Review: Freshman Novel that captures that first year at college
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 15, 2014
I promised my kids four years of college at the school of their choice.  I put myself through school, which those of you who have done so know is an entirely different situation.  I wanted my kids to have that chance to grow and change into the adults they wanted to become.  Maggie did not have that.  Her father was a fighter pilot and her mother dropped her off at ballet when she was young and never picked her up leaving full custody to a father who did not want it either.  She grew up in South Carolina with her father's parents and did not do parties or slacking off because the only way out was through a scholarship.  Her dream was to be accepted at Harvard.  When that thin envelope came, she had to find another dream fast.  She won a scholarship to the International School in London.The thing about being the scholarship kid in a school of kids from rich families is that blowing off grades for parties is not a risk you can take.  Having to borrow dresses that do not fit so you won't stand out and not having anyone to teach you how to put yourself together goes hand in hand with accepting charity from friends to be able to take trips.  Maggie is a virgin.  It is not a religious thing, it is an I do not want to be working in a clothing store in South Carolina thing.  It is also a romantic thing:  wanting a real boyfriend who takes you out on dates and is there for you vs. a hookup.  Maggie meets two guys who float her boat:  One is a bar owner who is older and another goes to school with her, is a cousin to her room mate and goes through women like TP.  It is a small school and they keep hitting sparks off each other, but Maggie does not want to be just another one of his hookups.  Plus Samar is half French, half Lebanese and destined for an arranged marriage.The writing is good, the characters are good and Maggie is an every woman sort of character who is easy to relate to.  I have the second book on pre-order because I want to see how Maggie navigates her second year of school.