Author: Leila Sales
Publisher: Farrar, Straux and Giroux
Publication Date: September 15th, 2015
Source: Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Recklessly loyal. That’s how seventeen-year-old Arden Huntley has always thought of herself. Caring for her loved ones is what gives Arden purpose in her life and makes her feel like she matters. But lately she’s grown resentful of everyone—including her needy best friend and her absent mom—taking her loyalty for granted. Then Arden stumbles upon a website called Tonight the Streets Are Ours, the musings of a young New York City writer named Peter, who gives voice to feelings that Arden has never known how to express. He seems to get her in a way that no one else does, and he hasn’t even met her. Until Arden sets out on a road trip to find him. During one crazy night out in New York City filled with parties, dancing, and music—the type of night when anything can happen, and nearly everything does—Arden discovers that Peter isn’t exactly who she thought he was. And maybe she isn’t exactly who she thought she was, either.
What I thought
I won't lie and say I wasn't expecting a cutesy contemporary with some cutesy scenes to make me squeal. I was, because, well... the cover does have two people holding hands. However, what I got was something drastically different than what I was expecting. Not that this is a bad thing, it just was't what I bargained for.
The book follows Arden Huntley, recklessly loyal and quite frustrating. I like selfish people, I am one of these people. As such, understanding Arden was a bit hard for me throughout most of the story. I mean, her boyfriend seemed like a decent dude but I would have none of this shit (or so I would like to think, seeing how I've never been involved in a romantic relationship with decent or indecent guys), or her relationship with Lindsey. Which is why I loved the blow out by the end there. Seeing Arden standing up for herself and growing so much in one night was what gave this book the extra point five.
The writing itself was kind of hard for me to get into. I'm used to first POV contemporaries, and why it wasn't anything bad the voice was kind of hard for me to get into at first. It also made me feel a bit detached from the story and the characters themselves. Once I got used to it, though, I was fine.
My favorite thing about this book, however, was the slight commentary on how we sometimes idolize people and how when that idolization comes crashing down you might just find a completely different person. So, never just blindly follow anyone, kids. Also, it had kind of a Manic Pixie Boy (is there such a thing? If not, there should definitely be, or is it just Cute Guy Suddenly Not Being So Cute?) going on, which I appreciated. Let the roles be reversed for once.
All in all, it was a good read, but it's not supremely most fabulously outstanding and incredible. I think that was one too many adjectives, but we'll go with it.
No comments:
Post a Comment