Review: TEAM DICK-What's not to love!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 18, 2013
Reviews with Shelley & Courtney @ mustreadbooksordie.blogspot.com****Shelley****5 starsThe Love:Well, Courtney, what's not to like about this book; I mean seriously?  Let me count the ways:1)The story. I guess I'd describe it as a story of love, loyalty, self-discovery, and healing. But! that description makes it sound so sappy.  So, you know in an alternate universe I'm a badass surfer/rocker chick, right? Well this novel happens to incorporate many aspects of that persona: badasses, rockers, and surfers.  While the main story focuses on the complexities of the relationship between Dylan and Kai, the badasses, rockers, and surfers help add to the tension, beauty, and comic relief of the story.2)The length of the book and the writing. I'm a girl who likes a good book to never end. Some may be turned off by a lengthy story but if it's a good one, I'm okay if it never ends. Documentary was exactly the length that it needed to be--if it had been shorter, it would've felt too rushed. AJ Sand took the time and space to really develop the characters and provide details that made you feel like you were standing in the space with them. It wasn't bogged down with too many superfluous details or scenes that were too drawn out. I also thought the dialogue between characters felt natural.3)The locations. With my day job being permanently landlocked, I don't travel for 10 months out of the year. I've haven't been to most of the locations mentioned in the novel, but after reading it I feel compelled to visit them all. This novel was begging me to hop on the next plane to Hawaii when I finished it.4)The Erica story. I won't spoil anything but I was sufficiently intrigued and hooked into finding what was up with her. Knowing that we'll get an entire novel dedicated to exploring the plight of this character more than delights me. (As does the promise of a story on Wes).AJ Sand does not shy away from uncomfortable truths and isn't afraid to plunge us into those. I like that this novel doesn't wrap everything up in pretty little packages at the end but also doesn't leave us so distraught that we want to throttle her. Instead she leaves us waiting for her next novel and I'll be the first in line to get it.Some of my favorite lines:"I didn't watch your movies," Kai said. His tone wasn't cold, but he was holding a challenging gaze on her, like he was testing her response. Dylan shrugged and rested her chin on her palm. "It's okay. I don't like your boy band." Kai  fought against his growing smile. Dylan knew that her answer had charmed him..." (I LOVE HER SASS!)Kai was right to place his faith in words, Dylan thought. They were too powerful. They could be like a knife to the soul, lacerating something that could never be fixed...They could destroy you. But they could also make you feel like you could fly, a butterfly freed from a jar, going up and up, until you suddenly wanted to fall back to Earth just so you could hear them again. (I love words about words)"Team Dick?" she said, giggling. (I seriously couldn't pass it up)And, basically anything Wes said. (I'm a sucker for humor)**Courtney** 5 StarsLoves:1) You are so right! Documentary includes everything that has the ability to make me swoon: rockers, surfers (extreme sports - c'mon), music, and a guy who definitely kicks the standard for book boyfriend up a notch. If you doubt my love for rockers, please refer to our last review! I am a sucker for rock guys, and let me say Kai White is A. ROCK. GOD....I mean guy! I also like me a guy with a little fight in him and his ability to throw a few punches when the situation calls for it...and well, mostly when it doesn't...is totally Kai. They don't dub him "Kamakazi Kai" for nothing.2) I really didn't mind the length either. I honestly didn't even notice how many pages it was until after it was done and I saw a post AJ made about "her long ass book" and looked back and saw that yep, it was a really really long book. Being of the Harry Potter persuasion, long books when well written are totally my favorite.3) The locations. Yes! What college age girl wouldn't jump at the chance to move to Hawaii to do a web Documentary (Hah, see what I did there) on a famous rock star would seriously need their head checked. The locations really help set a tone for the characters and all of their relationships or they did to me. Kai's house did that too, with his seeming inability to ever be alone there were ALWAYS people at his house.4) Erica. My oh my. I agree that anything about her would definitely be a spoiler land mine, but I have to pour my heart out a little bit more for Kai. His life is so public so everyone he hangs out with of the opposite sex is automatically romantically involved with him. I don't want to spoil the nature of their relationship, but AJ really uses many many outlets to make your heart hurt for Kai.5) Dylan. She has a lot of struggles too. With trying to do the right thing for herself and everyone else, she really has to find a balance and it is a very interesting journey to see if she gets there. Their love story was a bit of a roller coaster as well for them to get on the same page, but Kai has many tricks up his sleeve to get her to let her guard down...Thank God!I want to add a last note for family. Big theme, and family is a very big thing for me in many ways, but mostly how just because you are blood related doesn't make you family, and vice versa. Kai and his group of friends are so loyal to each other and I just love stories with powerful secondary characters.Favorite Quotes:"What? I'm allowed to say his name; he's not f***ing Voldemort." - Abel"Even though I tell myself I shouldn't do it, I keep f***ing chasing you," Kai said with breathless irritation when he hit the hallway. "I keep doing it."**This book and following AJ on Twitter is really how Shelley and I got started talking and reading together and now blogging together so we love it very much. Thanks AJ!!!**