Review: Surprised at how good it was
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 17, 2013
Haley Barrett is quite possibly my favorite heroine to date. One of the best heroines with writing aspirations to ever have been written. The girl is a poet, every thought, everything she says has a lyrical quality about it. I really, really enjoyed being in her head.She is also not one of those clumsy heroines. Kind of a boheme, sure of herself, great sense of humor, straight-to-the-point, a hopeless flirt. But at the same time, there is something so childish and innocent about her, she believes in the magic of life and love.Evan infuriated me and made me swoon. He is definitely not what he seems at first, but he has his reasons for all the things he did, and I understood his situation. He was just a child with so much on his shoulders.He fell in love with her just as much as she fell in love with him. I never doubted that, not for a second. I have to say, this book surprised me with how romantic without the romance it was. The couple... they never really get their chance. I just wished something would happen. Bad timing, various obstacles, failed communication - I can blame it on all these things, but it just wasn't their time.That's what's so good about it, the fact that these characters aren't perfect, they make mistakes, miss out on chances, move on with their lives, regret the choices they made - just like in real life.This book has one of the best brother-sister relationships I have ever read. I would have wanted my relationship with my brother to be exactly like this, if I had one. These two are so close you could almost feel their affection for one another. He takes care of her as a big brother would, pretending that she is a huge thorn in his side, but being glad to be there for her all the same.Dylan was a very down to earth kind of guy and I must say that, while this book is a romance book, it's not just that - it follows Dylan just the same and I got attached to him in the same way I got attached to Haley.I loved all the other characters, Careen and her Mr. Palmer, The Joseph, awesome Brandon, but mainly Sinclair - the wonderful "bestest" gay sidekick ever. He was a very well thought out character and I would say vital to the story with his easy charm, awesome humor and great advice.He has some of the best lines in this book. I couldn't stop laughing when he calls Romeo & Juliet a dodgy performance of some dead playwright. Good stuff.The writing is beautiful. Engaging and, like I said, poetic and very descriptive - bordering on flowery, but not the distracting, boring kind. Some great funny moments, and then the sad ones, too. The last two chapters made me cry and smile. There is not a thing in this book that happens without bringing something to the story. You get to know and love all the characters very well, and I think that the choices they make, the things they do - it was all very realistic.There are all these little literature references in this that every reader will love. Even though there are many, many of them, they are so well weaved into the story you just can't help but love them.The book has one of the best endings I have ever read, because it's so different than any other romance novel.I breezed through it, although it's on the long(ish) side.It's not without a fault, though, which is why I'm rating it a 4.5 rather than full five stars. Careen, a character you're introduced to in the beginning, sort of disappears for the majority of the book.There are a couple of repetitive paragraphs, like the bean factory story, but there were others too.And there were these time jumps that left me somewhat confused, but I understand why she wrote it like this.It's a clean read, a couple of kisses, nothing graphic at all. I was surprised by this, but I think it suits the story.Overall, a wonderful story. I'm looking forward to see what this author comes up with. Definitely recommended.