Review: An fun summer read, especially for 15 year olds.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 28, 2011
Annabelle lives next door to two brothers, Trevor and Will Scarlet who have gone to a public school while she has gone to a private.  This year her parents want her to fit in and have her go to a public school, join a country club and make friends.  The most popular girl in school, Claire befriends her at the country club and she becomes part of the "in" group as school starts.  She has had a crush on the older brother, Trevor who is a senior and football quarter back.  He asks her to go to a party with him, but she accidentally drinks drugs and it is Trevor's younger brother, Will that saves her from doing anything stupid.Will's mother is dying of cancer and Will hangs out with drug dealers.  They provided the drugs at the party Annabel got wasted at.  Annabelle finds herself drawn to Will who is always there for her as things go wrong.  Trevor never seems to protect her like Will does and Will is not bothered by what others expect of him and allows Annabelle to be herself.This is a cute story for the 15 year olds it is targeted at, but there were a few problems I had with the logic of it.  SPOILERS:  First, Annabelle blaming Claire for Will's drug-selling friends getting arrested.  They are drug dealers.  Why feel guilty or blame someone else for their bad choices? Second, If Annabelle is 16, then Will is 15, but he drives his own car and has an awesome, muscular body.  Really, a 15 year old?  Third, is Annabelle's naiveté.  Can she really be that silly? Fourth, Will and Annabelle "bump" into each other every single time she "needs" him - way too convenient. Fifth, she finds the answers from a fortune teller?  Really? Sixth, Senior boys do more than kiss their girlfriends on the cheek and forehead.  Trevor not only seems uninterested in his girlfriend, but possibly gay.  He NEVER touches her in a desiring way.  Is he breathing? Seventh, why are the druggie friends being portrayed as nice?  They are drug dealers.  And finally, Annabelle acts like Will's mother when he gets to college.  She is so bossy.  What happened to Will being in control?If it wasn't for these issues, I probably would have liked the story more.  I kept thinking that the author was going to make the "nice" druggie friends under-cover cops since their outfits were always changing and because Will was one of them.  It would have been noble if he was preventing crimes, instead of committing them.  This story really reminded me of "The Boys Next Door" by Jennifer Echols, only without the kissing, so if you liked that one, you will probably like this one too.Would I/Did I buy it? YesWould I read it again? NoWould I recommend it to friends? Yes, to 15 year olds.