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sophia_she1's review against another edition
5.0
actually so cute & lowkey i don't disagree w what she did...
lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
Miranda Kenneally's newest book set in Tennessee (part of her Hundred Oaks series) is, as expected, an unusually fine example of thoughtful and smart young adult writing.
In Defending Taylor, Taylor Lukens is the hard-working, hard-playing daughter of a US Senator, on her way to Yale if she can just get that early admission essay done -- when her life falls apart. After attending an upscale, exclusive boarding school for years, where she maintains a 4.2 GPA while starring on the soccer team, Taylor is suddenly expelled and forced to live at home with her parents again while finishing out senior year at Hundred Oaks, the local public school.
What went wrong? Taylor's boyfriend Ben is from a poor family and attended St. Andrews on scholarship. When Taylor is found by the dorm monitors with a backpack containing pills and weed, she claims it's hers, figuring that her dad's clout will get her out of trouble. Wrong. Taylor's dad won't lift a finger to save her from the consequences of her supposed drug dealing, other than to have her attend public school with mandatory counseling rather than face any legal action. What no one knows is that the backpack was actually Ben's, and Taylor covered for him to keep him from getting kicked out. Her heart is broken and she feels utterly betrayed when he doesn't step forward once the consequences become clear... so not only is Taylor forced to attend an inferior school with an inferior soccer team, but her relationship is over as well.
Fitting in at a new school is hard at first, but Taylor is 100% focused on the future she's been groomed for all her life. Highest grades, top-notch soccer career, impressive extracurriculars, then onward to Yale and a place in the family's investment firm. Is this what she really wants? It doesn't matter -- it's what's expected.
Defending Taylor gives us an inside look at what happens when someone's ambitions and someone's heart lie in two different directions. Taylor's parents are completely focused on politics and her father's reeelection campaign, and there's little time or patience for a daughter who suddenly veers off the path of high achievement and respectability. Taylor faces a senior year with no friends and the daily frustration of a poorly organized soccer team where the domineering captain resents her. Fortunately for Taylor, she does have one ally -- her older brother's best friend Ezra, inexplicably back home rather than away at Cornell where he's supposed to be. Taylor and Ezra have always had chemistry, and when they start spending time together again, sparks fly.
I always enjoy Miranda Kenneally's depictions of teen love. She doesn't shy away from complicated emotions, and while the sex is a touch more explicit than in other contemporary YA novels I've read, it feels realistic and empowered (and safe -- the characters always stop for a condom). Family dynamics are complicated as well. Being rich doesn't necessarily mean happy, and the town and the school present a cross-section of different economic statuses.
The message in Defending Taylor has a lot to do with honesty -- being honest with oneself, and being honest with the people who love you. Taylor hides the truth for so long from her family, afraid to be a snitch but at the same time suffering terribly from the ruined reputation she endures once word gets out about her supposed drug use. Meanwhile, she's also never admitted to her parents, or even to herself, that Yale and investment banking might be the family tradition, but might not be her own true path. On top of the honesty theme, there's also an ongoing message about stress, pressure, and having fun. Taylor's guidance counselor asks Taylor what she does for fun, and she's pretty stumped. Fun? School, soccer, studying all night -- Taylor's life is non-stop pressure, from herself as well as from her family, and she doesn't even realize how unhealthy it is until she's forced to take a hard look at her life, once it becomes clear that her hard work still might not be enough to overcome scandal and disgrace.
Probably the only bit of this otherwise terrific story that seemed a little off to me had to do with her father's campaign. When someone leaks the news about Taylor's expulsion from boarding school for having prescription drugs in her possession that weren't prescribed for her, it creates a scandal that ultimately costs her father the election. And I couldn't help but feel... really?? The man has been a Senator for years, has been a successful politician for years more, has a family that's always been upstanding and has two older kids who have exemplary behavior... and he loses an election because his 17-year-old had a lapse of judgement? Seems like a very lame reason for someone who was supposed to win easily to suddenly lose an election. But what do I know? This is Tennessee, and the politics trend toward conservative, so maybe that could be enough to sink the career of an anti-drug legislator... but it felt unlikely to me.
Other than that, I truly enjoyed Defending Taylor. I liked Taylor's backbone and self-sufficiency, her dedication to her own success, and her underlying belief in treating others with decency. She's clearly a very good friend, and becomes a unifying force on her soccer team once she earns the other girls' trust with her positive energy. Taylor's relationship with Ezra is hot and steamy, but founded on mutual friendship and liking, not just hormones.
It's not necessary to have read the other Hundred Oaks books to enjoy Defending Taylor, but for those who have, you'll enjoy the little glimpses of characters from previous books. You can really start with any of the books in the series -- and if you like one, give a few others a try. All feature strong, athletic girls who aren't afraid to stand up for themselves, even while dealing with family complications of all shapes and sizes.
In Defending Taylor, Taylor Lukens is the hard-working, hard-playing daughter of a US Senator, on her way to Yale if she can just get that early admission essay done -- when her life falls apart. After attending an upscale, exclusive boarding school for years, where she maintains a 4.2 GPA while starring on the soccer team, Taylor is suddenly expelled and forced to live at home with her parents again while finishing out senior year at Hundred Oaks, the local public school.
What went wrong? Taylor's boyfriend Ben is from a poor family and attended St. Andrews on scholarship. When Taylor is found by the dorm monitors with a backpack containing pills and weed, she claims it's hers, figuring that her dad's clout will get her out of trouble. Wrong. Taylor's dad won't lift a finger to save her from the consequences of her supposed drug dealing, other than to have her attend public school with mandatory counseling rather than face any legal action. What no one knows is that the backpack was actually Ben's, and Taylor covered for him to keep him from getting kicked out. Her heart is broken and she feels utterly betrayed when he doesn't step forward once the consequences become clear... so not only is Taylor forced to attend an inferior school with an inferior soccer team, but her relationship is over as well.
Fitting in at a new school is hard at first, but Taylor is 100% focused on the future she's been groomed for all her life. Highest grades, top-notch soccer career, impressive extracurriculars, then onward to Yale and a place in the family's investment firm. Is this what she really wants? It doesn't matter -- it's what's expected.
Defending Taylor gives us an inside look at what happens when someone's ambitions and someone's heart lie in two different directions. Taylor's parents are completely focused on politics and her father's reeelection campaign, and there's little time or patience for a daughter who suddenly veers off the path of high achievement and respectability. Taylor faces a senior year with no friends and the daily frustration of a poorly organized soccer team where the domineering captain resents her. Fortunately for Taylor, she does have one ally -- her older brother's best friend Ezra, inexplicably back home rather than away at Cornell where he's supposed to be. Taylor and Ezra have always had chemistry, and when they start spending time together again, sparks fly.
I always enjoy Miranda Kenneally's depictions of teen love. She doesn't shy away from complicated emotions, and while the sex is a touch more explicit than in other contemporary YA novels I've read, it feels realistic and empowered (and safe -- the characters always stop for a condom). Family dynamics are complicated as well. Being rich doesn't necessarily mean happy, and the town and the school present a cross-section of different economic statuses.
The message in Defending Taylor has a lot to do with honesty -- being honest with oneself, and being honest with the people who love you. Taylor hides the truth for so long from her family, afraid to be a snitch but at the same time suffering terribly from the ruined reputation she endures once word gets out about her supposed drug use. Meanwhile, she's also never admitted to her parents, or even to herself, that Yale and investment banking might be the family tradition, but might not be her own true path. On top of the honesty theme, there's also an ongoing message about stress, pressure, and having fun. Taylor's guidance counselor asks Taylor what she does for fun, and she's pretty stumped. Fun? School, soccer, studying all night -- Taylor's life is non-stop pressure, from herself as well as from her family, and she doesn't even realize how unhealthy it is until she's forced to take a hard look at her life, once it becomes clear that her hard work still might not be enough to overcome scandal and disgrace.
Probably the only bit of this otherwise terrific story that seemed a little off to me had to do with her father's campaign. When someone leaks the news about Taylor's expulsion from boarding school for having prescription drugs in her possession that weren't prescribed for her, it creates a scandal that ultimately costs her father the election. And I couldn't help but feel... really?? The man has been a Senator for years, has been a successful politician for years more, has a family that's always been upstanding and has two older kids who have exemplary behavior... and he loses an election because his 17-year-old had a lapse of judgement? Seems like a very lame reason for someone who was supposed to win easily to suddenly lose an election. But what do I know? This is Tennessee, and the politics trend toward conservative, so maybe that could be enough to sink the career of an anti-drug legislator... but it felt unlikely to me.
Other than that, I truly enjoyed Defending Taylor. I liked Taylor's backbone and self-sufficiency, her dedication to her own success, and her underlying belief in treating others with decency. She's clearly a very good friend, and becomes a unifying force on her soccer team once she earns the other girls' trust with her positive energy. Taylor's relationship with Ezra is hot and steamy, but founded on mutual friendship and liking, not just hormones.
It's not necessary to have read the other Hundred Oaks books to enjoy Defending Taylor, but for those who have, you'll enjoy the little glimpses of characters from previous books. You can really start with any of the books in the series -- and if you like one, give a few others a try. All feature strong, athletic girls who aren't afraid to stand up for themselves, even while dealing with family complications of all shapes and sizes.
kaylareadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Ezra
Taking the blame for someone you think you loved
Using ADHD medication thats not yours
Soccer
Ezra
Characters from other books coming back and making this book even more awesome
Super fast read
5/5 Stars
Taking the blame for someone you think you loved
Using ADHD medication thats not yours
Soccer
Ezra
Characters from other books coming back and making this book even more awesome
Super fast read
5/5 Stars
charlottenw1's review against another edition
3.0
This was another one of Miranda's easy and adorable romance reads. The characters were super funny and had all the flaws of a teenage romance. I loved the whole book and she did not disappoint.
afretts's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this. Still not better than Breathe, Annie, Breathe, but Ezra is one of the best book boyfriends of all time.
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
Miranda Kenneally did it again! I loved this Hundred Oaks book just as much as the others. In Defending Taylor, Taylor made a big mistake and had to face the consequences. Her poor choice affected everything she was working towards, and she had to start over at a new school in a different town. Adjusting was tough for Taylor. For example, she went from captain of a serious soccer team to a regular player (that no one liked) on a so-so, uncommitted team. It must have been frustrating for her to be a leader with no one to lead. Her character definitely grew throughout the story, and the romance did not disappoint. One of my favorite things about all of the Hundred Oaks books was seeing the cameos by other characters from previous books, and it makes me want to go back and read them all.
maddieg's review against another edition
5.0
This series just keeps getting better and better! I loved this entire book from beginning to end and had a hard time putting it down. I was invested in Taylor's story from the beginning and loved how it not only changed her life, but also her family's, and honestly for the better. What she did for Ben was gutsy and heartbreaking at the same time because while she was protecting someone she cared about, she put her whole life up into the air with no real plan of what would happen. Having her face the consequences was so real and made me feel for her even more, but it taught her so much and made the character arc so much more dynamic. And her relationship with Ezra was so cute and romantic, it's definitely one of my favorites in the series. The family aspect added so much to the story as well and I love how it went from fractured, to really fractured, and then slowly got better at the end. I can't wait to see what Miranda Kenneally has in store for the last book!
Favorite Quote: “The future’s wide open, filled with opportunity.”
Favorite Quote: “The future’s wide open, filled with opportunity.”
allibruns's review against another edition
4.0
It's then that I can't deny it anymore. I like him chasing me.
Miranda Kenneally never disappoints me, as usual for her books this left me with a gaint smile on my face. Taylor finds herself attending Hundred Oaks for her senior year after she makes a huge mistake that gets her excelled from her prestigious boarding school. The effects of her actions on felt on her dad's senate campaign, her college future and the relationship with her siblings. Taylor has to come to terms with who she is and what she really wants out of her future. I loved Ezra, loved the relationship between him and Taylor (no one does ya contemporary romance like Kenneally).
fleurdujour's review against another edition
4.0
Just like all the other books in this series, Defending Taylor is ridiculously adorable. I have to admit that I spent a lot of the book confused about Taylor's motivation and insistence that the truth remain a secret. But that's probably because I'm a rather honest person, and I wouldn't care who thought I was a snitch- I would refuse to take the blame for someone else's decisions/actions. I also missed the presence of a lot of the former characters! For the most part they were regulated to a scene, or mention- with Jack Goodwin from Racing Savannah getting the most page time. I also didn't really like either of Taylor's siblings- they are the source of a lot of the hardship she deals with, and they don't seem to grow much at all the entire book . Ezra was a nice love interest, but he was also pretty average, and didn't really stand out as a character beyond being pretty and funny. Overall though, this was a very cute book that was fun and quick to read!