Don't Even Think About It: JK you HAVE to read this!

Review:

Title: Don't Even Think About It

Series: Don't Even Think About It #1

Author: Sarah Mylnowski

Publisher: Orchard Books

Publication Date: March 11, 2014

Format: Hardcover

Genre: YA; Contemporary; Fantasy; Romance 

Blurb:

This is the story of how we became freaks. It's how a group of I's became a we.

When Class 10B got their flu shots, they expected some side effects. Maybe a sore arm. Maybe a headache. They definitely didn't expect to get telepathy. But suddenly they could hear what everyone was thinking. Their friends. Their teachers. Their parents. Now they all know that Tess has a crush on her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper. Some of them will thrive. Some of them will break. None of them will ever be the same.

My Thoughts and Reflection:

I'd never read any of Sarah Mylnowski's work before picking up Don't Even Think About It.  I read Amber's (from The Mile Long Bookshelf) very convincing review and knew I had to give it a try.  I requested it from the library and grabbed it yesterday along with a large stack of numerous other reading materials.

I was on my laptop earlier watching Netflix, but was getting annoyed with T.V.  I turned to my stack and was drawn towards Don't Even Think About It.  Why, I'm not sure.  But here I am a couple hours later having finished the book in one sitting.

I was completely annoyed with the version of the cover my copy has (above, left) but I'll get into that later.  My copy had a larger font size than I'm used to but I quickly got over that as well.

I was drawn into the story and the characters; it was like they were pulling my along.  I already knew the premise, but it got me excited to see everything play out in the beginning and how everything ended up.  The plot was curiously entertaining and while at some parts, in retrospect, were slightly predictable (obvious foreshadowing), I didn't pick up on it was I went along.

The fact that the book is told not from one point of view, but by everyone's, was awesome.  (The POV was everyone at once, together in a group).  Throughout the story there was this great group commentary on the conversations and situations that the characters had gotten themselves into.  (The group narrating narrates in past tense).

All of the characters were intense and amusing.  Their situations were relatable, quirky, and fun to read about.  I had uncontrollable laughter throughout this book, much to the annoyance of my brother.  The thing that I like most about the characters is the way that Sarah Mylnowski wrote their situation.  There was a large number of students who have the telepathy.  In the story, there are characters that are focused on more than others, and that was perfect.  It's often painful as a reader when authors incorporate way to many characters, and it detracts from the story.  The reader is aware of many additional characters, and test, they are all casually mentioned, but I never felt overwhelmed but the amount of characters.

After finishing this book, I was shocked by how much I had enjoyed it.  I laughed a lot, I was excited for the characters and the way that they story progressed.  I don't know why I was shocked, though.  Perhaps it's that I don't really favorite a lot of contemporary reads.  (Although is this even contemporary?  Fantasy in present day?  I don't know…)

Conclusion:

This is one of the funniest, most entertaining books that I've read in a long time.  Readers who like contemporary with a little twist with enjoy this, along with readers who are sick of one person narration or female centered stories.  And ummm, how am I going to wait until 2015 for the sequel?  I haven't craved more from characters or a writer in a long time.  FAVORITED!

Dust Jacket Ramblings:

As I mentioned earlier, I am not a fan of the hardcover cover (above left).  I think that the use of models forces the readers to imagine the characters in a certain way, and with this book it is very unclear which girls on featured here.  With that said, while I do prefer the paperback cover (above, right), I don't think that either of them does the book justice.  The paperback cover is simpler and I love the silhouette  design, but it's color and the fact that the silhouette is of a girl is clearly meant to appeal more to girls (not to say that guys can't like pink, but no one can deny gender stereotypes in cover design).  Anyway, the single girl doesn't represent the large group of characters featured in this book, and in no way encourages male attention.  This is a book that really represents both genders, and it angers me that a blatant gender stereotype was used in the making of this cover.  This book will lose many readers because of the way that the book is designed.  As much as people like to say "Don't Judge a Book by It's Cover", everyone, especially cover designers, know that's not true.  Sorry for ranting, I'll probably write a discussion about this.

The Summer of Skinny Dipping: A Flopping Fish in a Sea of Summer Contemporary

Review:

Title: The Summer of Skinny Dipping

Author: Amanda Howells

Series: Summer #1

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: June 1st, 2010

Format: Paperback

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance

Blurb:

There Are Some Summers You'll Always Remember

Sometimes I wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of looking up at the moon and feeling as invisible and free as a fish. But I'm jumping ahead, and to tell the story right I have to go back to the beginning. To a place called Indigo Beach. To a boy with pale skin that glowed against the dark waves. To the start of something neither of us could have predicted, and which would mark us forever, making everything that came after and before seem like it belonged to another life.

My name is Mia Gordon: I was sixteen years old, and I remember everything

My Thoughts and Reflection:

I picked this book up at the library randomly because I had just gotten my new library card and felt super excited to put it to use!  Anyway, the library was relatively small and I was short on time so I grabbed the first thing that appeared to be relatively entertaining.  I had never heard of The Summer of Skinny Dipping but I was all, "Hey, it's summer.  It's probably a fluffy read, why not?"

In the very beginning of the book, we meet Mia, our down-to-earth, naive, brown haired protagonist who is pretty much one of the most MarySueish characters I've actually read in a real book.  Quickly the reader is engulfed by the multitude of family troubles that she is plagued with on their drive to stay with their perfect cousins in the Hamptons.  So, middle class girl, staying with rich family members, already feeling like stories that I've read before.

The majority of the book focuses on Mia's selfish cousins Corrine and Beth and their Gen (who all have these crazy ragers and get drunk).  Mia struggling with how much Corrine had changed since they last talked and that pretty much is 2/3 of the book.

Then we meet Simon, the boy next door who's family has money but not enough to impress with millionaires and billionaires strutting up and down the beaches.  Of course, he's the son who is an artist and want's to backpack around Europe instead of going to Buissness school.

Overall, Simon was an okay character.  He was poorly fleshed out, and where he was it was compiled mostly of stereotypes so he didn't feel like a real person at all.

Of course, the last third of the book basically consists of literally everything that Mia thought to be true falling apart, as was quite foreseeable as the book had gone on.  The last couple chapters felt unnecessary and the ending was typical and not at all a surprise.
Howells was not a particularly graced author.  She was not talented in her sentence structure nor her overall story arc.  There were no metaphors or similes or anything to show off a lick of talent in this women.

Conclusion: 

If you are looking for the most bland summer read ever, I say go for it.  If not, try some nice old-fashioned fluff from Sara Dessen.*

Dust Jacket Ramblings:

There was nothing special about this cover.  Of course it used my number one cover pet peeve (a model), and the model wasn't even accurate for the book.  (It is mentioned numerous times that Mia's swimsuit is a two piece navy, not this flawy peach thing).  The beach seen made since considering that this book takes place in the Hamptons, and the typography is alright.

*Now, this book was just okay.  However, I did read the blurb for the sequel, The Summer of Sneaking Out, and it was much more promising.  I'm not sure how it connects to Skinny Dipping, but who knows?

Nantucket Red: The Dreamy Island Returns

Review:

Title: Nantucket Red

Author: Leila Howland

Series: Nantucket #2

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Publication Date: May 13th, 2014

Format: ARC

Genre: YA; Romance; Contemporary

Rating: ✎✎✎✎

Blurb:

Cricket Thompson's lifetime of overachieving has paid off: she's headed to Brown University in the fall, with a spot on the lacrosse team and a scholarship that covers almost everything. Who knew living in the dorm cost money? An Ivy League education seems to mean living at home for the next four years.

When Cricket is offered the chance to earn enough cash to afford a real college experience, she heads back to Nantucket for the summer. But the faraway island challenges Cricket in ways she hadn't anticipated. It's hard to focus on earning money for next year, when she finds her world opening up in entirely new ways-to art, to travel, and, most unexpectedly, to a future completely different from the one she has been working toward her whole life. A friendship blossoms with Ben, the gorgeous surfer and bartender who encourages Cricket to be free, even as she smarts at the pain of seeing Zack, her first love, falling for her worst enemy.

But one night, when Cricket finally lets herself break all her own rules, she realizes she may have ruined her carefully constructed future with one impulsive decision. Cricket must dig deep to fight for her future, discovering that success isn't just about reaching goals, but also about listening to what she's been trying to ignore-her own heart.

Thoughts and Reflections:

*May Contain spoilers for Nantucket Blue

I'm not sure why the blurb is so long, there isn't much going on in this book.

I read Nantucket Blue earlier this year and it just didn't do it for me.  I thought that Cricket was foolish and whiny and made awful mistakes that were boring to read about.  However, when a friend gave me this ARC I figured that I might as well try it out, and I'm glad that I did.

Although the blurb seems to suggest otherwise, the first part of the book follows Cricket through her senior year in high school, which to say was relatively uneventful despite some boyfriend drama.  When summer arrives and Cricket heads to Nantucket the book's pace begins to pick up and lots of fun occurs.

Cricket makes some new friends, reconnects with the old, and has a much more exciting summer then the last.  I felt much more connected to Cricket throughout all of her shenanigans.  While she was still foolish, she was less whiny and the tiniest bit more grown up.

I got frustrated at the end of the book, however, when Cricket makes a mistake that could permanently change her life she does everything that she can to get that life back, but then she questions her actions?  What????  That was the only time in the book that I found myself comparing her to the old wishy washy Cricket.

There was a lot more side character development in this book that I was excited to see because that differed from the Cricket centered book that was Nantucket Blue.  Howland spent more time fleshing out the other characters lives as well and that made the overall book more balanced.

Conclusion:

While this is still a fluffy summer read, I'd recommend it.  Honestly, you could probably read it without having read Nantucket Blue and that would most likely be more enjoyable.

Dust Jacket Rablings:

I love this cover.  I think it encompasses the story very well and is visually appealing.  I'm not usually a fan of models on covers but the fact that there are no faces makes me not hate this cover.

*I did hate the cover for Nantucket Blue:

It is more sleazy, you can see their faces, (and some boobage).  It gives the impression that this book was about sex, when it wasn't.  Thumbs down on this one.

Confessions of a Hater: Highschool Drama Meets Nerds at it's Finest (Oops, I Mean WORST)

Hey!  I'm sorry that I never fully wrapped up everything with Armchair BEA.  I really meant to, but I was swamped with finals and graduation and this Talent Show that I was somehow dragged into… Anyway, now it's summer, and I'm free to read and blog as much as I want (which means 24/7).  Just kidding! :)

Review:

Title: Confessions of a Hater

Author: Caprice Crane

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Publication Date: August 27th, 2013

Format: Hardback

Genre: YA; Romance; Contemporary, Nerd Lit

Rating: ✎✎✎

Blurb: 

Hailey Harper has always felt invisible. Now her dad has a new job and the family is moving to Hollywood. Just what Hailey needs: starting a new high school.

As she's packing, Hailey finds a journal that belonged to her older sister, Noel, who is away at college. Called "How to Be a Hater," it's full of info Hailey can really use. Has Hailey found the Bible of Coolness? Will it help her reinvent herself at her new school? Will her crush notice her? Will she and the other Invisibles dethrone the popular mean girls? After all, they deserve it. Don't they?

My Thoughts and Reflections:

This book certainly played nicely off of every cliché "Nerds/Outcasts" fight back against the popular girls but then end up becoming, (pardon my language) the same kind of bitches themselves.  

I've read lots of books with those story lines, and while this one was unique and had it's own flare, it's still a cliché, and was still very predictable.  I'm tired of reading over and over again about these mean, rich, white girls who just abbsotlutey take it out on everyone who is not them.  I am a person, and I live in society, and in all my life, (granted, it is not over yet) I have yet to come across a person who is anywhere near the kind of cruel soulless person this author made her character be.  Hollywood and yes, book culture, has somehow created this façade that bullying is widespread and cliques overrun middle schools and high schools.  I'm not saying that bullying doesn't happen, because I know it does and it is awful.  And I know that there are lots of cliques in lots of different towns with lots of different levels of meanness.  What I'm trying to point out, is that this "rich, white girl" clique is overused, is not overly common, and doesn't apply to all of teenager hood.  

Pardon my rant, I just wish that authors could find something else to write about instead of repeating this soggy leftover trash over and over again.

Anyway, we start off the book meeting our protagonist, Hailey Harper, who considers herself to be invisible, and has a slew of problems with the cliquey and bully girls at her school.  Hailey's world is turned upside down when her family moves across the country to Hollywood, (I can't remember where she moved from, either it was explicitly stated or the author didn't bring it up enough for me to catch it).    In the meantime, Hailey discovers her older, (cooler, prettier, skinny, blah blah blah) sister's journal and decides to make her "Bible" or sorts to become a hater.

Hailey waltzes into California and immediately is picked up by the popular crew, and even meets her super cute neighbor Andy (I don't think that this book could get any more cliché) but of course, she stays true to her roots and ditches them for "real friends".

The book plays on after that in a predictable manner.  All of Hailey's character development is expected and doesn't stray from what I assumed would happen.  No other characters experienced any change in their demeanor.  The high school drama and family troubles were as boring and ABC Family soap-oprea isn as they come.  The few stray plot lines that thickened this book were hastily (and poorly) wrapped up towards the end of the novel.  All possible things were tied up in a neat and orderly bow and it was gross.

Conclusion: 

This book was a flop.

Dust Jacket Ramblings:

I really like the cover of this book.  I think it is balanced nicely and played on Hailey's comic strip and artistic skills that are so mentioned throughout the novel.  Pity that such a fabulous cover incases such a horrendously written book.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Review:

Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Publisher: Simon and Shuster

Publication Date: February 21st, 2012

Literary Awards:

 Stonewall Book Award (2013), Printz Honor (2013), Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Children's/Young Adult (2013), YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (Top Ten) (2013), Pura Belpre Author Award (2013)

Format: Library Copy (except that now I want a copy for myself!)

Genre: YA; Romance; LGBT; Contemporary*

Rating: ✎✎✎✎✎✎

*This book technically takes place in the 80s, but it has the contemporary vibe like Eleanor and Park.

Blurb:

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

My Thoughts and Reflection:

I've been in a reading funk lately.  Nothing has seemed appealing, I've been exhausted from school, and my friend got me addicted to Grey's Anatomy.  Luckily, I've gotten some sleep, controlled my addiction (am only watching one episode every couple of days) and finished Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.  This book not only pulled me out of my reading funk, but utterly impressed me, and has earned itself a spot on my favorites list. 

I picked up ADDSU (do you like my acronym?  How about I just call it AD?)  So I picked up AD a couple of weeks ago at one of my many trips to the local library.  I didn't pick it up for any specific reason.  I had heard vaguely promising things, and it was quite the impressive amount of awards stacking up.  So I figured, why not?

This was one of the sweetest, most raw and contemporary books that I've read in a long time.  Sáenz grabbed you by your shirt collar and dragged you in to these character's lives.  He pushed their emotions down your throat until you felt pain along with the characters.  He pulled back and wrote simpler when there were softer moments in the story.  Sáenz wrote a beautiful story of hurt and sorrow, a story filled with goodness and light.  I found myself licking up every page, ignoring the fact that this was a plotless book; instead I was engrossed in the characters lives.  Now, plottless is a little harsh.  This book strayed from the formatted rising action/climax/falling action that lost of books follow.  Honestly, the straying worked for this story, and I can't imagine this book with a more disciplined plot.   I think that it would have stolen the focus from the characters, and that's why you keep reading as a reader.

Aristotle and Dante.  From the moment we meet these two characters, the reader knows that we are dealing with two very special boys.  We meet Aristotle first.  And Aristotle is angry.  Aristotle is angry at his parents, at his brother, at his sisters, and at himself.  At first it seems that he is just a typical teenager with family problems and a miserable social life.  But those facts do not completely define who Aristotle is.  Yes, Aristotle has family problems, but it's not as if he ignores them or enjoys them.  He acknowledges them in every pretense of his life.  He lives out his life in the shadow of his brother, he wanders a house with the ghosts of his sister.  He struggles with his mother's prying, and sits in frustration with his father's silence.

Dante changes everything.  That is a big statement; to say that one character altered the entire story.  But Dante did. 

Dante is special in all the ways that Aristotle isn't.  Dante is honest, confident, quirky, and kind.  He is talkative, persuasive, and many of the things that Aristotle isn't.  Their friendship is certainly a rocky one, with many twists and turns that change the course of both their lives.  

The most important thing about Aristotle and Dante, and their relationship, is what they teach each other.  Aristotle teaches Dante to slow down, to enjoy the silence, to have strange moments in the rain.  Dante teaches Aristotle to open up, to speak his feelings, and to push his own boundaries.  

Dante is sure of himself for pretty much the entire book, which is the opposite of Aristotle.  Aristotle is wishy washy, confused, frustrated, angry, and mean.  All of the things that teenage boys are made of.  But all the goodness and confidence that is Dante, helps Aristotle become the person, the man that he needs to be.

Aristotle also helps Dante overcome, or sort of get a new perspective on being Mexican.  Ethnicity and origin are not a big part of this book, certainly not as big as in other books I've read.  It is more subtle in this book, which was nice.  It brought out different things, like insecurities with Dante, while not taking away the focus from the characters.  The reader didn't suddenly become distracted by the debate about Mexican culture in America, instead of staying focused on how being Mexican made our character feel.  Sánez balanced these concepts very professionally.

Dante also teaches Aristotle to be open with his parents, which sort of awakes the monsoon of questions, conversations, and yes, tears.  Finally, the silence, the prying without depth, comes to an end.  Aristotle gets answers to the things looming in his life, and he also renews his relationships with his parents. Of course their relationships aren't perfect, I mean, he is a teenager.  And teenager besides, no relationship is perfect.  But Aristotle and his parents make wonderful strides with wonderful results.

My favorite characters, by far, were Dante's parents.  They were so honest, so real, so genuine.  I loved to think that such good, honest people could possibly exist in the world.  Their love for Dante, and for Aristotle is admirable.  Sánez had very developed secondary characters, and background stories, with out being overly detailed.  

Love.  My favorite part of this entire book was the amount of love that gets passed among all of the characters.  Love that is given, returned, lost, and forgotten.  I have not felt such love, such heartache, such happiness or pain as I did reading this book.

Conclusion:

This book was an amazing mix of beautiful characters, roller coaster lives, and articulate writing.  I would recommend this to fans of John Green, Eleanor and Park, LGBT YA, and honestly, if you like a quality book, just pick this up.  Even if you don't fit into the other fan categories that I just listed.  Believe me, you won't be sorry.

Dust Jacket Ramblings:

I think that this is one of the best covers of a book that I have seen in a long time.  The font of the title captures the imaginative essence of the book.  The doodles and illustrations capture Aristotle and Dante individually.  I like how both sides mirror each other, but are unique.  The red pick up truck certainly brings attention to Aristotle's beloved truck, which is the definition of  his summers with Dante.   Overall, I think that this is a cover that is just for this amazing story.  

Everyday: An Alternative YA Romance

Review:

Title: Every Day

Author: David Levithan

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 28th, 2012

Literary Awards: American Library Association Rainbow List Top 10 (2014) and  YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults (Top Ten) (2014)

Format: Library Copy

Genre: YA; Contemporary; Alternative; Romance; Fantasy

Rating: ✎✎✎

Blurb: 

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

My Thoughts and Reflection:

I wouldn't say that I'm an expert on David Levithan's work, but I would say that I am familiar with it.  I have read Will Grayson, Will Grayson (which he co-wrote with John Green!!!) and Dash and Lily's Book of Dares (which he co-wrote with Rachel Cohn).  I guess that this is my first book that is written solely by Levithan.

Anyway, I've had Every Day on my to-read list for a while, and when I saw it a the library I picked it up because, why not?

I love the beginning of this book.  Just after reading the first paragraph, the reader is thrust into our protagonist's world.  We feel their emotion, feel their struggle.  The set-up and explaining in this book are quick and to the point.  Within two pages of the beginning the reader rarely needs further explanation for the magical concepts in this story.  Levithan paints a wispy, dream like premise.  Despite the bizarre circumstances, A is a very relatable protagonist.  The reader feels all of this empathy for A's situation.

I thought that A was a complex protagonist.  They are quite relatable in their feelings.  They feel these raw emotions about family and relationships.  This story gives a new perspective on separation anxiety.  

This story focused mostly on the annoying romance between A and Rhiannon.  Rhiannon was such a real character; so much like a lot of teenaged girls.  That's what defined her and ruined her.  Yes, she was one of the most realistic characters that I've read in YA, she was almost too realistic.  I just couldn't concoct with Rhiannon, so that made me distant from this story. 

I wish that with this concept of waking up in a different body every day Levithan had focused more on the family side instead of the romantic relationship side.  I know that the family concept was talked about, I just wish that it had been more of the focus.

I also wish that Levithan had explored more about the gender ambiguity that A has.  In this story, it's more a problem in relationships than just being something that A thinks about.

I wasn't exactly impressed with the plot.  It was sort of boring a predictable.  All of the characters actions had obvious consequences, or there was just wayyyy to much obvious foreshadowing.  However, Levithan does have a talent for beautiful writing.  Here a couple of my favorite passages;

"This is what love does: It makes you want to rewrite the world.  It makes you want to choose the characters, build the scenery, guide the plot.  The person you love sits across from you, and you want to do everything in your power to make it possible, endlessly possible.  And when It's just the two of you, alone in a room, you can pretend that this is how it is, this is how it will be." (Pg. 175)

"It is my father who looks diminished now.  As if when someone close to us dies, we momentarily trade places with them, in the moment right before.  And as we get over it, we're really living their life in reverse, from death to life, from sickness to health." (Pg. 266)

I felt that we didn't get to know any other secondary characters, which was disappointing.  Secondary characters are some of my favorite parts of stories, because I love how their lives impact the protagonists so greatly.  But anyway, I missed getting to now more about the other lives in this story.

Conclusion:

Overall, I was less impressed with this book than anything else that I've read my Levithan.  I really liked the premise, except I disliked the focus on romance.  I really enjoyed some of the character development, but found it lacking in other places.  Overall, the magical writing really held the poorly plotted story together.

Dust Jacket Ramblings:

I love that this cover is in black and white, I think it adds a layer of simplicity to the story.  I like the clouds and the floating characters, except that I dislike that they made A be a male.  He is not a male for the entire book, and I wish that A's gender ambiguity had been more properly represented on the cover.

In Other News:

I finally got a twitter for the blog!  Check it out: Twitter

~Remy

If You Could Be Mine: Raw Contemporary Romance

Review:

Title: If You Could Be Mine

Author: Sara Farizan

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Publication Date: August 20th, 2013

Literary Awards: American Library Association Rainbow List Top 10 (2014) and  YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults (Top Ten) (2014)

Format: Library Copy

Genre: YA; Contemporary; LGBT

Rating: ✎✎✎✎

Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Sahar has been in love with her best friend, Nasrin, since they were six. They’ve shared stolen kisses and romantic promises. But Iran is a dangerous place for two girls in love—Sahar and Nasrin could be beaten, imprisoned, even executed if their relationship came to light.

So they carry on in secret—until Nasrin’s parents announce that they’ve arranged for her marriage. Nasrin tries to persuade Sahar that they can go on as they have been, only now with new comforts provided by the decent, well-to-do doctor Nasrin will marry. But Sahar dreams of loving Nasrin exclusively—and openly.

Then Sahar discovers what seems like the perfect solution. In Iran, homosexuality may be a crime, but to be a man trapped in a woman’s body is seen as nature’s mistake, and sex reassignment is legal and accessible. As a man, Sahar could be the one to marry Nasrin. Sahar will never be able to love the one she wants, in the body she wants to be loved in, without risking her life. Is saving her love worth sacrificing her true self?

My Thoughts and Reflection:

When I first read the blurb of this book, I was completely intrigued.  After reading a couple of pages, I was completely engrossed.  I ended up finishing this book in one day.  If it weren't for school, I probably would have finished it in one sitting.

I tried describing this book to my father.  I didn't go with the obvious thing, and just reword the blurb for him.  I really thought about it, and came to the conclusion that above all the heartbreak, character development, and culture knowledge I gained through reading this book, the most important thing is that this book is progressive. Keep that in mind.

I have personally never been to Iran.  I don't know that much about it either.  I have studied the Middle East and Islam in school, and I suppose Iran shows up in the news, but that is the extent to which I can say that I knew about Iran before this book.  After reading this book, I have found that I am a lot more informed about the culture, laws, social expectations in Iran.  It's not often that I learn so much from a book!  My favorite part about learning as I read was that our protagonist Sahar was not telling us the rules.  It all came up in dialogue, or my favorite, when she was reflecting on something to herself.  It became apparent quite early on that Sahar had opinions on a lot of different laws in Iran.  I am impressed with the talent that debut author Sara Farizan has revealed.

Sara Farizan opens up the story in the beginning, which is the proper place to start, I suppose.  The reader is introduced to our protagonist Sahar and her best friend Nasrin, as children.  I think that showing characters as children is a very smart move by any author.  Childhood is the root to what people become later.  It reveals begins of troubles, the loss of innocence, and provides a backstory that is often necessary to truly grasp each character as a whole.  In this story, this childhood setup gives the reader the knowledge of the intense and deep relationship that Sahar and Nasrin have.

  

After the initial setup, our conflict is introduced.  Nasrin has become engaged!  Sahar is overcome with shock and betrayal.  The courtship had occurred in secret for weeks; Nasrin had not divulged a single detail.  Sahar is blindsided, and ignorant with love.  She is willing to do anything to keep Nasrin.

Parallell to the drama with Nasrin's engagement, Sahar's cousin Ali introduces her into this different world in Iran.  A world with people of Western ideas, where homosexuality and  being transgender is totally acceptable.  Sahar is not exactly appalled at first, because she is in no denial of the homosexual thoughts and actions that have occurred.  She is most curious about the transgendered.

In Iran, gender reassignment is seen as a solution to nature's mistake.  It is not only completely legal, but the procedures are funded by the government.  (That's really cool!!!)  Sahar becomes friends with someone that Ali knows, named Paraveen.  Paraveen is a gorgeous, kind, sucsesfull, confident, transgender girl.  Sahar is shocked to learn that Paraveen was once a man.

Despite the painful details of the procedure and social drama that Paraveen shares with Sahar, (being transgender is legal in Iran but not always socially accepted), Sahar is convinced that this is the solution to being with Nasrin.  Paraveen helps Sahar on her journey of sexual discovery.

I almost consider Paraveen to be the fairy godmother in this story.  Paraveen is wiser and more experienced than Sahar, but she also lets Sahar make her own mistakes.  Paraveen is never able to fully fix things for Sahar, but Sahar helps Paraveen to.  As the story progressed their friendship became more equalized; Paraveen becoming less of a mentor and more of a friend.  My favorite part about Paraveen as a character is that she was not perfect.  She had been through hell and back, and had the marks to prove it.  Even with all of her gorgeousness, she had flaws too.  I think that it's interesting that her hands remained "mannish", although it sort of makes sense.  Reconstructive surgery on hands would seem tedious and frivolous after everything else that Paraveen went through. 

Ali remains almost the fool of the story.  He makes obvious mistakes, but always seems to have fun.  He leads this glamorous life, that Sahar comes to realize is actually not so glamorous.  

Ali symbolizes a lot of the social rebellion in this story, and most importantly he teaches Sahar a lot.

Sahar's family life and economic standing come into play a lot in this book.  The reader learns early on that Sahar's mother is dead, and she only lives with her father (although Ali is a frequent visitor in the home).  Sahar's mother's death has caused a major change in Sahar's father.  He suffers from absent parent syndrome, and I don't mean that in the way that a lot of YA books are being criticized (where the parents have some vague excused absence for the entirety or majority of the book), I mean in the way that Sahar's father is depressed, and in turn ignoring her.  This is all something that Sahar acknowledges, and she certainly thinks about it quite a lot. 

I was sad to see Sahar go through all of this pain with Nasrin; unable to confide in her father.  Granted, even if he had been more doting, she probably wouldn't have told him considering that her actions and feelings are illegal, but Sahar does wish that he even noticed that something was wrong.

Nasrin's family is richer than Sahar's.  Sahar's father builds furniture, but hasn't been doing as many pieces since her mother's death, and what he does do is not his best workmanship.  This social difference is just another thing that drives a nail between Nasrin and Sahar.

This book is focused around a romance.  I'm sure that we've all read books where we're cringing about the love interest.  Either they are actually a terrible person, or they are clingy, or fake, or have some other undesirable quality.  As a person, I absolutely couldn't stand Nasrin.  She was ignorant, shallow, fake, and obsessed with social appearance.  All of these qualities are things that Sahar was oblivious to at first, however after the engagement was announced, the seems began to show.  It was really Nasrin's selfishness that was the most painful to read.  Sahar was willing to do anything and endure anything to be with Nasrin, while Nasrin didn't see any of that, or if she did, she didn't care.  She treated Sahar as this little toy to keep her entertained as children.

As the reader, there is a lot of wondering about why Sahar would ever stay so infatuated with Nasrin, but she admits it herself in the book.  Something along the lines of "Nasrin was the one that listened, especially after [mother] died".  

I was proud of Sahar in the end.  She became her own independent person for the first time, and while there was a lot of pain along the way, the reader knows that some day in the future she ail be grateful for the layering that the entire experience allowed.  

Yes, the ending was sad, but it wasn't unsatisfying.  The story was wrapped up, but allowed hope for the characters in the future.  That is what I look for in an ending; a conclusion, with room for the reader to imagine the lives of the characters later.

Conclusion:

I would definitely recommend If You Could Be Mine.  It was spunky, real, and thought provoking.  I am curious about what sort of topics Sara Farizan could tackle in the future.

Dust Jacket Ramblings:

I love this cover!  I think that the hands embody Sahar and Nasrin's relationship.  I also like how both the hands are drawn delicately, so it is obvious that they are girls hands.   I also like how only one hand has the painted nails, (obviously our resident slave-to-fasion Nasrin).  The flowery design at the bottom and top keep the cover interesting without being overly busy.  

In Other News:

It's the beginning of the week, I'm already tired, and need to get some more reading done!  I picked up Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger today at the library.  My English teacher recommended that I read "For Esmé––with Love and Squalor".  I'm really curious.  I haven't read that many short stories, and I have no clue what it's about.  My teacher just thought that I'd enjoy the writing, so I said ok!  Let's see how it goes!

~Remy