In honour of Emmy and Oliver being one of my new favourite contemporaries of the entire universe…I’m writing a list! ISN’T THIS EXCITING?! I never write lists. (Har, har, humour me. I write lists every second day, but still.) I have a million reasons you need this book in your life, but I’m going to be concise (you’re welcome) although if you want to just ditch this list and run out and snaggle yourself a copy to eat right now — I’ll also let you. (I am a benevolent ruler.)
1. IT IS INSANELY ADDICTIVE AND I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN.
People kept calling me to participate in life but THAT WAS NOT OKAY! I didn’t want to ever put Emmy & Oliver down. I just wanted to read! I even read waaaaaay into the night, like a little reading rebel.
2. IT IS HILARIOUS, AS IN “CACKLING-LIKE-AN-DERANGED-HEN” HILARIOUS.
I couldn’t stop laughing! And I mean, OUT LOUD laughing! I LOVE TO LAUGH! (Ha! Ha! Ha! Haaaa!…and if you’re not singing Mary Poppins in your head right now, I’m disappointed in you.) I have no idea how Emmy & Oliver even did it so flawlessly — balancing such dark themes of loss and moving on, with downright HILARIOUS DIALOGUE. I cackled like a deranged chicken so loudly my dog got up AND LEFT MY ROOM. Ahem.
The banter is some of the best on planet earth.
“Sandwiches?” Drew hissed at me. “You’re terrible. Is there a dating elective at this school, because you need to sign up for it immediately.”
“Hey, who doesn’t like sandwiches?” I shot back. “People who hate life, that’s who.”
3. IT’S VERY FOCUSED ON FAMILY.
Obviously it’s about friendship and falling in love too, but there is a huge emphasis on family. Emmy lives next door to Oliver and he was kidnapped by his dad when he was 7. So this kind of knitted Emmy’s family very tight together (and made her parents uber overprotective). Also, all the characters (except Emmy) have siblings, who are mentioned (!!) and there’s sibling interaction between Oliver and his twin sisters and JUST LOTS OF FAMILY STUFF.
4. IT HAS A DARK SIDE (MWHAHAH YAY!) AND MAKES YOU THINK
Oliver was kidnapped by his dad. HIS OWN DAD. And he wasn’t abused or anything, so there’s a huge grey area right there. Does his dad deserve to go to prison? And Oliver was gone for TEN WHOLE YEARS before they “found him”. STUFF IS FRICTIONOUS. Please do not doubt my use of the word frictionous. It is a word. It is. Then there’s lots of sneaking around on Emmy’s part…because her parents are too over protective. But she sneaks out to go surfing. SURFING. Devious, right? And then there’s all the psychological damage of kidnapping, coming home to a family you don’t remember, etc, and etc. It’s a story with questions and it makes you think.
5. ALSO, EMMY’S PARENTS ARE FABULOUS.
Yes, they’re too overprotective. BUT! They were still funny and loving and the banter was beautiful to behold.
“I’m fiiiine,” I say again, suddenly aware that I was whining. “I’m fine,” I repeated… “I just have a lot of schoolwork and Caro and I…”
Both my parents froze with their forks to their mouths. “Caro and you what?” my dad said. “Don’t leave us hanging. Caro and I are joining the circus? Caro and I decided to become neurosurgeons? Caro and I have decided to reimburse our parents for the eighteen years’ worth of room and board that they’ve so lovingly provided?”
#writinggoals right here.
6. AND, OF COURSE, EMMY AND OLIVER WERE EXTREMELY ADORABLE TOO.
Now, I’m not usually a contemporary fan…But these two?! Awk! I ship them. Oliver was a sweetie, and Emmy was awkward and THEY JUST MESHED. IT WAS SO CUTE. And they surfed together!! (Lots of surfing in this book!) And they had hilarious banter and comforted each other in existential crises.
So what can I say?! I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was easy to read, and so entertaining and there were NO dull moments. My only quibble was how it ended. It didn’t feel right for the rest of the tone of the book. But who even cares?! I’m just going to sit here with all my feels and insist everyone eats this book. ASAP. Okay?!
THANK YOU TO SIMON & SCHUSTER FOR THE REVIEW-COPY! Emmy and Oliver by Robin Benway was published July, 2015.
Oliver’s absence split us wide open, dividing our neighborhood along a fault line strong enough to cause an earthquake. An earthquake would have been better. At least during an earthquake, you understand why you’re shaking.
Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. But now Oliver is back, and he’s not the skinny boy-next-door that used to be Emmy’s best friend. Now he’s the boy who got kidnapped. A stranger – a totally hot stranger! – with a whole history that Emmy knows nothing about.
But is their story still meant to be? Or are they like the pieces of two different puzzles – impossible to fit together?
-~-
YESSSSSS!!! *fist pump* I am so happy that you loved this one too, Cait! I agree with everything you said- especially the humour. It’s wonderful, is it not? I love how Robin Benway writes hilarious banter that make me tear up from laughing (THE BEATLES SINGING WAS UNFORGETTABLY FUNNY) and how I just can’t help but adore all her characters. Loved Emmy, her family and friends and Oliver. Also, love this review. <3333
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OMG YES THE BEATLES SINGING SCENES WERE GREAT. (I didn’t even know that about the Beatles?! So many fabulous things one learns while reading *nods*) And I agree! I think every character had complexities and humour and just afjdlsakfs how is it possibly to write them all so so well?! I need read everything this author has ever written now basically.
Your list is very persuasive. I think I should bump it up on my TBR 🙂
My job here is clearly done thing. *nods*
Witty banter FTW! I requested a review copy and this review is yet another reason of why I need it NOW. It sounds fantabulous and I’m really looking forward to it. Looking forward to the focus on family! And meeting Emmy and Oliver!
…Um, postman, you’re not too far away are you? Hurry and deliver my book, please! *grumbles*
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I HOPE YOUR POSTMAN IS FAST. I DO. It is so so delicious. *happy sigh*
THE BANTER THOUGH. Seriously, that kind of banter is just Tumblr levels of funny, and that’s RARE. I mean, books can be funny, but Tumblr is typically a whole new level of funny. But then, contemporary. And I’m always nervous when people point me to the Land of No Dragons and Magic, even if it’s the Frictionous Land of No Dragons and Magic. But all those quotes are just *grabby hands*
I AGREE. I mean, I read a lot of funny books, but not THIS funny. I was snorting out loud (hence my dog being 1000% done with me) but this author was just A+ with the banter and comebacks. :’) But I agree, the Land of No Dragons and Magic is super scary. This is a very pleasant holiday out of it though, but I did have to recover, afterwards, with copious amounts of dragonese books. *nods*
OH OH OH OH I LOVE ME SOME BANTER. ANd my sister read this because she was looking for “cute books” and she liked it so I’m excited. ALSO THE PARENTS SOUND WONDERFUL. AND SURFING. Eeeek can’t wait to read this 🙂
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I saw you’re reading this on Goodreads now. HOW DO YOU LIKE IT SO FAR?!?
I have heard so many AMAZING THINGS ABOUT THIS BOOK AND I JUST NEED A COPY SO BAD! *flails* Banter?! Family goodness?! Romance?! A touch of darkness?! GIMME GIMME!
IT IS JUST THAT GOOD. Omg, why didn’t I even give it 5-stars?!? It probably deserves it and I was just being stingy on that day. XD
I love books with witty humor! I was chuckling over the quotes that you put in, oh my land, they sound hilarious. XD
And I just wanted to say too that ever since your post about food in books, food scenes keep sticking out to me a ton now. (they never did as much before) I was reading my book the other day on the way home from the store and in the process of fifteen minutes the charries made burgers, lasagna,;had cupcakes and tea… O_O I was already hungry and then to read that…AH! Why do they have to make food sound so delicious without letting us have a sample? XD That’s what I want to know. 😉
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SANDWICHES! <3 It won my heart right there. *happy sigh* omg, but does this mean I'm INFLUENCING your reading?! hehe Clearly my job here is done. *nods* AND IT'S SO TRUE. Food in books always sounds ridiculously delicious and gives all sorts of torturous cravings.
I don’t usually enjoy YA contemporaries, but even I’m convinced by your enthusiasm. I like it when people just unabashedly love a book. And the premise does sound interesting. (Surfing is fascinating to me, but I doubt that I will ever try it!)
The last book I couldn’t put down (ahem, last night) was “Relativity” – a really early ARC that I’m reading for a review program. It’s a family drama about tragic secrets and physics and an adorable child named Ethan. (And it’s set in Australia, by the way)
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Oh oh but me too! Like I seriously am 86% dubious by most contemporaries, but this?! WON MY HEART. And I’m the same about surfing! I have the coordination of a sad pineapple, and would not survive surfing, but it looks amazing.
SET IN AUSTRALI?!? *scrambles for Goodreads immediately*
I. Must. Get. My. Hands. On. This. Book.
Gah!
YES YOU MUCH. IT CALLS TO YOU. IT NEEDS BE EATEN IMMEDIATELY.
*libraries and checks this book out like a person who doesn’t have 10000000 other things to read like QoS* YES YES YES witty banter is the best and I like it a lot. I loved some of the wittiness in Go Set a Watchman, which I finished ten minutes ago (uh, not to make you jealous or anything…) I’ve been listening to the Dream thieves way too much even when I should be doing other things. This sounds fabulous. I AM SO EXCITED TO READ IT.
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AH YOU AnD ME BOTH MY FRIEND. I keep diving into the library and then smacking myself away because so. many. books. My TBR is ridiculously high at the moment and I need eat it fast and get it under control. OMG GUESS WHAT I HAAAAAVE. *prances around holding audiobook of Go Set A Watchman* I’M GOING TO READ IT SUPER SOON. I just have to finish 36 hours of the next Game of Thrones book. (oops. hehe)
The quote on the number 5 is so hilarious. No wonder you liked this book so much. 🙂 And I love witty banter in books! They make the characters more interesting. I love snark, humor, sarcasm! This one sounds like something I’d really like. 🙂
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I know right?! THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT FOOD. MY HEART IS WON. <3
And oh, Cait! Speaking of witty banter, have you read THE F-IT LIST by Julie Halpern? Because that book is so full of wit and sarcasm. I laughed out loud dozens of times while reading it. 😀 I just thought it’s something that you’d enjoy. (Bonus: the MC loves horror movies and is kinda obsessed with zombies/zombie apocalypse.) 😀
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YES! Basically I am totally with you on this, so good, so adorable, so much witty banter! I may swoon. This and ‘Night Owls’ are competing for my favourite contemporaries of the year, because both of them are just super awesome and GAH MY FEELS. So glad you loved this one so much! <3
Rosy @ The Review Diaries recently posted…Review: Drowning is Inevitable by Shalanda Stanley
YES ME TOO. Night Owls was just SO FUNNY. I wasn’t expecting it to be funny but ahhhhh, so much BANTER.
I would read a book where the faceless characters sat in a white void and did nothing but exchange witty banter quite happily. 😉
The last book I couldn’t put down…that would have to be All Fall Down…which I read back in January.
ME TOO. Why doesn’t someone write that book? BECAUSE I WOULD BUY. I can never resist epic dialogue. :’) Omg, but that was so long ago! YOU NEED READ MORE GREAT BOOKS.
Ooooh, this sounds interesting, especially the whole idea of him being kidnapped by his father. I feel like that doesn’t happen enough in books, and it’s such an intriguing thing. I actually know a family where the mother kidnapped the three younger children, but I think it was only for five or six months. Ten months though… Clearly I need this book. Also, I’m always up for humor and witty banter, so I’ll definitely have to think about adding it to my list.
Let’s see, the last book I couldn’t put down would have to be A Game of Thrones. I mean, I put it down and all, but I read it more quickly than I normally do with thick books. And I had to force myself to read more slowly and pay attention to other things that needed to get done.
But anyway, I need Emmy and Oliver. Thanks for sharing!
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I’ve only read it twice! It happened in I’ll Be There, but that book was horrifically written, blah, whereas Emmy and Oliver was GORGEOUSNESS. *falls in love with book and eats it* Oh oh but that would make this a personal read for you if you know of people who’ve had this happen to them. :O I hope their circumstances worked out okay.
I’ve been meaning to read this book since before it came out, but since our library wants me to suffer it still says “On Order”. It’s September and it came out in JULY. And it still says “ON ORDER.” Grrr.
I kind of want to cave and buy it but there are so many other awesome books that I could get. Like Heir of Fire. Or The Improbible Theory of Anna and Zak. Or various other ones that I want and love. Plus, I adored The Accident Season so I might just need to buy it, too.
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Omg your library does that too? MINE IS CRUEL LIKE THAT. I’ve literally been waiting for Mosquitoland for eeeever because it’s “on order”. *growls* Clearly whoever makes books no longer on order is not a fast moving person. HEIR OF FIRE THO. THAT ONE NEEDS READING. And I want to buy The Accident Season because I adored it so much. *sniffles with happiness*
Oh oh oh I want to read it!!! It sounds like my cup of tea. I think this one has potential (for what, I don’t know. Potential for me to adore it, yes) The cover looks lovely. And there’s FOOD references!! YAY! I love your list, it’s really great. And OF COURSE frictionous is word ♡
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It does have potential for you to love it. Absolutely definitely. It calls to you, Rebekah. LISTEN TO IT. And yes, we need make frictionous a word because it’s so much fun to say. :’)
I totally recognised Mary Poppins! And this books sounds really good. I’ll check it out (whoops, just found out that Shanti checked this and One out. This is really interesting. What’s your reviewing strategy, because it sounds like this was really good, but not 5 stars, with only 1 main problem? Anway, great review!
shar@weavingwaveswords recently posted…Milk Tea book tag
YAY FOR ANOTHER MARY POPPINS WATCHER! (We are actually few and far between…what is this world coming to?!) Shanti clearly has epic taste though. gO SHANTI. And also GO YOUR LIBRARY for having so many new releases! 😀 I mean, well, this one isn’t THAT new but still. My library takes like a year to get a book in. -_-
*whispers* I’m just really stingy with my 5-stars at the moment. xD
I DO love books with witty dialogue. And I really want to read this one. Love your list – lots of fantabulous reasons to check this one out. I like Emmy’s parents; too cute, even if they are over-protective. Makes sense though.
-Lauren
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It DOES kind of make sense why they were wildly over-protective…but when they’re stopping her from going to college, it seems a bit extreme right?! Like they were SO NICE and then…so crazy. o.O
Agh now I really want to read this! I saw it at my library the other day but skipped it over in favor of a few other books… Now I hope it’s still there the next time I go back. And yes, that quote from Emmy’s dad is funny! #writinggoals for sure. Surfing, too, sounds fun. I don’t think I’ve read a book with surfing in it.
Mallory @ The Leaning Tower of Tomes recently posted…Reviews — Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice and Les Miserables
YES DO GO BACK FOR IT!! One day I will write as effortlessly and brilliantly as this. *wishes hard* XD I think I’ve read, like 2 books about surfing now?! But seriously…not enough. Surfing is AMAZING. (To watch, not do. Omg, I don’t have that kind of coordination or strength. I am a weak melon.)
Urgh! I read this today, and it was so unspeakably adorable… now I want to take up surfing and move back in with my mum. Let me be a teenager again, please! (To give you some context, right now I’ve spent all day looking after screaming three year olds… and then got home and had to look after a mental puppy. And I’m writing this with another (much bigger) dog sitting basically on my lap, because the puppy has terrorised him too much. So yeah, running away to the sea and getting my surf on sounds PERFECT right now!)
Beth x
I want to take up surfing tooooooo. BUT IT LOOKS SO HARD. And seems to require coordination. BAh. Life is full of such complexities. I’ll just eat sandwiches and be happy.
I’m happy you enjoyed this one!!! I loved it as well, for all of these reasons. It kind of blew my mind that a book with a subject that usually gets dark could have so many cute and funny moments, and humorous characters to break through the drama. I agree about the ending too, I wasn’t AS pleased with it as I could have been. GREAT LIST. I hope it influences many, haha.
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I know right?!? Like how were they so deftly balanced?! WHAT WIZARDRY WRITING IS THIS?!? I just wanted a bit more from the ending…I mean, for the book to be all about leaving and then have everyone just say “okay and see ya later, bai” and GO?!? It didn’t feel right. 🙁
Given the topic, I didn’t think that this one would be so funny! I’m glad this is your new favorite contemporary of all contemporaries!
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I know right?!? Like the US cover looks like it’ll be super dark, and then this UK cover looks like it’ll be totally fluffy…BUT IT’S REALLY A NICE SOLID MIXTURE AND SO FUNNY.
Oh, this sounds so good! I’m really looking forward to reading it! I do love awesome dialogue! Whether it’s witty banter, or brilliantly written flirting (reading Night Owls now, and I’m loving the flirting! I need this book to be glued to my hands so I can read it whenever/whatever!). So you’re thumbs up for the dialogue has me super excited! As does your thumbs up for this whole book. Reaaaally looking forward to it!
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Omg Night Owls is just a dream with all the bantery flirting. I SHIPED THEM SO HARD. *squeaks and ships* And yesss, basically if a book has epic dialogue I’m so in.
AWWWW, this one sounds aweeeesome! And your photos are gorgeous – seriously! Also, A+ for the use of a Mary Poppins gif.
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YAAAY YOU GOT THE MARY POPPINS PART!! *awards you with scones and tea or whatever Mary Poppins lives on* XD
Yayyyy I”m SO glad you loved this. I thought you would. I mean, it’s kind of impossible not to for all the reasons you just listed in your lovely list. Gahhhh I love this book. THIS is what I want contemporaries to be.
The last book I couldn’t put down was The Fixer. SO addictive! I recommend it. 🙂
It was just entirely TOO EASY to fall 100% in love, I say. :’) Okay, like 90% in love, but I’m stingy with my 5-star ratings. IT STILL DESERVES ALL THE LOVE OF EVER THOUGH.
You are stingy with them. I need some of your restraint. 😉
I just saw on Goodreads that you also loved Made You Up, and I’m really excited about that, too. You’re making your way through the books I think you should read! Now you just need Every Last Word and Simon vs. 😀
YES AREN’T I BEING GOOD?! hehe But Simon is seriously on my to-buy list for next month. *nods* Because I trust you and when have you let me down?!? NEVER, MARAIA. YoU ARE WONDERFUL.
OH NO, PRESSURE. *collapses*
<3
Yes to all of these things you have stated. The banter between them all was the BEST part. I loved the way all the friends talked and interacted – it seemed real. Plus her parents were pretty awesome.
Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog recently posted…Monthly Rewind ~ August 2015
Banter is just such a huge win for me, always and always. *hugs this book for eternity* Why don’t more books have parents like this?!?
Frictionous? I mean, okay. IF YOU SAY SO. BUT ONLY BECAUSE YOUR PHOTOS ARE SO PRETTY.
But ughhhhhh, this book. THIS BOOK. I finished it way faster than I’ve finished like any books this year and IT WAS ALL JUST TOO CUTE. I agree with absolutely everything you said!!
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I ONLY SAY 100% TRUE THINGS, YOU KNOW THIS OF ME, ZOEY.
Reviews I the form of lists are the best.
Also… I hate sandwiches.
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They truly are. BUT YOU SANDWICH HATER. WHERE IS YOUR HAPPINESS IN LIFE????
i have coeliacs disease… so not a lot of happiness… or sandwiches.
AWWW. I UNDERSTAND THIS. I don’t eat gluten either (or actually any grains) but I still eat delicious bread made out of seeds/nuts. It’s weirdly amazing all the things you can still have without gluten. o.O
Ermagerd so I hardly ever read contemporary despite the fact that contemporary books are literally splashed across the whole of booktube/bookstagram/book blogs in general but emmy and oliver seems super interesting! I mean… your style of reviewing probably definitely helped but you know.
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I am awfully convincing, aren’t I? :’) ALTHOUGH!! It does take an awful lot for a contemporary to impress me…soooo…this one just gets mega-points. XD
Surprise, surprise: I felt the same way about this as you did! LOL – will wonders ever end? 😉
I completely agree with everything you’ve said here. The friendship and family dynamics are some of the most realistic ones I’ve ever had the opportunity to read, and I loved that. The romance was just a bit lacking for me, but I really did love it overall. I love the way it made you think and how it showed you that adults are people too and that they make mistakes just like everyone else. And wasn’t the sarcasm and humor on point?
Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fantastic review my twin! ♥
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WE SHALL CEASE TO BE SURPRISED SOMEDAY. XD (Although I gave Made You Up 5-stars just now so….oops! #bookishtwinfail XD) AH BUT YES OMG. I loved that the adults were actually part of the book instead of just the blurriness in the background. *nods* THIS is how parents should be written IN EVERY BOOK OF EVER.
I’ve heard so many fabulous things about this book and it sounds completely hilarious and adorable! I love the quotes that you’ve picked out as well, it really does sound like a fun read. Lovely review Cait!
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SANDWICHES. <3 AHEM. (Gee, I need a new topic. I think I've mentioned sandwiches every day this week, haven't I?!?)
You make it sound so good! I LOVED “Audrey, Wait!” by Robin Benway but was a little less thrilled by “The Secrets of April, May and June” which was sad because it was a sister book and I usually love books about sisters. Sigh. So that’s the reason I still haven’t tried Emmy and Oliver. But I think after reading your review I’ll have to bump it up on my TBR!
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Omg, she has more books?! I NEED TO READ THEM CLEARLY. But yes, yessss, this one is like the light of my entire month, tbh. I just giggled and sobbed and just generally adored it. :’)
This book makes me so, so happy. Everything about it- even the parts that made me cry, because yes, that is absolutely possible. First, I want a Drew and Caro set for myself. I can order them online, yes? And they’ll come to my house and be my new witty best friends for all time? Thought so. Next, I need an Oliver. I don’t know where to find one because I didn’t live next door to any. But maybe they sell them on that Drew and Caro website, at least, fingers crossed.
In seriousness, I adored this book way more than I thought I would. I thought it was just going to be some fluffy contemporary, but NOPE. It was kind of fabulous. Fine, completely fabulous. I love the Australian cover too. I have it on my wishlist because the US one is kind of gross.
Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight recently posted…Bite Sized Reviews: Early September Edition
I want a Drew and Caro set too. When are they going to be readily available for purchase? MAKE IT HAPPEN, SHANNON, I’M COUNTING ON YOU.
AHH ME TOO THOUGH!! 😀 I usually avoid contemporaries, but when I saw even the harsher reviewers giving it top marks I was like “this I need in my life ASAP” and I ATE IT AND IT WAS GOOD.
Woah, I need to read this book now. Like right now! It sounds super adorable and awesome, and I really need such a contemporary read to my life right now. I’ve been diving into high fantasy left and right continuosly and I really need something different!
Plus, Emmy’s parents sound awesome! I like it when books include cool parents like that, rather than featuring conveniently absent ones who never “understand” the MC.
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Ah fantasy is my utter favourite but contemporary is so EASY to read next to it, right?!? I love to break up the intense fantasise with some fluff. XD ALTHOUGH THIS IS MORE THAN MINDLESS FLUFF. *nods emphatically*
YAY!! So glad you enjoyed this one! I loved the humor and the family and friendship dynamic in this book. We don’t get to see that very much in YA books.
OH AND I LOVE THE NEW LOOK *stares at the pretty* *pets screen*
Christy @ Novel Ink recently posted…CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTY!
I know, right?! Actual INTERESTING and developed and loving parents in a YA book!? *gasp* what is this phenomenon. XD
Hilarious dialogues? Dark side? Cute characters? Focused on family? Realistic? You’re practically screaming my name!! I can’t wait to read this book. It looks so cute and I’ve been dying to get it for months now. Great review!!! Last book I couldn’t put down? HmmmI think that would be The Child Thief by Brom. It was so dark and beautiful at the same time.
Vane J. recently posted…Review: Everything, Everything
I AM SCREAMING YOUR NAME. I’M JUST SAYING, VANE, READ THIS. YOU NEED IT IN YOUR LIFE. *nods* I definitely want to google The Child Thief now…dark and beautiful is screaming MY name. XD
Aww this sounds cute. I saw this in the library today and I hovered for a minute and then left it there because I generally hate YA contemporaries but now I’m wondering if I should go back for it next week! I love anything involving surfing so I’m pretty much sold just on that.
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Omg, you and me both, my friend, with being dubious of YA contemporaries. But I saw this one getting such rave reviews (from tough reviewers!) and I have zero self-restraint. I JUST NEEDED IT.
I seriously love the photographs in this post, Cait! So pretty! Also, the Mary Poppins gif is beautiful. I LOVE that movie with all my heart. I LIKE BOOKS THAT MAKE ME THINK. That’s one of the best things about books, and I’m always disappointed when books fail to make me WONDER and FEEL. Also, good parents in YA? That’s never been heard of before! ;D
THAT MOVIE IS TOTALLY AMAZING. And omg I only found out this weekend, but did you know Tim Burton is remaking it?!?!??!?!??! I’m not sure how I feel. D:
Ahem. Anyway. Haha, but totally. -_- Where are the good interesting and well-developed parents in YA? Are they hiding. Omg, AUTHORS, PLEASE FIX THIS.
I LOVE WITTY BANTER. HOW DARE YOU, EXCITEMENT OVER THIS IS NOT STUPID. THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY, OMG. I ALSO LOVE BEFRIENDING THESE TYPE OF WITTY PEOPLE IN GENERAL. Deadfall by Anna Carey. Sped through that in like a day.
IF WITTY BANTER CALLS YOUR NAME, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. YOUR NAME IS ON THE FRONT COVER, BASICALLY, WESAUN. GO READ IT. IT WAS MADE FOR YOU.
Contemporary is not my fav genre either, but this book sounds adorable, and I like the problem that it tackles, which Oliver’s ‘kidnapping’ being such a unique case. Hehe, everyone IS hilarious, I’m not surprised you couldn’t stop laughing heh heh xx
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Ahhh, I LOVE laughing in books. *cackles wildly* So that alone makes in insta-awesome, but honestly? I also felt uber sad for Oliver’s complicated family, too. I mean, his dad was wrong, but…maybe not evil?! IT TOTALLY GIVES ME A MILLION QUESTIONS.
Okay, this sounds absolutely fantastic! Those quotes. So hilarious! Banter can make a book for me. I could hate everything else and will probably still cherish it for the banter. It’s just- just’- I don’t even know. If it’s funny I’ll love it.
You have me laughing in the middle of the night while everyone else is asleep. If they are asleep. . . if not they clearly think I”m weird (aw, what else is new?).
Also, I love your photos. Especially that one with the apples. I don’t know why. It’s so atmospheric.
I think I have to read this one. If there’s ever a contemporary I’ll just pick up and read and FINISH, it sounds like it’ll be this one. 😀
ME TOO. That is me exactly. All kinds of faults can just collapse in the face of epic banter that makes me snort and giggle and makes my dog 1000% done with me. XD NO REGRETS. *ahem* Aww, thank you, though! 😀 I’m glad you like the photos! I’m totally the complete nerd who sits there eating an apple and then goes “WAIT. PHOTO OP.”
Yay I loved this book just as much! I think my favorite aspect was Emmy sticking her tongue out at Oliver for the first meeting, and then seeing their relationship develop from awkward to LOVEEEEEEE. It was adorable.
😀 Glad you enjoyed it Cait!
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Omg they were SO ADORABLE. It was like they were back to being 6 years old. XD HAHA. Ship at first sight? Is that a bookworm thing!??
It sounds like such a cute story! I’m not always into boy-meets-girl romance, but I could definitely use some known laughs on my TBR list, so I think this is one I will definitely have to check out! Thanks for the rec, Cait!
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WITTY BANTER IS WHAT MAKES A BOOK PERFECT!! If at least one character has attitude worthy of Jace Wayland, nothing can go wrong! Oh, and the last book I couldn’t put down? Throne of Glass, by Sarah Maas. I’m still reading it at the moment, but like I said, can’t put it down. So if you’ll excuse me *dashes off carrying book and much chocolate*
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Great review Cait. I think you enjoyed this one a little bit more than me. I definitely think it was an adorably cute read, and I loved that aspect of it. But certain little things bothered me whilst reading. Like her parents. They were RIDICULOUSLY over protective, in a way that made little to no sense to me. They were funny at times though. But I enjoyed the book overall.
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If there is banter in a book you can basically sign me up already because I will definitely be there any day! I am so looking forward to when I get around to reading this one because I do own it but haven’t started it yet! Don’t even ask me why because I have no idea whatsoever DD: I also love when YA books are focused on family, so I think I will appreciate that side of things as well.
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