Author: Nicole Quigley
Release Date: September 23, 2012
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre(s): YA Christian Contemporary
Pages: 256
*Stand alone*
~Spoiler free~
Summary(Goodreads):
For Missy Keiser, returning to Anna Maria Island, Florida, means two things: her mother made another poor decision with men, and Missy will have to reenter a world where she’s known as “Messy,” a social pariah who dared to have a crush on Sam King, the most popular boy in school.
But much has changed in the three years she’s been away. Missy’s next-door neighbor is no longer an elderly woman but Josh, an intriguing boy who seems genuinely interested in her. At school, she’s surprised to find few people remember who she once was. And any remaining taunts of Messy are silenced when Sam King gives her his nod of approval.
Just as things seem to be perfect, Josh’s sudden distance, her mother’s latest relationship implosion, and her brother’s strange behavior threaten to ruin it all. Missy is forced to decide between the boy she’s always wanted, a boy who is intent on trying to save her, and the brother she’s known all her life. And her decision could have consequences she can never undo.
~Spoiler free~
Summary(Goodreads):
For Missy Keiser, returning to Anna Maria Island, Florida, means two things: her mother made another poor decision with men, and Missy will have to reenter a world where she’s known as “Messy,” a social pariah who dared to have a crush on Sam King, the most popular boy in school.
But much has changed in the three years she’s been away. Missy’s next-door neighbor is no longer an elderly woman but Josh, an intriguing boy who seems genuinely interested in her. At school, she’s surprised to find few people remember who she once was. And any remaining taunts of Messy are silenced when Sam King gives her his nod of approval.
Just as things seem to be perfect, Josh’s sudden distance, her mother’s latest relationship implosion, and her brother’s strange behavior threaten to ruin it all. Missy is forced to decide between the boy she’s always wanted, a boy who is intent on trying to save her, and the brother she’s known all her life. And her decision could have consequences she can never undo.
Review:
*Thank you to Zondervan for providing me with a review copy of this book! *
I didn’t like this book, but I didn’t hate it either. I felt it was shallow,
not as in the subject matter or the writing, but the lack of depth at which the
subjects were explored. This book
touched on a lot of issues- suicide, belonging, believing, partying, self-esteem,
drugs, etc- and it never really focused on one thing. This was all fine, but it kind of just went
from here to there and merely grazed upon some subjects, while going a little
bit deeper into others.
This book had a lot of potential, not only
because of the subject matters, but also because it relates to life today, especially
for teens. I feel many teens drink and do drugs
because, much like the characters in this book, they have this emptiness inside
they want to fill. I liked how the
author addressed these issues in a Christian context, but I really wished she’d
gone deeper into all of them.
I really loved how this book ended with
something beginning. It wasn't a perfect ending, in more ways than one,
but it was a realistic ending. It was a hopeful ending. And to be
honest, it wasn't really the end at all. It was just the beginning of
something wonderful.
This book was not preachy at all. In fact, the Christian parts were scattered
throughout the book, and it was not really addressed until the middle. I absolutely loved the emphasis on the love of
God and how He is the perfect Father.
Final thoughts? Much of the heavy content was just touched on, but the ending was worth it.
Thanks for reading!
Rating: 3 out of 5
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