{ARC Review} Frenemy of the People: Nora Olsen

Rating: 5.5/10
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ+,
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Publication Date: May 13, 2014
Page Count: 264
Source: Netgalley
Format: eARC

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Synopsis: Clarissa and Lexie couldn’t be more different. Clarissa is a chirpy, optimistic do-gooder and a top rider on the school’s equestrian team. Lexie is an angry, punk rock activist and the only out lesbian at their school.

When Clarissa declares she’s bi and starts a Gay-Straight Alliance, she unwittingly presses all of Lexie’s buttons, so Lexie makes it her job to cut Clarissa down to size. But Lexie goes too far and finds herself an unwitting participant in Clarissa’s latest crusade. Both are surprised to find their mutual loathing turning to love.

A change in her family’s fortunes begins to unravel Clarissa’s seemingly perfect life, and the girls’ fledgling love is put to the test. Clarissa and Lexie each have what the other needs to save their relationship and the people they love from forces that could tear them all apart.

Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Initial Thoughts: I'm sitting here, on a Tuesday afternoon, trying to figure out how on earth I should describe Frenemy of the People because it was such an unusual book. I have a lot of complaints about FotP particularly about word choice that may have been altered in the final novel.

Characters: If you expected some lovely rainbows and butterflies story where the main characters go through tremendous change and growth.... you won't be getting that here. Clarissa is an extremely unusual character in the aspect that she is an extremely ignorant one. I swear, I knew more than she did when I was eight years old than she did at almost eighteen. She has apparently lived an incredibly sheltered life in a ritzy home and neighborhood. Yet that is absolutely no excuse for being CLUELESS about your financial situation (which was going down south), and not even knowing what the word "foreclosure" meant. I could swear, I kept waiting for some point in the novel where she would do a (cliche) 180 in terms of character, and become this better person because of being in love and being exposed to the world. At least that would be realistic to the "movie magic" (book magic if you will) feel Nora Olsen might have been going for.

Lexie. Well, in the first chapter, I thought she was the contrast to Clarissa's severe idiot syndrome. And I was right about the contrast she provided.... for all of the first two chapters of the novel. After that, I was just reeling with major "What the hell is happening?" reactions. I honestly don't understand how this book made it past the editors, with a character being so complex and caring about worldly issues one moment to being downright juvenile the next. I hope this changed in the finished version, because if it didn't..... *crickets*

Clarissa's Coming Out: Somebody needs to punch this girl in the face, like right now.... please, somebody just punch her. I mean, I made a whole category of this review dedicated to her "coming out." I myself am not part of the LGBTQ+ community, so I can never know exactly how coming out works, and have never had the struggle of not being accepted for who I love. Yet I know enough to know that no one can just wake up one day and decide to be bisexual like Clarissa did. I am not kidding whatsoever, she was literally at a horseback riding awards event, texting her friends, and she decides she's bisexual. I mean, I would understand if she had been holding it in for a long time, and finally revealed it to her friends, but that SO was not the case. Somebody brought up the topic of kissing girls and BAAAAM! Clarissa declares she's bisexual. 

Just. Like. That.

Does anybody else who has read the book, or understand from what I am saying that that is the most unrealistic thing that could happen in a realistic fiction novel. Anybody?

Originality: As I was reading reviews, a pattern I saw was that a ton of people thought there were too many Lesbian sterotypes. Especially Carelessbookgeek who pointed out the stereotypes for Lexi as 

Vegan. Tomboy. Punk. Smartass. Doesn't Like People. Dumpster Diving.

Personally, I live in a very open, accepting environment, and was not aware of these particular sterotypes, but I do see how they could be very annoying an unoriginal. 

***Spoiler Alert***

Clarissa and Lexi ran over Clarissa's now foreclosed house with a bulldozer. Let me repeat myself. They ran over Clarrisa's house with a FREAKING BULL DOZER!!!! Does no one else see why I am so distressed and CAPS LOCKING here?!? This is the kind of thing crazy girls do in movies that wind up with them being arrested, or showing up on Pretty Little Liars. This book does not have witches and goblins. It is trying to be a story about two girls trying to navigate their lives in a generally conservative high school and be in a relationship. Not something that could, would, and never should happen.

***End Spoiler***

#Disappointment: What really disappointed me was the fact that the story of Frenemy of the People could have been told really well. It would have had the whole two-unlikely-people-end-up-in-a-relationship-against-all-odds situation, which is albeit overdone, but still could have been endearing and sweet. Instead the characters were so idiotic, plot events were generally impossible, and the book overall did not make much sense. I also think adding the LGBTQ+ aspect could have made FotP a novel that was truly thought provoking, about characters overcoming diversity. Instead, it almost seemed like something Olsen just tossed in to spice up the story a bit.

Conclusion: A story that could have been heartwarming, about change, and growing as a person, ended up annoying me a lot because of its unrealistic characters, and plot elements.

What about you? Have you ever had that one book that you just didn't enjoy, that felt like the author tossed in a bunch of ingredients into plot element stew and called it a day?

The Aesthetics: The Journey to Fortitude (1)

"Fortitude explores what lies in the heart of human emotions.... something that is not easily done with words. Yet, Sofia manages to do so through characters readers can relate to. A must read." --- Tina Chan @ The Book Landers

"Intelligent and thought provoking. Sofia weaves a tale through the lives of four individuals that will ultimately shape the journey of one. Fortitude is a beautiful exploration of social and emotional adversities that challenges the reader to examine the world around them before writing their own future." --- Mal @ LilaJune's Book Saloon

"Heartbreaking, sweet, hopeful. A thought-provoking tale of emotions, wholeness, and the tumultuous teenage years." Nathania S'Worth @ One Woman's Opinions.... About Books and Writing

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome to the mini series that will dominate my blog (not really) for the next five weeks known as The Journey to Fortitude. What is this mini series all about, you may ask. Well I don't know if anybody from Twitter remembers reading a tweet, asking if they wanted to hear about the writing of this lovely short story. And even if you didn't read that tweet, you're here anyway reading this post, right? 

*Sidenote: Did anyone notice the mini series title? The Journey to Fortitude? I didn't want to say "Behind the Scenes of Fortitude," and I think "The Journey to Fortitude" has a nice ring to it*

The Journey to Fortitude Schedule

6/15: The Aesthetics: The Journey to Fortitude (1) ---- This is this week's post where I shared the appearance (front/back cover, spine), official book pages (copyright, title, dedication, about the author), and of course, the backstory.

6/21: The Long Awaited Story Itself: The Journey to Fortitude (2) ---- This is the post you're reading right now, with is purely the short story/novella itself, and I can't wait for you to read it which ended up being a little under 10,000 words.

6/29: The Premise: The Journey to Fortitude (3) ---- This is where I talk you through the entire thought process that made Fortitude what it is today, the many different ideas when it came to premise, and everything else.

7/5: The Revisions: The Journey to Fortitude (4) ---- This is where I talk about revisions. Oh joy! A writer's BFF. Just kidding, they were really tough for me to do, especially because thoughts changed and evolved, but I talk you through the intense process, as well as working on the deadline.

7/13: The Annotated Version (5) --- I believe this title is self explanatory. A lot of English teachers butcher a story by making their students try to interpret different events, sentences, and so on. I have been victim of this cruel fate, and this is the closing post where I reveal the story behind each chapter so in the one in a million chance teachers would want to make their students interpret my writing, I would have the real answers here.

Ze Backstory

Before I start, I would like to establish (just for the record, you know) that I am not blind in terms of symmetry and font. I pixelated my middle/last name for privacy issues throughout all the images. As many of my lovely readers know, I love backstories, and of coures I am going to tell you the backstory for Fortitude -I mean, it is my novella. So, at the very end of April, my teacher told the class about an assignment we would have to have done by Open House. My peers that had visited the classrooms the previous year had already known about the project, while I was wary about it because I had assumed pictures were necessary. (Trust me, even my stick figures have issues) Luckily, my teacher quickly explained the guidelines, which were pretty chill, and didn't confine me in the box I had been trapped in all year long. Cue me thanking the heavenly lord above. 

These were the three guidelines: 

1. It has to be between 20 and 22 8.5'11 

2. It can be a chapter book or picture book 

3. No poetry

The assignment was met mostly with groans since we had just finished testing, and were only a month away from the end of school. But I, as the budding authoress (at least in my head) was simply ecstatic with the news. There were more groans all around as my English teacher (she seems to be famous by the amount of times I have mentioned her on my blog) also explained that students needed to make the book as professional as possible by adding a title, copyright, dedication, and about the author in their books.

Ze Title Page

The moment you open my book, you will see my title page which is extremely simple, as the only requirements were the title and author. I also inserted the "publisher" and logo of my publishing house, which if you zoomed in, you would notice is a compass rose. Fun Fact: My publishing house of Fortitude is actually a mock title of one of my personal WIPs. Invenio means "discovery" in Latin (thank you google translate), and I thought a compass was very fitting because they help people make discoveries.

Ze Copyright Page

On the other side of the page -when I say that, I mean the other side of the cardstock which I glued my other piece of paper on top of- you will see my copyright page. Now, I went a little overboard with this, trying to make it AS CLOSE to an actual books as humanly possible. All I needed to do afterwards was add the different genres Fortitude is catalogued under, and I would have been all set. As you can see, there is the notice about none of the book being reproduced -essential. The disclaimer that everything in the book is a work of ficiton. And various information such as the author and the font it was printed in -a nice detail. What I am most proud of on my copyright page is the one sentence summary of Fortitude that you would see as the blurb on lists such as the New York Times Bestselling. My mom was quite skeptical as how I could possibly sum up my story, when you read it next wekk, you will know that it is REALLY  out there, but I did it.

Ze Dedication Page

So I pondered my dedication page for quite a while because I honestly did not want to put "For my loving mother and father who helped me every step of the way." That is a great dedication if you want to thank your mom and dad for helping you with your novel.... it just wan't for me. I actually also reached out to my lovely friends from Twitter, and they said it wasn't too cheesy. I remember thinking of it and knowing that that is what I wanted to say. My hope would be that people who wanted to become authors would read this and be inspired, and that people who are authors would know that this book wouldn't have been possible without them. 

About Ze Author

The next 21 pages is the story itsef, and then it's the about the author. If you look closely, you might notice that the quote above my (exttremely blurred out) head is the same one on the Loving the Language of Literacy banner. (The blurring was done because I look like a dork in the mandated school picture that had to be included, as well as privacy reasons) And just for the record, since I'm already making this post all about myself, I might as well mention that the quote is mine. The funny part about it, is that it was taken from an essay I wrote this year, so it's kind of like recycling words.... ish. While my personal information is pixilated out of the image, you can see that I think where I live is too sunny, I like running, reading, blogging, writing, and quote pinning, and a multitude of other factoids such as my love for the Legend Trilogy (you know I had to put that in there). I promptly end the About the Author by mentioning the number one profession I would like to pursue (even though being a skilled under-the-covers reader is wonderful) is to become an Authoress like Jo March from Little Women, and write "The Great American Novel."

Sample Pages

These are just soem examples taken directly from the hard copy book itself, which displays the format that was consisten throughout the novella. There would be the chapter number, name/time/location stamp, quote, the chapter itself, and then repeat. As you can see, the chapter number was the largest font in Times New Roman 18, then name/time/location stamp was in Courier 12, and the quote itself was in italicized Times New Roman 12. And just for the record, there were A LOT of single sentences that were centered throughout the novel so I could accentuate my point. In case you were wondering, the name/time/location staamps were necessary because in each chapter, the narrator, date, and location that particular section of the book the story took place in, changed. 

So there you have it! The aesthetics and background for my novella Fortitude. If you liked the content of this week's post, stop by Loving the Language of Literacy next Sunday for the novella itself. No I would like to know, have you ever had a school assignment that was similar? Have you written and/or are writing a novel/novella of your own? Would you like to write as a profession? Tell me in the comments below and check back next week for the novella itself.

{ARC Review} Curses and Smoke: a Novel of Pompeii: Vicky Alvear Shecter

Rating: 3/10
Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult,
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Page Count: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley

Amazon ~ Barnes & Nobles ~ Netgalley ~ Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis: When your world blows apart, what will you hold onto? TAG is a medical slave, doomed to spend his life healing his master's injured gladiators. But his warrior's heart yearns to fight in the gladiator ring himself and earn enough money to win his freedom.

LUCIA is the daughter of Tag's owner, doomed by her father's greed to marry a much older Roman man. But she loves studying the natural world around her home in Pompeii, and lately she's been noticing some odd occurrences in the landscape: small lakes disappearing; a sulfurous smell in the air. . . .

When the two childhood friends reconnect, each with their own longings, they fall passionately in love. But as they plot their escape from the city, a patrician fighter reveals his own plans for them -- to Lucia's father, who imprisons Tag as punishment. Then an earthquake shakes Pompeii, in the first sign of the chaos to come. Will they be able to find each other again before the volcano destroys their whole world?

Do you know what time it is *does awkward dance that would get her thrown out of places* Backstory Time! If you have been visiting my blog for even a smidgen of time, you will know I am nearly famous for going off on tangents about how I got the book, why I read it, and so forth. This book.... this book sounded AMAZING. I am known to enjoy a his fic (historical fiction novel) every once in a while, and I thought this would be my perfect fix for the next month or so. When I saw it on Netgalley, my click-happy self requested the book, and I got accepted. Let me just tell you a little preview of my feelings. 

You know in those movies where they go into the scary house, or dangerous situation and know that something is wrong? Well, that's what happened the moment I started reading C&S. I could not put my finger on that something, and like that lovely GIF up above, I thought, "If I ignore that something, it will go away." 

So I kept reading.... and reading.... and reading.  

Fast Forward to around 20% or 70 pages of C&S, well that something wasn't disappearing, and that something now had a name. If you fast forward my reading experience to the end of the novel, that list of somethings is LONG. A few weeks ago, I posted my top 10 list of "Books I Almost Put Down, But Didn't" Curses and Smoke needed to be on that list, and the side of the list of the books I wish I had put down. Truthfully, I kept holding on and on by a thin thin thread (Maroon 5 song -Sad). I kept wishing I would get over that precipice of boredom and distraught. 

I didn't.

Where do I even start with this book? It might just be an "it's me not you" thing, but I had issues with the plot, originality, pacing, characters, romance, and especially the writing style.

Plot/Originality: Remember on twitter when I was talking about writing short stories and putting them into books for an assignment? Well one of my classmates wrote a love story set in Pompeii. I could get into how weird that is (immature teenage boy writing a love story), but that has nothing to do with this review. Anyway, he is not the best writer, and certainly not the most creative. Yet, he wrote a story with a plot line almost exactly following Curses and Smoke. I also know for a fact that he is not secretly a book blogger that receives ARCs. So.... that flushes the plot line and originality for Curses and Smoke down the toilet. Obviously, the star crossed lovers living in opposite classes is a universal theme, and one used often in historical fiction, but I honestly think that Shecter could have done something interesting with it.

Characters: Tag and Lucia made me want to rip my hairs out one by one. You know the phrase "still waters run deep"? Well how about "still waters are stagnant and that's all there is to it"? The characters were shallow, so not personable (not a word), and were almost like slabs of rock. The only case in which this would work with characters is if it was some high authority figure who seemed to be untouchable and whose walls seem unbreachable by anybody else. This was completely not the case. I didn't feel like I knew who they were at all, or that they had some storied past, or anything else. I literally had more connection with the destruction that the volcano made than with them. 

Romance: Their romance was freaking cliche. It was as if it was a scene from a play that went like this, "Hi, I'm Tag, I'm madly in love with you but we can't be together because I am a slave and you're the rich Domina that could have me executed if you wanted." The two of them together didn't seem like such a good match either because they didn't balance each other out, or were similar. They seemed a lot like Romeo and Juliette wannabes, stealing "amazing kisses" (from Lucia) in the woods, and wanting to run away together. Yay them *rolls eyes*. 

Writing Style: What got to me so much was the writing style of Curses and Smoke. This is a historical fiction novel. That means they are in the past. They are not supposed to sound like 21st century teenagers. I admit they didn't say, "Whatever" or "Duh," but it came pretty close to it with phrases like, "I got it." It was so seemingly modern, and frankly, poorly written. The description of action sequences,  who the characters were, and the emotions people felt.

Pacing: All you need to do is read my backstory to understand my issues with the pacing, paired with all of the other factors. I believe, that with the interesting premise, I could have given the book a higher rating if the pacing had been quicker, and the plot developed quicker. 

***Mini-Spoiler About Ending***

So, I was in the car on the way home from running, and I was telling my mom that books have gotten so cliche, your heart wrenches, you clench your fists, and you cry. All for what? The characters live, they get what they want, "they all live happily ever after." I love happy endings, if I love the characters, and sad endings make me want to punch authors. However, a majority of novels I have read in the past few months have had happy endings, and I just didn't want that to happen with Curses and Smoke. The synopsis sets everything up for a happy ending, but for the first time in forever (another song reference), it is sad. I am so sorry to admit this, but I was quite happy with the ending. I was like, "YAY! One of the MCs died!" This proves just how much of a connection (or lack thereof) with the characters I had. Everything about it was rushed, and if I had enjoyed C&S, I would have thought of it as a WTF moment.

Conclusion: I was highly disappointed with this novel because of the amazing premise, but the characters, plot, and writing style disappointed me.

{Blog Tour+Giveaway+Review} Only With You: Celia Gray

Rating: 7/10
Series: The Jane Austen Academy Series #5
Genres: Romance, Young Adult,
Publication Date: May 4, 2014 
Publisher: Gray Life, LLC
Pages: 
Source: Xpresso Book Tours 
Format: eBook

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Synopsis:Dive into the fabulous, fun lives of six Academy girls as their friendships are tested, torn and ultimately triumph…
Emma has it all – looks, money, and luck. It’s not like she keeps it all to herself – she’s totally committed to helping those less fortunate. AKA, everyone. She invites her heartbroken friend to help with a weekend charity event with an eye to matchmake, but when that friend turns her eye toward the guy Emma wants for herself, how will she choose between friendship and her own feelings?
* * *
The last thing that the girls at the elite Jane Austen Academy need is hot guys to flirt with. But over the summer the school has been sold, and like it or not, the guys are coming. And it’s about to turn the Academy—and the lives of its students—totally upside down…
The Jane Austen Academy series are modern retellings of Jane Austen classics set at a beachside California boarding school.

About the Author:
Website ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Cecilia Gray lives in the San Francisco Bay Area where she reads, writes and breaks for food. She also pens her biographies in the third person. Like this. As if to trick you into thinking someone else wrote it because she is important. Alas, this is not the case.

She’s rather enamored of being contacted by readers and hopes you’ll oblige.


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If I were to sum up Only With You in 10 words or less, those words would be - Light. Hilarious. Sweet. Fun. A Perfect Beach Read. 

Light: There are absolutely no 'deep' moments in this story, the only thing getting close would be that Anne's family lost the Academy, and Emma is actually insecure when she puts on a mask of superiority, confidence, and popularity. Besides that, everything else is a walk in the park in terms of subject matter, which would be perfect after a heavy contemporary novel, or a classic like Les Miserables.

Hilarious: Does this even need to be explained? It's Emma Woodhouse in the 21st century. That means the empire waisted dresses and delicate parisols are traded for form fitting sundresses' low coverage bikinis, and four inch stillettos. Then there is the whole matchmaker aspect of the story because Emma keeps on tryig to bring other happiness when doesn't want it herself -at least romantically. Gray translated this into modern times perfectly, sportscars, smartphones, and all. 

Sweet: Only With You is a retelling of the classic by Jane Austen, Emma. ***Mild Spoiler Alert if you don't know the story Emma*** Inthe story, Emma, Emma realizes that she is in love with her best gentleman friend, Mr. Knightey. It is positivey adorable how Emma tries to make Knight fall for her when he already has for all the years in their friendship. Emma has several trying-on-clothes sessions that end up with waist high piles and the decision to scrap everything and go natural. In fact, she makes quite a fool of herself in front of both Knight and her fest friend Anne, when she strips into just her bra and underwear, prepared to dive into her swimming pool. 

Fun: While some may see it as juvenile, I think the entire retelling is fun read for all ages. I mean....Emma texted her friends in order to set them up with a 911 emergency which she tried to disguise as needing help for her parents charity pet adoption event. The way Gray retells Emma is so fun and carefree, and modernizing it adds an extra perk which is also safe because the story of Emma translated to the 21st century could have easily gone wrong and been portrayed as a chick flick type book. Instead, the knowledge that this is a retelling makes everything even better.

A Perfect Beach Read: The story is only 135 pages, which would make one feel accomplished to have finished a book while at the beach. The plot is very relaxed and easy going, yet still compelling enough for one to read straight through. There are also no heavy duty action scenes or topics which would make it harder to come back to if one went to the water for a few moments, and then came back to resume reading.

Sidenote: I was afraid that because this is the 5th book in the Jane Austen Academy Series, that it would be hard to follow, but Cecelia Gray did a very good job at making sure you understood what was going on, and any other excess information -about Anne, Knight, or their other friends- wasn't too distracting, and didn't impact the my enjoyment or understanding of the story whatsoever.

Conclusion: If you're looking for the perfect quickie this summer, go out and purchase yourself a copy of Only With You, and be prepared to giggle.

{Blog Tour+Giveaway+Playlist+Review} These Gentle Wounds: Helene Dunbar

THESE GENTLE WOUNDS by Helene Dunbar
Release Date: May 8, 2014
Paperback, 312 pages
Publisher: Flux
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Tough Issues / PTSD

Sometimes I wish I’d lost a leg or something. Everyone can understand that. They never get it when what’s been broken is inside your head.

Five years after an unspeakable tragedy that changed him forever, Gordie Allen has made a new home with his half-brother Kevin. Their arrangement works since Kevin is the only person who can protect Gordie at school and keep him focused on getting his life back on track.

But just when it seems like things are becoming normal, Gordie’s biological father comes back into the picture, demanding a place in his life. Now there’s nothing to stop Gordie from falling into a tailspin that could cost him everything—including his relationship with Sarah, the first girl he’s trusted with the truth. With his world spinning out of control, the only one who can help Gordie is himself . . . if he can find the strength to confront the past and take back his future.

Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Goodreads

April 14^th – DanaSquare  – Review


April 15^h – The Reader and The Chef – Review


April 16^th – Angie's Reading Dungeon – Review/Playlist


April 16^th – Alice Marvels – Review


April 17^th – Escaping One Book at a Time – Review/Guest Post


April 17^th – Dizneee's World of Books – Review/Top Ten


April 18^h – The Happy Booker – Review/Guest Post


April 18^th – Loving The Language of Literacy  – Review/Playlist


April 18^th – Our Wolves Den  – Review


April 21^st – A Bump On A Log – Review


April 22^nd –  – Review


April 23^rd – A Diary of A Book Addict   – Review/Top Ten


April 24^th – Books & Chocolates  – Review


April 24^th – What A Nerd Girl Says – Review


April 24^th – Chelsea's Reading Adventures  – Review


April 25^th – The-Society.Net  – Review


April 25^th – Books With Bite – Review


April 25^th – Curling Up With A Good Book– Review/Character Profile

Helene Dunbar usually writes features about fiddles and accordions for Irish Music Magazine, but she’s also been known to write about court cases, theater, and Native American Indian tribes.


She's lived in two countries, six states, and is currently holed up in Nashville with her husband, daughter, two cats, and the world’s friendliest golden retriever.


THESE GENTLE WOUNDS is Helene’s debut novel with Flux Books.

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Playlists

Bands that no longer exist:

As anyone who writes to a playlist knows, the music you listen to day after day, and let’s be honest, year after year, while you’re writing, and revising, and then editing a book, tends to take on a life of its own. I know that I feel a connection to my playlist songs that is different from the connection I feel to a song or band I just happen to like and listen to casually. So it’s painful to see that connection severed because a band breaks up or is reincarnated in a completely different configuration. 
During the writing of an earlier manuscript, I discovered a band from Oxford, England, called A Silent Film (in the interest of honesty, I’m going to admit to hearing them through a blog post of Maggie Steifvater’s which is where I’ve found a number of bands who end up on my “favorites” list). I planned business meetings around their gigs, I’ve made close friends with people I’ve met at shows. I seriously dig them.
Then I discovered that most of ASF’s members used to be in a punk band called Shouting Myke. That Shouting Myke was actually playing live when I was living in Oxford and I didn’t know about it, will haunt me until I’m old(er) and grey. But I’m not sure I would have appreciated them at that point, anyhow.
I ordered an old, dusty, used copy of the Shouting Myke CD from the UK. And I laughed because they sounded SO different from ASF. But then I listened again. And again. And, well, again. And then I put almost every song on the CD on my TGW playlist. 
Now one thing about me and music….I HATE screaming. I mean, hate it. And this CD has screaming and it makes me cringe. BUT….the music and the lyrics and the lost “why doesn’t anyone love me-ess” and the “where do I fit in-ness” of this album just nailed so much of Gordie’s (and honestly Kevin’s and probably Sarah’s) angst that I had to get over it and just deal. These Gentle Wounds was better for that and if you can handle a little punk screaming, then check them out and then listen to the magnificence of A Silent Film. You can thank me later.

*I recieved this book from Lady Reader's Bookstuff fo review purposes which does not in the slightest affect my honest review of the book*

Where do I even begin with this book? How do I start telling you the numerous ways this book touched me? How do I even begin to try and explain when you haven't read it yet?

I think the best way to describe this is as a rich meal. These Gentle Wounds had all of the different types of foods that make you remember why you live to eat. The meat is delicate, and tender. The baked potatoe is drowned in butter, spices, and crispness on the outside. The wine (not that I've had any) is exquisite, it's scents permeating your nostrils the way only the high quality kind will. The bread is light, airy, and still warm from the oven. I hope you get the picture. 

The point is that this meal is something you wouldn't trade for the world because of all of its phenomenal qualities, just like this book. One of my highest praises, and I'm sure anybody else's if they have read These Gentle Wounds are the highly developed characters. Gordie, Sarah, Kevin, Jim, even the more minor ones have the quality that all authors strive for. It goes beyond being relatable, because what takes talent is making characters seem real when they're situations are extremely rare.

Gordie could be very standoffish, and off putting if he wasn't written well. In fact, that's whfat he thinks he appears as to the people around him. Instead, readers were given an inside look into his head. You're probably sitting there thinking, "That's what first person is supposed to do Sofia. Didn't you go through 3rd grade?" Like I said before about this story, you have to read it to understand. Gordie has PTSD because his mother did something unspeakable five years before. He wakes up soaked with sweat frequently, he goes off on 'spins' where he has vivid flashbacks and time escapes him. All he can feel is pressure from what happened to him. I could have ended up saying, "Okay....so what?" almost the entire book because of how bizarre the situation was. Instead, it was as if his character's hands reached out a touched my heart on the most incline way possible.  

Kevin, Gordie's half-brother, took the brunt of his step-fathers anger, which I am pretty sure you can interpret. It would almost make more sense if Kevin were the one with PTSD because of what Gordie's father did to him. Instead, we learn that Kevin is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to Gordie's protection and safety. He was sort of like Gordie's watch dog. If Helene Dunbar reads this review, she will probably be rolling her eyes and saying, "This review is crazy, first she compares my writing to food, and now one of my main characters to a watchdog?" Let me just explain, Kevin is loyal, Kevin is protective, and he would never let anything happen to his brother. At a young age, he had to deal with his step-father's abuse, seeing his biological father on a few occasions, and all of that transitioned into him becoming the sole-caretaker, and shrink, for his little brother. Kevin is basically Gordie's anchor in life, and you know that he would kill to keep Gordie safe.

Sarah is an interesting character. She's a photographer, ex-bad girl, sister to golden-boy hockey player, Luke Miller, and one of the most understanding characters I have ever met. She becomes Gordie's love interest in this story, and does more than you could ever imagine for him. To Gordie, Sarah isn't just some girl, she becomes his second anchor, and the only person outside of his brother that he can confide in. By herself, I don't think I would like Sarah that much, but through Gordie's eyes, I see what a magnificent person she is, and what it feels like to be in love. She listens wholly without judgement, she adds humor, a ray of sunshine, and proof that Gordie can love and be loved. 

It's amazing how well Helene Dunbar captures the act of falling in love, while the two of them are still teenagers. The reason that sentence is written so poorly is because I was trying to avoid the words ''teenage love" because their relationship is not just another flash in the pan. However, the sensations of falling in love when you are a teenager are there because of how Gordie experiences everything for the first time with new eyes. Their love is pure. There is a scene where it seems as if Kevin is about to beat Sarah up because he's afraid she will hurt Gordie. Sarah responds with a full arsenal of defenses to her love and admiration for Gordie. This might seem like nothing, but to Gordie, who is having doubts because of what happens at the story in that time, what she says means everything. 

On one of my many-category reviews, I have 'originality' as a category, and frankly, I don't know how this story could be more original. It's a tale of tough issues, grief, and sadness, but it also remains hopeful, and is about finding love, who you are, and how to face your fears. This one book will move mountains more than a thousand books in another genre. 

The mental aspect of Gordie is something I have never read about before. Everyone talks about being broken after something tough and having to put yourself back together again, but never what it's like to be broken inside your head. It's something that's incomprehensible to others, as the beginning of the synopsis says, but the readers are given a unique window to see what it's like. 

There is a lot more I can say, but it can't be put into words -unless they're about dogs or food- the feelings that were prodded and poked with this novel. My last plugin for all of you is that you have to buy this book when it hits shelves on the 8th of May. I normally am very conservative with my money, but you can bet on the day These Gentle Wounds comes out, I will be the first in line to get my own copy.