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circuspoet's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to like this book more than I did, and I waffled between 3 and 4 stars. Of course you can't do half stars on this. I eventually settled on 4, if uneasily.
The book follows Mack and Cece, two teenagers from very different tracks in life who nonetheless tumble into a fast-paced romance that flares up despite no one else seeming to get it. But just as fast it started, it's brought to an abrupt end when Mack makes a horrible mistake that changes his life forever.
Without wishing to spoil, most of my issues with this book stem from how that mistake is handled in a couple of ways. One, it wouldn't have been dealt with so fast even if Mack had handled it the way he had. Two, the way Mack is punished doesn't make sense. Three, the way the book ends sends a very strong message that Mack making this horrible mistake has ultimately improved his life, which is a message I'm not comfortable with given how Mack gets to where he gets.
I don't have a problem with the path that Mack and Cece's relationship takes; it's a natural course for the situation they're in, and it's dealt with sensitively and, at times, even tragically. I think the choice that Mack makes is realistic for his character and not just tacked on to make the story more sensational. My only real issues with the book, in fact, involve the treatment of Mack's storyline near its beginning and end. I still feel like I can give the book a good rating and recommend it, because there are other things to enjoy that, thankfully, steal the show away from its weaker parts.
Overall, a great story on teenage love that would have been perfect had it handled the mess one of its main characters got into a bit more realistically.
The book follows Mack and Cece, two teenagers from very different tracks in life who nonetheless tumble into a fast-paced romance that flares up despite no one else seeming to get it. But just as fast it started, it's brought to an abrupt end when Mack makes a horrible mistake that changes his life forever.
Without wishing to spoil, most of my issues with this book stem from how that mistake is handled in a couple of ways. One, it wouldn't have been dealt with so fast even if Mack had handled it the way he had. Two, the way Mack is punished doesn't make sense. Three, the way the book ends sends a very strong message that Mack making this horrible mistake has ultimately improved his life, which is a message I'm not comfortable with given how Mack gets to where he gets.
I don't have a problem with the path that Mack and Cece's relationship takes; it's a natural course for the situation they're in, and it's dealt with sensitively and, at times, even tragically. I think the choice that Mack makes is realistic for his character and not just tacked on to make the story more sensational. My only real issues with the book, in fact, involve the treatment of Mack's storyline near its beginning and end. I still feel like I can give the book a good rating and recommend it, because there are other things to enjoy that, thankfully, steal the show away from its weaker parts.
Overall, a great story on teenage love that would have been perfect had it handled the mess one of its main characters got into a bit more realistically.
nagam's review against another edition
3.0
[Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading!]
I didn’t know much about Stay with Me when I picked it up from the library. I’ll be honest and say that it was a brand new book and I got really excited to be the first person to read the crisp, new pages. I was immediately caught up in the story becauseStay With Me was told from Mack and Cece’s perspective. I thought the prologue was the climax of the story, therefore I’d know exactly which day everything changed in Mack and Cece’s relationship.
Boy was I wrong.
When the climax of the story hit, Cece and Mack were at the height of their relationship. Each of them was struggling to understand what the other person saw in them. Mack didn’t understand how such a beautiful girl could overlook that he dropped out of school and had spent some time in jail. Cece is brilliant, but maybe carries a few more pounds than she should, and can’t see how a guy as good-looking as Mack would want her. Everyone (but Mack) sees the good in Mack and believes that he will make something of himself.
Until the day that it all goes downhill and Mack does something that rips him away from Cece.
Cece is left waiting on Mack to show up, but he has no way to let her know what happened. Mack begins to think that Cece will be better off if she just continues to live her life and forget he ever existed. I can’t tell you what happens. I just can’t. But I will say that Stay With Me evoked a strong moral struggle inside of me. I was rooting so much for Mack and Cece, but knowing what happened – if it happened in real life – there would be no perfect ending for them.
Stay with Me is a beautiful story about two people who live very different lives than me. It’s a story about redemption and how sometimes we make choices and do things that can utterly change the course of our lives. I loved the side story of the pit bulls. I’m a huge dog lover and Mack has this way with dogs – taking strays or those left to die after fights, nursing them back to life, and training them to be well-behaved animals. The story of the dogs parallels Mack’s life so well – he’s been abandoned by his mother, left beat down by his dad, and he doesn’t believe he can do anything good in his life. He does make a wrong decision and does something so incredibly life-altering, but like the dogs – there’s hope that he can be redeemed.
I didn’t know much about Stay with Me when I picked it up from the library. I’ll be honest and say that it was a brand new book and I got really excited to be the first person to read the crisp, new pages. I was immediately caught up in the story becauseStay With Me was told from Mack and Cece’s perspective. I thought the prologue was the climax of the story, therefore I’d know exactly which day everything changed in Mack and Cece’s relationship.
Boy was I wrong.
When the climax of the story hit, Cece and Mack were at the height of their relationship. Each of them was struggling to understand what the other person saw in them. Mack didn’t understand how such a beautiful girl could overlook that he dropped out of school and had spent some time in jail. Cece is brilliant, but maybe carries a few more pounds than she should, and can’t see how a guy as good-looking as Mack would want her. Everyone (but Mack) sees the good in Mack and believes that he will make something of himself.
Until the day that it all goes downhill and Mack does something that rips him away from Cece.
Cece is left waiting on Mack to show up, but he has no way to let her know what happened. Mack begins to think that Cece will be better off if she just continues to live her life and forget he ever existed. I can’t tell you what happens. I just can’t. But I will say that Stay With Me evoked a strong moral struggle inside of me. I was rooting so much for Mack and Cece, but knowing what happened – if it happened in real life – there would be no perfect ending for them.
Stay with Me is a beautiful story about two people who live very different lives than me. It’s a story about redemption and how sometimes we make choices and do things that can utterly change the course of our lives. I loved the side story of the pit bulls. I’m a huge dog lover and Mack has this way with dogs – taking strays or those left to die after fights, nursing them back to life, and training them to be well-behaved animals. The story of the dogs parallels Mack’s life so well – he’s been abandoned by his mother, left beat down by his dad, and he doesn’t believe he can do anything good in his life. He does make a wrong decision and does something so incredibly life-altering, but like the dogs – there’s hope that he can be redeemed.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this more.
I just think I didn't connect with the writing style, or the relationships Mack or CeCe had with other people, especially their parents.
I think if I had enjoyed them more, I would not have felt so lost and would have helped keep me from getting bored. Because, for some reason, that's how I felt. Even though there were definitely things happening in the book that should have held my attention, it just didn't.
but, I did finish it and I'm glad I did. I think the ending, and the happy not so happy ending (keeping it realistic) gave it an extra star from me.
I just think I didn't connect with the writing style, or the relationships Mack or CeCe had with other people, especially their parents.
I think if I had enjoyed them more, I would not have felt so lost and would have helped keep me from getting bored. Because, for some reason, that's how I felt. Even though there were definitely things happening in the book that should have held my attention, it just didn't.
but, I did finish it and I'm glad I did. I think the ending, and the happy not so happy ending (keeping it realistic) gave it an extra star from me.
karmen12's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very good book. It started out like any other love story. But then it took a turn. Mack made a gigantic mistake. He killed someone! For the second half of the book, she was trying to connect with him but he kept pushing her away because he thought that it would make him feel better. While he is in prison, he trains a dog. Cece and her mother decided to get a dog and the dog that they wind up getting is the dog that Mack trains. It was a very good book!
carstensena's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Ten Mile River and Orange Houses, and this one is no different. Maybe even better, if even more heartbreaking. The dog training aspect was fascinating, and the romance believable. Highly, highly recommended to teen readers.
paiger4's review against another edition
2.0
Not as good as I thought it would be. The ending was terrible. I don't reccomend this book.
suzyq0076's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book because of its focus on pit bulls and rescue dogs. While it is not a very well-written book I enjoyed it. But I enjoyed the second half far more than the first half of the book. The first half of the book focuses on the love story between Mack and Cece but it is too quick and not particularly interesting as I did not find Cece to be as interesting as the other characters in the book particulary Vic, Mack, Carmella, Wash, and Tony. What is interesting is the author's knowledge and love of pit bulls and the rescue dog, Boo, that this young couple bonds over. Griffin knows this breed of dog and I think anyone who owns a pit or has worked with dog rescues will enjoy his portrayal of pit bulls....or cupcakes as he calls them. Griffin details the plight of this beloved dog (dogfighting and negative reactions), breaks myths (NO they do not have lock jaws), and writes about their personalities (clowns of the dog world, embrace fun, love humans, essentially big cupcakes). Having worked with pit bull rescues and rescuing my Nubbies from a high-kill shelter I throroughly enjoyed the dogs in this book.....all named Boo.
Stay With Me is separated into two parts. I'll call it pre-incident and post-incident. Did Mack go to far? Yes. With his anger issues he went further than most of us would go. But I can't say that I completely blame him. Without giving anything away I can say that those of us who have loved ones, humans and animals, would have some sort of reaction but are able to reign in the anger that Mack is not able to. The relationship Mack shares with the pit bulls and Wash in this book was far more fascinating than his relationship with Cece.
I can say this book was very predictable but I gave it 3 stars based on the character of Mack, Boo, and the second half of the book. Griffin also mentions in his acknowlegments that if you want to adopt a pit bull go to your local shelter as about 1 million pit bulls are admitted a year. He knows his breed, loves his breed, and recognizes them for the cupcakes they are. It was nice to finally read a piece of fiction that paints these wonderful, comical, beautiful dogs in a positive light.
Stay With Me is separated into two parts. I'll call it pre-incident and post-incident. Did Mack go to far? Yes. With his anger issues he went further than most of us would go. But I can't say that I completely blame him. Without giving anything away I can say that those of us who have loved ones, humans and animals, would have some sort of reaction but are able to reign in the anger that Mack is not able to. The relationship Mack shares with the pit bulls and Wash in this book was far more fascinating than his relationship with Cece.
I can say this book was very predictable but I gave it 3 stars based on the character of Mack, Boo, and the second half of the book. Griffin also mentions in his acknowlegments that if you want to adopt a pit bull go to your local shelter as about 1 million pit bulls are admitted a year. He knows his breed, loves his breed, and recognizes them for the cupcakes they are. It was nice to finally read a piece of fiction that paints these wonderful, comical, beautiful dogs in a positive light.
beckif96's review against another edition
4.0
It was amazing. At first I was confused about the way the book had been written throughout Mack's perspective, but soon realised that it was all about the inside of their mind and thoughts. The book brought a tear to my eye on several occasions. I loved the bond between Mack and his Boo's. Throughout the book the main message is always hope, in my opinion anyway. Even when Mack is inside, the message given to him is constantly about the life Mack can still lead when he is out, and that's one of the many reasons why I loved this book! xxx