You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by mamamelreads
The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram
5.0
2023 Audio Update - Still a super cute book. It's been awhile since I've grabbed a YA book, and this one reminded me why I like to throw some YA books into my book rotations now and then. There isn't heaviness to this book, although there is a tiny bit of depression discussed at one point. This book is simply a fun look at the more surface level relationship stuff that can go on in high school. I loved hearing the talented Teddy Hamilton narrate Grayson's POV. I'm used to hearing Teddy voice older characters, but his voice worked for the older and more experienced in love Grayson of the story. Lovely and sweet story. Great audio version. Still five stars for me.
What a super cute book!! I absolutely loved this! So adorable! I had never heard about this book, and then one day when looking on amazon I saw that it was recommended to me based on another book I had looked at. After reading a heavier topic book I was looking for something sweet and light to read, and this book seemed to be just what I was looking for. And it was. Absolutely wonderful!
Avery Shaw is in love with her best friend and birthday buddy, Aiden. She has loved him forever. Aiden, it turns out, is actually in the mood to try something new and branch out from spending all of his time with Avery. Aiden doesn't pick the best way in the world to break this news to Avery, and Avery is devastated. But Aiden's older brother, Grayson, is there to pick up the pieces and support Avery. Through admittedly convenient circumstances Avery decides to partner with Grayson in an experiment for the state science fair involving using the stages of grief to mend a broken heart. Grayson becomes a (not so) independent observer of the experiment, and in the process finds that Avery is not the geeky almost-a-sister that he'd always seen her to be. But can Avery learn to see that there may be more than science behind the new feelings she is feeling for Grayson?
So that's the story -- Avery getting over Aiden in a way that she never imagined. This isn't a book with a lot of depth and hidden meaning. It's pretty straight forward. It is true that the characters in this book are super, duper cliched in so many ways, from the geek squad science club members to the popular jock crowd surrounding Grayson. It is true that there are so many experiences in this novel that may have been a little too convenient or hard to imagine in everyday life. Maybe. But I never ever felt that way as I was reading. Not one eye roll or smirk. Instead, I was thrown into the life of this girl who was so devastated by the loss of not only her best friend, but all the dreams she had involving Aiden and her as a couple. I was equally thrown into the life of Grayson who had a supposedly easy time as a popular guy who could date any girl he wanted, but had never believed he would fall in love with anyone at this time of his life. I loved both of these characters so much! As they were working through their new feelings for each other and trying to make sense of this new situation I could feel myself in the exact same chaos of emotions when I was that age. This just felt so true to my own high school experiences ... well, without the super amazing happy ending like this book. The ending of this book was the way I wanted all my high school fantasies to end. So it made me smile.
Oh, how I wish that I could have been a beta reader for this book, because if there is anything to complain about at all in this story, I would say that it is that the book is a little too short. I wanted more. There were events that occurred in the book that I wanted to see expanded. I would have definitely suggested scenes that could have been lengthened or developed further. I wanted to be there for more of the events that occurred "post shower." I wanted to know more about what Avery and Grayson were thinking. I just loved them so much. I wanted more.
I can't say it enough. This is an adorable book. It is a super sweet young adult romance about first love ... not only what Avery thinks is love, but about Avery finding out who she is in the process of figuring out exactly what it means to be in love with someone else. It is a perfect summer read when you are looking for a light book to leave you smiling at the end. I definitely think that this will be one that I pick up to read again sometime. Loved it! Five stars!
What a super cute book!! I absolutely loved this! So adorable! I had never heard about this book, and then one day when looking on amazon I saw that it was recommended to me based on another book I had looked at. After reading a heavier topic book I was looking for something sweet and light to read, and this book seemed to be just what I was looking for. And it was. Absolutely wonderful!
Avery Shaw is in love with her best friend and birthday buddy, Aiden. She has loved him forever. Aiden, it turns out, is actually in the mood to try something new and branch out from spending all of his time with Avery. Aiden doesn't pick the best way in the world to break this news to Avery, and Avery is devastated. But Aiden's older brother, Grayson, is there to pick up the pieces and support Avery. Through admittedly convenient circumstances Avery decides to partner with Grayson in an experiment for the state science fair involving using the stages of grief to mend a broken heart. Grayson becomes a (not so) independent observer of the experiment, and in the process finds that Avery is not the geeky almost-a-sister that he'd always seen her to be. But can Avery learn to see that there may be more than science behind the new feelings she is feeling for Grayson?
So that's the story -- Avery getting over Aiden in a way that she never imagined. This isn't a book with a lot of depth and hidden meaning. It's pretty straight forward. It is true that the characters in this book are super, duper cliched in so many ways, from the geek squad science club members to the popular jock crowd surrounding Grayson. It is true that there are so many experiences in this novel that may have been a little too convenient or hard to imagine in everyday life. Maybe. But I never ever felt that way as I was reading. Not one eye roll or smirk. Instead, I was thrown into the life of this girl who was so devastated by the loss of not only her best friend, but all the dreams she had involving Aiden and her as a couple. I was equally thrown into the life of Grayson who had a supposedly easy time as a popular guy who could date any girl he wanted, but had never believed he would fall in love with anyone at this time of his life. I loved both of these characters so much! As they were working through their new feelings for each other and trying to make sense of this new situation I could feel myself in the exact same chaos of emotions when I was that age. This just felt so true to my own high school experiences ... well, without the super amazing happy ending like this book. The ending of this book was the way I wanted all my high school fantasies to end. So it made me smile.
Oh, how I wish that I could have been a beta reader for this book, because if there is anything to complain about at all in this story, I would say that it is that the book is a little too short. I wanted more. There were events that occurred in the book that I wanted to see expanded. I would have definitely suggested scenes that could have been lengthened or developed further. I wanted to be there for more of the events that occurred "post shower." I wanted to know more about what Avery and Grayson were thinking. I just loved them so much. I wanted more.
I can't say it enough. This is an adorable book. It is a super sweet young adult romance about first love ... not only what Avery thinks is love, but about Avery finding out who she is in the process of figuring out exactly what it means to be in love with someone else. It is a perfect summer read when you are looking for a light book to leave you smiling at the end. I definitely think that this will be one that I pick up to read again sometime. Loved it! Five stars!