Review: It was okay
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 12, 2014
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I think this book was okay. In order for me to give a novel a high rating, I have to feel absorbed in the story and invested in the lives of the characters and I didn't feel that way with this book.The inner dialogue was slightly juvenile with an endless string of unnecessary exclamation points. I felt like I was reading the mind of a fifteen-year-old, not an adult. While Sam's background and situation was moving and immediately lent itself to a sympathetic character, I found myself easily frustrated with her over the course of the book. I enjoy novels where the heroine makes an attempt to be strong even in the midst of hardship and also tries to make smart decisions given her past. I don't believe this character did that.There are several instances where she puts herself in harm's way simply because she thinks she should "get out there and have more fun." And while she had every reason to cry given her history, it became tiresome to read about it almost every other page. The switch to Nathan's perspective after 3/4 of the book was slightly jarring though I can understand the purpose behind it. I did enjoy the community the author built around Sam and felt that she gave the novel an important theme to hold on to - one of community and trust between people. The story was easy to follow (I read it in one day) and held a lot of hope. If given better execution, I think it would have rivaled books like On Dublin Street.