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X-It
LOVE IS A DRUG.
In 1980 NYC, eighteen-year-old J.J. Buckingham is an uptight trendoid. Working as a mannequin painter and a counter girl, she moonlights as a creature of the nightclubs. J.J. falls for aloof, crazy-talented artist and bicycle messenger X-It. In order to win his love, she succumbs to the dark machinations of drug dealer Marko Voodoo. X-It will love her if she's the queen of underground Manhattan, right? Her plan backfires with horrendous consequences. Can J.J. scrap her way out of a maze of drugs, clubs, and danger before it's too late?
In 1980 NYC, eighteen-year-old J.J. Buckingham is an uptight trendoid. Working as a mannequin painter and a counter girl, she moonlights as a creature of the nightclubs. J.J. falls for aloof, crazy-talented artist and bicycle messenger X-It. In order to win his love, she succumbs to the dark machinations of drug dealer Marko Voodoo. X-It will love her if she's the queen of underground Manhattan, right? Her plan backfires with horrendous consequences. Can J.J. scrap her way out of a maze of drugs, clubs, and danger before it's too late?
210 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2012
1 person is currently reading
434 people want to read
About the author
Jane George
20 books74 followersJane George is an author and award-winning illustrator living in San Francisco, CA with her family. She is a graduate of The California College of the Arts and is an eternal student of the sublime and the absurd. When not writing or painting, she can often be found at an indie rock concert. She writes books for young adults, new adults, and adult adults, often with a tendency toward the romantic and fantastical.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 5, 2019
Solid 3 stars. Young adult book covering some heavy subjects, the main one being drug addiction. I would definitely read something else by this author.
The only reason I read this book is because I'm trying to complete an alphabet challenge for a book club here on GR. The only books I didn't already own were a book starting with X (for which I found this book) and an author name starting with X. I enjoyed both books I found so thanks to GR I read two books I never would have heard of. 🤓
The only reason I read this book is because I'm trying to complete an alphabet challenge for a book club here on GR. The only books I didn't already own were a book starting with X (for which I found this book) and an author name starting with X. I enjoyed both books I found so thanks to GR I read two books I never would have heard of. 🤓
August 31, 2018
Historical fiction and coming of age story set in the early 1980’s in New York. The protagonist, J.J., leaves San Francisco and heads to New York to establish her independence. She acquires two jobs and a roommate to make ends meet, working as a mannequin face painter and server in a bakery. Her past family life is awful, and we learn her backstory gradually over the course of this short novel – her damaged father, judgmental grandmother, and absent mother. She falls in “love” through osmosis and obsesses over X-It, an attractive young man working as a bicycle messenger, who becomes her platonic roommate. Both are aspiring artists. A group of her friends follow her to New York, take over her apartment, and complicate her life. One of these “friends” is a drug dealer who eventually entices her into the drug scene.
This is quite outside my normal fare, but I really liked this quirky book. First the positives, and they were many. I thought the author did a great job of depicting the New York punk-club scene of the 1980s, evoking the era through music, dress, cultural references, and lack of technology. J.J. is a wonderful character. She is insecure, sensitive, and easy to like, though I wanted to warn her several times to make different decisions. She seemed very real in terms of making mistakes and learning from them through life experience, though she is still very young. Though they have not treated her well, she still yearns for approval from her family. Over time, she gradually comes to appreciate her value as a person. The book is short and easily digested. I enjoyed the author’s writing style. I found it expressive and eloquent. I appreciated the artistic elements in this book, and even obtained a few tips on use of the use of line and color in drawings and paintings. I found the book as a whole very creative.
On the downside, the plot contained several huge holes. A significant crime takes place at one point, and the police investigation that would have inevitably followed is totally ignored. Also, it is a book that places a woman’s worth as subject to having “the right man” in her life. The reasons for her friends following her to New York are never given, and they are critical to the storyline. One of the leaders of the group of friends moves away and disappears from the plot, leaving me to wonder if she was only there as a device. There was a lot of uncovered ground in terms of her behavior, and it would have been nice if it had been explored further.
Gut-wrenching but hopeful, this book is a unique blend of punk stylings, artistry, and self-discovery. Content warnings include drug addiction, language, sex, and violence. Recommended to those interested in character-driven novels, the punk scene of the 1980’s, or coming of age stories.
This is quite outside my normal fare, but I really liked this quirky book. First the positives, and they were many. I thought the author did a great job of depicting the New York punk-club scene of the 1980s, evoking the era through music, dress, cultural references, and lack of technology. J.J. is a wonderful character. She is insecure, sensitive, and easy to like, though I wanted to warn her several times to make different decisions. She seemed very real in terms of making mistakes and learning from them through life experience, though she is still very young. Though they have not treated her well, she still yearns for approval from her family. Over time, she gradually comes to appreciate her value as a person. The book is short and easily digested. I enjoyed the author’s writing style. I found it expressive and eloquent. I appreciated the artistic elements in this book, and even obtained a few tips on use of the use of line and color in drawings and paintings. I found the book as a whole very creative.
On the downside, the plot contained several huge holes. A significant crime takes place at one point, and the police investigation that would have inevitably followed is totally ignored. Also, it is a book that places a woman’s worth as subject to having “the right man” in her life. The reasons for her friends following her to New York are never given, and they are critical to the storyline. One of the leaders of the group of friends moves away and disappears from the plot, leaving me to wonder if she was only there as a device. There was a lot of uncovered ground in terms of her behavior, and it would have been nice if it had been explored further.
Gut-wrenching but hopeful, this book is a unique blend of punk stylings, artistry, and self-discovery. Content warnings include drug addiction, language, sex, and violence. Recommended to those interested in character-driven novels, the punk scene of the 1980’s, or coming of age stories.
December 10, 2012
This is very punk rock and not in the candy-coated nostalgia sense, but in the dirty, dye-stained world of vaseline and aqua net. Even though this is set in 1980, it easily could range into the mid 90's. The club scene, drug addiction, music and underground hipness of punk rock influence reached over a decade. The only thing missing, intravenous HIV inflections and a groupie gang of junkie strippers. Engaged in high risk behavior, this fortunate teen escapes battered but not dead, which is an accomplishment considering the atmosphere. Live and learn, or at least hope so. Some characters get their happy ending, while others have a REALLY bad day! The novel reads like a memoir, which helps strengthen the reader's attachment to the lead female character J.J. Those who have never had similar experiences will get to experiment vicariously through her and the tribe of poser dwarves. I literally got goose bumps and tingles towards the end of the book -- this was brought on by pure emotional attachment. Being a product of the Underground in Seattle during the early 90's, I can relate to the club scene and the drug influence. I watched a fair share of lives be destroyed, talent wasted and dreams crumpled in the trash. However, some people like J.J. came out the other side. The good, the bad and ugly make us what we are and trust me, although this is fiction, it is not in the least bit far-fetched. Every scene in a big city is just a group of small town hopefuls and running into each other with the aid of the six degrees of separation is strangely realistic. If you don't believe me, just ask anyone hanging with the band members of Pearl Jam, Sound Garden, Alice in Chains, Sky Cries Mary, Tad and Nirvana at the Croc in Seattle back in the day of grunge. True Story.
July 28, 2012
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of X-It in exchange for an honest review. No promise of a positive review was made and I wasn't compensated in any way.
Beautifully written X-It is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. Jane George has woven a concise, raw and honest work of literature that maintains it's literary standards without ever crossing over in to the realm of pretentious and indulgence. This book doesn't rely on a lot of exposition but instead takes you directly into the meat of each moment, each heartbeat and each disaster.
I love books that have that element of poetry that doesn't really have a genre. Some people call it Lit Fic, but most become a parody of itself. X-It never does. If you've ever loved something unattainable, then you know X-It. I had my own X-It in a way. The story isn't nearly as tragic and he was never as selfish, but I loved him, in my own way. I idealized him and wanted so much from him that was never his to give. I felt that longing, that desperation George has infused in every word of X-It.
X-It is set in 1980 and 1981. The main character J.J. runs from her life in San Fransisco to make her own way in NY. Just as she gets her feet under her, with a roommate who becomes her best friend and obsession, work she is good at and a life that, the very life she was running from shows up at her apartment door. Pulled into a life of drugs, clubs and wanna-be punk rockers, J.J. begins down the road that will ultimately take everything she thought she wanted away from her.
At the core of X-It is a romance. A tragic and all consuming love that overshadows reason. But can obsession ever live up to expectations? Is the grass ever really greener, or is real love, honest, giving, accepting love worth fighting for?
This book is not for the faint of heart. Nothing is explicit, nothing is overt, but the insecurities of J.J. are so well portrayed you can slip into her skin and feel the need for relief, for a moment of rest, for just a little something to make the moment to moment miseries bearable. J.J.'s slip into drug abuse could happen to anyone. And readers are not spared the real life consequences of that road.
The real reason to read this book though, is the prose itself:
Lose yourself in something spectacularly unexpected and beautifully devastating. Pick up a copy of X-It today.
Beautifully written X-It is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. Jane George has woven a concise, raw and honest work of literature that maintains it's literary standards without ever crossing over in to the realm of pretentious and indulgence. This book doesn't rely on a lot of exposition but instead takes you directly into the meat of each moment, each heartbeat and each disaster.
I love books that have that element of poetry that doesn't really have a genre. Some people call it Lit Fic, but most become a parody of itself. X-It never does. If you've ever loved something unattainable, then you know X-It. I had my own X-It in a way. The story isn't nearly as tragic and he was never as selfish, but I loved him, in my own way. I idealized him and wanted so much from him that was never his to give. I felt that longing, that desperation George has infused in every word of X-It.
X-It is set in 1980 and 1981. The main character J.J. runs from her life in San Fransisco to make her own way in NY. Just as she gets her feet under her, with a roommate who becomes her best friend and obsession, work she is good at and a life that, the very life she was running from shows up at her apartment door. Pulled into a life of drugs, clubs and wanna-be punk rockers, J.J. begins down the road that will ultimately take everything she thought she wanted away from her.
At the core of X-It is a romance. A tragic and all consuming love that overshadows reason. But can obsession ever live up to expectations? Is the grass ever really greener, or is real love, honest, giving, accepting love worth fighting for?
This book is not for the faint of heart. Nothing is explicit, nothing is overt, but the insecurities of J.J. are so well portrayed you can slip into her skin and feel the need for relief, for a moment of rest, for just a little something to make the moment to moment miseries bearable. J.J.'s slip into drug abuse could happen to anyone. And readers are not spared the real life consequences of that road.
The real reason to read this book though, is the prose itself:
Charred mannequin arms reach up from the cellar like victims begging to be saved. Their graceful, stylized gestures make their doomed petition all the more poignant.
Lose yourself in something spectacularly unexpected and beautifully devastating. Pick up a copy of X-It today.
October 31, 2015
Having been a teenager in the 80s, there were definitely parts of this book I could relate to; I enjoyed a lot of the references to music and fashion of the times.
As for J.J. -- well, I'm a little torn here. There were times I absolutely loved this character, but for most of the book she just made me angry because she comes across as needy and pathetic. As someone whose life has been affected by the actions of a drug addict, I found several parts of this book difficult to connect with, and if the intent was for the reader to sympathize with certain characters...sorry, but that was a big, fat fail for this reader.
I was happy with the end of this story. Not because of other characters finding the worth of J.J., but because SHE finally seemed to have realized her own worth.
As for J.J. -- well, I'm a little torn here. There were times I absolutely loved this character, but for most of the book she just made me angry because she comes across as needy and pathetic. As someone whose life has been affected by the actions of a drug addict, I found several parts of this book difficult to connect with, and if the intent was for the reader to sympathize with certain characters...sorry, but that was a big, fat fail for this reader.
I was happy with the end of this story. Not because of other characters finding the worth of J.J., but because SHE finally seemed to have realized her own worth.
November 3, 2025
This book took its time winning me over. For a while, it felt chaotic with a lot of characters and not much happening — I was bored and unsure if I cared.
But then?
The emotional tension, the struggle, the risks… it all hit. Hard.
We follow J.J. (Juliana Josephine) — an emancipated teen trying to survive NYC while chasing art and love. She’s surrounded by people who are all kind of falling apart in their own ways, and she keeps getting dragged into their chaos.
Her relationships are complicated:
• Protecting and loving her best friend/crush X It
• A questionable adult boyfriend situation (girl… no)
• A circle of “friends” who don’t have her best interest at heart
It turns into a raw depiction of:
• Addiction
• Fear
• Trauma bonds
• Trying to choose yourself
Somewhere in all of this, hope pushes through. There are supportive people who believe in J.J.’s art, her healing, and her future. The book becomes about that moment where you finally say:
“I deserve better than this.”
A messy story, yes — but also an emotional one about growing up too fast and finding the strength to walk away from the world that almost destroyed you. The ending gave me so much relief and pride for her.
New Vocabulary Learned
• Dirge — a slow, mournful song
• Jaunt — a short pleasure trip
Final Thoughts
Not a romance.
Not pretty.
But it is real, and it made me feel something once it finally took off.
Signed — proud of J.J. for choosing herself 🖤
aka BrittLit
But then?
The emotional tension, the struggle, the risks… it all hit. Hard.
We follow J.J. (Juliana Josephine) — an emancipated teen trying to survive NYC while chasing art and love. She’s surrounded by people who are all kind of falling apart in their own ways, and she keeps getting dragged into their chaos.
Her relationships are complicated:
• Protecting and loving her best friend/crush X It
• A questionable adult boyfriend situation (girl… no)
• A circle of “friends” who don’t have her best interest at heart
It turns into a raw depiction of:
• Addiction
• Fear
• Trauma bonds
• Trying to choose yourself
Somewhere in all of this, hope pushes through. There are supportive people who believe in J.J.’s art, her healing, and her future. The book becomes about that moment where you finally say:
“I deserve better than this.”
A messy story, yes — but also an emotional one about growing up too fast and finding the strength to walk away from the world that almost destroyed you. The ending gave me so much relief and pride for her.
New Vocabulary Learned
• Dirge — a slow, mournful song
• Jaunt — a short pleasure trip
Final Thoughts
Not a romance.
Not pretty.
But it is real, and it made me feel something once it finally took off.
Signed — proud of J.J. for choosing herself 🖤
aka BrittLit
June 20, 2019
Loved this book. It felt like a punk rock rollercoaster ride. J.J. was a character I loved and hated. I loved that she was an artist and so insecure about herself that she didn't realize what a gem she could be. This was a great story about heartache, finding yourself and your true worth, but with not much of the niceties. As the book summary suggested, this story took place in 80's punk New York, so drugs, punk music, and even sex were involved. I couldn't relate to all that, but I've read and heard enough true stories to know that such Lifetime-movie-worthy ways of life were (and still are) real. The author was able to capture this perfectly and it wasn't hard not to be swept away in the chaotic J.J. express train. I loved that the two main characters, J.J. and X-It, were artists. Usually when I think about punk club scenes, I picture a groupie in love with a broody and moody musician married to his les paul guitar. In this case, it was an artist painfully in love with a fellow artist, who happened to be her supposed bestfriend and the kind of talent she wished she could be. I loved reading about J.J.'s style and how her innate artistic spirit comes out through her thoughts and choices.
Aside from the gut and heart wrenching (but hopeful!) story, I really loved the writing style. It fit perfectly with the whole artsy thing in the book. It was visual and emotional poetry. The author had that clever way with words that I always strive to do in my own writing attempts. I read this in Kindle but I could just imagine holding a paperback in my hands and feeling the pages. I think this is that kind of book, better read as a paperback than an e-book, so you can roll around in the words. Er, that's just me.
If you like a little punk pizzazz with your coming-of-age story, you might enjoy this one.
I received a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligations. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Blog post here.
Aside from the gut and heart wrenching (but hopeful!) story, I really loved the writing style. It fit perfectly with the whole artsy thing in the book. It was visual and emotional poetry. The author had that clever way with words that I always strive to do in my own writing attempts. I read this in Kindle but I could just imagine holding a paperback in my hands and feeling the pages. I think this is that kind of book, better read as a paperback than an e-book, so you can roll around in the words. Er, that's just me.
If you like a little punk pizzazz with your coming-of-age story, you might enjoy this one.
I received a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligations. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Blog post here.
July 31, 2018
I received this book free from Goodreads' first reads.
I don't know what made me enter to win this book. It's not the type of book I normally read. In fact after I entered I almost withdrew. It's not really fair to be given a book to read when it's not your usual genre; when you are not the target audience. I didn't withdraw. I figured I wouldn't win anyway. When I did win it, I wasn't too excited about reading it. It sat on my coffee table for several weeks. Finally I started it one night. I read the first two chapters and thought "meh." I let it sit there a couple more days. I wasn't impressed. It was okay, but not great. Also, it was told in first person present tense. I know that is a ploy to make the story more interesting, but mostly it's just annoying. A couple days later I impulsively put it in my bag to read at lunch. The next day I did the same. Then I stayed up half the night to finish it. Anyway, enough with this boring stuff, here's my review.
I am in love with J.J. I don't mean she is a realistic, sympathetic, well rounded character who grows during the story, she does, but that's not what I mean. I mean I AM IN LOVE WITH J.J. I want to know her, be friends with her, help her, give her a hug and some chocolate. I felt with her. I felt every fear and insecurity, every obsession and depression. I was not familiar with her world, but J.J. (or rather Jane George) brought me there, and I was truly there. And isn't that what fiction is for?
I usually wait and digest a book before I write a review, but this book needs to be rated on emotion. The five star rating doesn't mean this was a perfect book, it wasn't, in fact the ending was a bit corny, but that it took me on a journey that I enjoyed and believed.
I don't know what made me enter to win this book. It's not the type of book I normally read. In fact after I entered I almost withdrew. It's not really fair to be given a book to read when it's not your usual genre; when you are not the target audience. I didn't withdraw. I figured I wouldn't win anyway. When I did win it, I wasn't too excited about reading it. It sat on my coffee table for several weeks. Finally I started it one night. I read the first two chapters and thought "meh." I let it sit there a couple more days. I wasn't impressed. It was okay, but not great. Also, it was told in first person present tense. I know that is a ploy to make the story more interesting, but mostly it's just annoying. A couple days later I impulsively put it in my bag to read at lunch. The next day I did the same. Then I stayed up half the night to finish it. Anyway, enough with this boring stuff, here's my review.
I am in love with J.J. I don't mean she is a realistic, sympathetic, well rounded character who grows during the story, she does, but that's not what I mean. I mean I AM IN LOVE WITH J.J. I want to know her, be friends with her, help her, give her a hug and some chocolate. I felt with her. I felt every fear and insecurity, every obsession and depression. I was not familiar with her world, but J.J. (or rather Jane George) brought me there, and I was truly there. And isn't that what fiction is for?
I usually wait and digest a book before I write a review, but this book needs to be rated on emotion. The five star rating doesn't mean this was a perfect book, it wasn't, in fact the ending was a bit corny, but that it took me on a journey that I enjoyed and believed.
July 17, 2012
I just finished reading X-It, by Jane George a few moments ago, and my brain is just reeling – in a good way. In fact, I read this book over the course of just a few days. I honestly could not put it down.
From the very first pages I was drawn to J.J. – From her dripping purple hair dye through her slow, dark, and painful decent into the 80’s punk/club scene. Jane George truly created a dynamic character with incredible depth. To me this book read like a memoir, making it even more powerful and at times bittersweet. As a teen of the 80’s myself, I felt I could really relate to J.J. even though our experiences were so different. I also appreciated all the 80’s NYC references (was that Madonna trying to convince the DJ to play her songs?)
While not giving anything away, I did want to note that the ending was just wonderful (thank you!) There was a moment in there where I thought... No! J.J. can’t do that... and I’m pretty sure that’s the reaction Ms. George was going for. It was executed perfectly.
This is the second Jane George book I have read over the last few weeks, and I can honestly say I am a big fan! I hope she keeps the great stories coming!
From the very first pages I was drawn to J.J. – From her dripping purple hair dye through her slow, dark, and painful decent into the 80’s punk/club scene. Jane George truly created a dynamic character with incredible depth. To me this book read like a memoir, making it even more powerful and at times bittersweet. As a teen of the 80’s myself, I felt I could really relate to J.J. even though our experiences were so different. I also appreciated all the 80’s NYC references (was that Madonna trying to convince the DJ to play her songs?)
While not giving anything away, I did want to note that the ending was just wonderful (thank you!) There was a moment in there where I thought... No! J.J. can’t do that... and I’m pretty sure that’s the reaction Ms. George was going for. It was executed perfectly.
This is the second Jane George book I have read over the last few weeks, and I can honestly say I am a big fan! I hope she keeps the great stories coming!
December 11, 2012
This book was a roller coaster in the best way possible!!! Going on this crazy nostalgic ride with J.J. was amazing and very very very 80s. Not bad 80s but like all those things that the ones that didn't live during that time hear about it and wish we were apart of (I was born in 1990. You do the math.). So my comparison would be a tame Sid and Nancy and that one movie with Robert Downey Jr. and Molly Ringwald but not as campy. It's a weird reference but it's the only one I got!
X-It has you rooting for the underdog and in love with characters that if they were real you would want to help them with every part of your being! I highly suggest this if you are an 80s-phile, need some nostalgia from days past, or just need a good read!
X-It has you rooting for the underdog and in love with characters that if they were real you would want to help them with every part of your being! I highly suggest this if you are an 80s-phile, need some nostalgia from days past, or just need a good read!
August 6, 2019
I finished this book a couple days ago and can't stop thinking about it. I initially picked it up to satisfy the X title reading challenge. The cover looked interesting and the reviews were promising so I ordered it and gave it a try. What a gem of a book! I was a teen wannabe mod rock teenager in the 80's, so this book brought back some memories of the music, fashion, etc.
What I liked the most was the main character J.J comes from an unfortunate background but survives her life the best she can. The characters she hangs out with aren't the best and she has to overcome a lot of tough situations. I would have loved to read about her more, but the book was only 210 pages.
I'm recommending this book to all of my friends. This is definitely worth reading!
What I liked the most was the main character J.J comes from an unfortunate background but survives her life the best she can. The characters she hangs out with aren't the best and she has to overcome a lot of tough situations. I would have loved to read about her more, but the book was only 210 pages.
I'm recommending this book to all of my friends. This is definitely worth reading!
June 16, 2012
3.5 star
X-it for me was a nice fast paced book that I read in one sitting. I really liked how J.J. tried and did what she needed to do to better her life. She had her setbacks like everyone but in the end did what was best for her. I did enjoy this book but was a little hard reading the drug addiction struggles. I know someone who is going through almost the same situation. Hopefully she can recover as well as J.J.
X-it for me was a nice fast paced book that I read in one sitting. I really liked how J.J. tried and did what she needed to do to better her life. She had her setbacks like everyone but in the end did what was best for her. I did enjoy this book but was a little hard reading the drug addiction struggles. I know someone who is going through almost the same situation. Hopefully she can recover as well as J.J.
December 23, 2012
I've had more than my share of X-its, and they've all had re-entries at some point as well.
There are three main reasons to like this 'against-the-grain' love story (that's far more common than people think, I think). I mean this in a not-quite literal to the events sense though.
There is so much detail and poignant description in this book it reads like a fine-art portrait of society, fashion, gender wrapped in a nice package with an absolutely perfect cover. That should probably be more than one reason, but I'm trying to limit myself, and not sound completely blown away, but I am.
It reminded me that sometimes we should probably slow down and try to listen (to the world, other people, your inner-self/whatever). That seems like a decent reason to read a book. I probably needed a moment of zen, and this was definitely one of them.
It is an absolutely, precisely written love lesson/tale of never giving up that everyone can identify with. I may just love the fact that there's a Buddy Holly character, Andy Warhol references, and basically everything I identify with as part of my 'generation'.
Author and illustrator Jane George lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a BFA in illustration from the California College of the Arts and has won awards for her art.
A dedicated writer for over a decade, she produces and publishes her YA fantasy and literary titles under her personal imprint, Paper Grove Publishing. Find out more at: www.Jane-George.com
LOVE IS A DRUG.
In 1980 NYC, eighteen-year-old J.J. Buckingham is an uptight trendoid. Working as a mannequin painter and a counter girl, she moonlights as a creature of the nightclubs. J.J. falls for aloof, crazy-talented artist and bicycle messenger X-It. In order to win his love, she succumbs to the dark machinations of drug dealer Marko Voodoo. X-It will love her if she’s the queen of underground Manhattan, right? Her plan backfires with horrendous consequences. J.J. must scrap her way out of a maze of drugs, clubs, and danger before she realizes she’s worthy of a better life. And true love might just come in the form of a clean-cut geek in Buddy Holly glasses.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="297"]
As promised, there will be questions!
(I like big kitties too. )[/caption]
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There are three main reasons to like this 'against-the-grain' love story (that's far more common than people think, I think). I mean this in a not-quite literal to the events sense though.
There is so much detail and poignant description in this book it reads like a fine-art portrait of society, fashion, gender wrapped in a nice package with an absolutely perfect cover. That should probably be more than one reason, but I'm trying to limit myself, and not sound completely blown away, but I am.
It reminded me that sometimes we should probably slow down and try to listen (to the world, other people, your inner-self/whatever). That seems like a decent reason to read a book. I probably needed a moment of zen, and this was definitely one of them.
It is an absolutely, precisely written love lesson/tale of never giving up that everyone can identify with. I may just love the fact that there's a Buddy Holly character, Andy Warhol references, and basically everything I identify with as part of my 'generation'.
Author and illustrator Jane George lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a BFA in illustration from the California College of the Arts and has won awards for her art.A dedicated writer for over a decade, she produces and publishes her YA fantasy and literary titles under her personal imprint, Paper Grove Publishing. Find out more at: www.Jane-George.com
Now a little about the very exciting (and who doesn't love it when the nerds get some love too?) X-it.![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00071]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380400542i/776448._SY540_.jpg)
LOVE IS A DRUG.
In 1980 NYC, eighteen-year-old J.J. Buckingham is an uptight trendoid. Working as a mannequin painter and a counter girl, she moonlights as a creature of the nightclubs. J.J. falls for aloof, crazy-talented artist and bicycle messenger X-It. In order to win his love, she succumbs to the dark machinations of drug dealer Marko Voodoo. X-It will love her if she’s the queen of underground Manhattan, right? Her plan backfires with horrendous consequences. J.J. must scrap her way out of a maze of drugs, clubs, and danger before she realizes she’s worthy of a better life. And true love might just come in the form of a clean-cut geek in Buddy Holly glasses.
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As promised, there will be questions!(I like big kitties too. )[/caption]
Book Club Brain-Bashing Questions
1. What are your feelings about J.J.'s journey? Do you identify with it, and any of the cultural references?
2. Is it possible that on some universe (parallel or otherwise) we are fundamentally drawn to specific 'types' of people?
As a caveat to that, I could probably find some mildly amusing psychological studies, that are fairly current to back that up.
3. What did you enjoy most about the book if your choices were the characters themselves, the description of surroundings and fashion & the relationships explored? Consequently, what else kept you hooked?
Here's how you can join in the fun:
On 12/10 we are asking bloggers to help spread the word about why Book Clubs are an important part of the reading experience. Be these online, in person or some other kind of book club, we think the chance to sit down and dig your teeth into a good book with a group of people is one of the best parts of reading. I love books, and finding other people who like to talk about them as much as I do is always a thrill.
Info on the Full Event, RaffleCopter Code, Event Badge and More can be found at www.novelpublicity.com/events
I'll be publishing interviews with all five of the authors of the books features in the book club bash week, and reviews on each of the books. (Yeah, that's right, after weeks of silence, there will be two posts a day...!)
Clearly I'll be living with my computer in the hours I'm not sleeping/working, so you'll probably also get to know what I'm eating/creating in my hellishly cold kitchen.
I'll let you know how the apple chutney chicken roast turned out...
Until then, go pick up one of these books, join me online for a book club bash week, and get some great ideas for gifts for Christmas. There are lots of reasons online book clubs are most awesome, like how well they can support Indie authors and authors breaking into the online book market.
Related articles
Scorpio Rising: Why I'll Read the Second Book (naimeless.wordpress.com)
Book Club Bash Extravaganza 2: An X-it, Jane George Interview (naimeless.wordpress.com)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 10, 2023
J.J. moves to New York City from San Francisco. She meets X-It who becomes her best friend, until the people she was running from show up on her doorstep- and in her apartment.
J.J. learns what it means to be independent in a harsh drug- and sex-fueled NYC in the '80s, losing pieces of herself along the way.
The story has a very interesting premise, but the writing style just isn't my preference. I'm glad I read it, and I would probably suggest it for others to read, but I won't be making another visit to J.J. and X-It.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
★★★☆☆
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
"Take care of yourself, J.J. You're a diamond in the rough."
-Jane George, "X-It"
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
#bookstagram #instabook #bookphotagraphy #librarian #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #bookrecs #bookreviews #booknerd #bookpictures #ebook #justread #bibliophile #xit #janegeorge
J.J. learns what it means to be independent in a harsh drug- and sex-fueled NYC in the '80s, losing pieces of herself along the way.
The story has a very interesting premise, but the writing style just isn't my preference. I'm glad I read it, and I would probably suggest it for others to read, but I won't be making another visit to J.J. and X-It.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
★★★☆☆
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
"Take care of yourself, J.J. You're a diamond in the rough."
-Jane George, "X-It"
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
#bookstagram #instabook #bookphotagraphy #librarian #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #bookrecs #bookreviews #booknerd #bookpictures #ebook #justread #bibliophile #xit #janegeorge
September 13, 2023
An interesting take on coming of age in this world during the early 80's in the US. Parts I could relate to and others seemed a bit dramatic for the sake of. I did enjoy the majority of it though. Glad I read it.
November 3, 2024
Good solid young adult read if you need an “X” book for the alphabet challenge. Just an easy simple story about a girl living the streets of NYC in the 80’s. Nothing to shocking or deep here. Jump in for a quick letter completed.
December 4, 2023
This scratched a nostalgia itch I didn't know I still had.
December 7, 2023
1.25 maybe
- just not my style
- only read for my a-z challenge
- felt rlly long and dragged on
- i did like the short chapters
- i did like the character development
- just not my style
- only read for my a-z challenge
- felt rlly long and dragged on
- i did like the short chapters
- i did like the character development
December 22, 2012
In X-It, Jane George tells the story of J.J. Buckingham, an aspiring artist in New York City in the 1980s. J.J. falls in love with her roommate X-It, as she negotiates the nightclubs and drug scene that surrounds them both. George's novel might be classified as combining chick-lit, romance, and the coming-of-age novel, without the saccharine overlay that these genres too often tend to employ. If "love is a drug," as George's book cover proclaims, we see the havoc addiction plays in the life of J.J.
I have to say that I found X-It to be compelling, surprisingly so. I read it quickly and had a hard time putting it down. I'm unsure of what to attribute this to. While I appreciate the narrative voice here--J.J. is our central character as well as the first-person narrator of this story--I didn't necessarily like J.J.'s character. She seems both desperate and bent on self destruction. While this type of character strikes me as realistic, it's not necessarily the kind of character I would normally enjoy reading about. And yet, I found myself wanting more of J.J.'s story. I think that I found the work to be compelling precisely because I found the voice to be particularly engaging. This work is written in the present tense, something I often find to be irritating, but here it works. This first-person, present tense narration lends an immediacy to the novel, and I think the work would be flat without this particular type of narration. For it's these details, rather than the plot or even J.J.'s character that kept me engaged.
The setting, the New York City drug / nightclub / art scene in the early 1980s is also engaging. And yet, I'm not entirely sure that this setting is necessary to the story. It seems to me that J.J.'s plight is universal, or at least typical of certain types of women, and that this plot could work just as well in a contemporary setting. Nonetheless, I found the details of the setting to be interesting and entertaining, from discussions of J.J.'s fashion choices to the picture of the nightclub sub-culture of the period. George recreates this specific time period, location, and sub-culture well enough that it feels authentic.
There is so much about this novel that seems like I shouldn't have liked it, and yet I found it enjoyable. George's X-It is a quick, entertaining read. Maybe not profound and moving, but there's still something believable about J.J. and her telling of her own story, enough so that I'd recommend it as a light read, particularly for a particular type of reader.
NOTE: This review originally posted at my website, Speaking of Books, www.drennanspitzer.com Please visit me there!
X-It is available from Amazon in both electronic and hard formats.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I have to say that I found X-It to be compelling, surprisingly so. I read it quickly and had a hard time putting it down. I'm unsure of what to attribute this to. While I appreciate the narrative voice here--J.J. is our central character as well as the first-person narrator of this story--I didn't necessarily like J.J.'s character. She seems both desperate and bent on self destruction. While this type of character strikes me as realistic, it's not necessarily the kind of character I would normally enjoy reading about. And yet, I found myself wanting more of J.J.'s story. I think that I found the work to be compelling precisely because I found the voice to be particularly engaging. This work is written in the present tense, something I often find to be irritating, but here it works. This first-person, present tense narration lends an immediacy to the novel, and I think the work would be flat without this particular type of narration. For it's these details, rather than the plot or even J.J.'s character that kept me engaged.
The setting, the New York City drug / nightclub / art scene in the early 1980s is also engaging. And yet, I'm not entirely sure that this setting is necessary to the story. It seems to me that J.J.'s plight is universal, or at least typical of certain types of women, and that this plot could work just as well in a contemporary setting. Nonetheless, I found the details of the setting to be interesting and entertaining, from discussions of J.J.'s fashion choices to the picture of the nightclub sub-culture of the period. George recreates this specific time period, location, and sub-culture well enough that it feels authentic.
There is so much about this novel that seems like I shouldn't have liked it, and yet I found it enjoyable. George's X-It is a quick, entertaining read. Maybe not profound and moving, but there's still something believable about J.J. and her telling of her own story, enough so that I'd recommend it as a light read, particularly for a particular type of reader.
NOTE: This review originally posted at my website, Speaking of Books, www.drennanspitzer.com Please visit me there!
X-It is available from Amazon in both electronic and hard formats.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
November 25, 2015
This was a very interesting, but dark, look at a young woman (J.J.) trying to make a life for herself. She started in San Francisco, got in with a bunch of druggie friends, then decided to move to NYC to make a change. She started out OK, meeting a guy who she really cared for named X-It. As their relationship was beginning to grow, her cohorts all moved to NYC too, and she got caught up again in their lifestyle. Voodoo, especially, was determined to bring her into their fold. Unfortunately, also, X-It became enamored of the group and their bad habits. Reading this was like watching a train wreck. I was compulsively turning the pages, almost afraid to see what they'd stumble into next. It was just such a waste of a bunch of bright young people, as they all slipped further and further down into heavy drug use. It was like real life nowadays, where some young people make good choices and others tend to wallow in bad choices. Fascinating and well-written, but too dark to be anything higher than a 3-star rating for me.
December 8, 2015
This is not the kind of romance that you find on romance blogs or top romance lists, though not because the book isn’t good. It is—good, I mean. Great even.
But this book eschews all romance expectations, and it explores a kind of attraction and love that I rarely see in romance fiction.
The setting—gritty 80s New York, alphabet city, and its punk/drug/club/art scene—doesn’t lend itself to melodramatic emotional explorations and muscle-bound alpha males. Instead, we follow J.J., fresh from San Francisco, as she pursues art as well as X-It, her new roommate. Well, pursues isn’t quite the right word for it. J.J. and X-It spend much of the book on the cusp between friendship and relationship as they both explore the darker sides of New York and of themselves.
I loved this book in part because I was just as invested in J.J.'s life as I was in the romance-which I don't usually find in typical romance books. J.J. gets her happily ever after, but it's just as hard for the reader to see how this might happen as it is for her.
But this book eschews all romance expectations, and it explores a kind of attraction and love that I rarely see in romance fiction.
The setting—gritty 80s New York, alphabet city, and its punk/drug/club/art scene—doesn’t lend itself to melodramatic emotional explorations and muscle-bound alpha males. Instead, we follow J.J., fresh from San Francisco, as she pursues art as well as X-It, her new roommate. Well, pursues isn’t quite the right word for it. J.J. and X-It spend much of the book on the cusp between friendship and relationship as they both explore the darker sides of New York and of themselves.
I loved this book in part because I was just as invested in J.J.'s life as I was in the romance-which I don't usually find in typical romance books. J.J. gets her happily ever after, but it's just as hard for the reader to see how this might happen as it is for her.
March 6, 2015
Very creative novel.
This novel was full of beautiful prose and images. I loved the intense detail the author got into, it wasn't overly done it was just right. The storyline was very believable. The characters were all likable and unique. You rooted and ached for them. Also, it's not a predictable story. I didn't see most of the events coming. I loved how authentic the 1980s felt in this book. It wasn't overly done or too full of name dropping pop culture. This book is well worth the read.
This novel was full of beautiful prose and images. I loved the intense detail the author got into, it wasn't overly done it was just right. The storyline was very believable. The characters were all likable and unique. You rooted and ached for them. Also, it's not a predictable story. I didn't see most of the events coming. I loved how authentic the 1980s felt in this book. It wasn't overly done or too full of name dropping pop culture. This book is well worth the read.
April 27, 2014
I loved it! The music references brought back memories of my youth! It is well worth the read and I would love onto read more from this author!
March 24, 2016
Good read
Took a while to get into but i could relate to the negative hurting young girl trying to make her way
Took a while to get into but i could relate to the negative hurting young girl trying to make her way
December 21, 2019
Quick and enjoyable while reading, but not super memorable. The author really captured the feel of 80s New York though.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews