Katie McGarry
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Rating: out of 5 stars
Goodreads
When Drix was convicted of a crime--one he didn't commit--he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the new Second Chance Program, the governor's newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.REVIEW
Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor's daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn't may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.
When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle's parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix's messy life.
But sometimes love can breach all barriers.
Fighting against a society that can't imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves--Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence--and each other to finally get what they deserve.
I consider myself an official Katie McGarry fangirl and am ALWAYS excited to read one of her books. McGarry consistently delivers a story that is equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, and once again, she did not disappoint.
This book was packed with great characters.
Elle was a dutiful daughter, joining her parents on the campaign trail, wearing the clothes they wanted, styling her hair the way they wanted, keeping company with the boy they wanted, but she was desperate to blaze her own path. I felt very sympathetic towards Elle, because I thought her parents didn't see HER. She was intelligent, fun, big hearted, loyal, and wanted to use her position to do the right thing, but her parents never saw that. They only saw the things she wasn't. I was really happy that Elle had her cousin on her side, because she needed someone who loved her just for being her and not for what she could do for them.
Drix was grateful for his second chance and was making a valiant effort not to return to his old ways. He grew a lot during his incarceration and made a lot of discoveries about himself. Drix realized he wanted more for himself and formulated a plan to achieve those goals. I loved his determination and drive, but most of all, I love how loyal he was to his family. Drix really had a heart of gold, and I was immediately a fan. He didn't have much, but he had his family, and he treated them as his most precious possessions.
Speaking of "the family", this was probably one of my favorite aspects of this book. Drix's family was sort of non-traditional. His older half-brother was legal guardian to Drix and their half-sister. Dad was sort of a rolling stone, and all three mothers were MIA. The family was rounded out by their neighbors and one of Drix's friends from the program. We got to witness so many wonderful, fun, and emotional moments with this group. I would love to see more books from this world, because these characters are worth further exploration.
Besides being packed with great characters, this book featured a fabulous Romeo-and-Juliet-esq romance. Drix and Elle came from very different worlds. She had wealth, he was scraping by. She had a father in a position of power, he had two absent parents. She had a world of opportunities open to her, he was having doors slammed in his face. Yet, when their paths crossed on the midway, sparks flew. They tried to fight the attraction that was growing between them, and thank goodness attraction won, because I loved these two together. They just made the other person's world so much better. They cared for each other and supported each other. They provided comfort in times of pain and encouragement, when it seemed all was lost. Let's just say, I had no problem shipping these two.
Finally, there are the themes that run through this story. I am a firm believer and lover of second chances, and that was one of the major themes in this book. Drix came out of the program a different person than when he entered the program. He was focused and didn't want to revert to his old ways. It pained me to see him not being given the second chance he had earned. I had to watch people judging him based on his past and shutting doors that could lead to his future. Thank goodness he had his family and Elle to believe in him and prop him up after each setback.
Drix's story really revealed McGarry's passion when it comes to teens. One issue she tackled in this book was the school-to-prison pipeline. It definitely gave me a lot of think about, and I really appreciated her spotlighting the issue.
You won't escape without me commenting on the ending, and surprise! I was very satisfied by this ending. It was happy and sad at the same time, which sort of surprised me. Lots of good things happened, some bad things happened, but overall, it was very hopeful.
Overall: Another solid McGarry book, filled with friends and family, love and hope.
**I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
EXCERPT
~Ellison~
The two of us are different. Complete sliding scale different. The only thing we have in common, as far as I can tell, is that he appears about my age and that we are both wearing shoes. My sandals to his scuffed combat boots. His sagging jeans with rips and white T-shirt to my ironed khaki shorts and fitted blue top. My diamond earrings and gold bracelet with a heart charm to his black belt that has metal studs and silver chain that hangs from his belt loop to his wallet.
By looks, I should have more in common with the loser college boys, but it’s this guy I’m comfortable with. “What’s your name?”
He throws the ball, and he’s right, he sucks at it. While he has unbelievable power, his aim’s completely off. The ball hits the back curtain with a loud thud, then drops to the floor. “Drix.”
“Drix?” I repeat to make sure I heard him correctly.
“Drix. It’s short for Hendrix. Like Jimi Hendrix.”
“That’s cool.” Because it is.
I wait for him to ask for my name, but he doesn’t. Instead he says, “Are you here alone?”
He throws the second ball, and this time he hits the top of the three bottles, sending that one to the ground.
“No. My parents are here. I’m supposed to meet them at the convention center. What about you? What happened to the people you were with? Or are you here alone now?”
“Yes, but no.” Drix pulls his arm back, releases the ball, and when the ball hits the bottom bottles, my heart lifts with the idea that he won, but only one of the bottles goes flying. The other stays completely untouched.
He turns in my direction, but his gaze roams over my shoulder, then flickers to the left. Drix then glances behind him, and when he returns his attention to me he raises his eyebrows. “They appear to be gone.”
That’s awesome news, but I’m still stuck on his answer of “yes but no.” Honestly, I’m stuck on him. He’s a million questions without a single answer, and he makes me incredibly curious.
“My parents weren’t thrilled about me hanging out alone at the midway, but I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. It’s just Whack-A-Mole, you know?”
“And a ball toss.”
“And a ball toss. None of it should have been complicated.”
“Shouldn’t have been.”
“Elle!” Part of me is relieved to see Andrew craning his neck over the crowd. Another part of me is majorly disappointed. There aren’t many times in my life I’m left alone. Not many times I’m able to explore new places and people without someone hovering and not many opportunities when I would meet someone like Drix.
“Elle,” Andrew calls again. I wave at him, hoping it will buy me a few seconds, and he waves back in a way that tells me he needs me to walk in his direction. That works well for me.
“Is that a friend of yours?” Drix asks.
“Yes, but no.” I borrow his answer because it’s apropos. Andrew’s a few years older. More friend of our family than a personal friend of mine, and I don’t like the idea of explaining that my parents think I need a babysitter.
Drix’s mouth twitches at my words, and my lips also edge upwards. “I just made you smile a third time. Is this a Guinness Book of World Records thing?”
“I liked your answer.”
“I’m just creative like that.”
The two of us are different. Complete sliding scale different. The only thing we have in common, as far as I can tell, is that he appears about my age and that we are both wearing shoes. My sandals to his scuffed combat boots. His sagging jeans with rips and white T-shirt to my ironed khaki shorts and fitted blue top. My diamond earrings and gold bracelet with a heart charm to his black belt that has metal studs and silver chain that hangs from his belt loop to his wallet.
By looks, I should have more in common with the loser college boys, but it’s this guy I’m comfortable with. “What’s your name?”
He throws the ball, and he’s right, he sucks at it. While he has unbelievable power, his aim’s completely off. The ball hits the back curtain with a loud thud, then drops to the floor. “Drix.”
“Drix?” I repeat to make sure I heard him correctly.
“Drix. It’s short for Hendrix. Like Jimi Hendrix.”
“That’s cool.” Because it is.
I wait for him to ask for my name, but he doesn’t. Instead he says, “Are you here alone?”
He throws the second ball, and this time he hits the top of the three bottles, sending that one to the ground.
“No. My parents are here. I’m supposed to meet them at the convention center. What about you? What happened to the people you were with? Or are you here alone now?”
“Yes, but no.” Drix pulls his arm back, releases the ball, and when the ball hits the bottom bottles, my heart lifts with the idea that he won, but only one of the bottles goes flying. The other stays completely untouched.
He turns in my direction, but his gaze roams over my shoulder, then flickers to the left. Drix then glances behind him, and when he returns his attention to me he raises his eyebrows. “They appear to be gone.”
That’s awesome news, but I’m still stuck on his answer of “yes but no.” Honestly, I’m stuck on him. He’s a million questions without a single answer, and he makes me incredibly curious.
“My parents weren’t thrilled about me hanging out alone at the midway, but I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. It’s just Whack-A-Mole, you know?”
“And a ball toss.”
“And a ball toss. None of it should have been complicated.”
“Shouldn’t have been.”
“Elle!” Part of me is relieved to see Andrew craning his neck over the crowd. Another part of me is majorly disappointed. There aren’t many times in my life I’m left alone. Not many times I’m able to explore new places and people without someone hovering and not many opportunities when I would meet someone like Drix.
“Elle,” Andrew calls again. I wave at him, hoping it will buy me a few seconds, and he waves back in a way that tells me he needs me to walk in his direction. That works well for me.
“Is that a friend of yours?” Drix asks.
“Yes, but no.” I borrow his answer because it’s apropos. Andrew’s a few years older. More friend of our family than a personal friend of mine, and I don’t like the idea of explaining that my parents think I need a babysitter.
Drix’s mouth twitches at my words, and my lips also edge upwards. “I just made you smile a third time. Is this a Guinness Book of World Records thing?”
“I liked your answer.”
“I’m just creative like that.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.
Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine’s 2012 Reviewer’s Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.
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Are you pro or anti Whack-a-mole?
Let us know in the comments!
OOOH! I haven't read a Katie McGarry book in a WHILE now - I found them predictable and repetitive - but this one definitely sounds intriguing. I'll have to check it out <3
ReplyDeleteHave an amazing weekend!
Aditi
I hope you give it a try. I really enjoyed it!
DeleteI want to read this so much! Elle and Eric both sound amazing! Great review and th a la for sharing the excerpt too!
ReplyDeleteI am such a character driven reader, and Katie McGarry always gives me characters I can care about. I actually loved that scene, because it is where Elle and Drix first meet.
DeleteI have only read one book by McGarry and I don't know why I haven't picked up more. This sounds great and glad it had a good ending! Great review!!
ReplyDeleteI have read all but one (the second Echo and Noah book, but I have it), and I enjoy her stories. They are a little on the grittier side, but the romance is always sweet.
DeleteYay I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed this one! I agree with you on the family aspect. It was one of my favorite parts as well. Plus I always love seeing non-traditional families in books. Side note: I would love to see a book about Drix's older brother. He seemed like such an amazing guy. Great review, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteI think the brother, the sister, the cousin, the neighbors -- all of them, could carry a book. I would read them.
DeleteI haven't read a McGarry book yet, but have been eyeing this one for a while now because I like the cover, lol. I'm so glad to hear it doesn't disappoint. Great review and thanks for sharing an excerpt as well. :)
ReplyDeleteI love contemporaries and she does the gritty with a little angst quite well. Those elements don't always work for me, but they do when McGarry is writing the story.
DeleteI keep hearing about how great this book is, and now you're in the bunch. I definitely need to read Katie McGarry this year! Fab review.:)
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of both her series, but this one was a little different, in that there was some politics and it had a not-quite-an-HEA ending.
DeleteI am very excited about this book! I'm not a YA contemporary fan but I've had good success with her books. But you say there is a non-HEA ending??? Might need to wait on this one...
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Have a lovely week, Sam. =)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
It's a happy and sad ending, which totally fits the story.
DeleteIt's been far too long since I've read a Katie McGarry book. I always love them and this one sounds fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI have yet to be disappointed in McGarry. I docked a star, because of a small thing that happened in the story, which I didn't feel was necessary, but it was a great read.
DeleteThis one sounds excellent. I love that the author did a great job developing the characters. Great review!
ReplyDeleteShe always writes fabulous characters, and I always am able to root for them.
DeleteI haven't read a Katie M book before but I have seen so many reviews of them around. And you're right, that does sound like a very unconventional but interesting family! It makes me so curious. They also sound like really well developed characters too.
ReplyDeleteShe writes grittier contemporary romances. I am a fan. Her stories always have great characters, but also a lot of heart.
DeleteOH I completely agree! I absolutely loved this book! It was so beautifully told and I not only loved the characters but the themes you mentioned too. Fabulous review!
ReplyDeleteMcGarry just knows how to get me right in the feels, and the different themes she addressed really made an impression on me.
DeleteThank you so much! ~Jessica, InkSlinger PR
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure!
DeleteGreat review, Sam! I so agree with your observations about Drix's family. It wasn't traditional but it most certainly was a family. And I loved that he placed such value on that. On the flipside, I was disappointed in Elle's parents again and again. Their machinations and expectation had already driven away their nephew and they continued to do the same with Elle. Thank goodness she had her cousin... and Drix. They were so, so good for each other. :)
ReplyDeleteAs a single mom, I love a non-traditional family. I also fully embrace the idea, that we can make our own family too. Elle's parents. *sad face* The saddest thing is, parents like that really exist. Those who put their needs before the needs of their children.
DeleteI didn't realize you were a single mom (learned something new about you today!). No wonder you miss your girl so much when she's away at school. {hugs}
DeleteHer interviews don't look like they will be bringing her back to me either. *crying*
DeleteMcgarry is an author I always love. She may not always write books that are totally different (there always seem to be class themes in her book and there is someone from the wrong side of the tracks). I do love her books, though, and I am extremely excited to read this one (and maybe reread some of her old books too). Great review, you're reminding me why McGarry's books work for me.
ReplyDeleteMcGarry spoke on a panel at UtopiaCon back in 2015, and she eluded to a gritty background, and how books saved her. So, maybe there is something personal there.
Delete