble in the world (chorus veteran), then this book is right up your alley. I was nowhere near as competitive as the teens in this book, but I understand all the struggle it takes no matter your tastes. All the blood, sweat and tears that it takes to standout and be successful is one hell of a road. And it is more than you pushing yourself, there are those that will push you past your limits and/or common sense. All that matters is winning. But our main character Elena learns the hard way things that seem great for you, may very well be the end of you.I had a blast with this. Elena is a hip hop dancer whose talents have gotten her into one of the top performing arts schools in America. I loved Elena's spirit in this book. You will root for her from the get go. But this is a Young Adult book, so common sense is not that common (scratch that, that goes for adults as well). Nonetheless, the obvious completely goes over her head in this book and she pays for it in the most humiliating way. You will want to smack her a few times in this book. But all the characters will definitely get a rise out of you. They all have such vast personalities, but the chemistry is amazing. I loved seeing these guys together. Sebastien was amazing. Definitely one of my favorites. He had me smiling like all the other girls in this book. I loved him.What I love about this book is just following these characters on their journey and seeing them grow. Elena wants to do her best, but it is difficult when a snobby diva named Letitia is out to make Elena's life a living hell. Letitia is the big name on campus with a name and a lot of money. What she says goes. I love how Petrakis was able to talk about issues we all have to face at one point in our lives or the other. We see how they deal certain prejudices and judgments. Their struggles make you connect with them more. And you have no idea just how dark some of the issues get. There are issues of sex, rape, discrimination, and more. This book was more intense than I thought it would be. But along with drama, there will also be laughs and some romance. Petrakis is such a great writer because she balances out everything so beautifully.I highly recommend this read for those looking for a great Young Adult Contemporary Romance. It is a very intriguing read that got me hooked from the beginning. I don't read a lot of YA Contemporary Romance, but I am glad I jumped at the opportunity to read this. I am looking forward to book 2, Bittersweet. That title alone means I should be bringing tissues. DARNIT! I can't wait to see what Petrakis has in store for us with these characters especially Letitia. I would love some backstory on her. It will be interesting to get into the head of someone I loathe.. I am very excited about the next book. Don't pass this book up.