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greenbeanteenqueen's review against another edition
4.0
About the Book: When June and Wes first meet, Wes thinks June looks like a fish girl. June thinks Wes is weird. June starts to date Wes's friend Jerry, but she's not really interested in him. June and Wes start to spend time together and they realize that a romance might be developing. But then June's Dad gets another new job and they have to move. Will June and Wes stay together and can first love really last?
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Thank you Pete Hautman for writing a fantastic look at contemporary romance and first love! No vampires, no love triangles, no major family drama or issue driven plots. This is just a contemporary love story about meeting someone, falling in love, falling out of love, and wondering where it all leads.
Pete Hautman evokes the feelings of first love so perfectly. How at first June and Wes aren't sure about each other, then they want to spend time together, then they can't live with out each other. The ups and downs of teen relationships are played out throughout the course of the year that the book takes place. It's not a fairy tale and it's not a perfect romance, but it's realistic.
I've seen it compared to When Harry Met Sally and in some ways I can see that. The book advertises itself as a book that's not a romance yet is romantic and I think that describes it perfectly. This isn't a love at first sight with lots of swooning and sweeping romance. Instead this is a romantic story about two teens who eventually collide into each other's lives and figuring out what exactly they mean to each and how to make their relationship work.
I would have liked a few more things fleshed out a bit more, like Wes and June's relationship first taking off which seemed a bit sudden to me. And after they're together awhile, they're debating on if and when they should have sex, but that seemed a little out of place because it's mentioned here and there and then forgotten. But maybe that adds a more realistic feel to it because they don't have everything figured out and they are navigating things together. It's not tied up in a pretty bow either, which I really enjoyed.
Overall it's a great read and great for anyone looking for a break from the paranormal romances and instead looking for a good romantic story.
Book Pairings: The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott, An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, Forever by Judy Blume
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Thank you Pete Hautman for writing a fantastic look at contemporary romance and first love! No vampires, no love triangles, no major family drama or issue driven plots. This is just a contemporary love story about meeting someone, falling in love, falling out of love, and wondering where it all leads.
Pete Hautman evokes the feelings of first love so perfectly. How at first June and Wes aren't sure about each other, then they want to spend time together, then they can't live with out each other. The ups and downs of teen relationships are played out throughout the course of the year that the book takes place. It's not a fairy tale and it's not a perfect romance, but it's realistic.
I've seen it compared to When Harry Met Sally and in some ways I can see that. The book advertises itself as a book that's not a romance yet is romantic and I think that describes it perfectly. This isn't a love at first sight with lots of swooning and sweeping romance. Instead this is a romantic story about two teens who eventually collide into each other's lives and figuring out what exactly they mean to each and how to make their relationship work.
I would have liked a few more things fleshed out a bit more, like Wes and June's relationship first taking off which seemed a bit sudden to me. And after they're together awhile, they're debating on if and when they should have sex, but that seemed a little out of place because it's mentioned here and there and then forgotten. But maybe that adds a more realistic feel to it because they don't have everything figured out and they are navigating things together. It's not tied up in a pretty bow either, which I really enjoyed.
Overall it's a great read and great for anyone looking for a break from the paranormal romances and instead looking for a good romantic story.
Book Pairings: The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott, An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, Forever by Judy Blume
ahou's review against another edition
5.0
The plot is ever-moving, almost as if propelled by a seemingly invisible force. Tt was sweet, funny, a truly great read.
ellen's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't hate it but I didn't love it
The story was interesting enough but idk not my thing
The story was interesting enough but idk not my thing
booklover143's review against another edition
1.0
.05
I absolutely hated this book. SO SO SO BORING !
I will never read this book again and no desire to! There was no real story the characters were whiny and annoying the writing wasn't very good. It was just not a good read
I absolutely hated this book. SO SO SO BORING !
I will never read this book again and no desire to! There was no real story the characters were whiny and annoying the writing wasn't very good. It was just not a good read
mountie9's review against another edition
4.0
The Good Stuff
* Lovely realistic tale of first love
* very honest simple and so real, author knows and understands the up and down emotions of teens. Really brought me to my teen years & made me feel almost nostalgic
* poignant and beautifully written
* Teens trying to find their place in life, bumping around aimless at times and making stupid decisions -- yup pretty damn realistic from my memories
* Delightful quirky humour
* Although there was very little excitement, I just couldn't put the book down, because I wanted to know what would happen to the couple
* Not overly angst y so it will appeal to adults as well
* Realistic honest ending which seriously impressed me
* And my favorite part -- realistic parents -- loved the line about us being scared shitless half the time -- that's bang on!
The Not so Good Stuff
* A little slow at times with very little action which may turn off many a ya reader who is used to a little more excitement - just sayin
* telling story in alternative POV was a little difficult for me to get into at first because well I am 40. This will probably appeal more to the target audience for the book
* Seriously bad Typo on the jacket of the book with the main character being listed as Jen not June!
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"For example, if she joined the book club — there was always a book club — and hung out with them, her choice of guys would be limited to the dark and moody Chuck Palahniuk/Kurt Vonnegut/Life-Sucks-and-Then-You-Die brooders"
"She found that reassuring-- that no matter how messed up the universe got, it would eventually have another chance to get it right."
"You're wrong. He needs us. He's .... you know, just because your father and I are adults doesn't mean we're not scared shitless half the time."
What I Learned
* Man I wish I could go back to being a teenager, but with the confidence I have as an adult
Who should/shouldn't read
* For the more sophisticated realistic YA reader
* Not for those who like a lot of excitement, this is one for slowly savoring
* May appeal more to adults than teens
4 Dewey's
I received this from Scholastic in exchange for an honest review
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
2.0
2.5.
It's cute, and I like the set up and execution of the story, but I never found myself caring about either Wes nor June. Neither were compelling enough.
It's amusing that Hautman has written two books nearly in a row involving a stolen car.
It's cute, and I like the set up and execution of the story, but I never found myself caring about either Wes nor June. Neither were compelling enough.
It's amusing that Hautman has written two books nearly in a row involving a stolen car.
isabellejohnston's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, this book was okay. I feel like it didn't have a really big climax. I mean a couple of events got the characters into trouble, but no real turning point. And the claim, "not a typical love story" is totally false. This book is like most other love focused novels I've read. What I do like about this book is the accuracy of Wes and June's relationship. In the movies and fairy tales, two people just snap into love. In this book, June and Wes ease into their love through an awkward sensation. Most of the characters I really didn't like that much. Wes was a little annoying when he broke up with Izzy for no reason. But by the end of the book he was okay. June was a little irritating with her phone calls when she made Wes feel like a huge jerk. This happened multiple times and each time she would think to herself how bratty she was being. If you realize it, why wouldn't you stop it? However, I do feel a little bad for June because she can't settle down in one place. She's consistently moving towns. On the contrary, her parents agreeing to move so often is completely unlikely. Common parents wouldn't move several times during a school year. Most would be concerned about their child's education, but I suppose that's just me. This book doesn't really keep you on your toes, but it could just be that I didn't like it as much as "The Fault in Our Stars." Anyway it's a pretty short read, so if you want a little filler in between books, give this one a try and maybe you'll like it. Just don't expect many tears, they don't really break up at any point I can remember.
lyssamarie's review
4.0
The Big Crunch: 4 stars
This novel was adorable. As always, I fell in love with the boy (Wes, in this case) and was able to relate to the girl (June, in this case) with such ease. And, of course, I was rooting for their relationship the entire time. I enjoyed how the book was divided into four parts, by seasons. I liked how Wes and June's story wasn't perfect - it had it's flaws and faults and misunderstandings - and I liked how it didn't really end. Open-ended endings are kind of my favorite. They leave a lot up to imagination. (side note: I always imagine a happy ending, though)
Wes was goofy, adorable, and crazy in love. June was sarcastic, contemplative, and also crazy in love. Their story was really great, and I had fun reading it. Gives me some hope that, just because things don't always go according to plan, they can still work out in the end if you just give it some time.
This novel was adorable. As always, I fell in love with the boy (Wes, in this case) and was able to relate to the girl (June, in this case) with such ease. And, of course, I was rooting for their relationship the entire time. I enjoyed how the book was divided into four parts, by seasons. I liked how Wes and June's story wasn't perfect - it had it's flaws and faults and misunderstandings - and I liked how it didn't really end. Open-ended endings are kind of my favorite. They leave a lot up to imagination. (side note: I always imagine a happy ending, though)
Wes was goofy, adorable, and crazy in love. June was sarcastic, contemplative, and also crazy in love. Their story was really great, and I had fun reading it. Gives me some hope that, just because things don't always go according to plan, they can still work out in the end if you just give it some time.
ghumpherys's review
2.0
2.5 stars -- This was just okay for me -- nothing spectacular in my opinion.