Rating: 3/5 | Source: NetGalley ARC Release Date: July 1 2015 "Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol. But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?" |
Jesse's Girl was not one of the most comfortable reads. Don't mistake me: the book wasn't badly written, nor were the characters unrelatable. In fact, I found the opposite to be true.
It wasn't just about a girl trying to hold on to her dream even as it fell apart around her. It was also about a boy who had lost the will to do the same. It addresses the relative importance of acceptance, of trust, of holding on in the face of opposition from those we want to care about us. But it still managed to tell a great story that I think, while it lacked the initial striking power of other books I've read, will linger for long time after the final page is turned.
Still, Jesse's Girl has its faults. It's part of a series, and it reads like it (when I first started, I wondered if my copy was missing the first chapter). Also, while the pacing flows well and you're dragged in to the story, there are moments when you're suddenly jarred right back out. But it's still a great read, and one I plan to add to my school library shelves.
It wasn't just about a girl trying to hold on to her dream even as it fell apart around her. It was also about a boy who had lost the will to do the same. It addresses the relative importance of acceptance, of trust, of holding on in the face of opposition from those we want to care about us. But it still managed to tell a great story that I think, while it lacked the initial striking power of other books I've read, will linger for long time after the final page is turned.
Still, Jesse's Girl has its faults. It's part of a series, and it reads like it (when I first started, I wondered if my copy was missing the first chapter). Also, while the pacing flows well and you're dragged in to the story, there are moments when you're suddenly jarred right back out. But it's still a great read, and one I plan to add to my school library shelves.