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Solo #1
Solo
As a military brat, Eliana Davis is no stranger to moving from place to place. However, moving in the middle of her sophomore year to the small Oregon town where her parents grew up is something she never expected. Knowing she will only be there for a year, she is torn between making new friends or keeping to herself. Will she listen to her heart or keep flying solo?
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2011
36 people are currently reading
560 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Schofield
13 books53 followersSolo is Sarah Schofield's debut novel. She enjoys life in Bend, Oregon with her husband and two children. When she is not working on her next novel, she is relaxing in the great outdoors, reading books, and cleaning food off the ceiling. To learn more about Sarah, visit her website at www.SarahSchofieldBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 2, 2012
Eliana Davis is no stranger to moving house a lot as her dad is in the army and she has never lived anywhere for more than a few years. She has grown to love her current home in California however, and is devastated to learn that her dad is being posted overseas so her and her mum are going to live with her grandparents in the small town of Myrtle Creek in Oregon.
Eliana knows that she is only going to be living there for a year, so she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone and she most certainly doesn’t plan to get herself a boyfriend. However things don’t always go as planned and Eliana finds herself making new friends, a possible boyfriend and discovering that Myrtle Creek maybe can become her home.
Solo is a beautiful read, a truly lovely story about discovering the true value of friendship, young love, and the meaning of home. This book perfectly captures what it is like to be a 16 year old girl struggling with friends, high school drama, and falling in love for the first time.
I really liked the character of Eliana, she is strong, refusing to be beaten down by her new high schools popular girl and also refusing to retaliate. I loved the relationship she has with her mother, one open and full of trust and also the fact she spends lots of time with her gramps. Overall a lovely enjoyable read perfect for teenagers or those who wish to remember the drama, angst and also life changing experiences of being a teenager.
reviewed for readers favourite
Eliana knows that she is only going to be living there for a year, so she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone and she most certainly doesn’t plan to get herself a boyfriend. However things don’t always go as planned and Eliana finds herself making new friends, a possible boyfriend and discovering that Myrtle Creek maybe can become her home.
Solo is a beautiful read, a truly lovely story about discovering the true value of friendship, young love, and the meaning of home. This book perfectly captures what it is like to be a 16 year old girl struggling with friends, high school drama, and falling in love for the first time.
I really liked the character of Eliana, she is strong, refusing to be beaten down by her new high schools popular girl and also refusing to retaliate. I loved the relationship she has with her mother, one open and full of trust and also the fact she spends lots of time with her gramps. Overall a lovely enjoyable read perfect for teenagers or those who wish to remember the drama, angst and also life changing experiences of being a teenager.
reviewed for readers favourite
January 8, 2013
I really really wanted to like this book. I really really did. And I guess I kind of did like it, because I read until the end. If I'd have read this book when I was thirteen, I'd have sighed and given it a 5 star rating, but I'm a going on eighteen and I now know the craft of writing much better.
It started off promising. The situation was intriguing, and I could sympathise with Eliana upon her situation. It continued to look quite promising, but there got to a point where there just weren't enough things happening - let me explain.
The whole point of novel structure is that a person is put into a situation and spends the majority of the novel overcoming it. Well, Eliana seemed to achieve her goal quite easily, and the issues with Sasha all so quickly becoming quite insignificant. To me, the novel lacked much complexity, depth or direction. There were quite a few opportunities for subplots but none of them surfaced.
Another thing that could really be improved is the characterisation, which was a bit mediocre - and where it was good, the character was not likable. There's a fine line between being stubborn and being a bit of a cow, and for me, Eliana crossed that line. Maybe that's just me, but I didn't like her and I didn't really think she deserved Lucas.
On the positive side, Schofield's writing showed so much potential! Which is sad, really, because she could've pulled of something better than this if it had a little more work. Some of her descriptions were fantastic, and the voice was pretty good, but it was too rushed. Another few edits - doing more showing, instead of telling - could have really brought it on. Then it might have been worth a few more stars. Having said that, it's a very easy read and, had my inner writer not been alive and kicking, this book might have achieved more stars. However, I do believe some younger teens might really enjoy this book.
It started off promising. The situation was intriguing, and I could sympathise with Eliana upon her situation. It continued to look quite promising, but there got to a point where there just weren't enough things happening - let me explain.
The whole point of novel structure is that a person is put into a situation and spends the majority of the novel overcoming it. Well, Eliana seemed to achieve her goal quite easily, and the issues with Sasha all so quickly becoming quite insignificant. To me, the novel lacked much complexity, depth or direction. There were quite a few opportunities for subplots but none of them surfaced.
Another thing that could really be improved is the characterisation, which was a bit mediocre - and where it was good, the character was not likable. There's a fine line between being stubborn and being a bit of a cow, and for me, Eliana crossed that line. Maybe that's just me, but I didn't like her and I didn't really think she deserved Lucas.
On the positive side, Schofield's writing showed so much potential! Which is sad, really, because she could've pulled of something better than this if it had a little more work. Some of her descriptions were fantastic, and the voice was pretty good, but it was too rushed. Another few edits - doing more showing, instead of telling - could have really brought it on. Then it might have been worth a few more stars. Having said that, it's a very easy read and, had my inner writer not been alive and kicking, this book might have achieved more stars. However, I do believe some younger teens might really enjoy this book.
April 17, 2012
WOW!!!!! That is about all I can say to sum this book up. Expertly written and very entertaining, it had everything from first love, to bullying. Dancing to baseball, and everything in between. I felt a connection to the characters of this book that I have not felt in any other book that I have ever read. The connection is probably due to the fact that none of the characters were superhuman, none of them had the ability to make perfect decisions all the time, in a word they were human. Something that is lacking in much of the young adult genre lately. I loved the themes of friendships, home, relationships, etc... mixed with strong moral values that didn't get lost even when things got too hot and heavy. For a debut novel this one is one of the best, for an untested author I would say that Sarah is going places and I can't wait to follow where she takes me next.
May 9, 2012
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON THE DANCING READER, a YA book blog.
http://thedancingreaderreviews.blogsp...
Title: Solo
Author: Sarah Schofield
Release Date: December 17, 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 272, Paperback (Read: Kindle eBook, thanks Sarah!)
I was beyond excited when Sarah sent this copy for me to review/read for pleasure. I had talked to Sarah a lot on Twitter. She's the one of the kindest authors I know, so receiving a copy of her debut novel was extremely fabulous. Not only was it a contemporary, but it's also about a girl who has a strong passion for dance. Sounded like my kind of read! I'm glad to say that not only did it not disappoint, but it is now one of my favorites of the year!
Solo starts off with a sophomore girl named Eliana Davis who is from California, but receives some not-so-happy news about her father, leading them to their move to Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Because she is only staying there for a year, she must decide if she's going to make close friends, or just stay distant from everyone, in order to keep her heart intact by the end of it all. Along the way, however, she makes new friends, enemies, and even a boyfriend.
Let me start off with my thoughts on the whole story in general. It was so, so sweet, like Sarah herself. Everything was so perfect and oh golly I just loved it. It gave me such a happy sensation. I couldn't help but feel all of the delighted emotions well up inside of me. This will leave you in a bright, cheerful mood. Best feeling ever.
The characters were certainly enjoyable. Eliana was so great. I definitely felt each and every emotion she felt--the worry, doubt, happiness, and wild side of her. Everything. I could connect with her so easily. And Lucas Andrews, I love you. Why can't there be more Lucas Andrews out there? Just all of the characters in general were perfectly molded. Eliana's mom, Casey (so sweet!), even Eliana's enemies, Sasha & Evan. And the romance between Eliana and Lucas? So precious.
Now, you'd think such a simple plot line would bore me, but for this story, it worked. I missed those days where I read stories about girls and their high school problems. This story took me back to those days, and the simplicity was just so pure and fantastic. It kept me reading and interested the entire time. Events like prom night, school talent show, you name it. I was intrigued.
All in all, if you are looking for a very light, fun, heartwarming read, Solo is perfect. It made my day from mediocre to merry & lighthearted. You won't be able to help but grin from ear to ear once you finish. I absolutely cannot wait for book two, Duo.
http://thedancingreaderreviews.blogsp...
Title: Solo
Author: Sarah Schofield
Release Date: December 17, 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 272, Paperback (Read: Kindle eBook, thanks Sarah!)
I was beyond excited when Sarah sent this copy for me to review/read for pleasure. I had talked to Sarah a lot on Twitter. She's the one of the kindest authors I know, so receiving a copy of her debut novel was extremely fabulous. Not only was it a contemporary, but it's also about a girl who has a strong passion for dance. Sounded like my kind of read! I'm glad to say that not only did it not disappoint, but it is now one of my favorites of the year!
Solo starts off with a sophomore girl named Eliana Davis who is from California, but receives some not-so-happy news about her father, leading them to their move to Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Because she is only staying there for a year, she must decide if she's going to make close friends, or just stay distant from everyone, in order to keep her heart intact by the end of it all. Along the way, however, she makes new friends, enemies, and even a boyfriend.
Let me start off with my thoughts on the whole story in general. It was so, so sweet, like Sarah herself. Everything was so perfect and oh golly I just loved it. It gave me such a happy sensation. I couldn't help but feel all of the delighted emotions well up inside of me. This will leave you in a bright, cheerful mood. Best feeling ever.
The characters were certainly enjoyable. Eliana was so great. I definitely felt each and every emotion she felt--the worry, doubt, happiness, and wild side of her. Everything. I could connect with her so easily. And Lucas Andrews, I love you. Why can't there be more Lucas Andrews out there? Just all of the characters in general were perfectly molded. Eliana's mom, Casey (so sweet!), even Eliana's enemies, Sasha & Evan. And the romance between Eliana and Lucas? So precious.
Now, you'd think such a simple plot line would bore me, but for this story, it worked. I missed those days where I read stories about girls and their high school problems. This story took me back to those days, and the simplicity was just so pure and fantastic. It kept me reading and interested the entire time. Events like prom night, school talent show, you name it. I was intrigued.
All in all, if you are looking for a very light, fun, heartwarming read, Solo is perfect. It made my day from mediocre to merry & lighthearted. You won't be able to help but grin from ear to ear once you finish. I absolutely cannot wait for book two, Duo.
January 16, 2021
This was an absolute mess and for some reason I had a great time reading it even though it was painful.
♡ Eliana was an insufferable protagonist - she was a self proclaimed "not like other girls" girl, which was just a joy to read. The majority of my kindle notes consisted of me writing "jesus christ" and "eyeroll" and "this is unbearable". So, that's nice.
♡ I sort of hate my younger self for rating this 4 stars and claiming it to be one of my 2015 favourites. Embarrassing.
♡ Now, there's nothing wrong with Wattpad books, obviously, but there's that one breed of Wattpad book that are all exactly the same and this was it. Girl who is like no other girl, moves to a new town, meets a few people and is determined she won't get a boyfriend. Meets the "mean girl" who just seems to hate her for no reason and is so jealous of her. Unnecessary rumours being spread and drama being made, and of course, the inevitable hot jock boyfriend who appreciates the girl because she's so different. In this case, Eliana was different because she liked to jog, was a great dancer but was never in any teams at school, and collected rocks from beaches to put in antique jars. Yeah. Unbearable.
♡ If you didn't already guess, the plot was extremely predictable and sure this was published in 2011 (I think, maybe 2012) so it was what was really becoming popular then. But still. Hard to read.
O V E R A L L
Not great writing (I found a few grammatical errors), boring plot, very irritating characters. Yeah, not a fun time and would not recommend. I do appreciate the joy it used to give me when I used to read it and I liked writing notes on my kindle whilst I was reading.
♡ Eliana was an insufferable protagonist - she was a self proclaimed "not like other girls" girl, which was just a joy to read. The majority of my kindle notes consisted of me writing "jesus christ" and "eyeroll" and "this is unbearable". So, that's nice.
♡ I sort of hate my younger self for rating this 4 stars and claiming it to be one of my 2015 favourites. Embarrassing.
♡ Now, there's nothing wrong with Wattpad books, obviously, but there's that one breed of Wattpad book that are all exactly the same and this was it. Girl who is like no other girl, moves to a new town, meets a few people and is determined she won't get a boyfriend. Meets the "mean girl" who just seems to hate her for no reason and is so jealous of her. Unnecessary rumours being spread and drama being made, and of course, the inevitable hot jock boyfriend who appreciates the girl because she's so different. In this case, Eliana was different because she liked to jog, was a great dancer but was never in any teams at school, and collected rocks from beaches to put in antique jars. Yeah. Unbearable.
♡ If you didn't already guess, the plot was extremely predictable and sure this was published in 2011 (I think, maybe 2012) so it was what was really becoming popular then. But still. Hard to read.
O V E R A L L
Not great writing (I found a few grammatical errors), boring plot, very irritating characters. Yeah, not a fun time and would not recommend. I do appreciate the joy it used to give me when I used to read it and I liked writing notes on my kindle whilst I was reading.
July 31, 2012
#1. I couldn't connect with the narrator. The writing style was a bit...off. It wasn't the kind of reading I like, the dialogue was very unimpressive and juvenile, like a teenager wrote it.
#2. Eliana. An exotic creature from Southern California now living in a place where there are farms, who was too damn perfect!
Perfect body, talented at everything, from replying in fluent Spanish to making (really bad and lame) jokes, from being a fantastic dancer to having an exceptional relationship with her mother.
I didn't understand her overreaction to moving to another town. She was a military brat, probably used to living in different places, so why whack herself on the head with an encyclopedia?
"I stood and robotically walked to the bookshelf. Grabbing the 'M' volume of an encyclopedia, I whacked myself on the head."
She was also an obsessive runner for some strange reason and since she wasn't on the track team, I just thought all that talk about running with hip-hop blasting from her earphones was meant to fill pages.
#3. Lucas. I seriously tried to like this guy, tried to come up with an image of him, but I couldn't.
Eliana was drawn to him, but the author didn't give me a valid reason as to why Lucas was the greatest male lead, why I should have been drawn to him, too.
Which means that when it came down to the Eliana and Lucas relationship, it was nothing close to exhilarating.
100 pages in and Solo was still so dull that I couldn't continue.
#2. Eliana. An exotic creature from Southern California now living in a place where there are farms, who was too damn perfect!
Perfect body, talented at everything, from replying in fluent Spanish to making (really bad and lame) jokes, from being a fantastic dancer to having an exceptional relationship with her mother.
I didn't understand her overreaction to moving to another town. She was a military brat, probably used to living in different places, so why whack herself on the head with an encyclopedia?
"I stood and robotically walked to the bookshelf. Grabbing the 'M' volume of an encyclopedia, I whacked myself on the head."
She was also an obsessive runner for some strange reason and since she wasn't on the track team, I just thought all that talk about running with hip-hop blasting from her earphones was meant to fill pages.
#3. Lucas. I seriously tried to like this guy, tried to come up with an image of him, but I couldn't.
Eliana was drawn to him, but the author didn't give me a valid reason as to why Lucas was the greatest male lead, why I should have been drawn to him, too.
Which means that when it came down to the Eliana and Lucas relationship, it was nothing close to exhilarating.
100 pages in and Solo was still so dull that I couldn't continue.
January 24, 2012
I read this book in two days, not because it was short but because it was good!
Every once in awhile you stumble across a book that touches your heart. A novel that uses normal life and normal situations to garner your attention. One that takes a simple thing like romance between two people, two young adults, and makes love real. And that is what I found in Solo.
This book was a joy to read. It is a YA romance novel that is simply that, romance. It uses a real life situation to place a young teenage girl where she doesn’t want to be. But instead of making the most of what she is offered, she hides away. Why make friends if you will only be around for a year?
Eliana is extremely talented in the area of dance but initially she doesn’t tell a soul. She practices away from everyone else keeping this part of her life a secret. Lucas, a baseball player, and popular boy at her new high school, takes an interest in her and things start to change. Suddenly the "solo" lifestyle is not for her.
I enjoyed reading about how Eliana is confident in herself. How she is respectful to her mother and her grandparents. How even in a tough situation she finds a way to make her life work.
All I can say is I can’t wait to read the sequel!
Every once in awhile you stumble across a book that touches your heart. A novel that uses normal life and normal situations to garner your attention. One that takes a simple thing like romance between two people, two young adults, and makes love real. And that is what I found in Solo.
This book was a joy to read. It is a YA romance novel that is simply that, romance. It uses a real life situation to place a young teenage girl where she doesn’t want to be. But instead of making the most of what she is offered, she hides away. Why make friends if you will only be around for a year?
Eliana is extremely talented in the area of dance but initially she doesn’t tell a soul. She practices away from everyone else keeping this part of her life a secret. Lucas, a baseball player, and popular boy at her new high school, takes an interest in her and things start to change. Suddenly the "solo" lifestyle is not for her.
I enjoyed reading about how Eliana is confident in herself. How she is respectful to her mother and her grandparents. How even in a tough situation she finds a way to make her life work.
All I can say is I can’t wait to read the sequel!
April 15, 2012
Amazing! :D Really Enjoyed And I Cant Wait To Read Book Two and Find Out What Else Happens To This Cheesy Couple . Id Love A Playlist To This Book! And The Next...i Know Thers History Between both there Parents And I Cant Wait To Read More..A Good No Great Read.
March 1, 2012
Solo by Sarah Schofield
5 STARS
I love getting to read new authors work and the surprises that are in store.
Solo is a well told story that I was lost in.
I love the town it was set in. My in-laws are from that area so I could picture the area pretty good.
Eliana two months left in the school year gets told that her dad is called to deploy for a year and that she and her mom where going to move in with her parents for that year in Oregon.
Eliana is having a hard time with the move to small town and doesn't want to get involved with anything.
Casey a junior is very welcoming to her and they have 4 classes together. After gym class Eliana goes to change into levis and can't find her clothes.
she is upset that her last class she has to wear short gym shorts. She ends crying in study hall. Cute guy gives her tissue.
Sasha is popular cheerleader who is Casey's friend who took her cloths, thinks she so special.
Eliana after a week sitting with Casey and her friends for lunch decides not to eat with them and make Casey have to choose.
Eliana loves to run and One day as she was running a truck almost ran her down she fell aways down a hill. It was Lucas the cute guy in study hall. He felt bad and was shaken gave her a ride home. Lucas was trying to be her friend.
Eliana at a view point saw a meadow and mapped her way to it one day and after that she would spend a lot of her time alone dancing and doing gymnastic tumbling for her own pleasure. No one knew she went their.
Lucas asked her to prom and she agreed to go with hijm as friends only and tried to not to get attached to him.
The relationships are pretty intertwined with most of the people living in the town most of their lives.
Sasha and her boyfriend continued to spread trouble and rumors about Eliana. Eliana took the high road but decided to show her up on the talent show,
I cared about the characters and wanted to know more about them. I would more stories by Sarah.
I was given this ebook in exchange for honest reviews from librarything.
12/22/2011 PUB M.O.I. Publishing
5 STARS
I love getting to read new authors work and the surprises that are in store.
Solo is a well told story that I was lost in.
I love the town it was set in. My in-laws are from that area so I could picture the area pretty good.
Eliana two months left in the school year gets told that her dad is called to deploy for a year and that she and her mom where going to move in with her parents for that year in Oregon.
Eliana is having a hard time with the move to small town and doesn't want to get involved with anything.
Casey a junior is very welcoming to her and they have 4 classes together. After gym class Eliana goes to change into levis and can't find her clothes.
she is upset that her last class she has to wear short gym shorts. She ends crying in study hall. Cute guy gives her tissue.
Sasha is popular cheerleader who is Casey's friend who took her cloths, thinks she so special.
Eliana after a week sitting with Casey and her friends for lunch decides not to eat with them and make Casey have to choose.
Eliana loves to run and One day as she was running a truck almost ran her down she fell aways down a hill. It was Lucas the cute guy in study hall. He felt bad and was shaken gave her a ride home. Lucas was trying to be her friend.
Eliana at a view point saw a meadow and mapped her way to it one day and after that she would spend a lot of her time alone dancing and doing gymnastic tumbling for her own pleasure. No one knew she went their.
Lucas asked her to prom and she agreed to go with hijm as friends only and tried to not to get attached to him.
The relationships are pretty intertwined with most of the people living in the town most of their lives.
Sasha and her boyfriend continued to spread trouble and rumors about Eliana. Eliana took the high road but decided to show her up on the talent show,
I cared about the characters and wanted to know more about them. I would more stories by Sarah.
I was given this ebook in exchange for honest reviews from librarything.
12/22/2011 PUB M.O.I. Publishing
February 23, 2012
Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer
A very fun read! The protagonist, Eliana Davis, epitomizes the melodramatic teenage years that we have all lived through. She worries about what the other students in her new school think of her, she spends hours searching for the perfect dress for prom, and she obsesses over the cute boy on the baseball team.
What sets this book apart from other coming of age stories (and a main reason that I was so enthralled), is the way Sarah Schofield translates Eliana into a relatable role model for young women. She balances responsibility with extracurricular activities, resists sinking to a bully’s level, and engages her elderly “gramps.”
In many ways she is a new age feminist – she doesn’t let guys make decisions for her, but she isn’t afraid to be beautiful and delicate when she dances. I particularly related to and enjoyed the open and trusting relationship she shared with her mother. Although Eliana is not ecstatic to be uprooted from her friends, it is refreshing to read about a military brat who is understanding of the life her parents chose.
A very fun read! The protagonist, Eliana Davis, epitomizes the melodramatic teenage years that we have all lived through. She worries about what the other students in her new school think of her, she spends hours searching for the perfect dress for prom, and she obsesses over the cute boy on the baseball team.
What sets this book apart from other coming of age stories (and a main reason that I was so enthralled), is the way Sarah Schofield translates Eliana into a relatable role model for young women. She balances responsibility with extracurricular activities, resists sinking to a bully’s level, and engages her elderly “gramps.”
In many ways she is a new age feminist – she doesn’t let guys make decisions for her, but she isn’t afraid to be beautiful and delicate when she dances. I particularly related to and enjoyed the open and trusting relationship she shared with her mother. Although Eliana is not ecstatic to be uprooted from her friends, it is refreshing to read about a military brat who is understanding of the life her parents chose.
May 9, 2024
Can't believe Pride and Prejudice was even mentioned in this book.
Not a single character made a mark on me. Any one of them could have died, and I would not have batted an eyelash. The relationship felt very juvenile and surface level - nothing beyond physical attraction. The main protagonist was so insufferable and unlikeable and totally "not like other girls."
I knew she was white when she went into a forest and found a meadow by herself without wondering if there was a killer nearby or anything. Like, girl... some self-awareness to your surroundings, please.
There's wasn't much plot, and the writing felt very simple, which isn't to my tastes. Overall, I was glad to have slugged through it, so I never have to read it again.
Not a single character made a mark on me. Any one of them could have died, and I would not have batted an eyelash. The relationship felt very juvenile and surface level - nothing beyond physical attraction. The main protagonist was so insufferable and unlikeable and totally "not like other girls."
I knew she was white when she went into a forest and found a meadow by herself without wondering if there was a killer nearby or anything. Like, girl... some self-awareness to your surroundings, please.
There's wasn't much plot, and the writing felt very simple, which isn't to my tastes. Overall, I was glad to have slugged through it, so I never have to read it again.
October 22, 2012
Dear God... So much Mary Sue. So much, so much... the main character described her own eyes as "light emerald green [with a] faint bluish cast". The book begins with her parents telling her (weeping included) that she is going to be moving. The plot trudges into her hating the new small town and drags through her school day, where she is a super-smart student *shudder* and identifies the "popular" crowd because they laugh as they enter the classroom-- and she's right.
I stopped there. I just couldn't handle it.
I stopped there. I just couldn't handle it.
April 16, 2012
i loved the way this book was written. can not wait till the next one to be released. i thought it was very well written and had alot of thought put into it. my only question is what has the hostory between Elainas mom and Lucas' parents been like i am kind of curiours. i really loved the way the relationshil between Elaina and Lucas. it was a bumpy ride for them. but they have a funny cute relationship that i could kill to have. if i was put in Elaina's situation with sophie i would have probably acted the same way.
July 11, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It would have been a 5-star but the author
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2012
I was very impressed with the quality of the writing and the depth of the characters in Solo. The author has captured the essence of young love in a very endearing, funny and relatable way. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book my eight year old kept asking what was so funny and I would read the paragraph to him and we would both laugh. I enjoyed this book immensely and could not put it down. This is a must read and I can’t wait to read more about Eliana and Lucas in Duo!
February 5, 2014
This was a mediocre book at best. The electronic version was full of editing and spelling errors, which I can look past if the writing is generally good. But the main character was lukewarm and more than a little wishy washy. She spent half the time being curt with or downright rude to her love interest, then feeling all bad about it because of how much she liked him. The story had potential, but the writing failed to really bring it to life.
April 10, 2012
Loved it! Can't wait until DUO:))))
Currently reading
October 15, 2014I loved this book so much the first time i read it i am going to read it again!!!!!
February 18, 2020
This book could have been good but it fell short of the mark. The main character comes across as a Mary Sue type character who is pretty, smart and talented. Her personality however leaves much to be desired. I found myself struggling to continue reading this. To me this book comes across like it was written by a teenager. She goes running for hours after school every day while apparently her school never assigns homework or she just doesn’t do it and her mother gives her a 2am curfew. If you are a teenager then perhaps this the book for you but if you look for a little more substance and realism then I’d advise you to move on.
January 24, 2024
Read this many times while in middle school and high school. Reread it again as an adult and I will occasionally read it from time to time if I just want a very quick and simple read.
Now that I am an adult, I do wish this book was a little longer and had a little more content. But it still is a good and fast read. It would be a good read for a young high schooler as it is very clean, only a few curse words, and a few small kissing scenes.
Now that I am an adult, I do wish this book was a little longer and had a little more content. But it still is a good and fast read. It would be a good read for a young high schooler as it is very clean, only a few curse words, and a few small kissing scenes.
September 8, 2023
Had I have been 13/14 when I read this, I’d probably have rated it much higher.
As a 30 year old, the writing is incredibly basic - reminds me of a story that you write in school.
However the story was cute and I generally enjoyed it.
As a 30 year old, the writing is incredibly basic - reminds me of a story that you write in school.
However the story was cute and I generally enjoyed it.
January 10, 2026
I read this once at 13 and whilst I love the easy plot of it and it taught me how to and how not to act in relationships with others, I do have to say there are a fair few grammar mistakes missed by editing and it does get a little predictably cheesy.
April 18, 2012
I told myself I would stop reading books about teenage girls. Being in my early twenties I thought like this would be the perfect time to start reading more adult books. HAR HAR HAR.
This book was predictable. Military brat doesn't trust anyone or want to get close to anyone because she moves a lot. Moves to a small town where she is too cool because she is from California, gets the most popular girls hating her for no reason, meets a boy but even though she is super attracted to him doesn't go for it, then eventually changes her mind and loves him. THE END!
After saying all that I didn't want to put it down. I kept reading it until it was done and when it ended I literally said outloud "THATS IT?"
If you are looking for substance, something that will change your life, something that will make you gasp and hold the book to your chest as you cry happy tears at how wonderful this book is. THIS IS NOT THAT BOOK. But it is cute, light, and an easy entertaining enough read that you won't get bored. Also its free on kindle so how can you say no?
This book was predictable. Military brat doesn't trust anyone or want to get close to anyone because she moves a lot. Moves to a small town where she is too cool because she is from California, gets the most popular girls hating her for no reason, meets a boy but even though she is super attracted to him doesn't go for it, then eventually changes her mind and loves him. THE END!
After saying all that I didn't want to put it down. I kept reading it until it was done and when it ended I literally said outloud "THATS IT?"
If you are looking for substance, something that will change your life, something that will make you gasp and hold the book to your chest as you cry happy tears at how wonderful this book is. THIS IS NOT THAT BOOK. But it is cute, light, and an easy entertaining enough read that you won't get bored. Also its free on kindle so how can you say no?
August 2, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Alot of YA books tend to be extremely cliche and painful to read but this is not one of them. Sure some of the characters/story lines are typical but they're so well executed it doesn't matter. I loved how Eliana and Lucas's relationship developed. Instead of the usual she saw a hot guy and all of a sudden fell in love, we got to see how they came to like each other. I loved all the other relationships Eliana had aswell, like with her family, they were all so real and thought out, no fillers. I don't have a bad thing to say about this book! I can't wait for the sequel!!
August 20, 2012
Not the best plot but an enjoyable teenage read. Eliana goes through normal teenage problems; Mean popular girls, crushes, a fan of boys and settling in a new town while deciding how to live life; as a solo or surrounded by people who make you laugh? She starts off ignoring insults from popular girl, Sasha but it doesn't help when she has her only friend, Casey, on a leash, pulling her everywhere she goes. Having Sasha's creepy boyfriend like her and Elaina's crush seems to be interested in her too ruins her plan of keeping her head down and getting through the year without any complications. Can she stick to that rule though?? Mild language but would recommend it for a light read. :)
January 26, 2013
This was a really good debut novel. It is pretty predictable, but it is light, easy reading.
The main character, Eliana is a military brat who moves around a lot. She and her mother actually move from California to Oregon to live with Eliana's grandparents while her father is deployed. The move takes place in the middle of her sophomore year of high school. She makes friends, enemies, and falls in love. Like I said predictable, but it is still a really good book. I was most impressed with the strong, solid relationship between Eliana and her mother. I hope the author writes a sequel to this book because I was a little disappointed when I got to the last page.
The main character, Eliana is a military brat who moves around a lot. She and her mother actually move from California to Oregon to live with Eliana's grandparents while her father is deployed. The move takes place in the middle of her sophomore year of high school. She makes friends, enemies, and falls in love. Like I said predictable, but it is still a really good book. I was most impressed with the strong, solid relationship between Eliana and her mother. I hope the author writes a sequel to this book because I was a little disappointed when I got to the last page.
April 19, 2012
Well written, good pacing and interesting main characters.....definitely recommend for ya contemporary reading fans!
GR summary:
"As a military brat, Eliana Davis is no stranger to moving from place to place. However, moving in the middle of her sophomore year to the small Oregon town where her parents grew up is something she never expected. Knowing she will only be there for a year, she is torn between making new friends or keeping to herself. Will she listen to her heart or keep flying solo?"
GR summary:
"As a military brat, Eliana Davis is no stranger to moving from place to place. However, moving in the middle of her sophomore year to the small Oregon town where her parents grew up is something she never expected. Knowing she will only be there for a year, she is torn between making new friends or keeping to herself. Will she listen to her heart or keep flying solo?"
November 10, 2013
Absolutely love this book, I've read it so many times I've lost count!
I think my most favourite thing about this is how much I can relate to events in school, such as other girls that you just don't get along with.
Plus, I like the fact that the relationship developed in this book is where the two characters don't always rely on each other and events sill happen with them as individuals, it's not one of those books filled with the two characters spending every waking moment with each other.
Cannot wait for Duo!
I think my most favourite thing about this is how much I can relate to events in school, such as other girls that you just don't get along with.
Plus, I like the fact that the relationship developed in this book is where the two characters don't always rely on each other and events sill happen with them as individuals, it's not one of those books filled with the two characters spending every waking moment with each other.
Cannot wait for Duo!
May 16, 2012
I wanted to give this 4 stars but it kind of felt like nothing major happened here. Not don't get me wrong; there's nothing bad about that. It is refreshing to read a book with very little drama in it. However, it just seemed to miss that little something extra to make me really fall in love with it. Regardless, the characters were great and the writing was smooth. Apparently there is a sequel coming out and I am definitely looking forward to that. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
April 8, 2012
I don't know... this just wasn't my cup of tea. I thought the writing could use some improvement - the characters were stilted, and it wasn't clear why Eliana and Lucas liked each other in the first place (other than looks.) Also, there are some plot devices that were never resolved - the issues between Eliana's mom and Lucas's dad are never explained. There were also quite a few typos - "peeked" instead of "piqued," "too" instead of "to," and leaving words out.
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