Review: One of the best books ever written.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 17, 2014
This has got to be one of the best books I've ever read. WARNING. This book does have detailed *sex* scenes and I do analyze that part. So please, grow up and be mature and read what I have to say.First off, it is so awesome to finally see a protagonist be a YA indie author. That's awesome. So in the beginning, what got me hooked was the joking banter and humor in the book as well as the beautifully developed characters.Clementine is a dynamic character. She has had a traumatizing past, being near raped by a professor and being cheated on and other stuff. She basically has a negative view towards guys. And she's a quite the sourpuss (there is a better word to describe her, but amazon doesn't like hurtful words) It's funny from my point of view because she's not being mean to me, personally. She is insecure and very cold towards others except a select few. But the way Clementine's character is built is so... amazing. She has something that makes her different from others (being a bestselling YA author) yet she's so... believable. Real.By the end of the book, Clementine has let herself trust again. She overcame her fears and she let herself become vulnerable in order to grow and evolve and finally heal the emotional scars her past left her with.Gavin, is the usual hot guy in a book. Drop dead (lewd word for beautiful), smart, *cocky* yet sweet. Different from other guys. But the thing is, other books tend to really build up the other characters and introduce their background. Lex Martin did not do this. Instead, she built their characters through their present actions, mannerisms, preferences, and dialogue. And that is amazing. This clearly stated that Clementine is the focus of the book and that the true conflict in this books was hers to overcome. So whereas in other books the female protagonist overcomes the conflict of the book with the help of her love interest, Gavin had nothing to do with Clementine overcoming her own conflicts. Gavin was just the reason behind why she wanted to change.So even though the other characters weren't the focus and Lex Martin didn't give much back stories to the other characters, she still managed to make them engaging and exciting and colorful. Character development alone is hard, but she does with without giving too much focus on back stories and that is just amazing. This is just one of the things that lets me know that Lex has mastered many, if not, all elements of fictional writing.So there is obvious chemistry between Gavin and Clementine. The romance is cute and sweet and unique. Lex just manages to add a certain flair to her writing that makes it all seem so real. I can tell that the love Gavin and Clementine share is true. And it really melts my heart. I've read quite a few romance novels, but none quite like this. Not of this caliber. And the beauty of this is, that even though there is romance in the book and it is under the Romance genre. I can't say that it is a Romance Novel. But why would I say such a thing?In romance novels, the plot surrounds the romance. And the conflict is strictly about their romance and the drama it causes, like forbidden love or something. *gag* Don't get me wrong, this book is about romance. But the whole conflicts occurring in the book is within Clementine and her insecurities and her haunting past. And the whole plot is about how Clementine changes and finally overcomes her own internal conflicts. The romance was just an element that led Clementine to solve her own issues.And yes, there were *sex* scenes that were basically *erotica*. And *Erotica* is NOT my genre, mostly because they just tell you what happens step by step. BORING. Lex Martin SHOWS me what happens. She describes all the feelings and sensations Clementine is experiencing with the most acute detail and with creative use of words. Not only that, but she also focuses on Clementine's thoughts and really lets the reader become aware of EVERYTHING. So unlike *erotic* novels where they basically appeal one or two senses, Lex describes the scenes in a way that appeals to all senses, even her thoughts to add a clearer picture and allow for the reader be become immersed within her writing.Keep in mind, Clem is a regular-ish college girl. So of course she has lustful and sinful thoughts, but what I love is that lust and desire is not what makes up the whole *sex*. It's love.About 95% of the books I've read has the climax at like 97% of the book, and basically leaves no falling action at all. I am pleased to say that Dearest Clementine is not like those books. Note: the climax is where the main conflict has been resolved. In this case, when Clementine opens herself up and lets herself become vulnerable to trust again. This was not in the end of the book and I am so glad. This book actually had falling action and it was amazing. It didn't make the book boring after the climax. So Lex Martin is one of the few authors I know that has taken into consideration a critical element of falling action into the plotline.Now. Many authors struggle with creative writing and description. Lex might have had trouble with it, but I couldn't tell at all. It was expertly written and did create a clear picture using creative ways. For example:Instead of saying "we stared at each other"She would say something like "We gaped at each other like a couple of beached fish"I usually like book series better since it makes for a longer story that must be told. And I understand that sometimes you need more than one book to resolve the physical conflict (like winning a war or saving the world or something). This standalone book though... I felt like everything has been resolved and it had perfect closure. It does end with a kind of open ending,  [ Gavin and Clementine must meet their parents. And Gavin says he plans to give her her happily ever after starting that moment.] but I still feel content and I'm not left dying to have other questions answered. I was left satisfied. And I love it.Overall, I have to say this is an excellent book. And even though I loved The Hunger Games and Divergent and other big bestsellers. I have to say, Dearest Clementine is far better because this has so many Fictional Writing Elements within and it's rich with creativity, that this is basically art within and of itself. I have to say, I have never heard of Lex Martin before. And just by reading this one book, she is one of my favorite authors and I can tell that she is very talented and she knows what she's doing. I am beyond pleased with this read. It was, dare I say, perfect? Yes. Much so.Congratulations Lex Martin. You've written yourself a damn good book. No... that doesn't sound right. You've written yourself a f****n'' extraordinary novel.FIVE SOLID STARS!