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Take What You Can #1
Take What You Can
Junior year has ended, and Paige Lawson finds herself at the annual beach bonfire. Having always lived her life by the book, she's a perpetual rule-follower.
But when Paige meets the alluring Fredrick Pryce, she senses he must be hiding something. There’s something foreboding behind his molten eyes, but this only fuels her desire to know more.
She has no idea she’s getting into hot water with—as she would call him—a modern-day pirate. He lives by a different set of rules, and with that, comes uncharted dangers.
Stuck in a world of stealing, secrets, and a code every member must follow, Fredrick and his unconventional gang of friends bring new dangers for Paige to navigate, making this no ordinary summer.
Does she have what it takes to survive in his world?
But when Paige meets the alluring Fredrick Pryce, she senses he must be hiding something. There’s something foreboding behind his molten eyes, but this only fuels her desire to know more.
She has no idea she’s getting into hot water with—as she would call him—a modern-day pirate. He lives by a different set of rules, and with that, comes uncharted dangers.
Stuck in a world of stealing, secrets, and a code every member must follow, Fredrick and his unconventional gang of friends bring new dangers for Paige to navigate, making this no ordinary summer.
Does she have what it takes to survive in his world?
270 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2023
18 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
October 20, 2020
DNF at 18%
At the party to celebrate the start of summer holidays, Paige meets Frederick.
Her best friend, Josh, warns her off.
Okay, listen. Yes, I didn't last long.
There were simply to many tropes I've read both too often and never really liked, and a bland writing style. Zero diversity in characters.
Protagonist Paige is not like other girls. She likes to read and would spend her lunch breaks doing it if her jock friend Josh would not demand her attention. Her clique literally gets introduced by the stereotypes they fulfill in a weak attempt to play with them but so far have been ignored.
So, there is this guy, Paige meets him, he's beautiful, she's hormony and reacts to that. Josh, afore mentioned jock, sees them together and tells her it would be best if she stayed away from him but doesn't deem it important to explain, so chapter one ends with the nagging feeling that if he reacted differently, there would have been no book.
Josh tells Paige to trust him. She doesn't.
When they meet it again, it's kind of hinted that Paige suspects Frederick followed her to the supermarket, and a week later, he is unannounced at her door. This random guy she met at a party. She made the mistake of giving him not only her real name, but also her full name, and come on. This is 2020. If she is that naíve, it should be talked about.
On some level, Paige seems to be aware that he's playing a bingo with red flags, but she decides to ignore that because... no reason, really. There is no chemistry between them. It doesn't make sense. You could argue that humans are flawed beings and their actions don't have to make sense, but then let me ask why this book that reads like early 2000 ya is published in 2020. Not only written, no, published.
Reading a few reviews told me 1) that there will be a kind of assault going on and that 2) I shouldn't really bother with reading on as it won't get better.
If I were a teen, I'd probably love this. I would have, but then the whole genre was a different thing than it is today, and this novel makes me glad of the changes we've had.
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
At the party to celebrate the start of summer holidays, Paige meets Frederick.
Her best friend, Josh, warns her off.
Okay, listen. Yes, I didn't last long.
There were simply to many tropes I've read both too often and never really liked, and a bland writing style. Zero diversity in characters.
Protagonist Paige is not like other girls. She likes to read and would spend her lunch breaks doing it if her jock friend Josh would not demand her attention. Her clique literally gets introduced by the stereotypes they fulfill in a weak attempt to play with them but so far have been ignored.
So, there is this guy, Paige meets him, he's beautiful, she's hormony and reacts to that. Josh, afore mentioned jock, sees them together and tells her it would be best if she stayed away from him but doesn't deem it important to explain, so chapter one ends with the nagging feeling that if he reacted differently, there would have been no book.
Josh tells Paige to trust him. She doesn't.
When they meet it again, it's kind of hinted that Paige suspects Frederick followed her to the supermarket, and a week later, he is unannounced at her door. This random guy she met at a party. She made the mistake of giving him not only her real name, but also her full name, and come on. This is 2020. If she is that naíve, it should be talked about.
On some level, Paige seems to be aware that he's playing a bingo with red flags, but she decides to ignore that because... no reason, really. There is no chemistry between them. It doesn't make sense. You could argue that humans are flawed beings and their actions don't have to make sense, but then let me ask why this book that reads like early 2000 ya is published in 2020. Not only written, no, published.
Reading a few reviews told me 1) that there will be a kind of assault going on and that 2) I shouldn't really bother with reading on as it won't get better.
If I were a teen, I'd probably love this. I would have, but then the whole genre was a different thing than it is today, and this novel makes me glad of the changes we've had.
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
May 31, 2020
The absolute worst part of this book was the cliffhanger ending. Will there be a follow up?!
TW for assault.
This was a great summer read and an amazing debut novel for Heather Garvin. I look forward to reading more from her.
Take What You Can is a summer teen read, that while some situations were bordering on the fantastical at times, had very relatable characters. I saw a lot of my younger self in Paige. This image was strengthened by the setting of the early 2000s. Pirates of the Caribbean was in theaters and Harry Potter books were still getting midnight releases. Throw in a beach setting and pirates and you can't go wrong.
Overall, I was impressed and look forward to future work from this author.
TW for assault.
This was a great summer read and an amazing debut novel for Heather Garvin. I look forward to reading more from her.
Take What You Can is a summer teen read, that while some situations were bordering on the fantastical at times, had very relatable characters. I saw a lot of my younger self in Paige. This image was strengthened by the setting of the early 2000s. Pirates of the Caribbean was in theaters and Harry Potter books were still getting midnight releases. Throw in a beach setting and pirates and you can't go wrong.
Overall, I was impressed and look forward to future work from this author.
August 13, 2020
Paige Lawson’s junior year at school is over and her group of friends kick-start the summer by attending a party at the beach. There she meets a mysterious, hot-headed bad boy Frederick Pryce and is instantly drawn to him. Her best friend Josh warns her to stay away from this guy but a heart wants what it wants.
After meeting him, Paige’s life takes a dangerous turn and I was glued on the edge of my seat and couldn't put this book down. It has a cliffhanger ending.
This was a great and very unique summer read. I really liked this book and I am glad Heather gave me a chance to read the advance copy.
After meeting him, Paige’s life takes a dangerous turn and I was glued on the edge of my seat and couldn't put this book down. It has a cliffhanger ending.
This was a great and very unique summer read. I really liked this book and I am glad Heather gave me a chance to read the advance copy.
July 6, 2020
It’s summer in Florida. The temperatures are sweltering. A group of friends attend a bonfire party at the beach. Each have different interests at the party, and Paige finds herself sitting by the fire alone. It is this moment that changes her life.
“Take What You Can” is the debut novel from Heather Garvin. Heather wrote the manuscript while she was still in high school. Recently, I was given the opportunity to interview Heather and was amazing to work with.
Now, about the book. As mentioned above, the setting is a small town in Florida, about 45 minutes form the Beach. Paige, our main character, lives there with her father. His work hours leave her with plenty of free time to hang out with friends.
While at a party, Paige meets Frederick. He is mysterious, and Paige finds herself drawn to him, despite the warnings from her friend Josh. As Paige gets to know Frederick, she finds herself in the center of a life that she wasn’t prepared for. However, grit and determination help her to do things she never thought she could do.
“Take What You Can” is a young adult novel. The sentence structure is varied, and the plot is easy to follow along with. Heather Garvin is able to describe elements in the story in such a way that the reader can visualize the setting, and actions of the characters, without feeling overwhelmed with too many details.
My favorite character is the story is Melissa, a friend of Frederick. She is spunky, strong, and you never have to guess what she is thinking. She doesn’t care to let her opinion known and does not hide her dislike of Paige.
My least favorite character is Luke. While part of him is endearing, at first, his actions leave me with a true hatred of him. I can’t talk anymore about him without giving away spoilers.
There are two characters that I feel showed growth, was Frederick. Once closed off, Frederick opened profoundly to Paige. Some of out necessity, some out of trust. Paige showed the most change, although not all of it was good.
This story has just about everything you could want in a story. It has friendship, comradery, love/romance, conflict, etc.
I will offer a word of caution to readers there are violent elements, and a brief sexual assault. If you have sensitivities to these elements, you may want to read with caution. They are necessary to the telling of the story, however, you could skim over the scenes without losing the integrity of the story.
The only negative aspect that I can find with the story is that the ending is a major cliffhanger. However, after interviewing Heather, I know that the story continues in the form of a sequel that she just finished. I am anxiously awaiting to find out more.
I truly found myself caught up in this story. As times I was so engrossed while reading that I was completely oblivious to my surroundings. “Take What You Can” is definitely a 5-star read.
“Take What You Can” will be released on July 27, 2020 from Tuskan Publishing. It can be purchased from Amazon in Kindle format for $3.99.
I received an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, Heather Garvin, and Tuskan Publishing. This has no way impacted the rating or thoughts portrayed in this review.
“Take What You Can” is the debut novel from Heather Garvin. Heather wrote the manuscript while she was still in high school. Recently, I was given the opportunity to interview Heather and was amazing to work with.
Now, about the book. As mentioned above, the setting is a small town in Florida, about 45 minutes form the Beach. Paige, our main character, lives there with her father. His work hours leave her with plenty of free time to hang out with friends.
While at a party, Paige meets Frederick. He is mysterious, and Paige finds herself drawn to him, despite the warnings from her friend Josh. As Paige gets to know Frederick, she finds herself in the center of a life that she wasn’t prepared for. However, grit and determination help her to do things she never thought she could do.
“Take What You Can” is a young adult novel. The sentence structure is varied, and the plot is easy to follow along with. Heather Garvin is able to describe elements in the story in such a way that the reader can visualize the setting, and actions of the characters, without feeling overwhelmed with too many details.
My favorite character is the story is Melissa, a friend of Frederick. She is spunky, strong, and you never have to guess what she is thinking. She doesn’t care to let her opinion known and does not hide her dislike of Paige.
My least favorite character is Luke. While part of him is endearing, at first, his actions leave me with a true hatred of him. I can’t talk anymore about him without giving away spoilers.
There are two characters that I feel showed growth, was Frederick. Once closed off, Frederick opened profoundly to Paige. Some of out necessity, some out of trust. Paige showed the most change, although not all of it was good.
This story has just about everything you could want in a story. It has friendship, comradery, love/romance, conflict, etc.
I will offer a word of caution to readers there are violent elements, and a brief sexual assault. If you have sensitivities to these elements, you may want to read with caution. They are necessary to the telling of the story, however, you could skim over the scenes without losing the integrity of the story.
The only negative aspect that I can find with the story is that the ending is a major cliffhanger. However, after interviewing Heather, I know that the story continues in the form of a sequel that she just finished. I am anxiously awaiting to find out more.
I truly found myself caught up in this story. As times I was so engrossed while reading that I was completely oblivious to my surroundings. “Take What You Can” is definitely a 5-star read.
“Take What You Can” will be released on July 27, 2020 from Tuskan Publishing. It can be purchased from Amazon in Kindle format for $3.99.
I received an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, Heather Garvin, and Tuskan Publishing. This has no way impacted the rating or thoughts portrayed in this review.
May 28, 2020
I became an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review.
(as a tw to readers- this book does have violence as well as sexual violence)
I just want to say right off the bat that I COULD NOT put this book down. I read this book from whatever time I started at night to about five or so in the morning-- that's how good it is! "Take What You Can" wasn't what I expected, especially for a debut novel but I am so glad Heather gave me a chance to read an advanced copy.
I was happily surprised that the novel is set in the early 2000s and I loved how relatable our main character Paige is. So relatable in fact that I found a lot of myself in the character which made me laugh. I was that person in high school with a guy best friend I did everything with and my parents let us do whatever we wanted because it was him. Anyone else? HA!
When we meet our mysteriously brooding and hot-headed heart throb Fredrick, Paige's summer takes a turn for the thrilling, dangerous and all around edge-of-your-seat rollercoaster ride.
Fredrick's dynamic with his group of friends and Paige's dynamic with his group and her own group were so interesting. Paige nailed it in the book when she said she was living a double life and it was apparent with how detailed Heather is throughout the novel. Heather has a way of making the lives of these characters jump from the page to paint a picture in your mind without having to guess what's going on. Even if I was exhausted to the point of almost closing my eyes, I knew I had to finish in order to see what happens at the end of the book.
Read it for the dangerous albeit thrilling summer adventure, the gut-wrenching twists and turns, the built up romance, and of course the insane antics Fredrick and his group get into along the way. I'm telling you, you won't be disappointed.
(as a tw to readers- this book does have violence as well as sexual violence)
I just want to say right off the bat that I COULD NOT put this book down. I read this book from whatever time I started at night to about five or so in the morning-- that's how good it is! "Take What You Can" wasn't what I expected, especially for a debut novel but I am so glad Heather gave me a chance to read an advanced copy.
I was happily surprised that the novel is set in the early 2000s and I loved how relatable our main character Paige is. So relatable in fact that I found a lot of myself in the character which made me laugh. I was that person in high school with a guy best friend I did everything with and my parents let us do whatever we wanted because it was him. Anyone else? HA!
When we meet our mysteriously brooding and hot-headed heart throb Fredrick, Paige's summer takes a turn for the thrilling, dangerous and all around edge-of-your-seat rollercoaster ride.
Fredrick's dynamic with his group of friends and Paige's dynamic with his group and her own group were so interesting. Paige nailed it in the book when she said she was living a double life and it was apparent with how detailed Heather is throughout the novel. Heather has a way of making the lives of these characters jump from the page to paint a picture in your mind without having to guess what's going on. Even if I was exhausted to the point of almost closing my eyes, I knew I had to finish in order to see what happens at the end of the book.
Read it for the dangerous albeit thrilling summer adventure, the gut-wrenching twists and turns, the built up romance, and of course the insane antics Fredrick and his group get into along the way. I'm telling you, you won't be disappointed.
January 8, 2021
Trigger warning for assault.
When Paige finishes her junior year of high school, she expects to have a relaxing summer. Instead, she meets Fredrick, and although she is captivated by him, he has many secrets he holds close. The closer they get, the more Paige realizes that not everyone is who they seem, and there are dangerous people who are out to get her because of her association with Fredrick.
I LOVED this book! The plot had me hooked from start to finish, and I absolutely fell in love with Paige and Fredrick. Their relationship was just *chef’s kiss*, and the romantic tension had me feeling all angsty (I don’t think that’s a word, but I am making it one for this review!). I will say that the descriptions were a bit too much for me at times; I think they became a bit of a distraction. Regardless, I had a wonderful time reading this book. The ending left me questioning everything, and I cannot wait to pick up the sequel and find out what happens to our two main characters.
4.5!
A huge thank you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a review.
When Paige finishes her junior year of high school, she expects to have a relaxing summer. Instead, she meets Fredrick, and although she is captivated by him, he has many secrets he holds close. The closer they get, the more Paige realizes that not everyone is who they seem, and there are dangerous people who are out to get her because of her association with Fredrick.
I LOVED this book! The plot had me hooked from start to finish, and I absolutely fell in love with Paige and Fredrick. Their relationship was just *chef’s kiss*, and the romantic tension had me feeling all angsty (I don’t think that’s a word, but I am making it one for this review!). I will say that the descriptions were a bit too much for me at times; I think they became a bit of a distraction. Regardless, I had a wonderful time reading this book. The ending left me questioning everything, and I cannot wait to pick up the sequel and find out what happens to our two main characters.
4.5!
A huge thank you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a review.
June 29, 2020
Thanks to the publisher for providing a digital ARC of Take What You Can in exchange for an honest review.
I think this book can easily become popular. I also think it shouldn't. This is the type of the book targeted towards young teenage girls that (while I'm sure it's not intentional) makes teenage girls hate everything else targeting towards teenage girls.
Our protagonist, Paige is the dictionary definition of not like other girls. We quickly learn she's super popular but to try and counteract the lack of relatability that can create, she's as 'quirky' as possible. She likes books and old music. She's tough and cool. We're told about her long wavy brown hair that luckily, she can untangle simply by running her fingers through it due to how gorgeously loose her curl is and immediately followed up with how average the rest of her is even though everyone falls in love with her non-personality. One of the first scenes we see her in she criticizes a group of girls for giggling because she hates their 'lack of substance' as if a) she can tell everything about a person based off of a giggle, b) there's something wrong with laughing.
Enter Generic Angsty Love interest. He has a messy past and a messier future. From the get go he's controlling and overbearing chastising our protagonist for sitting alone at a party under the assumption she can't take care of herself. The story kind of goes off the rails from there and I don't want to get into spoilers, but this book had a lot of my least favourite YA cliches and I can't justify giving it a higher rating.
I think this book can easily become popular. I also think it shouldn't. This is the type of the book targeted towards young teenage girls that (while I'm sure it's not intentional) makes teenage girls hate everything else targeting towards teenage girls.
Our protagonist, Paige is the dictionary definition of not like other girls. We quickly learn she's super popular but to try and counteract the lack of relatability that can create, she's as 'quirky' as possible. She likes books and old music. She's tough and cool. We're told about her long wavy brown hair that luckily, she can untangle simply by running her fingers through it due to how gorgeously loose her curl is and immediately followed up with how average the rest of her is even though everyone falls in love with her non-personality. One of the first scenes we see her in she criticizes a group of girls for giggling because she hates their 'lack of substance' as if a) she can tell everything about a person based off of a giggle, b) there's something wrong with laughing.
Enter Generic Angsty Love interest. He has a messy past and a messier future. From the get go he's controlling and overbearing chastising our protagonist for sitting alone at a party under the assumption she can't take care of herself. The story kind of goes off the rails from there and I don't want to get into spoilers, but this book had a lot of my least favourite YA cliches and I can't justify giving it a higher rating.
July 2, 2020
I was an ARC reader, so I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book had me wishing I had more time to read! Heather’s debut YA novel is sure to suck you in and each chapter ending will leave you wanting more! The characters are likable and the details make you feel like you are living the story. If you are looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful, yet easygoing summer read, look no further than Take What You Can.
I agree with another reviewer that the worst part is the cliffhanger ending. I already can’t wait for the next book!
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I feel I should mention that there is cussing (including the f word), violence, and even some sexual harassment. I don’t typically read content like this, so I wanted to include this in my review in case anyone is triggered by any of those things.
This book had me wishing I had more time to read! Heather’s debut YA novel is sure to suck you in and each chapter ending will leave you wanting more! The characters are likable and the details make you feel like you are living the story. If you are looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful, yet easygoing summer read, look no further than Take What You Can.
I agree with another reviewer that the worst part is the cliffhanger ending. I already can’t wait for the next book!
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I feel I should mention that there is cussing (including the f word), violence, and even some sexual harassment. I don’t typically read content like this, so I wanted to include this in my review in case anyone is triggered by any of those things.
April 2, 2023
3.25 ⭐️
It’s not that i disliked this book, i’m just unsure how i feel about it. I went into the book because it was recommended as similar to OBX. While the book does mention “pirates” and it does take place at a beach, i didn’t feel like there was much more similarities imo.
The first 3/4 of the book really dragged for me. It felt super repetitive and just a constant loop of “i wanna see Fredrick” “I don’t want you around him” and back and forth.
Once Dan confronted the group about our FMC being a waste of time and then sparring, it picked up for me and felt super fast paced and attention grabbing.
I like the idea of the book and the storyline but it felt too slow during the set the stage portion of the book.
I will most likely read the second book in the duology because if the ending of the book’s pace continues in book 2 i feel like i’ll like it much better!
It’s not that i disliked this book, i’m just unsure how i feel about it. I went into the book because it was recommended as similar to OBX. While the book does mention “pirates” and it does take place at a beach, i didn’t feel like there was much more similarities imo.
The first 3/4 of the book really dragged for me. It felt super repetitive and just a constant loop of “i wanna see Fredrick” “I don’t want you around him” and back and forth.
Once Dan confronted the group about our FMC being a waste of time and then sparring, it picked up for me and felt super fast paced and attention grabbing.
I like the idea of the book and the storyline but it felt too slow during the set the stage portion of the book.
I will most likely read the second book in the duology because if the ending of the book’s pace continues in book 2 i feel like i’ll like it much better!
August 8, 2021
Y'all I literally could not put this book down. This book deserves 10 STARS!!! I fell in love with these characters right from the get go. I absolutely love Fredrick and Paige. Well, and Josh and Leah and Austin but NOT Luke definitely not Luke or Dan. This book will have you swooning, laughing, crying and throwing the book... but then running to the book kissing it apologizing frantically as you caress it. My heart went out to Fredrick and the pirates and had me cheering them on the entire read. I couldn't believe it when I got to the last page... Don't worry there's a second book which I read in a day as well. Be forewarned these books will consume you, in a good way.
July 6, 2020
I can not wait for book 2 to come out!! What an ending! I’m not a huge fan of YA, but this was edgy and intense! It’s the story of a high school aged girl, Paige, who is living her normal summer break life when she meets Fredrick. He’s mysterious and off limits in many ways, but Paige is intrigued. As his story unravels, she finds herself in a modern day pirate tale. It’s awesome! So original. Just order it—you won’t be disappointed.
November 2, 2020
I have a love/hate relationship with this book! I love it bc I was absolutely engrossed with what was happening but I hate it because (spoiler alert) THE ENDING?? what was that?? I turned the page ready for more and it was the acknowledgments and I gasped out loud!! Omg I hope there’s another book I need to know more about these characters!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this book!
Heather Garvin can do no wrong!!! I ADORED this book!!! I could not put it down. An adorable YA that gave me MAJOR OuterBanks vibes, I would give this book all of the stars if I could.
Heather Garvin can do no wrong!!! I ADORED this book!!! I could not put it down. An adorable YA that gave me MAJOR OuterBanks vibes, I would give this book all of the stars if I could.
July 9, 2020
REVIEW - TAKE WHAT YOU CAN
by Heather Garvin
I decided upon this book since I am on the lookout for something easy to read in between multiple heavy and emotional historical fiction and memoir I'm reading. Surprisingly, Take What You Can certainly live up to what I am looking for and more.
The story follows girl-next-door, Paige Lawson, who just finished her junior year in high school. Life is going on as per her usual with not much excitement for summer vacation until she unexpectedly meet this enigmatic guy, Frederick Pryce, at a beach party. Drawn to him despite his mysterious personality, she ended up befriending him and eventually led her up to knowing his equally peculiar friends. Bad things started happening to Paige since then and whether or not it's because of him, she is certainly not prepared for how her supposed uneventful summer vacation is going to be.
Honestly, I was not expecting a lot from this book but I wind up reaching for it every so often, wanting to find out what happens next. Flow of the story is spontaneous enough and scenarios didn't feel forced. Some of them pretty cliche, though not annoying, were actually cute and really gave me that high school feels. Mind you, I'm in my early 40's. It was easy for me to like Paige as I can relate to her personality. Responsible, quiet, kinda keep to herself if she can, has enough close friends so cannot be considered as a loner, but most of all would rather be staying at home and reading :). Might not be for some since elements of violence and theft crimes are involved in the story, but took it with a grain of salt. I actually read each and every word of the action-packed scenes and felt like I was watching it like in a movie. Wouldn't be surprised if they consider making it into one. Overall, I enjoyed this book. Recommended for those who wants an easy and entertaining read with enough spunk and action and not to forget that sprinkle of love story in it.
Thank you to Tuscan Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
by Heather Garvin
I decided upon this book since I am on the lookout for something easy to read in between multiple heavy and emotional historical fiction and memoir I'm reading. Surprisingly, Take What You Can certainly live up to what I am looking for and more.
The story follows girl-next-door, Paige Lawson, who just finished her junior year in high school. Life is going on as per her usual with not much excitement for summer vacation until she unexpectedly meet this enigmatic guy, Frederick Pryce, at a beach party. Drawn to him despite his mysterious personality, she ended up befriending him and eventually led her up to knowing his equally peculiar friends. Bad things started happening to Paige since then and whether or not it's because of him, she is certainly not prepared for how her supposed uneventful summer vacation is going to be.
Honestly, I was not expecting a lot from this book but I wind up reaching for it every so often, wanting to find out what happens next. Flow of the story is spontaneous enough and scenarios didn't feel forced. Some of them pretty cliche, though not annoying, were actually cute and really gave me that high school feels. Mind you, I'm in my early 40's. It was easy for me to like Paige as I can relate to her personality. Responsible, quiet, kinda keep to herself if she can, has enough close friends so cannot be considered as a loner, but most of all would rather be staying at home and reading :). Might not be for some since elements of violence and theft crimes are involved in the story, but took it with a grain of salt. I actually read each and every word of the action-packed scenes and felt like I was watching it like in a movie. Wouldn't be surprised if they consider making it into one. Overall, I enjoyed this book. Recommended for those who wants an easy and entertaining read with enough spunk and action and not to forget that sprinkle of love story in it.
Thank you to Tuscan Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2020
Rating- 4.5/5
Take What You Can follows Paige Lawson who has just finished her junior year and is looking forward to a relaxing summer holiday. However, just as her summer starts she meets Fredrick Pryce, a mysterious individual who is hiding a potentially dark secret. Adding to the mystery, Paige’s best friend appears to have a past with Fredrick, resulting in constant warnings to stay away from him. Despite the warnings Paige can’t help her attraction towards Fedrick, even when the mystery behind him and his group of “friends” begins to unravel, and her safety becomes compromised. Paige finds herself having to choose if she wants to stay away from these new individuals or delve deeper into the secret of this group, whereby her life would alter drastically.
To summarise, I was (and am) obsessed with this book! I found Paige to be very relatable and likeable, which I feel is important when a book is told in first person. I also enjoyed the gradual revealing of Fredricks “secret”, as it wasn’t uncovered too soon where it was unrealistic, and at the same time it wasn’t dragged out to the point where the suspense was lost. As a result, I was completely hooked from the moment I picked up the book and I found the book far too short, which is always a good sign! Additionally, enough secrets were told to add a lot of depth to the plot, but a few were also left untold to keep you intrigued for the second book (which the ending heavily implied will happen.) Another thing I loved about this book was the development of the characters, and how differently they interacted towards one another. The author was really good at building up an initial opinion of a character and then completely changing it by the end of the book, which I always adore.
I highly recommend this book, as well as the author!!! Despite this being her debut novel, you can clearly see that she is a beautiful storyteller and I can’t wait to read her future releases.
Take What You Can follows Paige Lawson who has just finished her junior year and is looking forward to a relaxing summer holiday. However, just as her summer starts she meets Fredrick Pryce, a mysterious individual who is hiding a potentially dark secret. Adding to the mystery, Paige’s best friend appears to have a past with Fredrick, resulting in constant warnings to stay away from him. Despite the warnings Paige can’t help her attraction towards Fedrick, even when the mystery behind him and his group of “friends” begins to unravel, and her safety becomes compromised. Paige finds herself having to choose if she wants to stay away from these new individuals or delve deeper into the secret of this group, whereby her life would alter drastically.
To summarise, I was (and am) obsessed with this book! I found Paige to be very relatable and likeable, which I feel is important when a book is told in first person. I also enjoyed the gradual revealing of Fredricks “secret”, as it wasn’t uncovered too soon where it was unrealistic, and at the same time it wasn’t dragged out to the point where the suspense was lost. As a result, I was completely hooked from the moment I picked up the book and I found the book far too short, which is always a good sign! Additionally, enough secrets were told to add a lot of depth to the plot, but a few were also left untold to keep you intrigued for the second book (which the ending heavily implied will happen.) Another thing I loved about this book was the development of the characters, and how differently they interacted towards one another. The author was really good at building up an initial opinion of a character and then completely changing it by the end of the book, which I always adore.
I highly recommend this book, as well as the author!!! Despite this being her debut novel, you can clearly see that she is a beautiful storyteller and I can’t wait to read her future releases.
July 7, 2020
***I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review***
This book is Heather Garvin’s debut novel and it blew me away! Garvin’s writing is fantastic. She did a fantastic job of creating characters that you want to get to know better and crafting a story line that keeps you engaged.
Paige and her friends are ready for a laid back summer before senior year. That is until she meets Fredrick Pryce, a far from ordinary guy with a dark secret. Paige is intrigued with Fredrick when she feels he may be hiding something. When Paige inevitably learns the truth, her safety is compromised. With help of Fredrick and his unconventional gang of friends, Paige will have to learn how to not only defend the life she has, but fight for the life she wants.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book! Josh and Paige are the perfect male/female sibling-like best friends. Josh is more popular and athletic but is very protective of Paige and has a more unguarded side that she gets to see. Paige on the other hand is not very popular, is more introverted, and tends to go with the flow more. I very easily related with her in many ways. Fredrick is by far my favorite character! He is your typical dark, brooding, mysterious bad boy who has more to him than meets the eye. I am always such a sucker for a complicated bad boy and Fredrick fits this to a T. I also enjoyed many of the side characters, including: Kelly, Leah, and Jason.
I loved the tension between Paige and Fredrick through out the book. It was obvious that Fredrick’s secrets caused him to distance himself from Paige, but as his trust grew so did their relationship. I was happy with how their relationship left off at the end of the book. I was not however expecting the cliffhanger at the end. I left wanting another book to get much needed closure of unresolved issues in the story.
This book is Heather Garvin’s debut novel and it blew me away! Garvin’s writing is fantastic. She did a fantastic job of creating characters that you want to get to know better and crafting a story line that keeps you engaged.
Paige and her friends are ready for a laid back summer before senior year. That is until she meets Fredrick Pryce, a far from ordinary guy with a dark secret. Paige is intrigued with Fredrick when she feels he may be hiding something. When Paige inevitably learns the truth, her safety is compromised. With help of Fredrick and his unconventional gang of friends, Paige will have to learn how to not only defend the life she has, but fight for the life she wants.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book! Josh and Paige are the perfect male/female sibling-like best friends. Josh is more popular and athletic but is very protective of Paige and has a more unguarded side that she gets to see. Paige on the other hand is not very popular, is more introverted, and tends to go with the flow more. I very easily related with her in many ways. Fredrick is by far my favorite character! He is your typical dark, brooding, mysterious bad boy who has more to him than meets the eye. I am always such a sucker for a complicated bad boy and Fredrick fits this to a T. I also enjoyed many of the side characters, including: Kelly, Leah, and Jason.
I loved the tension between Paige and Fredrick through out the book. It was obvious that Fredrick’s secrets caused him to distance himself from Paige, but as his trust grew so did their relationship. I was happy with how their relationship left off at the end of the book. I was not however expecting the cliffhanger at the end. I left wanting another book to get much needed closure of unresolved issues in the story.
February 8, 2021
I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.
I have to admit that I have a hard time categorizing books into genres, but this one falls into the “young adult fiction” genre. While this book may be tailored for your readers, I think adults would enjoy it as well. I think Ms. Garvin does a good job at delving into what some teenagers may face, although the teenagers in this story come up against some odds that are not typical.
This story takes place in Chuloata, Florida, although no one likes to admit they are from Chuloata. Paige’s summer starts off with an end-of-the-year bonfire at the beach. Everyone from school is there including her two best friends, Josh and Leah, as well as a few others she doesn’t like, including Dan and Luke. Luke has had a crush on Paige for the longest time and Paige has always done her best to avoid going out with him. Dan isn’t from school, but is related to Luke and is what you could call a bad guy. At the bonfire, Paige meets Fredrick. Josh and Fredrick have a past which puts them at odds with each other, especially when it comes to Paige. Paige does not heed Josh’s warning. Through her association with Fredrick, Paige is introduced to Melissa, Jason, Carter, and Fredrick’s mom, Kelly, his sister, Nicole, and his brother, Ben. Fredrick, Melissa, Jason, and Carter are in a group that Paige takes to referring to as “pirates.” They are not modern-day pirates, rather they are pirates doing what they need to do to survive, at least in their minds. Through this association, Paige’s somewhat dull life is turned upside down, not only from what she discovers about this group but also because of the intense feelings she develops for Fredrick. Fredrick has feelings for Paige as well, but he fights them.
This book ends in such a way that it is the perfect set up for the next book … Give Nothing Back which is releasing in May 2021.
I have to admit that I have a hard time categorizing books into genres, but this one falls into the “young adult fiction” genre. While this book may be tailored for your readers, I think adults would enjoy it as well. I think Ms. Garvin does a good job at delving into what some teenagers may face, although the teenagers in this story come up against some odds that are not typical.
This story takes place in Chuloata, Florida, although no one likes to admit they are from Chuloata. Paige’s summer starts off with an end-of-the-year bonfire at the beach. Everyone from school is there including her two best friends, Josh and Leah, as well as a few others she doesn’t like, including Dan and Luke. Luke has had a crush on Paige for the longest time and Paige has always done her best to avoid going out with him. Dan isn’t from school, but is related to Luke and is what you could call a bad guy. At the bonfire, Paige meets Fredrick. Josh and Fredrick have a past which puts them at odds with each other, especially when it comes to Paige. Paige does not heed Josh’s warning. Through her association with Fredrick, Paige is introduced to Melissa, Jason, Carter, and Fredrick’s mom, Kelly, his sister, Nicole, and his brother, Ben. Fredrick, Melissa, Jason, and Carter are in a group that Paige takes to referring to as “pirates.” They are not modern-day pirates, rather they are pirates doing what they need to do to survive, at least in their minds. Through this association, Paige’s somewhat dull life is turned upside down, not only from what she discovers about this group but also because of the intense feelings she develops for Fredrick. Fredrick has feelings for Paige as well, but he fights them.
This book ends in such a way that it is the perfect set up for the next book … Give Nothing Back which is releasing in May 2021.
February 24, 2023
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of these books. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication date: February 14, 2023
I grabbed these two books from NetGalley after having read Heather Garvin’s Crossing the Line (which I loved!!). I didn’t realize that these were previously published and reintroduced with new covers. I also didn’t realize they were a YA collection but honestly, they didn’t disappoint!
This is a duology told in the pov if Paige Lawson. The first book focuses on the summer leading into senior year and the second book continues through her last year of high school.
Paige is a wholesome, girl next door who lives in a suburb in Florida with her equally down to earth dad. Paige loves to read books, spend time with her close knit group of friends, especially her best friend Josh.
At the end of school/beginning of summer beach bash, Paige meets Frederick. A handsome teen with a dark past and an even darker future. Paige knows she should stay away from him but is drawn to him every time they cross paths.
As the summer wears on, Paige and Frederick build a relationship. As she learns more about what activities are keeping Frederick away from her, Paige fights with all her love and strength to get him out and into a brighter future.
I really enjoyed Paige and Frederick’s story. Heather Garvin’s ability bring these characters to life and really feel what they’re going through is incredible. Both of these are 4 star ratings for me! I would label these for older teens/young adult. There are some trigger warning for assault and violence but the romance aspect is fairly clean. I can’t wait for Heather Garvin’s next masterpiece!
#NetGalley #heathergarvin #takewhatyoucan #givenothingback
Publication date: February 14, 2023
I grabbed these two books from NetGalley after having read Heather Garvin’s Crossing the Line (which I loved!!). I didn’t realize that these were previously published and reintroduced with new covers. I also didn’t realize they were a YA collection but honestly, they didn’t disappoint!
This is a duology told in the pov if Paige Lawson. The first book focuses on the summer leading into senior year and the second book continues through her last year of high school.
Paige is a wholesome, girl next door who lives in a suburb in Florida with her equally down to earth dad. Paige loves to read books, spend time with her close knit group of friends, especially her best friend Josh.
At the end of school/beginning of summer beach bash, Paige meets Frederick. A handsome teen with a dark past and an even darker future. Paige knows she should stay away from him but is drawn to him every time they cross paths.
As the summer wears on, Paige and Frederick build a relationship. As she learns more about what activities are keeping Frederick away from her, Paige fights with all her love and strength to get him out and into a brighter future.
I really enjoyed Paige and Frederick’s story. Heather Garvin’s ability bring these characters to life and really feel what they’re going through is incredible. Both of these are 4 star ratings for me! I would label these for older teens/young adult. There are some trigger warning for assault and violence but the romance aspect is fairly clean. I can’t wait for Heather Garvin’s next masterpiece!
#NetGalley #heathergarvin #takewhatyoucan #givenothingback
July 27, 2020
Take What You Can by @heathergarvinbooks is a YA set in early 2000’s Florida with a vibe I think fans of Sarah Dessen will love!
We follow Paige and her relationships with her bestie Josh, the friend-zoned Luke and the mysterious Fredrick who she meets at a party.
Fredrick is bad news according to Josh and has a habit of popping up unexpectedly... but he has a secret he is trying to keep hidden.
As we learn more about Fredrick’s past and his thought process we start to understand, and how his secret plays into all of this! But can Paige accept his secrets...? You’ll have to read it to find out 😉
While following the typical YA tropes and being a bit cliche at times Take What You Can offers the reader an enjoyable read that will be loved by a YA audience and adults looking to revisit their high school years in the noughties! I found it refreshing to read something not centred on social media and selfies too 🙌🏻
Be warned this does have a cliffhanger ending 😉
Thanks to @heathergarvinbooks for sending me a copy of this book and for the fun read 💙💙💙
We follow Paige and her relationships with her bestie Josh, the friend-zoned Luke and the mysterious Fredrick who she meets at a party.
Fredrick is bad news according to Josh and has a habit of popping up unexpectedly... but he has a secret he is trying to keep hidden.
As we learn more about Fredrick’s past and his thought process we start to understand, and how his secret plays into all of this! But can Paige accept his secrets...? You’ll have to read it to find out 😉
While following the typical YA tropes and being a bit cliche at times Take What You Can offers the reader an enjoyable read that will be loved by a YA audience and adults looking to revisit their high school years in the noughties! I found it refreshing to read something not centred on social media and selfies too 🙌🏻
Be warned this does have a cliffhanger ending 😉
Thanks to @heathergarvinbooks for sending me a copy of this book and for the fun read 💙💙💙
September 30, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it is YA novel with your typical teenage characters, but that doesn't take away from the story. A story with a new take on the "not a good idea" type romance you read in most YA novels. Heather Garvin, took a new road depicting a slow burn (yes, it's slow and that is such a good thing! It kept me glued to the pages) romance between the two MC's. Sweet, bookish Paige and gorgeously brooding Fredrick that I hadn't come across before.
It contains adventure, suspense, danger (with a little violence), friendship, love, mystery, a gang and the understanding that sometimes you do bad things to protect those you love most. I couldn't help but like Fredrick from the first time he appears on the beach and like Paige, I was always excited for his next appearance.
This is an great read, with an easy to follow plot that had me rooting for the guy from wrong side of the tracks. I'm so very glad Heather brought her book to my attention and so thankful for communities like Instagram that bring unknown authors to my attention!
It contains adventure, suspense, danger (with a little violence), friendship, love, mystery, a gang and the understanding that sometimes you do bad things to protect those you love most. I couldn't help but like Fredrick from the first time he appears on the beach and like Paige, I was always excited for his next appearance.
This is an great read, with an easy to follow plot that had me rooting for the guy from wrong side of the tracks. I'm so very glad Heather brought her book to my attention and so thankful for communities like Instagram that bring unknown authors to my attention!
July 10, 2020
This genre isn’t one that I typically read and, honestly, I found it to be incredibly charming and a really fun read! The quips were perfectly placed and the sarcasm was very entertaining. The development of the characters and their relationships was very well done. I thought initially that the introduction of so many characters would complicate the storyline as it developed, but Heather did an excellent job developing each one. Plus, I just adore the main character, Paige. There were a few points where the plot seemed a bit extraordinary for being set in a seemingly ordinary and more modern time period but I still really enjoyed it! I loved how each chapter ended, practically forcing you to turn the page and start the next. Looking forward to more from this series! Overall, 4/5!
On a side note, I have equally enjoyed following this author’s journey on bookstagram in publishing this book. She’s a lovely human so give her a follow and support her writing journey.
On a side note, I have equally enjoyed following this author’s journey on bookstagram in publishing this book. She’s a lovely human so give her a follow and support her writing journey.
December 14, 2020
I was very kindly contacted by the author @heathergarvinbooks to recieve a copy of her book 'Take what you can' and it sounded great so of course I said yes.
I read this book in a matter of hours and I have to say I absolutely LOVED IT!!!!
This book follows paige, it's the summer holidays and she's looking forward to having some fun with her friends, that is until she meets a mysterious guy at a bonfire and he just so happens to change everything.
I loved the characters and I loved that this book make me both laugh and sit on the edge of my seat and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that it was unlike anything I'd ever read before.Full of action, angsty teens and bucket loads of lust, Heather succeeded in writing an amazing, gripping YA novel and I'm so glad I got to read it. I'm already wishing there was more.
Take what you can is available on amazon NOW! If you love a good YA contemporary then go buy it, right now! You won't regret it.
I read this book in a matter of hours and I have to say I absolutely LOVED IT!!!!
This book follows paige, it's the summer holidays and she's looking forward to having some fun with her friends, that is until she meets a mysterious guy at a bonfire and he just so happens to change everything.
I loved the characters and I loved that this book make me both laugh and sit on the edge of my seat and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that it was unlike anything I'd ever read before.Full of action, angsty teens and bucket loads of lust, Heather succeeded in writing an amazing, gripping YA novel and I'm so glad I got to read it. I'm already wishing there was more.
Take what you can is available on amazon NOW! If you love a good YA contemporary then go buy it, right now! You won't regret it.
November 15, 2020
It took me a little while to like Paige & the description of her didn't really make me understand the appeal that she seemed to hold. However, her character seemed to come alive once Frederick came into her world!
Frederick is my favourite character & not who you first think he (a weird stalker). I wanted to know what was going on with him & his world & the danger that seemed to be looming.
Not to mention the wait for them to actually acknowledge their feelings for each other!
It's Frederick's world that you get pulled into, as opposed to Paige's, but that's because she's being pulled into that world too.
This is quite reminiscent to Twilight (not in a vampire way) in regards to how the other characters in Paige's world come into play, but then I enjoyed Twilight too.
It's a fun YA read with all of the elements & I'm definitely up for the next book!
Frederick is my favourite character & not who you first think he (a weird stalker). I wanted to know what was going on with him & his world & the danger that seemed to be looming.
Not to mention the wait for them to actually acknowledge their feelings for each other!
It's Frederick's world that you get pulled into, as opposed to Paige's, but that's because she's being pulled into that world too.
This is quite reminiscent to Twilight (not in a vampire way) in regards to how the other characters in Paige's world come into play, but then I enjoyed Twilight too.
It's a fun YA read with all of the elements & I'm definitely up for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2021
This is not my typical genre, but this book pretty much just bitch slapped me and said read me. And I’m so glad I did, this book is amazing!
The characters are high schoolers, and all the cliches that come with them. But it’s done realistically. You don’t feel like it’s a bloody teen drama show or something. And you really do see a lot of the characters... adapt.
As a current Florida resident, I really connect with the setting, given that it takes place about two hours north of me. Also you can tell the author has been personally victimized by the Florida humidity and mosquitos, which makes the writing so much more realistic.
My only fault is that Paige starts running with “pirates”. But... they aren’t. A better term would be land pirates cause the group is just pick pockets. But hey, just my two cents.
The ending had me dying for more and I can’t wait to read the second book!
The characters are high schoolers, and all the cliches that come with them. But it’s done realistically. You don’t feel like it’s a bloody teen drama show or something. And you really do see a lot of the characters... adapt.
As a current Florida resident, I really connect with the setting, given that it takes place about two hours north of me. Also you can tell the author has been personally victimized by the Florida humidity and mosquitos, which makes the writing so much more realistic.
My only fault is that Paige starts running with “pirates”. But... they aren’t. A better term would be land pirates cause the group is just pick pockets. But hey, just my two cents.
The ending had me dying for more and I can’t wait to read the second book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2023
This is my first read by Heather Garvin and I just have to say, I loved this book! I'm not normally a huge fan of young adult, but this one kept me so engrossed that I stayed up all night reading it. There's not only romantic relationships at play here, but also friendships and familial relationships, rounding the story out so well. The development of the characters also plays well with the plot of the book. Paige is inspiring in the growth she has within herself, while not becoming too overtly boy obsessed with Frederick. Though their relationship (whatever that may be) is definitely gripping. Not to mention the huge cliff hanger... I NEED to start reading the next book now!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 26, 2020
Wow. Just wow. I’m so impressed by Heather Garvinˋs first novel. She managed to grab me into Paige’s story from the first moment. I may not have finished in a day or few days as some of the other reviews mention, but man did this book keep me busy when I had a moment. I really enjoyed coming back to it every time. Heather managed to slow down the pace and pick up the pace in exactly the right spots. I can’t wait to continue reading more of this author and especially want to read the sequel.
Side note: I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Side note: I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2025
It's the last day of school and Josh drags Paige to a beach party where she meets Frederick. Josh warns Paige to stay away from Frederick because he's 'bad news', but he refuses to elaborate any further and of course Paige ignores Josh because otherwise there wouldn't be a story. In the end, Paige learns that Frederick is a thief and part of a gang, but their love continues to blossom despite that revelation.
I'll be quite frank, I really enjoyed Paige and Fredericks story, which is split across two books (Take What You Can and Give Nothing Back). Paige is my favourite kind of YA character; she's a bookworm who likes older rock music and she's quiet and reserved. Frederick, despite being a thief, is one of the good guys who, regardless of his interesting moral compass, always tries to do what's right. Not only that, but there's a whole slew of well rounded side characters.
However, this book read like Twilight without the vampires. Paige is almost a carbon copy of Bella and if Frederick had sparkled in the sun, he'd be just like Edward.
The secrecy that's explained away in Twilight because Edward is a vampire doesn't make sense in TWYC/GNB. Why doesn't Josh simply tell Paige, his very best friend in all the world BTW!, that he knows Josh is a thief and that he... (I can't finish that sentence because it's a spoiler)? The obvious reason is that if he had, there would be no story. But if he had, the story could have been taken down an alternative route or else there should have been an explanation for Josh's secrecy. Was he embarrassed by what had happened in the past?
Not only that but some of Paige's behaviour doesn't make sense to me. Maybe because of the life I've lived? I can sort of accept her falling in love with Frederick and not outing him when she finds out he's a thief. I'm not sure I'd be able to overlook it but no-one's perfect, and at aged 17/18 maybe dating someone like Frederick is simply so exciting that you can overlook what is in fact quite a serious issue. However, on several occasions Paige is attacked. On one occasion, someone breaks into her house and attempts to kidnap her. Why on god's earth does she not even consider going to the police? And why, when someone tries to kidnap her doesn't she scream the house down and alert her Dad, who she lives with, to the fact that someone's broken into the house?
While the story of Paige and Frederick has it's faults, as I said at the outset, I did really enjoy it. I wasn't happy with the story being split over two books though. I'd have preferred to pay slightly more for a single book split into two parts.
N.B. I have written a single review for both TWYC and GNB.
I'll be quite frank, I really enjoyed Paige and Fredericks story, which is split across two books (Take What You Can and Give Nothing Back). Paige is my favourite kind of YA character; she's a bookworm who likes older rock music and she's quiet and reserved. Frederick, despite being a thief, is one of the good guys who, regardless of his interesting moral compass, always tries to do what's right. Not only that, but there's a whole slew of well rounded side characters.
However, this book read like Twilight without the vampires. Paige is almost a carbon copy of Bella and if Frederick had sparkled in the sun, he'd be just like Edward.
The secrecy that's explained away in Twilight because Edward is a vampire doesn't make sense in TWYC/GNB. Why doesn't Josh simply tell Paige, his very best friend in all the world BTW!, that he knows Josh is a thief and that he... (I can't finish that sentence because it's a spoiler)? The obvious reason is that if he had, there would be no story. But if he had, the story could have been taken down an alternative route or else there should have been an explanation for Josh's secrecy. Was he embarrassed by what had happened in the past?
Not only that but some of Paige's behaviour doesn't make sense to me. Maybe because of the life I've lived? I can sort of accept her falling in love with Frederick and not outing him when she finds out he's a thief. I'm not sure I'd be able to overlook it but no-one's perfect, and at aged 17/18 maybe dating someone like Frederick is simply so exciting that you can overlook what is in fact quite a serious issue. However, on several occasions Paige is attacked. On one occasion, someone breaks into her house and attempts to kidnap her. Why on god's earth does she not even consider going to the police? And why, when someone tries to kidnap her doesn't she scream the house down and alert her Dad, who she lives with, to the fact that someone's broken into the house?
While the story of Paige and Frederick has it's faults, as I said at the outset, I did really enjoy it. I wasn't happy with the story being split over two books though. I'd have preferred to pay slightly more for a single book split into two parts.
N.B. I have written a single review for both TWYC and GNB.
June 4, 2020
"It's funny how the people you least expect can impact your life the most"
I am going to start by saying that Heather Garvin is a very talented author. I think her writing is fantastic, and I am excited to see what she comes up with in the future. That being said this is a "middle of the road" book for me. There were aspects of the book that I really liked, and aspects I didn't.
I loved Paige. I think she is an extremely relatable character. She is an absolute bookworm which I think makes her very attractive to the reader. She mentions other books that she's reading, and that made it feel like finding an easter egg! She also has a really good relationship with her dad which I always like to see in books. Frederick Pryce is an amazing male lead. I immediately liked him a lot. He's concerned about other's wellbeing, and obviously balances a lot to keep his family together. I loved the setting of the book! Anything near the beach is a win for me, and that made me pretty excited to make this be my first summer read for this summer. The slow burn relationship drove me crazy in a good way!
Now the things I wasn't a fan of...
I would have liked to hear more about Josh and Frederick's falling out. I think more elaboration would have made it easier to understand how Josh feels. I think Josh ended up looking very toxic, which might have changed with a bit more backstory. There is also a lot of violence in this book, and sometimes I'm okay with that. However, in this instance I think it glorified gang activity.
I am going to start by saying that Heather Garvin is a very talented author. I think her writing is fantastic, and I am excited to see what she comes up with in the future. That being said this is a "middle of the road" book for me. There were aspects of the book that I really liked, and aspects I didn't.
I loved Paige. I think she is an extremely relatable character. She is an absolute bookworm which I think makes her very attractive to the reader. She mentions other books that she's reading, and that made it feel like finding an easter egg! She also has a really good relationship with her dad which I always like to see in books. Frederick Pryce is an amazing male lead. I immediately liked him a lot. He's concerned about other's wellbeing, and obviously balances a lot to keep his family together. I loved the setting of the book! Anything near the beach is a win for me, and that made me pretty excited to make this be my first summer read for this summer. The slow burn relationship drove me crazy in a good way!
Now the things I wasn't a fan of...
I would have liked to hear more about Josh and Frederick's falling out. I think more elaboration would have made it easier to understand how Josh feels. I think Josh ended up looking very toxic, which might have changed with a bit more backstory. There is also a lot of violence in this book, and sometimes I'm okay with that. However, in this instance I think it glorified gang activity.
August 1, 2020
Genre: Young Adult | Fiction | Contemporary | Romance |Thriller
4 out of 5 stars!
COMING THIS MONDAY JULY 27, 2020! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
I am blown away! Take What You Can is Heather Gavin’s debut novel! This is why I love reading, there is so much talent in the world.
Paige is this well behaved, shy, gullible, keep to herself type of lady. (That is of course until she meets Fredrick).
Fredrick is this mysterious, dark, yet alluring handsome young man that all girls could fall for.
The supporting characters in this story… Josh, Leah, Luke, Dan, Melissa, Connor, Jason, Kelly and Paige’s father are so well done. If you are a reader drawn to character driver stories, Take What You Can is definitely for you. BUT! It doesn’t stop there! Take What You Can is packed full of drama, excitement and action. So…if an exciting story line is your cup of tea, well than Take What You Can is the perfect read for you too!
The splash of romance was just the right amount and every bit mysterious and puzzling. Paige had this gravity pull to Fredrick, she just couldn’t get enough. Yet Fredrick was closed off, guarded and wouldn’t come out honestly to Paige on what his true feelings were or what he wanted from her.
The only reason I removed one star from my rating is when it came to new situations Paige was in, something bad would happen and yet Fredrick was always there to save the day. Although this did highlight Fredrick’s character showing how protective he was over Paige and how mysterious he really was. I found it a little unnatural on how often this scenario would hit. I know so many people would disagree with me and a younger adult would absolutely love this aspect and would tell me that Paige was in some of those situations simply because she got intertwined with Fredrick and his friends. I would 100% agree and I know this was Heather’s meaning for the characters. I just found it a bit repetitive. This was such a SMALL, SMALL thing to me and doesn’t stop the fact that I absolutely LOVED this read and would highly recommend it!
Honestly! If this is Heather’s debut novel, I can’t wait to see what else she brings into the book world and I most definitely can’t wait for book two.
Thank you so much Heather for sending me an ARC to read and review. It means so very much to me.
Publisher: Tuskan Publishing
Release Date: July 27, 2020
And of course thank you all for reading
Your PIRATE Book Worm
-Nichole
4 out of 5 stars!
COMING THIS MONDAY JULY 27, 2020! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
I am blown away! Take What You Can is Heather Gavin’s debut novel! This is why I love reading, there is so much talent in the world.
Paige is this well behaved, shy, gullible, keep to herself type of lady. (That is of course until she meets Fredrick).
Fredrick is this mysterious, dark, yet alluring handsome young man that all girls could fall for.
The supporting characters in this story… Josh, Leah, Luke, Dan, Melissa, Connor, Jason, Kelly and Paige’s father are so well done. If you are a reader drawn to character driver stories, Take What You Can is definitely for you. BUT! It doesn’t stop there! Take What You Can is packed full of drama, excitement and action. So…if an exciting story line is your cup of tea, well than Take What You Can is the perfect read for you too!
The splash of romance was just the right amount and every bit mysterious and puzzling. Paige had this gravity pull to Fredrick, she just couldn’t get enough. Yet Fredrick was closed off, guarded and wouldn’t come out honestly to Paige on what his true feelings were or what he wanted from her.
The only reason I removed one star from my rating is when it came to new situations Paige was in, something bad would happen and yet Fredrick was always there to save the day. Although this did highlight Fredrick’s character showing how protective he was over Paige and how mysterious he really was. I found it a little unnatural on how often this scenario would hit. I know so many people would disagree with me and a younger adult would absolutely love this aspect and would tell me that Paige was in some of those situations simply because she got intertwined with Fredrick and his friends. I would 100% agree and I know this was Heather’s meaning for the characters. I just found it a bit repetitive. This was such a SMALL, SMALL thing to me and doesn’t stop the fact that I absolutely LOVED this read and would highly recommend it!
Honestly! If this is Heather’s debut novel, I can’t wait to see what else she brings into the book world and I most definitely can’t wait for book two.
Thank you so much Heather for sending me an ARC to read and review. It means so very much to me.
Publisher: Tuskan Publishing
Release Date: July 27, 2020
And of course thank you all for reading
Your PIRATE Book Worm
-Nichole
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