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Night Sky
After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her. As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast. But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.
247 pages, ebook
First published February 21, 2012
About the author
Jolene Perry
47 books852 followersHiker. Occasional Yogi. Equestrian. Couch potato. Music lover. Mediocre guitar player. Sailor. Tailor. Home body. Traveler. Enjoys suffering from being interested in everything. Owner, editor and teaacherr at Waypoint Author Academy. (www.waypointauthors.com)
Also.
I only rate books I loved.
Also.
I only rate books I loved.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
October 12, 2014
Night Sky is a sweet and tender YA read. I was initially drawn to its beautiful cover and intriguing title, and was happy that the story ended up being just as enchanting.
This book is written in the POV of a teenaged boy, which initially had me thinking hmmm...probably not for me. I figured I'd give it a shot regardless and cannot express how thrilled I am for doing so!
Jameson is a senior in high school and in love with his best friend Sarah, to whom he is too terrified to reveal his feelings. When another boy steps into the picture, Jameson is left to wallow in his regret for never having the courage to make a move...
Enter Sky: A beautiful, exotic, endearing college girl who happens to be a total goddess—what a way to take his mind off of...what's her name?? Sky is part Native-American and has a thing for complete honesty...but she also has something huge she's hiding from Jameson.
This story presented a heartwarming portrayal of young love blossoming into maturity. It transported me back into my own teenage years as I remembered the excitement of falling in love for the very first time. Perry has done an excellent job capturing the thoughts and emotions of a young boy in love. Really sweet read!
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Young Adult
▪ Steam Caliber: Clean
▪ Romance: Sweet and endearing.
▪ Characters: Well portrayed and lovable.
▪ Plot: Centered on finding that first love. Twist in plot.
▪ Writing: Engaging, fresh, and seasoned.
▪ POV: 1st Person: Hero
▪ Cliffhanger: None/Standalone
January 15, 2012
I'm just gonna do my quote thing:
They’re opposites. Sky is all tall, dark and angles. Sarah is all smooth, short and soft curves. And now I know I’m a prick because I’ve just checked them both out in less than ten seconds.
What’s ironic here is that Sky knows who Sarah is and I’ve known her for days. Sarah doesn’t know who Sky is and I’ve known her for years. How did that happen? The s’s get tangled around in my head and on my tongue. I’m in deep . . .
I know I’m the only one home, which means I’m the only here to answer the door, which further means that I need to pull my sorry ass out of bed and get the door. It better either be girl-scout cookies or someone full of good deeds.
I open the door and my heart stops. It’s Sky. Home days early. Better than both my previous thoughts, unless she has girl-scout cookies. And good deeds could mean anything….
She’s in snug yoga pants that stop near her knees and a long-sleeve t-shirt. She looks soft. Like something I need to have in my arms.
Now that they’re both in view, the problem is clear.
Girl I’ve loved, girl I’m falling for. Let’s meet in my driveway and see if we can give Jameson his first heart attack.
They’re opposites. Sky is all tall, dark and angles. Sarah is all smooth, short and soft curves. And now I know I’m a prick because I’ve just checked them both out in less than ten seconds.
What’s ironic here is that Sky knows who Sarah is and I’ve known her for days. Sarah doesn’t know who Sky is and I’ve known her for years. How did that happen? The s’s get tangled around in my head and on my tongue. I’m in deep . . .
I know I’m the only one home, which means I’m the only here to answer the door, which further means that I need to pull my sorry ass out of bed and get the door. It better either be girl-scout cookies or someone full of good deeds.
I open the door and my heart stops. It’s Sky. Home days early. Better than both my previous thoughts, unless she has girl-scout cookies. And good deeds could mean anything….
She’s in snug yoga pants that stop near her knees and a long-sleeve t-shirt. She looks soft. Like something I need to have in my arms.
Now that they’re both in view, the problem is clear.
Girl I’ve loved, girl I’m falling for. Let’s meet in my driveway and see if we can give Jameson his first heart attack.
April 5, 2012
3.5 stars.
Night Sky in a nutshell? A sweet, coming-of-age story about love which manages to be decently deep because of some serious thematics... ummm, cliché much?
Well don't worry, it's actually better than it sounds.
The unthinkable has happened: Sara got a boyfriend. Jameson has liked her for three years, they're best friends but has never found the courage to tell her. And now it's too late. Until Sky shows up. She's older, stunning, honest and might be just what Jay needs to forget Sara.
But as things gets more and more complicated in Jameson's life, it turns out that Sky has some secrets of her own and that while she preaches honesty, maybe she's not giving it herself...
Night Sky will forever be impressed in my mind thanks to Jameson. In fact, the aspect I liked most about this, what made the story really stand out for me, is his character development. Not only was he completely believable - there came a point when I stopped reading, irritated, and complaining: can't he get his mind out if the gutter for like, half a chapter? But then I realized that duh, guys that age probably think about how to get laid 95% of their time - but I liked his process of maturation and how he realizes he is growing up while some other people... don't. He's an incredibly likable character and I liked how he manages to be a teen with a grain of salt in his head.
What - or rather, who - left me perplexed is Sky. I couldn't quite grasp her, she left me with the impression that there was something I was missing about her... I could not reconcile her "forward" behavior at the beginning of the book with what we learn of her later on in the story; it just didn't make sense. That's why I found her less believable, a tad too good to be true and what didn't let me rate this book higher.
Nevertheless, I am sure teens - and not only - will like Night Sky a lot. It manages to be a decently-written, light, entertaining, exciting read while also tackling a series of issues which might be interesting for kids that age (violence, family issues, betrayal) AND setting a good example.
I'd say give it a go!
Also appears on The Nocturnal Library.
Night Sky in a nutshell? A sweet, coming-of-age story about love which manages to be decently deep because of some serious thematics... ummm, cliché much?
Well don't worry, it's actually better than it sounds.
The unthinkable has happened: Sara got a boyfriend. Jameson has liked her for three years, they're best friends but has never found the courage to tell her. And now it's too late. Until Sky shows up. She's older, stunning, honest and might be just what Jay needs to forget Sara.
But as things gets more and more complicated in Jameson's life, it turns out that Sky has some secrets of her own and that while she preaches honesty, maybe she's not giving it herself...
Night Sky will forever be impressed in my mind thanks to Jameson. In fact, the aspect I liked most about this, what made the story really stand out for me, is his character development. Not only was he completely believable - there came a point when I stopped reading, irritated, and complaining: can't he get his mind out if the gutter for like, half a chapter? But then I realized that duh, guys that age probably think about how to get laid 95% of their time - but I liked his process of maturation and how he realizes he is growing up while some other people... don't. He's an incredibly likable character and I liked how he manages to be a teen with a grain of salt in his head.
What - or rather, who - left me perplexed is Sky. I couldn't quite grasp her, she left me with the impression that there was something I was missing about her... I could not reconcile her "forward" behavior at the beginning of the book with what we learn of her later on in the story; it just didn't make sense. That's why I found her less believable, a tad too good to be true and what didn't let me rate this book higher.
Nevertheless, I am sure teens - and not only - will like Night Sky a lot. It manages to be a decently-written, light, entertaining, exciting read while also tackling a series of issues which might be interesting for kids that age (violence, family issues, betrayal) AND setting a good example.
I'd say give it a go!
Also appears on The Nocturnal Library.
June 12, 2014
3.5 Stars (Rounded up) - (Re-edited review)
Also reviewed at:Lady Jayne's Reading Den
I’ve been in the mood for YA reads, lately. I saw this book on the blog of Nyrae Dawn, author of What I Boy Wants which I'd read and loved, recently, and the blurb of this one sounded good and the cover is pretty and intriguing.
Night Sky by Jolene Perry is about Jameson a.k.a. Jay who has been in love with his best friend, Sarah, for 3 years, and he never told her. But Sarah has a boyfriend now and Jay meets Sky, a Tlingit from Alaska, who has just moved into his street. Sky attends college and she is very candid - something that takes Jay by surprise as he comes to appreciate her "honesty approach". He finds himself incredibly attracted to Sky at a time when he is grieving the loss of his best friend to a guy he thinks is a jerk. Then, when his family life gets turned upside down, Sky is there for him; they form a connection and she changes him.
I was really looking forward to reading this… but I don’t know… I liked it but I didn’t connect strongly with the characters or the writing.
The first person narrative of Jameson (a.k.a. Jay), senior high school student and star swimmer, was quite engaging but I thought he spent too much time thinking about kissing and touching Sky - way too much (but not in a creepy/pervy way, just in a repetitive way). I know teen boys are known to be “horny teens” and this is likely a realistic portrayal, but the amount of time in the book he thinks about this took away from my enjoyment rather than building the tension. There is a balance to be made between the authenticity of the male voice and the storytelling and tension-building, I feel, and this balance was a bit off, for me.
I know I shouldn’t be comparing, but in comparison to such great Boy Point-of-Views (POV) like that of Alex Fuentes in the alternating POVs of Perfect Chemistry and Sebastian's sole POV in What a Boy Wants, Jay’s “voice” just felt a bit awkward, didn’t flow quite as well, and was repetitive. Jay’s character was very nice and sweet, though; his first date with Sky was very romantic and thoughtful; and there were some other really good moments in here. I really liked Jay and appreciated his growth throughout the story.
Sky’s initial forward behaviour perplexed me; and even more so after I found out her tragic backstory. I guess it just went to show how much she trusted Jay, from the beginning, because of his kind eyes and the eyes being the windows to the soul and all.
I still felt like I was missing something with Sky, though; that I didn’t get a full grasp of who she was. But considering that Jay didn’t fully get to know her until the end, because of secrets she kept, that may have been why.
Night Sky was a nice read. It just wasn’t great, for me, especially coming off the back of a really great Boy POV book I’d just recently loved.
I loved this moment when Jay actually WASN'T thinking about kissing Sky ^_^:
My Jay (Edilson Nascimento) and My Sky (Orianka Kilcher)
Also reviewed at:Lady Jayne's Reading Den
I’ve been in the mood for YA reads, lately. I saw this book on the blog of Nyrae Dawn, author of What I Boy Wants which I'd read and loved, recently, and the blurb of this one sounded good and the cover is pretty and intriguing.
Night Sky by Jolene Perry is about Jameson a.k.a. Jay who has been in love with his best friend, Sarah, for 3 years, and he never told her. But Sarah has a boyfriend now and Jay meets Sky, a Tlingit from Alaska, who has just moved into his street. Sky attends college and she is very candid - something that takes Jay by surprise as he comes to appreciate her "honesty approach". He finds himself incredibly attracted to Sky at a time when he is grieving the loss of his best friend to a guy he thinks is a jerk. Then, when his family life gets turned upside down, Sky is there for him; they form a connection and she changes him.
I was really looking forward to reading this… but I don’t know… I liked it but I didn’t connect strongly with the characters or the writing.
The first person narrative of Jameson (a.k.a. Jay), senior high school student and star swimmer, was quite engaging but I thought he spent too much time thinking about kissing and touching Sky - way too much (but not in a creepy/pervy way, just in a repetitive way). I know teen boys are known to be “horny teens” and this is likely a realistic portrayal, but the amount of time in the book he thinks about this took away from my enjoyment rather than building the tension. There is a balance to be made between the authenticity of the male voice and the storytelling and tension-building, I feel, and this balance was a bit off, for me.
I know I shouldn’t be comparing, but in comparison to such great Boy Point-of-Views (POV) like that of Alex Fuentes in the alternating POVs of Perfect Chemistry and Sebastian's sole POV in What a Boy Wants, Jay’s “voice” just felt a bit awkward, didn’t flow quite as well, and was repetitive. Jay’s character was very nice and sweet, though; his first date with Sky was very romantic and thoughtful; and there were some other really good moments in here. I really liked Jay and appreciated his growth throughout the story.
Sky’s initial forward behaviour perplexed me; and even more so after I found out her tragic backstory. I guess it just went to show how much she trusted Jay, from the beginning, because of his kind eyes and the eyes being the windows to the soul and all.
' "How can you even be with me? Why did you get in the car the night we met?" Now that I know her history, the comfortable way she is around me, doesn't make any sense.
"You have kind eyes." She breathes out the words, not moving.
"That's it?" My eyes?
"That's everything." Her arm tightens around me.
I run my hands through her hair and down her arms. Her body relaxes against me. There's nowhere in the world I'd rather be, and nothing else I'd rather be doing. It's all right here.'
I still felt like I was missing something with Sky, though; that I didn’t get a full grasp of who she was. But considering that Jay didn’t fully get to know her until the end, because of secrets she kept, that may have been why.
Night Sky was a nice read. It just wasn’t great, for me, especially coming off the back of a really great Boy POV book I’d just recently loved.
I loved this moment when Jay actually WASN'T thinking about kissing Sky ^_^:
'I'm suddenly afraid to touch her. My fingers touch the edges of hers and she slides our hands together. I scoot toward her, so I can take her in my arms. I don't think about kissing her or touching her. I just want to hold her, protect her. It means so much more now.'
My Jay (Edilson Nascimento) and My Sky (Orianka Kilcher)
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the copyright to any of the images used in this review. They are posted to add visuals to the review and for fun. If any of these images are yours and you would like me to remove them, please let me know, and I will do so as soon as possible. If I can identify the copyright, I will do so.
May 8, 2012
Night sky was very different from my usual contemporary romance reads. It’s a story which affects you much deeper. It’s not just about an annoying love triangle that a lot of books these days tend to focus on but a heartfelt touching story about a young boys struggle with a chaotic life and everything it throws at you. Jameson certainly had his fair share of problems to deal with.
Jameson has been in love with his best friend Sarah for the last three years, he’s wanted to tell her how he’s felt but never got the courage to do so. But when Sarah gets together with Eric; a guy that Sarah could do so much better than, Jameson is majorly cut up about it, the worse thing is he has to deal with seeing them with their hands all over each other all the time and he has a hard time accepting that he’s missed his chance of telling Sarah how he’s felt. However out one night, Jameson randomly bumps into Sky; she’s enigmatic, drop dead gorgeous and lives on his street! The more time he spends with her, the more time he can’t stop thinking about her. But Sky doesn’t want to get too close just yet, as is Jameson completely over Sarah? Or just being with her because he missed his chance and needs someone to help him forget her?
I praise Jolene Perry for giving me a love triangle that didn’t leave me endlessly frustrated. With most love triangles these days I’m always conflicted over who the main character should end up with, but with the Night Sky I had no problem deciding. I was all for Jameson and Sky’s relationship. When he was with Sky he didn’t know what to expect and I think that’s what I liked about their relationship, everything was spur of the moment and impulsive. I felt that he never really knew Sarah, he was just in love with the idea of being with her, and not with the real person she was. As the story progresses you’re given a real insight into her character and frankly I didn’t like it at all.
If you thought that this love triangle was a headache, poor Jameson had so many other problems thrown his way, that slowly chip away at him. I really did feel for him at times.
What I liked about this book; was getting inside Jameson’s head; seeing how he was thinking and feeling. I think Jolene Perry did a fantastic job of providing a realistic perspective from a male. In the past I’ve found it hugely difficult to find a decent read from a male perspective, but with the Night Sky I found I could connect with Jameson, it was great having an insight in how he saw and analysed things. I also liked seeing his vulnerable side, which we don’t usually get much of these days.
Night Sky was a book with a lot of potential; it dealt with so many issues teens have to deal with effectively. And certainly kept me on my toes with the number of spanners it threw into the works.
A big thank you to Tribute books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
This review and more can also be found on my blog: The Readers Den
Jameson has been in love with his best friend Sarah for the last three years, he’s wanted to tell her how he’s felt but never got the courage to do so. But when Sarah gets together with Eric; a guy that Sarah could do so much better than, Jameson is majorly cut up about it, the worse thing is he has to deal with seeing them with their hands all over each other all the time and he has a hard time accepting that he’s missed his chance of telling Sarah how he’s felt. However out one night, Jameson randomly bumps into Sky; she’s enigmatic, drop dead gorgeous and lives on his street! The more time he spends with her, the more time he can’t stop thinking about her. But Sky doesn’t want to get too close just yet, as is Jameson completely over Sarah? Or just being with her because he missed his chance and needs someone to help him forget her?
I praise Jolene Perry for giving me a love triangle that didn’t leave me endlessly frustrated. With most love triangles these days I’m always conflicted over who the main character should end up with, but with the Night Sky I had no problem deciding. I was all for Jameson and Sky’s relationship. When he was with Sky he didn’t know what to expect and I think that’s what I liked about their relationship, everything was spur of the moment and impulsive. I felt that he never really knew Sarah, he was just in love with the idea of being with her, and not with the real person she was. As the story progresses you’re given a real insight into her character and frankly I didn’t like it at all.
If you thought that this love triangle was a headache, poor Jameson had so many other problems thrown his way, that slowly chip away at him. I really did feel for him at times.
What I liked about this book; was getting inside Jameson’s head; seeing how he was thinking and feeling. I think Jolene Perry did a fantastic job of providing a realistic perspective from a male. In the past I’ve found it hugely difficult to find a decent read from a male perspective, but with the Night Sky I found I could connect with Jameson, it was great having an insight in how he saw and analysed things. I also liked seeing his vulnerable side, which we don’t usually get much of these days.
Night Sky was a book with a lot of potential; it dealt with so many issues teens have to deal with effectively. And certainly kept me on my toes with the number of spanners it threw into the works.
A big thank you to Tribute books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
This review and more can also be found on my blog: The Readers Den
April 4, 2012
Love, love, loved this book. Jay is my new favorite guy and I have a girl crush on Sky.
One of my favorite things about Jolene's book is they're REAL. The characters, the situations they go through, the emotions they're feeling, is REAL. And relationships. Not just the guy/girl kind. Jay and his mom are so natural with each other, yet they still have their parental things. I hope some day my sons and I can be that way with each other.
And HOT. Yes, this book gets steamy. Jolene shows a REAL boy dealing with REAL boy emotions, feeling and other things. Because guys think that stuff...But they also have to learn how to look through the testosterone and see the girl they love. (or think they love.) And Jay's feeling were so palpable, and crazy, and real, and just heart breaking at times. But I loved watching him fall in love.
Jameson (Jay) grows and matures as the story unfolds. He has to deal with many things that teenager are going through today. I got teary eyed on a few occasions and when the book ended I was sad to say goodbye.
I also loved the native Alaskan culture that is reflected in this book. I lived in Alaska for a while and came to love the people that lived there and their many cultures.
Just loved this book!
One of my favorite things about Jolene's book is they're REAL. The characters, the situations they go through, the emotions they're feeling, is REAL. And relationships. Not just the guy/girl kind. Jay and his mom are so natural with each other, yet they still have their parental things. I hope some day my sons and I can be that way with each other.
And HOT. Yes, this book gets steamy. Jolene shows a REAL boy dealing with REAL boy emotions, feeling and other things. Because guys think that stuff...But they also have to learn how to look through the testosterone and see the girl they love. (or think they love.) And Jay's feeling were so palpable, and crazy, and real, and just heart breaking at times. But I loved watching him fall in love.
Jameson (Jay) grows and matures as the story unfolds. He has to deal with many things that teenager are going through today. I got teary eyed on a few occasions and when the book ended I was sad to say goodbye.
I also loved the native Alaskan culture that is reflected in this book. I lived in Alaska for a while and came to love the people that lived there and their many cultures.
Just loved this book!
August 25, 2016
This book is oh so cute!!!!
The story is told from a young man's point of view. The author did an amazing job;done with clarity and simplicity, which makes it so much of a joy to read! I ABSOLUTELY adore this book...it's going on my top-favorites shelve!!!!
The story is told from a young man's point of view. The author did an amazing job;done with clarity and simplicity, which makes it so much of a joy to read! I ABSOLUTELY adore this book...it's going on my top-favorites shelve!!!!
April 6, 2012
“Like I’m flying through the night sky because I have no idea what the hell I’m doing, but I can’t get enough of you.”~Jameson (Jay)
Wow, Night Sky by Jolene B. Perry has stolen my heart! This book was an incredible story of love, lost, struggle, and life.
Night Sky is through the eyes of Jameson (Jay). Jameson has been in love with his best friend Sarah for years. And now that Sarah is with probably the biggest jerk in school, Jay has had enough. As he struggles to get over his broken heart he meets Sky, she is completely the opposite of Sarah, Sky tells Jay what she thinks, and is completely honest with him…the more time he spends with Sky the more he realizes maybe Sarah was never the girl he thought she was…but as Jay falls more and more for Sky, he can’t help, but feel she is keeping something from him..something big.
Night Sky was such a refreshing read from beginning to end, I have been reading so many paranormal/dystopian novels that to pick up a contemporary novel that kept my attention as much as Night Sky did was incredible. I adored this novel, I am not one that reads contemporary novels often, for me contemporary novels have to be amazing for me to enjoy them as much as a paranormal/or dystopian novel, and Night Sky was just that AMAZING, Jolene has put together a beautiful and heart breaking novel of love that I could not get enough of.
My favorite part of Night Sky hands down was Sky. She was so unique, I loved how brutally honest she would be to Jay and how understanding she was. She knew Jay was still confused about his feelings for Sarah, and instead of being whiney and all depressed like most girls in YA books would be she just gave him his time and was understanding. Not once did she ever throw a fit. I also loved hearing about her Native American roots, I love Native American culture, and after reading Night Sky that has a girl that is Native American, it made me realize how much I wish more YA books would use other heritages in their novels. Most YA novels don’t go outside of American culture, and it really is a shame.
Another part of Night Sky I loved was the writing, I devoured Night Sky! Jolene’s writing was absolutely astonishing! I started Night Sky Wednesday night and kept reading until I finished it really early Thursday morning, I could not put it down! When I finished Night Sky I couldn’t believe I had been sitting there for hours without even noticing, Jolene’s writing flowed so nicely I didn’t even notice I was flowing straight through the whole book. I normally would have to force myself to finish a book in one sitting, but yet with Night Sky I did it without even a pause or realizing I was flowing straight threw!
If you’re looking for a novel that you won’t be able to put down, has unique characters and is a marvelous story of love and struggle, then Night Sky is a novel you must pick and enjoy!
Wow, Night Sky by Jolene B. Perry has stolen my heart! This book was an incredible story of love, lost, struggle, and life.
Night Sky is through the eyes of Jameson (Jay). Jameson has been in love with his best friend Sarah for years. And now that Sarah is with probably the biggest jerk in school, Jay has had enough. As he struggles to get over his broken heart he meets Sky, she is completely the opposite of Sarah, Sky tells Jay what she thinks, and is completely honest with him…the more time he spends with Sky the more he realizes maybe Sarah was never the girl he thought she was…but as Jay falls more and more for Sky, he can’t help, but feel she is keeping something from him..something big.
Night Sky was such a refreshing read from beginning to end, I have been reading so many paranormal/dystopian novels that to pick up a contemporary novel that kept my attention as much as Night Sky did was incredible. I adored this novel, I am not one that reads contemporary novels often, for me contemporary novels have to be amazing for me to enjoy them as much as a paranormal/or dystopian novel, and Night Sky was just that AMAZING, Jolene has put together a beautiful and heart breaking novel of love that I could not get enough of.
My favorite part of Night Sky hands down was Sky. She was so unique, I loved how brutally honest she would be to Jay and how understanding she was. She knew Jay was still confused about his feelings for Sarah, and instead of being whiney and all depressed like most girls in YA books would be she just gave him his time and was understanding. Not once did she ever throw a fit. I also loved hearing about her Native American roots, I love Native American culture, and after reading Night Sky that has a girl that is Native American, it made me realize how much I wish more YA books would use other heritages in their novels. Most YA novels don’t go outside of American culture, and it really is a shame.
Another part of Night Sky I loved was the writing, I devoured Night Sky! Jolene’s writing was absolutely astonishing! I started Night Sky Wednesday night and kept reading until I finished it really early Thursday morning, I could not put it down! When I finished Night Sky I couldn’t believe I had been sitting there for hours without even noticing, Jolene’s writing flowed so nicely I didn’t even notice I was flowing straight through the whole book. I normally would have to force myself to finish a book in one sitting, but yet with Night Sky I did it without even a pause or realizing I was flowing straight threw!
If you’re looking for a novel that you won’t be able to put down, has unique characters and is a marvelous story of love and struggle, then Night Sky is a novel you must pick and enjoy!
May 2, 2012
“Three and half stars: A book that takes you through the emotion of losing a love and finding a new great love.
For Jameson the night of the dance seems like the end of the world. The past three years he has spent countless hours mooning over a girl, Jenny, who considers him to be nothing more than a best friend. He is hopelessly in love with her, but has never once told her of his feelings. Tonight he watched the girl who holds his heart kiss another boy. Depressed he heads home, but decides to take a drive instead. The Vegas night rushes around him as he drives in his dad’s convertible. On the corner, he sees the most beautiful, girl with striking exotic features. Without thinking, he offers her a ride. She unexpectedly accepts. The beauty is named Sky and she just happens to be living down the street with her grandparents. Jameson turns heartbreak into hope as he slowly lets go of Jenny and falls head over heels in love with Sky. This is the story of a boy on the brink of adulthood. He falters as he frees himself fom his childish crush he has nurtured and moves into the complex world of adult relationships and adult problems. He teeters on the threshold as he learns to live and love again, but will this new love come at a great price?
What I Liked:
*I admit I don’t read many contemporary books, but this is definitely a case where I am glad I strayed outside my normal reading zone. This is a book filled with all the complexities and emotions that come with adulthood. Jameson as a senior in high school is on top of his game, but soon his world comes crashing down as he loses his childhood crush and his family. I loved watching him grow and change as he transformed into an adult. Books where characters show a marked growth are among my favorites, and this one certainly charts a big change.
*I really enjoyed having the story told by a male protagonist. Most contemporary YA books are via a female voice. I liked being in Jameson’s head as he endures the painful lows and the butterflies in the stomach highs as he falls in love. Jameson is pensive, compassionate, funny and a boy, meaning he thinks like any teenage boy hyped up on hormones does. I thought Ms. Perry did a fantastic job of conveying his emotions and thoughts. If you are tired of the normal, female main characters you will enjoy the departure with Jameson.
*At first glance, this book appears to have a love triangle but it is different in two ways, first, in that for once you have a male conflicted over two girls. Second, it really isn’t a triangle because when the books opens Jameson has already lost Jenny to another boy and the book deals with him coping with the heartbreak. This book really focuses more on the emotional roller coaster of losing someone and then taking those hesitant steps into a new relationship.
*I liked that this book takes on numerous issues, such as Jameson and his love life, the break up of his family and the anger and resentment he has toward his father, the difficult issues that plagued Sky in her past and most of all finding an identity as you move into adulthood.
*I liked Ms. Perry’s quiet, easy writing style. No frills or fancy descriptions, just simple straightforward good story telling.
And the Not So Much:
*I completely enjoyed the story and watching Jameson evolve but there just wasn’t much action or anything super exciting in the book. No big twists or shockers just a simple story, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you are a fan of contemporary books, I guess I am more of an adrenaline junkie and I was expecting something big and profound.
*I liked the story line that follows the break up of his parents marriage. Jameson is angry and even hostile towards his father; he can’t have a conversation with him without yelling. For me, this conflict never fully resolves. I was expecting a scene where Jameson and his father sit down and have a frank discussion but that never occurs. It instead is two men being angry, yelling and avoiding the issue. Perhaps that is why the author wrote it that way, men don’t tend to really sit down and thoroughly discuss feelings and issues.
Night Sky is a book that takes you through the lows of heartbreak to the butterflies in your tummy and flying feelings that come with a new relationship wrought on the heels of heartbreak. It is a book about a boy who over the course of couple of months grows into a man. This is a wonderful book that will remind you of what it like to fall head over heels in love with the one destined to be your other half.
Favorite Quotations:
“ I slide in my ear buds and blast Nirvana’s Nevermind as loud as I can stand it. It’s old, as old as me---but good.”
“I can feel the line of water slide across my skin as I jump in.”
“I miss Sarah. I want Sarah to call. Sarah calls. I wish Sarah hadn’t called.”
“A corner of my mouth pulls up into a smile---something that seemed impossible only a few moments ago.”
“When she turns to face us, a look of pure happiness is still all over her face. It dances in her eyes and weaves its way through her body.”
“She doesn’t laugh, but there’s laughter on the edges of her words.”
“One thing I know is---everyone has impulses, but you don’t have to act on them. At some point, you make a decision and that decision means you meant to do something.”
“Sarah’s becoming more of a memory now than anything else.”
“There’s always something we can be angry about, but it’s how we react that counts.”
“It’s just bringing it all to the surface again, like dragging my heart over sandpaper.”
“The problem is that when a relationship really means something, it messes with your head.”
A big thank you to Tribute Books for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Posted @ http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
For Jameson the night of the dance seems like the end of the world. The past three years he has spent countless hours mooning over a girl, Jenny, who considers him to be nothing more than a best friend. He is hopelessly in love with her, but has never once told her of his feelings. Tonight he watched the girl who holds his heart kiss another boy. Depressed he heads home, but decides to take a drive instead. The Vegas night rushes around him as he drives in his dad’s convertible. On the corner, he sees the most beautiful, girl with striking exotic features. Without thinking, he offers her a ride. She unexpectedly accepts. The beauty is named Sky and she just happens to be living down the street with her grandparents. Jameson turns heartbreak into hope as he slowly lets go of Jenny and falls head over heels in love with Sky. This is the story of a boy on the brink of adulthood. He falters as he frees himself fom his childish crush he has nurtured and moves into the complex world of adult relationships and adult problems. He teeters on the threshold as he learns to live and love again, but will this new love come at a great price?
What I Liked:
*I admit I don’t read many contemporary books, but this is definitely a case where I am glad I strayed outside my normal reading zone. This is a book filled with all the complexities and emotions that come with adulthood. Jameson as a senior in high school is on top of his game, but soon his world comes crashing down as he loses his childhood crush and his family. I loved watching him grow and change as he transformed into an adult. Books where characters show a marked growth are among my favorites, and this one certainly charts a big change.
*I really enjoyed having the story told by a male protagonist. Most contemporary YA books are via a female voice. I liked being in Jameson’s head as he endures the painful lows and the butterflies in the stomach highs as he falls in love. Jameson is pensive, compassionate, funny and a boy, meaning he thinks like any teenage boy hyped up on hormones does. I thought Ms. Perry did a fantastic job of conveying his emotions and thoughts. If you are tired of the normal, female main characters you will enjoy the departure with Jameson.
*At first glance, this book appears to have a love triangle but it is different in two ways, first, in that for once you have a male conflicted over two girls. Second, it really isn’t a triangle because when the books opens Jameson has already lost Jenny to another boy and the book deals with him coping with the heartbreak. This book really focuses more on the emotional roller coaster of losing someone and then taking those hesitant steps into a new relationship.
*I liked that this book takes on numerous issues, such as Jameson and his love life, the break up of his family and the anger and resentment he has toward his father, the difficult issues that plagued Sky in her past and most of all finding an identity as you move into adulthood.
*I liked Ms. Perry’s quiet, easy writing style. No frills or fancy descriptions, just simple straightforward good story telling.
And the Not So Much:
*I completely enjoyed the story and watching Jameson evolve but there just wasn’t much action or anything super exciting in the book. No big twists or shockers just a simple story, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you are a fan of contemporary books, I guess I am more of an adrenaline junkie and I was expecting something big and profound.
*I liked the story line that follows the break up of his parents marriage. Jameson is angry and even hostile towards his father; he can’t have a conversation with him without yelling. For me, this conflict never fully resolves. I was expecting a scene where Jameson and his father sit down and have a frank discussion but that never occurs. It instead is two men being angry, yelling and avoiding the issue. Perhaps that is why the author wrote it that way, men don’t tend to really sit down and thoroughly discuss feelings and issues.
Night Sky is a book that takes you through the lows of heartbreak to the butterflies in your tummy and flying feelings that come with a new relationship wrought on the heels of heartbreak. It is a book about a boy who over the course of couple of months grows into a man. This is a wonderful book that will remind you of what it like to fall head over heels in love with the one destined to be your other half.
Favorite Quotations:
“ I slide in my ear buds and blast Nirvana’s Nevermind as loud as I can stand it. It’s old, as old as me---but good.”
“I can feel the line of water slide across my skin as I jump in.”
“I miss Sarah. I want Sarah to call. Sarah calls. I wish Sarah hadn’t called.”
“A corner of my mouth pulls up into a smile---something that seemed impossible only a few moments ago.”
“When she turns to face us, a look of pure happiness is still all over her face. It dances in her eyes and weaves its way through her body.”
“She doesn’t laugh, but there’s laughter on the edges of her words.”
“One thing I know is---everyone has impulses, but you don’t have to act on them. At some point, you make a decision and that decision means you meant to do something.”
“Sarah’s becoming more of a memory now than anything else.”
“There’s always something we can be angry about, but it’s how we react that counts.”
“It’s just bringing it all to the surface again, like dragging my heart over sandpaper.”
“The problem is that when a relationship really means something, it messes with your head.”
A big thank you to Tribute Books for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Posted @ http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
March 2, 2012
First Thoughts:
There are books I go into not knowing if I’m going to like it or not but with Jolene Perry’s writing I now know I’ll always love it. The way she’s able to just pull everything together makes the reading that much more enjoyable and fun. This book definitely didn’t let me down, I loved every minute of it, the authors style of writing and the way she was able to mold these adorable (or should I say amazing) characters was perfect.
Plot:
The plot was filled with plenty of complex situations and emotional ups and downs. It had all of the elements required of a traditional plot line but it also had an even more complex outline, there were sub-plots that seemed almost as important as the main plot and it really added a new level to the book. I felt that the author did a great job on tying up any loose ends, all questions, thoughts, or ideas were resolved by the last page. There were a lot of deep emotional conflicts, I loved that the author chose to insert a type of comic relief at the highest intensity moments; it allowed a serious situation to be a little less intense. The author was like a ninja in this book with her writing; she crept around some serious subjects but managed to make them subtle yet powerful. This story was definitely a great fast moving plot, there were plenty of scene changes and slower moments; overall great plot line.
Characters:
Sigh, what to say about these amazing, in-depth characters? There were so many great qualities about them, each one was painted with a different paint brush; each had his/her own personality. I really enjoyed the fact that each character this author brought into this world had its own role, not one felt out of place or worthless. In fact I found that really none of the characters fell flat, though at times a particular character drifted away the author had an explanation on his/her behavior. Though I felt a little iffy about Sarah in the end I was happy to have met her. It’s nice to meet a new person once in a while even if you know you would most likely never connect with said character. I did feel a strong connection with Jay, he was just too lovable and well-built and Sky…well she’s has her own quirks and flaws that I love. I wish I could really meet these characters in real life, I feel they could really teach me a thing or two.
Transformation of the Character:
There were definitely some transformations that took place, one of them being Jay and the other being Sky. I kind of want to say Sarah made a transformation also but hers was subtle and can be taken as a hidden trait that was just revealed at the end, I guess it’s up to the reader to guess what it is. But the transformations of Jay and Sky were beautiful and amazing; I loved the fact that the author chose to gradually change them instead of waiting to the end to make them change.
Description:
The description was really well written and though out. Though I wouldn’t say most of the description was stand-alone I would say that the author was clever enough to incorporate it into the dialogue itself without being cheesy or overwhelming. The dialogue actually was really good; there were clues and description within it. But I have to say that the best part about the description is how she chose to describe this new world. Her words are almost lyrical sounding, like she’s chosen to describe her world through the beauty of poetry. But before you start to cringe at the thought of poetry remember it isn’t poetry, it just has that deep and beautiful sound to it. It just flows so nicely together that it reminds me so much of poems. But in an overall since the description was the right amount and was written with such grace.
Style:
This author has a nice and creative style, she chose to write in her own style and break out of the A-typical mold. She got creative with her description, she did a great internal monologue with Jay and she did a great job on both breaking the chapters up and creating subtle symbols. She did a great job on meshing an Indian/Alaskan culture with American society; it was both eye-opening and different. And one last thing I am so glad the author chose to write in Jay’s POV, it allowed us in my opinion to see more of the world and understand each sub-plot and plot better. We were able to connect easier with the characters and understand them.
Quote of the book:
“It feels like we’re on top of the world-our lips together, our bodies together. And it’s just me and Sky…just us…only us…Sky and Jameson. Because Sky and Jameson go together, and we’re awesome.”
Goodreads Summary:
Girl I’ve loved, girl I’m falling for. Now that they’re both in view, the problem is clear.
After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.
As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.
But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this book to the fans of Jolene Perry, this book will definitely not disappoint, and this was an epic and fun read. I would also recommend this to young adults, though this can be enjoyed by almost any age, this has young complicated love written all over it. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who is opposed to love stories (There’s tons of love and heartache). I really enjoyed this book and it has definitely landed a spot in my favorites list, it was just so much fun to read and pick apart. Jolene Perry has become a top author I’ll be on the lookout for future books, her writing style has convinced me to read just about anything she produces! And if you haven’t checked out her first book “Next door Boys” I highly recommend you do it! Move over high top authors and make room for Jolene!
There are books I go into not knowing if I’m going to like it or not but with Jolene Perry’s writing I now know I’ll always love it. The way she’s able to just pull everything together makes the reading that much more enjoyable and fun. This book definitely didn’t let me down, I loved every minute of it, the authors style of writing and the way she was able to mold these adorable (or should I say amazing) characters was perfect.
Plot:
The plot was filled with plenty of complex situations and emotional ups and downs. It had all of the elements required of a traditional plot line but it also had an even more complex outline, there were sub-plots that seemed almost as important as the main plot and it really added a new level to the book. I felt that the author did a great job on tying up any loose ends, all questions, thoughts, or ideas were resolved by the last page. There were a lot of deep emotional conflicts, I loved that the author chose to insert a type of comic relief at the highest intensity moments; it allowed a serious situation to be a little less intense. The author was like a ninja in this book with her writing; she crept around some serious subjects but managed to make them subtle yet powerful. This story was definitely a great fast moving plot, there were plenty of scene changes and slower moments; overall great plot line.
Characters:
Sigh, what to say about these amazing, in-depth characters? There were so many great qualities about them, each one was painted with a different paint brush; each had his/her own personality. I really enjoyed the fact that each character this author brought into this world had its own role, not one felt out of place or worthless. In fact I found that really none of the characters fell flat, though at times a particular character drifted away the author had an explanation on his/her behavior. Though I felt a little iffy about Sarah in the end I was happy to have met her. It’s nice to meet a new person once in a while even if you know you would most likely never connect with said character. I did feel a strong connection with Jay, he was just too lovable and well-built and Sky…well she’s has her own quirks and flaws that I love. I wish I could really meet these characters in real life, I feel they could really teach me a thing or two.
Transformation of the Character:
There were definitely some transformations that took place, one of them being Jay and the other being Sky. I kind of want to say Sarah made a transformation also but hers was subtle and can be taken as a hidden trait that was just revealed at the end, I guess it’s up to the reader to guess what it is. But the transformations of Jay and Sky were beautiful and amazing; I loved the fact that the author chose to gradually change them instead of waiting to the end to make them change.
Description:
The description was really well written and though out. Though I wouldn’t say most of the description was stand-alone I would say that the author was clever enough to incorporate it into the dialogue itself without being cheesy or overwhelming. The dialogue actually was really good; there were clues and description within it. But I have to say that the best part about the description is how she chose to describe this new world. Her words are almost lyrical sounding, like she’s chosen to describe her world through the beauty of poetry. But before you start to cringe at the thought of poetry remember it isn’t poetry, it just has that deep and beautiful sound to it. It just flows so nicely together that it reminds me so much of poems. But in an overall since the description was the right amount and was written with such grace.
Style:
This author has a nice and creative style, she chose to write in her own style and break out of the A-typical mold. She got creative with her description, she did a great internal monologue with Jay and she did a great job on both breaking the chapters up and creating subtle symbols. She did a great job on meshing an Indian/Alaskan culture with American society; it was both eye-opening and different. And one last thing I am so glad the author chose to write in Jay’s POV, it allowed us in my opinion to see more of the world and understand each sub-plot and plot better. We were able to connect easier with the characters and understand them.
Quote of the book:
“It feels like we’re on top of the world-our lips together, our bodies together. And it’s just me and Sky…just us…only us…Sky and Jameson. Because Sky and Jameson go together, and we’re awesome.”
Goodreads Summary:
Girl I’ve loved, girl I’m falling for. Now that they’re both in view, the problem is clear.
After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.
As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.
But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this book to the fans of Jolene Perry, this book will definitely not disappoint, and this was an epic and fun read. I would also recommend this to young adults, though this can be enjoyed by almost any age, this has young complicated love written all over it. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who is opposed to love stories (There’s tons of love and heartache). I really enjoyed this book and it has definitely landed a spot in my favorites list, it was just so much fun to read and pick apart. Jolene Perry has become a top author I’ll be on the lookout for future books, her writing style has convinced me to read just about anything she produces! And if you haven’t checked out her first book “Next door Boys” I highly recommend you do it! Move over high top authors and make room for Jolene!
May 21, 2012
THIS REVIEW ON B'S BOOK BLOG!
3.5 stars
A digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review and book tour.
Girl I’ve loved, girl I’m falling for. Now that they’re both in view, the problem is clear.
This is the second book written by Jolene B. Perry that I've read. Night Sky is an addictive read, which explains why I was hooked since the very first sentence all the way until the end of the book. I enjoyed it very much.
Night Sky is told by a male narrator, Jameson. Jameson has a best friend named Sarah, but she doesn't know that he's been in love with her for three years. His heart is broken to see Sarah get together with Eric. That night while he's driving home, he spots a lost girl and offers to give her a ride home, which happens to be just across from his. That's Sky, and so begins their relationship. Sarah and Sky couldn't be more different. According to Jameson, Sky is all tall, dark and angles. Sarah is all smooth, short and soft curves. Jameson finds himself becoming addicted to Sky and craving her presence more and more, but his feelings for Sarah are still left unresolved. Being with Sky, who insists on brutal honesty at all time, makes Jameson realize that he's falling head over heels for her in a way that's not the same as his being in love with Sarah.
There are a few things about this book that impress me, but let's just start with the fact that I really like its story. I'm glad that this book isn't just about a love triangle, about a guy trying to figure out who he wants to be with, because it definitely felt deeper than that to me. There are family issues that send shudders through me. It felt so real! And there's this thing about "honesty" in this book that really makes you think. Yeah, why can't everyone just be honest? No more guessing and over-analyzing for anyone else. That would make life much easier, wouldn't it? But if you think some truth might scare someone away from you, someone you care about very much, would you say it anyway?
Initially I didn't get this honesty thing about Sky. I didn't see why it's so important, but near the end of the book I understood. And I loved that the foreshadowing is followed by such a twist. I loved that I didn't even see the twist coming and that it isn't just out of nowhere. It didn't feel forced, and it comes at just the right moment. That's one of the great elements in this book.
Another wonderful thing I have to mention is that the male narration feels so natural! Forced and unnatural narration is a big turn-off for me. At first I had my doubt, because not a lot of female writers can really pull that off. But after I've read this book, I have to say that Jolene B. Perry did an awesome job with the narration! It's so believable, the things Jameson feels and says and does are the things that guys feel and say and do. I didn't have any problems with it at all. Throughout this book I saw how Jameson gain maturity, come to terms with his problems, and finally figure out what he really wants. I found myself going along with him like it was the most natural thing in the world.
While I enjoyed Jameson's storytelling, I can't say I liked Sky. Sky is a Native American who comes with mystery and leaves with mystery. She wears next to nothing most of the time. She accepts a stranger's offer and jumps into his car; she strips down to black panties and jumps into his pool. I'm not sure if it's because of the way she's written and portrayed or because I just don't like girls like her in the first place. Although there are some things that I couldn't grasp about her, she's nice enough in the story that it didn't really bother me.
However, I think Sky, among other things, did slightly affect my overall liking towards the book. I think this book is 'good', but it's not what I'd call 'great', as I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't see any quotes memorable or outstanding enough to highlight. Night Sky is well-written with dramatic plot twists, great character developments, and natural, enjoyable narration. If you're a fan of coming-of-age stories, I recommend this book to you. There's something about it that's very addictive and the next thing you know, you might still be up at 2 AM, caught up in this book like I was, unable to put it down.
3.5 stars
A digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review and book tour.
Girl I’ve loved, girl I’m falling for. Now that they’re both in view, the problem is clear.
This is the second book written by Jolene B. Perry that I've read. Night Sky is an addictive read, which explains why I was hooked since the very first sentence all the way until the end of the book. I enjoyed it very much.
Night Sky is told by a male narrator, Jameson. Jameson has a best friend named Sarah, but she doesn't know that he's been in love with her for three years. His heart is broken to see Sarah get together with Eric. That night while he's driving home, he spots a lost girl and offers to give her a ride home, which happens to be just across from his. That's Sky, and so begins their relationship. Sarah and Sky couldn't be more different. According to Jameson, Sky is all tall, dark and angles. Sarah is all smooth, short and soft curves. Jameson finds himself becoming addicted to Sky and craving her presence more and more, but his feelings for Sarah are still left unresolved. Being with Sky, who insists on brutal honesty at all time, makes Jameson realize that he's falling head over heels for her in a way that's not the same as his being in love with Sarah.
There are a few things about this book that impress me, but let's just start with the fact that I really like its story. I'm glad that this book isn't just about a love triangle, about a guy trying to figure out who he wants to be with, because it definitely felt deeper than that to me. There are family issues that send shudders through me. It felt so real! And there's this thing about "honesty" in this book that really makes you think. Yeah, why can't everyone just be honest? No more guessing and over-analyzing for anyone else. That would make life much easier, wouldn't it? But if you think some truth might scare someone away from you, someone you care about very much, would you say it anyway?
Initially I didn't get this honesty thing about Sky. I didn't see why it's so important, but near the end of the book I understood. And I loved that the foreshadowing is followed by such a twist. I loved that I didn't even see the twist coming and that it isn't just out of nowhere. It didn't feel forced, and it comes at just the right moment. That's one of the great elements in this book.
Another wonderful thing I have to mention is that the male narration feels so natural! Forced and unnatural narration is a big turn-off for me. At first I had my doubt, because not a lot of female writers can really pull that off. But after I've read this book, I have to say that Jolene B. Perry did an awesome job with the narration! It's so believable, the things Jameson feels and says and does are the things that guys feel and say and do. I didn't have any problems with it at all. Throughout this book I saw how Jameson gain maturity, come to terms with his problems, and finally figure out what he really wants. I found myself going along with him like it was the most natural thing in the world.
While I enjoyed Jameson's storytelling, I can't say I liked Sky. Sky is a Native American who comes with mystery and leaves with mystery. She wears next to nothing most of the time. She accepts a stranger's offer and jumps into his car; she strips down to black panties and jumps into his pool. I'm not sure if it's because of the way she's written and portrayed or because I just don't like girls like her in the first place. Although there are some things that I couldn't grasp about her, she's nice enough in the story that it didn't really bother me.
However, I think Sky, among other things, did slightly affect my overall liking towards the book. I think this book is 'good', but it's not what I'd call 'great', as I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't see any quotes memorable or outstanding enough to highlight. Night Sky is well-written with dramatic plot twists, great character developments, and natural, enjoyable narration. If you're a fan of coming-of-age stories, I recommend this book to you. There's something about it that's very addictive and the next thing you know, you might still be up at 2 AM, caught up in this book like I was, unable to put it down.
April 16, 2012
I think Jolene B. Perry is one of my new favorite authors. The fluidity of her words on paper, the reality of it I completely connected with the characters and most importantly loved the fact that this was done through the male point of view. As most books are done through the female point of view, it's nice to see every now and then that men too have feelings. I was addicted to the book the second I picked it up. I didn't want to put it down even when it was three in the morning and I had to go to work the next day. I thought the characters were just great and all the mention of swimming made me want to jump in the pool, but it's still not warm enough here to do something that crazy. Let's get on to the amazing book.
First off we meet Jameson the main character, who is a great swimmer and lives in Vegas with his mom an dad who both work at the Paris casino/hotel. First let me say that I've been to this location and it is amazing, Vegas itself is a beautiful place where magical things happen. So Jameson is in love with his best friend Sarah but she's into another guy and Jameson actually helps them get together at the school dance. Jameson is on his way home from that dance, too crushed to stay and deal with it. This is when he runs into a beautiful girl named Sky who seems very lost, he pulls over and asks her if she needs a ride. Turns out they literally live a couple houses away. This was their epic meeting and it was great, I won't go into detail cause really you need to check it out.
More days pass by and they grow closer but there is so much going on in Jameson's life that he is just trying to cope and all the while falling in love with Sky. He's trying to deal with the entire situation with Sarah and how exactly he feels about her and her new relationship. His parents are on the verge of a divorce, or at least it seems that way when his dad moves out. And through all this he's dealing with his feelings for Sky, the intensity of them and how he wants things to move forward but slowly he realizes that he doesn't know much about her at all.
Sky's big thing is being honest with each other. If you have something to say you should say it and even if the other doesn't want to hear it, you feel it you say it. That's how her and Jameson's relationship started and it teaches him how different that is with the relationship between him and Sarah how they never really told each other anything honest. It's how he now wants to be in life, honest about everything. His life is changing, and by the end of the book he's matured so much. This is a complete coming of age contemporary with real life situations thrown in and subjects that many people can relate too.
There are some intense moments when his anger comes out, and there are some revelations that are made by Sky towards the end that totally flips him in the opposite direction which makes him even angrier. But if he thought he was having problems and a complicated life then hers was much worse, he just didn't know or really thought to ask about them. Then again she didn't volunteer the situation to him earlier, therefore making her dishonest, the complete opposite of what he thought she stood for. It shows you that you really need to get to know the other person, and without complete honestly you can't move on because it will only hurt the other person.
This book had fluidity in it, just like Sky. It makes me want to read anything that Jolene writes, it was really interesting and a great story. There's just so many things people go through in life that change them dramatically and it's always a beautiful thing to see it unfold in front of your eyes and that's how I felt about this book.
First off we meet Jameson the main character, who is a great swimmer and lives in Vegas with his mom an dad who both work at the Paris casino/hotel. First let me say that I've been to this location and it is amazing, Vegas itself is a beautiful place where magical things happen. So Jameson is in love with his best friend Sarah but she's into another guy and Jameson actually helps them get together at the school dance. Jameson is on his way home from that dance, too crushed to stay and deal with it. This is when he runs into a beautiful girl named Sky who seems very lost, he pulls over and asks her if she needs a ride. Turns out they literally live a couple houses away. This was their epic meeting and it was great, I won't go into detail cause really you need to check it out.
More days pass by and they grow closer but there is so much going on in Jameson's life that he is just trying to cope and all the while falling in love with Sky. He's trying to deal with the entire situation with Sarah and how exactly he feels about her and her new relationship. His parents are on the verge of a divorce, or at least it seems that way when his dad moves out. And through all this he's dealing with his feelings for Sky, the intensity of them and how he wants things to move forward but slowly he realizes that he doesn't know much about her at all.
Sky's big thing is being honest with each other. If you have something to say you should say it and even if the other doesn't want to hear it, you feel it you say it. That's how her and Jameson's relationship started and it teaches him how different that is with the relationship between him and Sarah how they never really told each other anything honest. It's how he now wants to be in life, honest about everything. His life is changing, and by the end of the book he's matured so much. This is a complete coming of age contemporary with real life situations thrown in and subjects that many people can relate too.
There are some intense moments when his anger comes out, and there are some revelations that are made by Sky towards the end that totally flips him in the opposite direction which makes him even angrier. But if he thought he was having problems and a complicated life then hers was much worse, he just didn't know or really thought to ask about them. Then again she didn't volunteer the situation to him earlier, therefore making her dishonest, the complete opposite of what he thought she stood for. It shows you that you really need to get to know the other person, and without complete honestly you can't move on because it will only hurt the other person.
This book had fluidity in it, just like Sky. It makes me want to read anything that Jolene writes, it was really interesting and a great story. There's just so many things people go through in life that change them dramatically and it's always a beautiful thing to see it unfold in front of your eyes and that's how I felt about this book.
April 2, 2012
After reading the first chapter of this book, I could already tell that I was going to love it.
Jameson. Sky. Yep, great characters in the making. I could tell I would love them.
I mean, cute sweet boy who is in love with his best friend of three years and never tells her. Instead puts her happiness in front of his and helps her get the guy that she wants, while it breaks his heart doing it and never lets her know?
What isn't to love about someone like that?
Fun loving girl that flies by the seat of her pants and helps rescue Jameson and his broken heart?
Yep. So going to love this book.
After finishing this book and absolutely loving it, I am ashamed that this is the first time I have even heard of Jolene Perry and of course I had to go on Amazon and buy her other book because truly I fell in love with her writing style and characters.
This book was just so beautifully done. From the emotions of the characters to the storyline, the way the characters reacted and interacted to one another. Their hardships and triumphs and just their growth (even from the adults) was just awesome.
I truly became wrapped up in the story and read it is one sitting. I put everything else on hold so I could just lose myself in the story and the characters.
I became attached to Sky and Jameson and I was a little (okay maybe a lot) sad when their story ended. I wanted more. I still want more, even now hours after having finished it.
I am going to have a hard time finding something else to read after this one. In fact, I think I might have to wait a day or two before picking up my next book.
This book stands out in all the right ways and will be one you will think about long after finishing it. It will definitely be placed on my favorite reads list for 2012 and Perry is an author that I will be buying all of her releases as soon as I can.
Jameson. Sky. Yep, great characters in the making. I could tell I would love them.
I mean, cute sweet boy who is in love with his best friend of three years and never tells her. Instead puts her happiness in front of his and helps her get the guy that she wants, while it breaks his heart doing it and never lets her know?
What isn't to love about someone like that?
Fun loving girl that flies by the seat of her pants and helps rescue Jameson and his broken heart?
Yep. So going to love this book.
After finishing this book and absolutely loving it, I am ashamed that this is the first time I have even heard of Jolene Perry and of course I had to go on Amazon and buy her other book because truly I fell in love with her writing style and characters.
This book was just so beautifully done. From the emotions of the characters to the storyline, the way the characters reacted and interacted to one another. Their hardships and triumphs and just their growth (even from the adults) was just awesome.
I truly became wrapped up in the story and read it is one sitting. I put everything else on hold so I could just lose myself in the story and the characters.
I became attached to Sky and Jameson and I was a little (okay maybe a lot) sad when their story ended. I wanted more. I still want more, even now hours after having finished it.
I am going to have a hard time finding something else to read after this one. In fact, I think I might have to wait a day or two before picking up my next book.
This book stands out in all the right ways and will be one you will think about long after finishing it. It will definitely be placed on my favorite reads list for 2012 and Perry is an author that I will be buying all of her releases as soon as I can.
April 2, 2012
After being on a bit of a paranormal and dystopian kick, it was so refreshing to dive into this book. This was a love story told so beautifully, and from a male point of view. I haven't read many love stories like this (or any, come to think of it). Jolene Perry did such an amazing job in this book. Looking at love through Jameson's eyes was so different and highly enjoyable.
I love the characters in this book. Jameson is, I suppose, a typical teenage boy. His struggles are things teens struggle with everyday. Pressures of school, sports, family, and dating. I think that Perry did such a perfect job of showing how hard these struggles can be. With Sky, Perry did another amazing job of touching on issues that many teens face. Although we are seeing Sky's issues through Jameson's point of view, they are still portrayed so well. I felt so much sympathy through out this book for both Jameson and Sky.
I loved all the beautiful scenes that were described. Everything from the bottom of a swimming pool to a bright casino. Las Vegas is a fun setting, and I loved that not only did we see some of the "night life" so to speak, but also we got to see how the actual residents live their lives.
This book was so amazing! I read it in a day (thank goodness my husband was home to help with kids), and hated every time I had to put it down. I plan to go check out Jolene Perry's other books. She has definitely caught my attention with Night Sky.
I love the characters in this book. Jameson is, I suppose, a typical teenage boy. His struggles are things teens struggle with everyday. Pressures of school, sports, family, and dating. I think that Perry did such a perfect job of showing how hard these struggles can be. With Sky, Perry did another amazing job of touching on issues that many teens face. Although we are seeing Sky's issues through Jameson's point of view, they are still portrayed so well. I felt so much sympathy through out this book for both Jameson and Sky.
I loved all the beautiful scenes that were described. Everything from the bottom of a swimming pool to a bright casino. Las Vegas is a fun setting, and I loved that not only did we see some of the "night life" so to speak, but also we got to see how the actual residents live their lives.
This book was so amazing! I read it in a day (thank goodness my husband was home to help with kids), and hated every time I had to put it down. I plan to go check out Jolene Perry's other books. She has definitely caught my attention with Night Sky.
May 10, 2012
Night Sky's in my list of books to read for the Multicultural Challenge hosted by KM @ www.one-page-reviews.blogspot.com . I really enjoyed reading Night Sky. It was a wonderful story, written in first POV, Jameson's, typical teen, hormones and all. Jolene did an excellent job writing in a boy's POV.
Jameson (Jay) has been in love with his best friend, Sarah, for a while now. Problem is, he's never had the courage to tell her how he feels. Then during the school dance, Sarah hooks up with Eric. Later on Jay meets Sky, a freshman at a local college. who moved from Alaska to live with her grandparents. Although he is still inlove with Sarah, he realises Sky and Sarah are completely different. As the story progresses, Jay deals with his feelings between the two girls, but that is not the only thing he is dealing with. Things are happening at home as well. Sky has secrets up her sleeve as well. Jay handled himself well in the course of what was happening around him. It's a rollercoaster of emotions for ths teen. And very real.
If you are looking for a well-written Young Adult book from a guy's POV (and hilarious too), I'd highly recommend Night Sky. I'm really looking forward to read Jolene B.Perry's other books.
Jameson (Jay) has been in love with his best friend, Sarah, for a while now. Problem is, he's never had the courage to tell her how he feels. Then during the school dance, Sarah hooks up with Eric. Later on Jay meets Sky, a freshman at a local college. who moved from Alaska to live with her grandparents. Although he is still inlove with Sarah, he realises Sky and Sarah are completely different. As the story progresses, Jay deals with his feelings between the two girls, but that is not the only thing he is dealing with. Things are happening at home as well. Sky has secrets up her sleeve as well. Jay handled himself well in the course of what was happening around him. It's a rollercoaster of emotions for ths teen. And very real.
If you are looking for a well-written Young Adult book from a guy's POV (and hilarious too), I'd highly recommend Night Sky. I'm really looking forward to read Jolene B.Perry's other books.
March 15, 2012
I was lucky enough to read this book ahead of time and it's incredible. Great boy POV book. Jameson is one of my all time favorites!
April 3, 2012
Full review can be found here.
This is a case of a book that lies outside my comfort zone. It is fairly rare that I will read books about every day teen issues nowadays (though I did enjoy them when I was a teen myself), and it would seem that this is for a reason. Last month I read a similar book and had a similar experience. In both cases I found myself faced with a book that I recognised as being a good read with a good message, but one that just didn’t really fit my own personal tastes.
I guess that this is really a coming of age story. It was a very interesting decision to choose to write it from a male point of view. There are too few stories of this genre out there with male narrators, though I suppose that this could in part be due to a very restricted male audience for such books. This said, it was a different experience to see a boy tackling issues such as how and when to go forward – when to take that next step in a relationship, when it’s the right time to take things to the physical level for the first time.
It has to be said that, for me, the synopsis was a little misleading. When I read “the disaster of his senior year”, I expected Jameson to be tackling issues in school as well as outside school. I never really felt that his school year was threatened, or that there was ever a point where his high school career was under threat. That said, I am not American so I have no idea just how devastating it would be to be told you will potentially not be allowed to walk at your graduation. I doubt it’s such a big deal that it could be considered that your school life is falling apart, though.
Really, everything goes well for Jameson in school. He’s pretty much on a high as he’s a very strong swimmer competing for the school team with no small modicum of success. Sometimes things spill over from his home life and he seems to spend a day or two moping about, but I seem to remember that being pretty much normal!
Other than the school thing, I quite liked Jameson as a character as he grew and realised that things are not always black and white and there’s a whole range of shades of grey in-between. Sky brought out the best in him when he just comes across her on a street corner (she’s walking home, not ‘working’) and she insists that if they are to be friends then he needs to be honest about absolutely everything. It is through his relationship with her and the honesty that she demands on him that he realises just how dishonest things have been up until this point.
Take Sarah for example, the girl Jameson is “in love with”. The two of them have been best friends for three years. In all that time, he’s secretly liked her but never plucked up the nerve to tell her about it. Now, Sarah’s got a boyfriend – the school’s resident jerk who likes to check out all the ladies. It takes a while but eventually Jameson realises that Sarah’s made her choice: it wasn’t him and he needs to let her make her own mistakes even if it means that their friendship won’t survive. He was never brutally honest with her and now that he’s decided that honesty is the road to take, she doesn’t want to hear his opinions. It’s ironic really, isn’t it? Ignorance (or turning a blind eye as the case may be) really is bliss.
Sky herself is a wonderful character. True, she keeps secrets from Jameson when she demands honesty from him so she’s rather hypocritical in that respect, but she has her reasons. Though I don’t necessarily agree with those reasons, I do understand where she’s coming from and when her secret is revealed my heart broke for her. I can’t even begin to imagine the mental trials and tribulations that such a situation would incur. I liked how open Sky seemed to be; how she was willing to take a chance on a boy who obviously still harboured feelings for another girl; how she forced herself to swallow her fears and face life with a positive outlook.
The events with Jameson’s father also lead to some very powerful scenes. Personally, I wouldn’t have reacted in the same way – while Jameson gives way to his anger, I’m one of those people who swallow everything, simmer in the anger and close a door that it takes a lot to get me to reopen. Consequently, I did find myself frustrated with his actions at times but only because this is written in the first person – I – and “I” would never react in such a manner.
It was also an interesting decision to mix up cultures. Jameson is pretty much American through and through despite his Mexican heritage, but Sky is Native American and she comes from a community in Alaska. I liked the little hints about how things work in her community, their beliefs and how they go about their daily life. It’s fairly rare that I will ever read a book that contains such titbits about Native American life (but only because they’re not featured in the genres that I prefer) so this was a nice change for me.
At the end of the day, this book was a really good, very well told story that will end up with many fans. But it wasn’t the story for me. I prefer what I read to have some form of threat throughout while this story was more the idea of coming to terms with life and growing up. It was a well-crafted piece and conveys a good message about being honest with not only the world around you, but also yourself.
This is a case of a book that lies outside my comfort zone. It is fairly rare that I will read books about every day teen issues nowadays (though I did enjoy them when I was a teen myself), and it would seem that this is for a reason. Last month I read a similar book and had a similar experience. In both cases I found myself faced with a book that I recognised as being a good read with a good message, but one that just didn’t really fit my own personal tastes.
I guess that this is really a coming of age story. It was a very interesting decision to choose to write it from a male point of view. There are too few stories of this genre out there with male narrators, though I suppose that this could in part be due to a very restricted male audience for such books. This said, it was a different experience to see a boy tackling issues such as how and when to go forward – when to take that next step in a relationship, when it’s the right time to take things to the physical level for the first time.
It has to be said that, for me, the synopsis was a little misleading. When I read “the disaster of his senior year”, I expected Jameson to be tackling issues in school as well as outside school. I never really felt that his school year was threatened, or that there was ever a point where his high school career was under threat. That said, I am not American so I have no idea just how devastating it would be to be told you will potentially not be allowed to walk at your graduation. I doubt it’s such a big deal that it could be considered that your school life is falling apart, though.
Really, everything goes well for Jameson in school. He’s pretty much on a high as he’s a very strong swimmer competing for the school team with no small modicum of success. Sometimes things spill over from his home life and he seems to spend a day or two moping about, but I seem to remember that being pretty much normal!
Other than the school thing, I quite liked Jameson as a character as he grew and realised that things are not always black and white and there’s a whole range of shades of grey in-between. Sky brought out the best in him when he just comes across her on a street corner (she’s walking home, not ‘working’) and she insists that if they are to be friends then he needs to be honest about absolutely everything. It is through his relationship with her and the honesty that she demands on him that he realises just how dishonest things have been up until this point.
Take Sarah for example, the girl Jameson is “in love with”. The two of them have been best friends for three years. In all that time, he’s secretly liked her but never plucked up the nerve to tell her about it. Now, Sarah’s got a boyfriend – the school’s resident jerk who likes to check out all the ladies. It takes a while but eventually Jameson realises that Sarah’s made her choice: it wasn’t him and he needs to let her make her own mistakes even if it means that their friendship won’t survive. He was never brutally honest with her and now that he’s decided that honesty is the road to take, she doesn’t want to hear his opinions. It’s ironic really, isn’t it? Ignorance (or turning a blind eye as the case may be) really is bliss.
Sky herself is a wonderful character. True, she keeps secrets from Jameson when she demands honesty from him so she’s rather hypocritical in that respect, but she has her reasons. Though I don’t necessarily agree with those reasons, I do understand where she’s coming from and when her secret is revealed my heart broke for her. I can’t even begin to imagine the mental trials and tribulations that such a situation would incur. I liked how open Sky seemed to be; how she was willing to take a chance on a boy who obviously still harboured feelings for another girl; how she forced herself to swallow her fears and face life with a positive outlook.
The events with Jameson’s father also lead to some very powerful scenes. Personally, I wouldn’t have reacted in the same way – while Jameson gives way to his anger, I’m one of those people who swallow everything, simmer in the anger and close a door that it takes a lot to get me to reopen. Consequently, I did find myself frustrated with his actions at times but only because this is written in the first person – I – and “I” would never react in such a manner.
It was also an interesting decision to mix up cultures. Jameson is pretty much American through and through despite his Mexican heritage, but Sky is Native American and she comes from a community in Alaska. I liked the little hints about how things work in her community, their beliefs and how they go about their daily life. It’s fairly rare that I will ever read a book that contains such titbits about Native American life (but only because they’re not featured in the genres that I prefer) so this was a nice change for me.
At the end of the day, this book was a really good, very well told story that will end up with many fans. But it wasn’t the story for me. I prefer what I read to have some form of threat throughout while this story was more the idea of coming to terms with life and growing up. It was a well-crafted piece and conveys a good message about being honest with not only the world around you, but also yourself.
January 12, 2014
I'm going to preface this by saying that I very rarely read contemporary YA. After finishing Night Sky I'm asking myself why that is, because I couldn't put it down!
I loved that the story was told from Jameson's point of view, as a male PoV is always a nice change of pace. I'm actually a little in love with him - he had me laughing out loud in several spots.
Like Jay, I was eager for more Sky. Her bluntness with everything, including her growing reservations about being his rebound for Sarah, was refreshing and allowed for a completely honest dialogue between them. Her insistence that they take their time with each other, in order to learn to care about one another instead of just acting purely on their obvious chemistry (and chemistry - phew! It literally jumped off the pages!), had me rooting for her. It definitely helped that Jameson was constantly in awe of her presence, as just being close to her allowed him to feel like a better person. Her lack of honesty at the end was a betrayal that I felt alongside Jameson, but because of the trust she had for him after revealing her painful past, I was still hoping there would be forgiveness on both sides. I loved the references to her heritage, and how important it was to her, and felt like it added another element of genuineness to Night Sky.
I never truly cared for Sarah, as I always saw her as childish. Jameson constantly described her with youthful innocence, and childlike sweetness - I just saw selfishly childish. Her blatant disrespect for her friendship with Jameson, once she snagged a boyfriend who was jealous of their closeness, had me immediately disliking her. Telling her boyfriend not to be jealous because he was "just Jameson" was like a physical blow that had me sympathizing with Jay, as he was more then "just" anything - he was her best friend and deserved to be treated as such. I am glad they were able to mostly repair their relationship though, and that Jameson realized that what he felt for Sarah paled in comparison to his feelings for Sky.
I absolutely loved the plot twist with Sky's character, because it is exactly what a twist should be - a complete and utter surprise. I didn't see it coming, which is why I was so completely shaken - much like Jameson. It also served to tie up all the loose ends that the book had been accumulating concerning Sky, her past and her reasons for struggling with being separated from her childhood home. It wasn't just being oblivious to the twist that had me excited though - it was Jameson's reaction. Jolene Perry wrote Jameson's confusion and betrayal, mixed with his anger and fear for their future, perfectly. She managed to capture exactly how I imagine I would react, and delivered it through Jameson. I was angry with him for being so cruel to Sky, but also angry with Sky for withholding a secret of such grave consequences when she touted honesty from the beginning. Then I got angry along with Jameson, and eventually was left just feeling hurt and empty. Perry played my emotions like a violin, and I loved every minute of it! She handled Jameson's reaction perfectly, as we truly got to experience every emotion with him.
Night Sky might just be the contemporary book that sways me to read more contemporary YA. I found it refreshing and original, chalk full of the innocence and sweetness of first love. It was a fast read, but it delivered an emotional punch that I won't soon forget!
I loved that the story was told from Jameson's point of view, as a male PoV is always a nice change of pace. I'm actually a little in love with him - he had me laughing out loud in several spots.
Stop having imaginary conversations in your head, Jameson. Sooner or later you'll be having them out loud.
Now that they're both in view, the problem is clear. Girl I've loved, girl I'm falling for. Let's meet in my driveway and see if we can give Jameson his first heart attack.Finishing up his senior year of high school, most of his thoughts for Sky veered towards a more sexual manner - which made his character so much more believable. He was constantly checking her out and picturing what it would be like to touch her. I think it made his growth as a character truly shine, as by the end of the book he was more concerned with how he felt about her as a person, then how her smooth skin felt under his touch (though those thoughts weren't far behind!) He had a strong emotional reaction to everything that happened to him, which I remember experiencing myself in high school, and his uncomfortableness with Sky's brutal honesty rule was also something I could picture myself having trouble with at his age. I loved his relationship with his parents, who for once weren't absent (yey!), though I do wish his father had had a stronger response to some of Jay's angry outbursts.
Like Jay, I was eager for more Sky. Her bluntness with everything, including her growing reservations about being his rebound for Sarah, was refreshing and allowed for a completely honest dialogue between them. Her insistence that they take their time with each other, in order to learn to care about one another instead of just acting purely on their obvious chemistry (and chemistry - phew! It literally jumped off the pages!), had me rooting for her. It definitely helped that Jameson was constantly in awe of her presence, as just being close to her allowed him to feel like a better person. Her lack of honesty at the end was a betrayal that I felt alongside Jameson, but because of the trust she had for him after revealing her painful past, I was still hoping there would be forgiveness on both sides. I loved the references to her heritage, and how important it was to her, and felt like it added another element of genuineness to Night Sky.
I never truly cared for Sarah, as I always saw her as childish. Jameson constantly described her with youthful innocence, and childlike sweetness - I just saw selfishly childish. Her blatant disrespect for her friendship with Jameson, once she snagged a boyfriend who was jealous of their closeness, had me immediately disliking her. Telling her boyfriend not to be jealous because he was "just Jameson" was like a physical blow that had me sympathizing with Jay, as he was more then "just" anything - he was her best friend and deserved to be treated as such. I am glad they were able to mostly repair their relationship though, and that Jameson realized that what he felt for Sarah paled in comparison to his feelings for Sky.
I absolutely loved the plot twist with Sky's character, because it is exactly what a twist should be - a complete and utter surprise. I didn't see it coming, which is why I was so completely shaken - much like Jameson. It also served to tie up all the loose ends that the book had been accumulating concerning Sky, her past and her reasons for struggling with being separated from her childhood home. It wasn't just being oblivious to the twist that had me excited though - it was Jameson's reaction. Jolene Perry wrote Jameson's confusion and betrayal, mixed with his anger and fear for their future, perfectly. She managed to capture exactly how I imagine I would react, and delivered it through Jameson. I was angry with him for being so cruel to Sky, but also angry with Sky for withholding a secret of such grave consequences when she touted honesty from the beginning. Then I got angry along with Jameson, and eventually was left just feeling hurt and empty. Perry played my emotions like a violin, and I loved every minute of it! She handled Jameson's reaction perfectly, as we truly got to experience every emotion with him.
Night Sky might just be the contemporary book that sways me to read more contemporary YA. I found it refreshing and original, chalk full of the innocence and sweetness of first love. It was a fast read, but it delivered an emotional punch that I won't soon forget!
April 22, 2012
Jameson, or Jay as he likes to be called, is in the middle of soul-crushing heartache from losing the best friend he was in love with to another guy. When all of a sudden, the enigmatic Sky walks into his life and shakes him up. In a very short period of time, he becomes enthralled with her and her "always tell the truth" policy. But as much as he likes being with her, he also must attend to the other things in his life that are falling apart--his dad has an affair and moves out, and his mom is devastated.
Sky becomes Jay's escape from everything, but he soon comes to learn that he is hers as well...her past is anything but perfect. And when she gives him a revelation that turns him upside down, will they be able to get through it and be together again?
I don't read much contemporary romance, but what attracted me to this book was the promise of a male narrator. One of my favorite series, [Beautiful Creatures] is told from a male point of view, and it's a very fine art for a female author to be able to create a believable male voice. I'm kind of on the fence about how Jay was portrayed in this novel. On the one hand, he seems obsessed with sex and trying to hook up with Sky. On the other hand, he seems to be in his own head a lot, asking questions and wondering things...in my opinion, in a girly way. So I'm not quite sure the male voice was perfected in this book.
I sort of liked Jay. He feels the need to take care of his mom, and he gets absolutely furious at the things his dad does. But I'm not sure I got a good grip on his personality. He was too scared for 3 years to tell Sarah how he felt about her, but within seconds of seeing Sky he is taking her back to his house? Hmmmm.
Sky bothered me as well. I liked the way their relationship progressed, and I really felt for her when she told Jay about her past. I even felt my stomach drop when she revealed her big secret to him. But I just had a hard time getting a grasp on why she would insist on honesty throughout their relationship then drop something like that on him at the last minute.
I did enjoy the majority of the book, but after the big secret was revealed, the plot just kind of became a mess, to me. A lot of things started happening in a very short period of time, which all seemed to be wrapped up in a bow at the end. I did really love the author's writing style. The book was very easy to read and I bounced through it in one afternoon. I look forward to reading more from this author...though maybe not romance. It's not really for me.
Sky becomes Jay's escape from everything, but he soon comes to learn that he is hers as well...her past is anything but perfect. And when she gives him a revelation that turns him upside down, will they be able to get through it and be together again?
I don't read much contemporary romance, but what attracted me to this book was the promise of a male narrator. One of my favorite series, [Beautiful Creatures] is told from a male point of view, and it's a very fine art for a female author to be able to create a believable male voice. I'm kind of on the fence about how Jay was portrayed in this novel. On the one hand, he seems obsessed with sex and trying to hook up with Sky. On the other hand, he seems to be in his own head a lot, asking questions and wondering things...in my opinion, in a girly way. So I'm not quite sure the male voice was perfected in this book.
I sort of liked Jay. He feels the need to take care of his mom, and he gets absolutely furious at the things his dad does. But I'm not sure I got a good grip on his personality. He was too scared for 3 years to tell Sarah how he felt about her, but within seconds of seeing Sky he is taking her back to his house? Hmmmm.
Sky bothered me as well. I liked the way their relationship progressed, and I really felt for her when she told Jay about her past. I even felt my stomach drop when she revealed her big secret to him. But I just had a hard time getting a grasp on why she would insist on honesty throughout their relationship then drop something like that on him at the last minute.
I did enjoy the majority of the book, but after the big secret was revealed, the plot just kind of became a mess, to me. A lot of things started happening in a very short period of time, which all seemed to be wrapped up in a bow at the end. I did really love the author's writing style. The book was very easy to read and I bounced through it in one afternoon. I look forward to reading more from this author...though maybe not romance. It's not really for me.
April 26, 2012
Night Sky will take your breath away as you learn about falling in love from the point of view of Jameson, the story's main character. I absolutely adore contemporary romance, so when I first read the summary, I was hooked. First of all, my favorite thing about the book is that it's told from a male's perspective, but it doesn't feel forced or unnatural. The second and third things that sparked my interest were the facts that the boy's name is Jameson (aka, my favorite boy name ever) and Sky is Native American (which I've been loving a lot of lately). Though the plot appealed to me from the very beginning, the story is what kept me reading.
Jameson loves Sarah, his best friend, but he's stood around for 3 years without working up enough courage to tell her. When she gets the boy of her dreams, Jameson's lost all hope until he meets Sky. Sky couldn't be any more different that Sarah, but that's what draws Jameson to her. She's confident, intelligent, and honest when it comes to speaking her mind. Because of this, Jameson falls for Sky fast, but she tells him to sort out his feelings for Sarah before they get involved, which made me like her character even more.
Things are still incredibly difficult for Jameson at school, especially since he's now lost his best friend to the world of dating. His parents are fighting more often and it seems that what little happiness he has spending time with Sky is the only thing keeping him sane. Though the feelings between Jameson and Sarah are still left unresolved, things begin to heat up between him and Sky. Their blossoming relationship was perfect from the start and many of the scenes between them made my heart beat faster.
When Sky chooses not to mention a large part of her past to Jameson, things get rocky, confusing and dramatic, making you want to read the rest in one sitting just to find out what happens. Perry did a great job with the characters and the describing emotions of each scene. Even her style of writing made the book into something I'd want to read more than once. Overall, Night Sky is an entertaining read filled with trust, honesty, and most importantly, learning how to love.
Jameson loves Sarah, his best friend, but he's stood around for 3 years without working up enough courage to tell her. When she gets the boy of her dreams, Jameson's lost all hope until he meets Sky. Sky couldn't be any more different that Sarah, but that's what draws Jameson to her. She's confident, intelligent, and honest when it comes to speaking her mind. Because of this, Jameson falls for Sky fast, but she tells him to sort out his feelings for Sarah before they get involved, which made me like her character even more.
Things are still incredibly difficult for Jameson at school, especially since he's now lost his best friend to the world of dating. His parents are fighting more often and it seems that what little happiness he has spending time with Sky is the only thing keeping him sane. Though the feelings between Jameson and Sarah are still left unresolved, things begin to heat up between him and Sky. Their blossoming relationship was perfect from the start and many of the scenes between them made my heart beat faster.
When Sky chooses not to mention a large part of her past to Jameson, things get rocky, confusing and dramatic, making you want to read the rest in one sitting just to find out what happens. Perry did a great job with the characters and the describing emotions of each scene. Even her style of writing made the book into something I'd want to read more than once. Overall, Night Sky is an entertaining read filled with trust, honesty, and most importantly, learning how to love.
March 21, 2012
Wow, this year I get to read books that have an unpredictable story-lines and Night Sky was no exception. The book is told entirely from Jameson's point of view and man, did I like that! Jameson is a very tall, sensitive, hot guy who likes to sit in the bottom of his swimming pool to reflect, listen to 90s grunge music and think way more than he should. I was sucked into the book right from the first line. "I push my way through the masses of dancing couples, out the heavy doors of the school, and stop. Now I can breathe."
The problems Jameson's had to face and things he had to overcome, he wouldn't have really guessed those at all which makes reading Night Sky all the more exciting. On the other hand, I am not really sure what to think about Sarah. Yes I felt bad that she chose Eric, the star quarterback, over Jameson but that's just about it. I didn't like Sarah because she didn't fight for something she needn't fight for in the first place.
Then there's Sky. Sky who made reading the book for me a very engrossing experience. She kept me on my toes with what she was going to do next as much as she did Jameson's. The honesty rule was something fresh in her relationship with Jameson and it definitely gave an edge to Night Sky. I wish I could read more about her and her native roots.
Reading about Jameson's parents and his day-to-day life was also great as it told a lot about how Jameson lived his life and how he is as a person. I liked how everything turned out for him and how his relationship with his Mon is so easy-going and relaxed. Night Sky is so much more than just romance, it's about standing up and the struggle it requires to keep your honesty in check. With Jameson's parents working at a casino and their weird meal timings, Night Sky managed to bring out the best of all worlds.
Up until the end, Jolene Perry managed to hold an air of mystery and I am very glad she did that. Moreover, the title of the book, Night Sky, has a meaning behind it and well, it's a beautiful title. Overall, Night Sky is a great read and I would highly recommend it to readers of contemporary YA.
The problems Jameson's had to face and things he had to overcome, he wouldn't have really guessed those at all which makes reading Night Sky all the more exciting. On the other hand, I am not really sure what to think about Sarah. Yes I felt bad that she chose Eric, the star quarterback, over Jameson but that's just about it. I didn't like Sarah because she didn't fight for something she needn't fight for in the first place.
Then there's Sky. Sky who made reading the book for me a very engrossing experience. She kept me on my toes with what she was going to do next as much as she did Jameson's. The honesty rule was something fresh in her relationship with Jameson and it definitely gave an edge to Night Sky. I wish I could read more about her and her native roots.
Reading about Jameson's parents and his day-to-day life was also great as it told a lot about how Jameson lived his life and how he is as a person. I liked how everything turned out for him and how his relationship with his Mon is so easy-going and relaxed. Night Sky is so much more than just romance, it's about standing up and the struggle it requires to keep your honesty in check. With Jameson's parents working at a casino and their weird meal timings, Night Sky managed to bring out the best of all worlds.
Up until the end, Jolene Perry managed to hold an air of mystery and I am very glad she did that. Moreover, the title of the book, Night Sky, has a meaning behind it and well, it's a beautiful title. Overall, Night Sky is a great read and I would highly recommend it to readers of contemporary YA.
April 10, 2012
I didn’t know what to expect in reading Night Sky. Reading the first few chapters was awesome and finishing the book was enjoyable as I hope it to be though be aware that the book isn’t just about a love story but also about complications and the toughness of a person through troubling times. This is a book that can sway your heart with the genuineness of both the story and characters. I immediately felt sad for Jameson, felt strongly about Sky and patted Sarah on the back for being clueless and naive (for the lack of better descriptio).
Night Sky tells us the story of Jameson who has what I call the “best friend syndrome” a person who has the best friend status and eventually falls in love with their best friend but doesn’t express their feelings. This story is nothing new. It’s been used and written in difference angles over the years yet with Night Sky, Perry created something that doesn’t sound monotonous and over used. Sky was a definite favorite – she is strong, quirky, fun and matured in spite her age. When it comes to James, you can definitely see how swoon worthy he is (Hin: the kind of guy you should be pinning for girls) and Sarah, well Sarah is confused. Hahaha. I’ll leave it at that – it’s better that you guys read the story for you to enjoy it more. Another thing I love about Night Sky is how the story was told – it’s nice to hear a story on a guys POV for a change, gives us different perspective to a story.
There were a lot of elements in the books that I didn’t expect, in fact a vital information in the story caught me off guard and that received a thumbs up. The flow of the story was not hasten, Perry took her time and because of that everything meshed perfectly which is also a reason why this book is super awesome. Perry’s writing style is light, natural and entertaining – making it easier to connect to her characters and story. Night Sky is definitely a recommended read! Highly recommended to teens and romance buffs, readers who enjoys a quick and light read, and anybody who wants to give romance a chance.
Night Sky tells us the story of Jameson who has what I call the “best friend syndrome” a person who has the best friend status and eventually falls in love with their best friend but doesn’t express their feelings. This story is nothing new. It’s been used and written in difference angles over the years yet with Night Sky, Perry created something that doesn’t sound monotonous and over used. Sky was a definite favorite – she is strong, quirky, fun and matured in spite her age. When it comes to James, you can definitely see how swoon worthy he is (Hin: the kind of guy you should be pinning for girls) and Sarah, well Sarah is confused. Hahaha. I’ll leave it at that – it’s better that you guys read the story for you to enjoy it more. Another thing I love about Night Sky is how the story was told – it’s nice to hear a story on a guys POV for a change, gives us different perspective to a story.
There were a lot of elements in the books that I didn’t expect, in fact a vital information in the story caught me off guard and that received a thumbs up. The flow of the story was not hasten, Perry took her time and because of that everything meshed perfectly which is also a reason why this book is super awesome. Perry’s writing style is light, natural and entertaining – making it easier to connect to her characters and story. Night Sky is definitely a recommended read! Highly recommended to teens and romance buffs, readers who enjoys a quick and light read, and anybody who wants to give romance a chance.
January 3, 2015
Rating: Perfect Bed Partner
Source: Publisher for Blog Tour
my thoughts in a few sentences: What did I expect from Night Sky? A solid, fun, and light contemporary indulgence. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. Night Sky is a creeper. Not as in creepy but as in it creeps up on you and suddenly, you turn around and are taken by surprise when you see what's behind you. This is not a cutesy read. This is a sweet and emotional story about a young man with his heart torn in two over two girls—the one he hasn't gotten over, whom he never dredged up the courage to communicate his feelings to, to be honest with, and the one who takes his breath away and fascinates him at every turn with her confidence and spare traces of vulnerability only revealed to him, who demands honesty and gives it back in spades. Jameson is an attractive narrator right from the start, his vivid emotions capable of hooking us into the story with the barest effort, and his journey away from heartbreak to a more exciting, heartwarming, wondrous true love is as perpetually addictive as the girl he swiftly begins to fall for.
Full Review on My Blog »
Source: Publisher for Blog Tour
my thoughts in a few sentences: What did I expect from Night Sky? A solid, fun, and light contemporary indulgence. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. Night Sky is a creeper. Not as in creepy but as in it creeps up on you and suddenly, you turn around and are taken by surprise when you see what's behind you. This is not a cutesy read. This is a sweet and emotional story about a young man with his heart torn in two over two girls—the one he hasn't gotten over, whom he never dredged up the courage to communicate his feelings to, to be honest with, and the one who takes his breath away and fascinates him at every turn with her confidence and spare traces of vulnerability only revealed to him, who demands honesty and gives it back in spades. Jameson is an attractive narrator right from the start, his vivid emotions capable of hooking us into the story with the barest effort, and his journey away from heartbreak to a more exciting, heartwarming, wondrous true love is as perpetually addictive as the girl he swiftly begins to fall for.
Full Review on My Blog »
April 17, 2012
One thing this author does is that she never ceases to amaze me with the way she can capture the meaning of a relationship. Her characters always are deeper than what they seem on the surface. If anything, her storyline always captures me right away.
What I loved most about this book is the way the characters grew so much within the story. I loved the way the author made the feelings of the characters so easy to feel. Each description of who they are stripped down the character bare to their raw feelings. It is amazing.
The love interest in the story really takes on a whole new twist in relationships. I love that it begins with heartache and then spawns into a deep meaningful relationship. Each chapter the characters fall more in love with each other. Now just the idea of being in love with each other, but really in love. For me, this was a great turning point in the story.
There are many twists in the story that keeps you guessing to a groundbreaking ending. I was sure I knew how it would end and then the author changed it on me. Ms. Perry created much tension as the reader nears the end of the story I was not expecting that twist, but I can sure feel it coming.
Night Sky is an remarkable and genuinely captivating story. Clever and surprising, this is not your typical YA contemp. With strong characters and a great plot line, Night Sky is a rare gem.
What I loved most about this book is the way the characters grew so much within the story. I loved the way the author made the feelings of the characters so easy to feel. Each description of who they are stripped down the character bare to their raw feelings. It is amazing.
The love interest in the story really takes on a whole new twist in relationships. I love that it begins with heartache and then spawns into a deep meaningful relationship. Each chapter the characters fall more in love with each other. Now just the idea of being in love with each other, but really in love. For me, this was a great turning point in the story.
There are many twists in the story that keeps you guessing to a groundbreaking ending. I was sure I knew how it would end and then the author changed it on me. Ms. Perry created much tension as the reader nears the end of the story I was not expecting that twist, but I can sure feel it coming.
Night Sky is an remarkable and genuinely captivating story. Clever and surprising, this is not your typical YA contemp. With strong characters and a great plot line, Night Sky is a rare gem.
April 26, 2012
All it takes is one person to walk into your life to make you question everything. Jolene Perry writes this touching story in POV of Jay, a senior in high school who feels like his heart has been stabbed because his friend Sarah who he has been in love with for three years has started dated a shinning star jock Eric. Returning home after this finding he meets Sky, a college girl who is as gorgous as the night sky (or the cover, which I love!). This is a coming of age book for Jay as Sky helps shows him who he can really be through honesty, it is almost as if the fog has been removed for him. Yet as much as Sky is helping Jay he can't, but feel that there is something she isn't telling him...
This was a quick read for me that was very fluid. The characters were both enjoyable and realistic that will have the readers flipping through the pages eagerly to find out what happens next. The author creates a world that the readers can visualize even if they have never stepped foot in Vegas like me. I do not read many male POV's, but Jay was very enjoyable to read and I felt for him as he was in pain from a heart ache, plus a few other things! Sky is a strong, independent woman who speaks her mind causing the dialogue between the two enduring and funny. A must read :)
This was a quick read for me that was very fluid. The characters were both enjoyable and realistic that will have the readers flipping through the pages eagerly to find out what happens next. The author creates a world that the readers can visualize even if they have never stepped foot in Vegas like me. I do not read many male POV's, but Jay was very enjoyable to read and I felt for him as he was in pain from a heart ache, plus a few other things! Sky is a strong, independent woman who speaks her mind causing the dialogue between the two enduring and funny. A must read :)
March 3, 2012
This book follows high school Senior Jameson after he lost the only girl he ever loved Sarah, who in turn wanted to date Eric and Jameson helped her achieve her goal no matter how much he felt like his heart was breaking. On the way from the school dance he meets Sky, who shows him brutal honesty and how they get to know each other, and she won't be his rebound from Sarah. Meanwhile Jameson's parents marriage is falling apart Jameson (also known as Jay) finds out his father is having an affair and is in love with another woman and Jay's mom. Jameson does a huge turn around in this book, accepting that what he loved about Sarah in the end wasn't enough to replace Sky, that sometimes love means forgiving the bad things that happen. And how love is about second chances which is what he does with Sky when she reveals a big secret to him. Also what Jay's mom does with her husband. I really enjoyed the relationship between Jay and Sky and Jay and his mom. Was great seeing a book that touched deeply on a love between mother and son. What a great book, I really enjoyed it!
March 19, 2012
I meant to post this nine days ago when I actually finished the novel but that didn't happen... Anyway, here it is now...
Yes, there are a lot of italics in places that probably don’t need them, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a good book. Jameson is a great character and I thoroughly enjoyed his narrative. And while I knew how the Sarah corner of the triangle was going to resolve itself, I didn’t know that about Sky’s corner and I liked that I couldn’t see it coming. It was very well written. I also liked how when it came down to a choice between reading the next chapter of this book or watching the next episode of Game of Thrones, I picked the book. Pause for shock and awe. Oh, and Jolene? My significant other would also like to thank you as he’s been trying to get me to agree to a vacation and reading about Vegas in your book made me want to make a return trip.
Yes, there are a lot of italics in places that probably don’t need them, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a good book. Jameson is a great character and I thoroughly enjoyed his narrative. And while I knew how the Sarah corner of the triangle was going to resolve itself, I didn’t know that about Sky’s corner and I liked that I couldn’t see it coming. It was very well written. I also liked how when it came down to a choice between reading the next chapter of this book or watching the next episode of Game of Thrones, I picked the book. Pause for shock and awe. Oh, and Jolene? My significant other would also like to thank you as he’s been trying to get me to agree to a vacation and reading about Vegas in your book made me want to make a return trip.
July 7, 2012
Perry does in this book what she does best: portrays broken people who find respite in friendships that becomes love.
Like all of her books, the characters in this quickly feel like people you know, people who you root for in the midst of all their struggles. I loved Las Vegas as a setting, something I didn't expect by looking at the cover, and which played nearly as large a role as a character itself. The story was full of twists and turns, and just when I'd think I'd have it figured out, something else would change.
There is nothing about this book that isn't satisfying. I feel almost guilty enjoying a book this much, When I begin a book by Perry, I can't stop until I'm done, and this book is no exception.
Like all of her books, the characters in this quickly feel like people you know, people who you root for in the midst of all their struggles. I loved Las Vegas as a setting, something I didn't expect by looking at the cover, and which played nearly as large a role as a character itself. The story was full of twists and turns, and just when I'd think I'd have it figured out, something else would change.
There is nothing about this book that isn't satisfying. I feel almost guilty enjoying a book this much, When I begin a book by Perry, I can't stop until I'm done, and this book is no exception.
February 29, 2012
I read this book for Tribute Books.
I loved this book. It was so real, you could actually feel the emotions of the characters.
Everyone says they want honesty in our relationships. Doesn't matter what kind of relationship it is. How often though to we expect others to be honest, when we are not being totally honest ourselves?
I loved to see how all of the characters matured and dealt with hard issues maturely. Jameson has a rough senior year to say the least.
The two girls Jameson likes are as different as you can be. I enjoyed seeing him come to terms on his own to figure out who/what he wants.
I highly recommend this book. It's a fast read. I read it in about a day.
I loved this book. It was so real, you could actually feel the emotions of the characters.
Everyone says they want honesty in our relationships. Doesn't matter what kind of relationship it is. How often though to we expect others to be honest, when we are not being totally honest ourselves?
I loved to see how all of the characters matured and dealt with hard issues maturely. Jameson has a rough senior year to say the least.
The two girls Jameson likes are as different as you can be. I enjoyed seeing him come to terms on his own to figure out who/what he wants.
I highly recommend this book. It's a fast read. I read it in about a day.
April 16, 2012
I rarely read a romance that is told from a guys point of view. Jameson's story was so easy to relate to. I wanted to see him overcome his obstacles and come out on top in the end. It was nice to see all three characters have secrets. The character development was great and the banter between all three was interesting. This is a must read book. The author has an underline meaning that we can all overcome fears and secrets and we are not alone. I am glad I decided to read this book. It looked interesting and I thought about it and said why not. You will want to read this book!
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