My Review:The Rules:
Don't deceive me. Ever. Especially using my blindness. Especially in public.
Don't help me unless I ask. Otherwise you're just getting in my way or bothering me.
Don't be weird. Seriously, other than having my eyes closed all the time, I'm just like you only smarter.
Parker Grant doesn't need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart.
When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there's only one way to react-shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that's right, her eyes don't work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened--both with Scott, and her dad--the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.
The first thing I have to say about this book is that it is very well written -- it did a really good job of helping to understand and imagining being blind. So many things that you would never think about were explained incredibly well. Unfortunately, however, for me there was just too much tragedy and the MC was a bit hard to like. I can understand Parker's anger after all of the loss that she experienced (which I still think seemed a bit over the top) but I still had a hard time connecting with her. This could be me projecting but something always seems a bit off to me when reading a male author writing a female MC. The one thing was amazing in this book were the friendships -- Parker is so lucky to have the friendships she has and it was almost unbelievable how amazing her friends were. I also liked the ending -- nothing too grandiose.
I would recommend this to fans of contemporary YA. I was reminded a bit of The Summer of Chasing Mermaids (tough as nails female MC) while reading this one, although not as lyrical. Not If I See You First comes out tomorrow, December 1, 2015, and you can purchase HERE!
"See you tomorrow," Scott says. "Unless you see me first."
The room is quiet enough now that I hear him walk away and out the door.
See you tomorrow . . . . unless you see me first.
That's what Scott used to say to me instead of goodbye, for years. For four whole years. A part of me remembers the warmth I used to feel when he said it, a warmth like no other.
My heart pounds in my chest and in my ears.
I have this one but haven't gotten to it yet. I feel like it has been mixed things I have seen but a lot have said the MC is harder to like. Sometimes that can be really hard for me. Otherwise sounds pretty good. Great review!!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first I am hearing of this one, it sounds interesting but its always tough when you cant connect to the MC. Great review!
ReplyDeleteOkay, you totally got me with the "The Summer of Chasing Mermaids" comparison. LOL I loved that book!! I'm really excited to read this one too. I'm so happy to hear it's well written and that you can really feel what the characters are feeling through the writing - that has to be difficult with a blind character. I've actually never read a book with a blind MC, so I'm really looking forward to this one. Yay for fantastic friendships too!! :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good, I love the synopsis. It sounds like the protagonist is a little rough around the edges.
ReplyDeleteI see what you mean. I haven't read this book yet, but it seems like it would be a hard one to get through, just because of the subject matter. Good review!
ReplyDeleteI see what you mean. I haven't read this book yet, but it seems like it would be a hard one to get through, just because of the subject matter. Good review!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this one yet, but I think I would like to. A lot of times I end up liking some of the MCs that others found too negative- I think because I relate to them (which doesn't say a lot about me, but it's true hahha). I also LOVE that there are great friendships, that is so important. AND I like that it tackles such hard subject matter, that is diverse and fabulous. Great review!
ReplyDeleteShannon @ It Starts At Midnight
OMG I loved this review... so so much. Yes I understand you didn't enjoy it as much as I did but still you've brought up points that I absolutely thought were true. That line where he says unless you see me first, and I was freaking blushing. I don't know if the ending surprised you but it did for me and omg omg omg you could see me literally crying.
ReplyDeleteAlex @ The Book's Buzz