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Willow's Journey #1
In the Middle of Nowhere
A TEENAGE GIRL. A BROKEN HEART. AND A BOY WHO TRIES TO MEND IT.
Butterflies. Little, fluttering butterflies. That’s what fifteen-year-old Willow Flynn feels in the pit of her stomach every time the mysterious boy is near. But Willow has other things to contend with as she deals with the tragic loss of her father, as well as her emotionally preoccupied mother, while being uprooted to a new house, a new school, a new life, far away, on an island, in the middle of nowhere.
At the beginning of the school year, the sickly, but cute Michael sends Willow the first of many cryptic notes during homeroom. He stares at Willow and gives her the creeps. Michael never returns to school after that, but Willow ends up connecting with the poetic boy on-line where they strike up an unusual friendship.
As Willow attempts to fit in and find her niche in the ever-cliquey high school world, she is further confused by Michael who strives to win her over and mend her broken heart. But will he be able to, especially when his own existence remains so uncertain?
Butterflies. Little, fluttering butterflies. That’s what fifteen-year-old Willow Flynn feels in the pit of her stomach every time the mysterious boy is near. But Willow has other things to contend with as she deals with the tragic loss of her father, as well as her emotionally preoccupied mother, while being uprooted to a new house, a new school, a new life, far away, on an island, in the middle of nowhere.
At the beginning of the school year, the sickly, but cute Michael sends Willow the first of many cryptic notes during homeroom. He stares at Willow and gives her the creeps. Michael never returns to school after that, but Willow ends up connecting with the poetic boy on-line where they strike up an unusual friendship.
As Willow attempts to fit in and find her niche in the ever-cliquey high school world, she is further confused by Michael who strives to win her over and mend her broken heart. But will he be able to, especially when his own existence remains so uncertain?
348 pages, Nook
First published April 4, 2012
172 people are currently reading
924 people want to read
About the author
Julie Ann Knudsen
4 books26 followersJulie Ann Knudsen received her B.S. degree in Technical Writing from Clarkson University, but found that she preferred writing creatively, especially after penning the play for her children’s drama club for many years. She lives with her husband and three children in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
July 31, 2012
honestly I don't get why this book has such bad ratings. I really liked this book. believe me, I had lots of moments where I thunked my head and saying out loud, willow, what were you thinking???
willow is your average teen, trying to find herself. after the tragic death of her beloved father her life tumbled into shambles. she lost everything, a caring mother to her own grief, her home, her friends and the life she used to know.
it took one bad decision after another for willow to finally get her life back on track. it was definitely a bumpy ride too!
and ultimately the love of a stranger who lived his life the best way he knew how to, to bring out willow from her shell to love again.
willow is your average teen, trying to find herself. after the tragic death of her beloved father her life tumbled into shambles. she lost everything, a caring mother to her own grief, her home, her friends and the life she used to know.
it took one bad decision after another for willow to finally get her life back on track. it was definitely a bumpy ride too!
and ultimately the love of a stranger who lived his life the best way he knew how to, to bring out willow from her shell to love again.
April 4, 2015
“Days will pass,
Lives will change,
Futures are uncertain.
But love remains the same,
It’s timeless and unbroken,
And holds onto good times past.
Always remember me.”
Michael
This book.
Made me cry :')
The romance was a bit off, but it was okay.
The main character was decent.
Michael made me cry and made me want to help him.
I don't know.
Lives will change,
Futures are uncertain.
But love remains the same,
It’s timeless and unbroken,
And holds onto good times past.
Always remember me.”
Michael
This book.
Made me cry :')
The romance was a bit off, but it was okay.
The main character was decent.
Michael made me cry and made me want to help him.
I don't know.
January 17, 2013
This story was absolutely heart wrenching with simultaneously being extremely heartwarming. I don’t think I have ever read a story in which the author manages to combine both of those emotions so seamlessly. It is also an extremely well written novel, allowing you to immerse yourself completely within the pages of the book.
Knudsen’s sentences flow together so seamlessly that you cannot help but transition smoothly from one place to another. This makes it easier to empathize with the plight of each and every character in the novel. Each and every one of these brilliantly developed main characters are dealing with some sort of issue or catastrophe. I found it amazing that I never felt sympathy for the characters. There was no “oh poor you” feeling brought forth by this work. It was a refreshing change. Knudsen does, however, manage to evoke empathy in the reader, pulling you further and further into the story as you identify with the characters.
I also enjoyed the fact that the struggles, challenges, and catastrophes faced by the characters are real events. Knudsen pulls on the challenges facing every day teens, including drugs, alcohol, sex, cliques, death, illness etc, and uses them as trials through which the characters prove themselves. None of the characters ever face a challenge that could not realistically be faced in the real world of normal human beings. The characters realistically display real emotions, evoking similar ones in the reader.
Knudsen’s descriptions are also phenomenal. Everything is very vivid without being overstated. You can picture the island on which the characters reside, but it is not larger than life. It suits the novel perfectly. She also works all necessary back-story into the novel without stopping the forward progression of novel for large periods of time.
I could not believe how caught up I was in this novel, or how much emotion it evoked in me as a reader. For once, it wasn’t solely the characters in the novel feeling, but me as well. It was brilliant.
Knudsen’s sentences flow together so seamlessly that you cannot help but transition smoothly from one place to another. This makes it easier to empathize with the plight of each and every character in the novel. Each and every one of these brilliantly developed main characters are dealing with some sort of issue or catastrophe. I found it amazing that I never felt sympathy for the characters. There was no “oh poor you” feeling brought forth by this work. It was a refreshing change. Knudsen does, however, manage to evoke empathy in the reader, pulling you further and further into the story as you identify with the characters.
I also enjoyed the fact that the struggles, challenges, and catastrophes faced by the characters are real events. Knudsen pulls on the challenges facing every day teens, including drugs, alcohol, sex, cliques, death, illness etc, and uses them as trials through which the characters prove themselves. None of the characters ever face a challenge that could not realistically be faced in the real world of normal human beings. The characters realistically display real emotions, evoking similar ones in the reader.
Knudsen’s descriptions are also phenomenal. Everything is very vivid without being overstated. You can picture the island on which the characters reside, but it is not larger than life. It suits the novel perfectly. She also works all necessary back-story into the novel without stopping the forward progression of novel for large periods of time.
I could not believe how caught up I was in this novel, or how much emotion it evoked in me as a reader. For once, it wasn’t solely the characters in the novel feeling, but me as well. It was brilliant.
July 8, 2012
3.5/5
First off, I'd like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book.
This book, in my opinion, is a pretty good summer read. I read it in a day and a night. I do have some mixed feelings about the book though.
First, let me give a bit of synopsis:
The pros of this book:
1. Willow is an insanely relatable character.
2. The writing style is easy to follow and easy to read.
3. Michael. I can not say enough about my love for him.
The main con of this book is for me, personally, the relationship between Willow and Michael doesn't seem to take off until the end, which is good for a series, but leaves me wanting more with this individual book.
First off, I'd like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book.
This book, in my opinion, is a pretty good summer read. I read it in a day and a night. I do have some mixed feelings about the book though.
First, let me give a bit of synopsis:
The pros of this book:
1. Willow is an insanely relatable character.
2. The writing style is easy to follow and easy to read.
3. Michael. I can not say enough about my love for him.
The main con of this book is for me, personally, the relationship between Willow and Michael doesn't seem to take off until the end, which is good for a series, but leaves me wanting more with this individual book.
July 11, 2012
I loved this book! I fell in love with Michael and Willow's story right from the beginning! I hope this is book one of a nice long series.
It was a beautifully written YA story of first love and growing up. Willow is new in town and falls in with a few bad apples, namely Tessa. She does some stupid things with her, but didn't we all when we were teenagers. She also meets Michael, a sick boy who captures her eye and soon her heart!
If you have the chance to read this book, do it! You wont be sorry. Great job Julie, can't wait to read more of your books!
It was a beautifully written YA story of first love and growing up. Willow is new in town and falls in with a few bad apples, namely Tessa. She does some stupid things with her, but didn't we all when we were teenagers. She also meets Michael, a sick boy who captures her eye and soon her heart!
If you have the chance to read this book, do it! You wont be sorry. Great job Julie, can't wait to read more of your books!
November 23, 2013
Also posted to Jen in Bookland
While I didn't hate In the Middle of Nowhere I also didn't love it. Willow, even though she is only 15, has to be one of the dumbest, or maybe just ignorant, kids ever. Take for example how she grew up in Massachusetts, which is in north eastern US, moved to Maine, also in the NE (really not that far away) and has never heard of a nor'easter before. I grew up in PA and I heard of a nor'easter before, and PA is a bit south of New England. Unless she lives under a rock and has never seen the news, or heard the radio, or anyone talking about the weather or something like that ever it is like why are you so surprised by this terminology? I mean it is not uncommon...just things like that made me go really? I know she is 15, but shouldn't she know these things? Maybe if she had moved from farther away, somewhere where they don't get big snow storms, sure I can believe you never heard of it before. It just made it seem like she was younger than she is.
Willow also was really judgmental and liked to complain a lot. She has "friends" from back home, and then has some "friends" in her new school as well, but she doesn't seem to actually like any of them. She gets angry at the slightest things, and is ready to drop them. Maybe I am too old, seeing as how I am not a teen, but Willow seemed so immature, even for 15. No one really seemed to care about her, or her them. She just hung out with people to hang out with people, then complain about how horrible they were, but then still try and hang out with them.
Then there is Michael who is hardly even in the story. I thought from the synopsis this would be great, he would be a main character and help Willow with her issues from her dad's death. Instead he is barely there, they don't talk or even see each other much, then suddenly they are in love. It was strange as I wasn't sure why either of them liked the other. Really they didn't even interact much...so it was kind of a non-romance trying to come off as a romance so people would read it. Not very good.
Then the writing. It was written in a way that I didn't care about any of the characters. It was so dry and clinical and didn't invoke much emotion at all. There were parts of the story that didn't make sense time wise also. For example Willow runs into Michael after lunch when she is trying to get to class quickly. He says see you later maybe and she looks for him all day. She comments on how she thought she might see him at lunch...even though she saw him after lunch so that is not really possible. I felt like the author didn't check the timeline of the story very well as this happened on a few occasions.
Then there was all of the teen have to fit in so say nothing or don't refuse to do something so you don't look uncool. That is fine. I am sure it does happen to some people, but then again nothing bad happens from it and there is no real this is bad message. In one instance Willow is driving around with "friends" and the driver is drinking and she comments how she wasn't cool with drinking and driving, but she didn't want to say anything because then she would look like a geek. Nothing happens so it is fine, and there is no real I really shouldn't have done that, drunk driving is bad! message. It was just kind of like eh, whatever. She doesn't like it, but so what. Nothing bad happens so who cares? It just doesn't send a very good message. It bugged me quite a bit. Drunk driving in particular is not cool ever so to have it not really be addressed at all...not cool with me. At the very least have Willow realize she shouldn't never let that happen again as it is dangerous.
Then I was also confused quite a bit with different scenes for the different characters. It starts off and Willow quickly jumps up and locks her door before whoever is coming up the stairs can come into her room. She is so quick about it and it is written in such a way I thought oh, there must be something bad going on in her house. There must be some reason why she is so nervous for someone to come into her room. Instead there is nothing, her mom seems fine as does her brother (who she is mean to for no apparent reason). Then later there is a scene with Brian where he seems like he could easily turn abusive towards Willow, but again there is never any hint of that again, just the one scene. It was just strange as I was waiting for it, then like okay...so why did you put that scene in there? I didn't get it.
Overall Willow was pretty immature and dumb for her age. Michael wasn't really in the story at all, and the writing could use some work (plus some mention that the dangerous things she was doing were in fact dangerous and you shouldn't do).
While I didn't hate In the Middle of Nowhere I also didn't love it. Willow, even though she is only 15, has to be one of the dumbest, or maybe just ignorant, kids ever. Take for example how she grew up in Massachusetts, which is in north eastern US, moved to Maine, also in the NE (really not that far away) and has never heard of a nor'easter before. I grew up in PA and I heard of a nor'easter before, and PA is a bit south of New England. Unless she lives under a rock and has never seen the news, or heard the radio, or anyone talking about the weather or something like that ever it is like why are you so surprised by this terminology? I mean it is not uncommon...just things like that made me go really? I know she is 15, but shouldn't she know these things? Maybe if she had moved from farther away, somewhere where they don't get big snow storms, sure I can believe you never heard of it before. It just made it seem like she was younger than she is.
Willow also was really judgmental and liked to complain a lot. She has "friends" from back home, and then has some "friends" in her new school as well, but she doesn't seem to actually like any of them. She gets angry at the slightest things, and is ready to drop them. Maybe I am too old, seeing as how I am not a teen, but Willow seemed so immature, even for 15. No one really seemed to care about her, or her them. She just hung out with people to hang out with people, then complain about how horrible they were, but then still try and hang out with them.
Then there is Michael who is hardly even in the story. I thought from the synopsis this would be great, he would be a main character and help Willow with her issues from her dad's death. Instead he is barely there, they don't talk or even see each other much, then suddenly they are in love. It was strange as I wasn't sure why either of them liked the other. Really they didn't even interact much...so it was kind of a non-romance trying to come off as a romance so people would read it. Not very good.
Then the writing. It was written in a way that I didn't care about any of the characters. It was so dry and clinical and didn't invoke much emotion at all. There were parts of the story that didn't make sense time wise also. For example Willow runs into Michael after lunch when she is trying to get to class quickly. He says see you later maybe and she looks for him all day. She comments on how she thought she might see him at lunch...even though she saw him after lunch so that is not really possible. I felt like the author didn't check the timeline of the story very well as this happened on a few occasions.
Then there was all of the teen have to fit in so say nothing or don't refuse to do something so you don't look uncool. That is fine. I am sure it does happen to some people, but then again nothing bad happens from it and there is no real this is bad message. In one instance Willow is driving around with "friends" and the driver is drinking and she comments how she wasn't cool with drinking and driving, but she didn't want to say anything because then she would look like a geek. Nothing happens so it is fine, and there is no real I really shouldn't have done that, drunk driving is bad! message. It was just kind of like eh, whatever. She doesn't like it, but so what. Nothing bad happens so who cares? It just doesn't send a very good message. It bugged me quite a bit. Drunk driving in particular is not cool ever so to have it not really be addressed at all...not cool with me. At the very least have Willow realize she shouldn't never let that happen again as it is dangerous.
Then I was also confused quite a bit with different scenes for the different characters. It starts off and Willow quickly jumps up and locks her door before whoever is coming up the stairs can come into her room. She is so quick about it and it is written in such a way I thought oh, there must be something bad going on in her house. There must be some reason why she is so nervous for someone to come into her room. Instead there is nothing, her mom seems fine as does her brother (who she is mean to for no apparent reason). Then later there is a scene with Brian where he seems like he could easily turn abusive towards Willow, but again there is never any hint of that again, just the one scene. It was just strange as I was waiting for it, then like okay...so why did you put that scene in there? I didn't get it.
Overall Willow was pretty immature and dumb for her age. Michael wasn't really in the story at all, and the writing could use some work (plus some mention that the dangerous things she was doing were in fact dangerous and you shouldn't do).
July 16, 2012
A touching young adult tale containing loss, alienation and first love. I enjoyed reading this novel as it contained many of the feelings and experiences common in the lives of teenagers.
Willow has had to move away to a remote island off Portland with her mother and younger brother because they can no longer afford to keep their home. Willow goes through her school life relatively unnoticed until one day a boy throws a paper airplane at her in class. This boy is Micheal and Willow finds herself becoming ever more intrigued by him and how he seems to miss school for weeks or months on end. Add to this a new boyfriend of her mother's whom Willow is not quite sure about and the pretty girl at school befriending her, and you have the usual tribulations experienced in young adulthood.
I liked Willow as the narrator as she was very believable as a teenager who keeps things from her parent and tries to figure out her feelings towards Michael. The only thing I would have liked for this story would be to see more interaction between Michael and Willow, as he is absent for most of it. However, I can understand why the author made him so absent as we discover the real cause of why he's always going into fits of coughing and missing so much school. I have to admit that I shed a few tears towards the end and was afraid that the ending would be terribly sad but then the author turned it around and surprised me. I liked how it ended because it gave me hope for the future of the characters. I can't fault the writing at all as it was superb and Knudsen portrayed the mindset of her young protagonist perfectly. I also liked the sense of separation from the world and loneliness we feel with her description of the island, especially when Willow's going towards it on the ferry one day and it is completely covered in snow.
In all, I would recommend this to fans of books by the likes of Nicholas Sparks or books that deal with real life issues. It's an emotional read, but a good one.
Willow has had to move away to a remote island off Portland with her mother and younger brother because they can no longer afford to keep their home. Willow goes through her school life relatively unnoticed until one day a boy throws a paper airplane at her in class. This boy is Micheal and Willow finds herself becoming ever more intrigued by him and how he seems to miss school for weeks or months on end. Add to this a new boyfriend of her mother's whom Willow is not quite sure about and the pretty girl at school befriending her, and you have the usual tribulations experienced in young adulthood.
I liked Willow as the narrator as she was very believable as a teenager who keeps things from her parent and tries to figure out her feelings towards Michael. The only thing I would have liked for this story would be to see more interaction between Michael and Willow, as he is absent for most of it. However, I can understand why the author made him so absent as we discover the real cause of why he's always going into fits of coughing and missing so much school. I have to admit that I shed a few tears towards the end and was afraid that the ending would be terribly sad but then the author turned it around and surprised me. I liked how it ended because it gave me hope for the future of the characters. I can't fault the writing at all as it was superb and Knudsen portrayed the mindset of her young protagonist perfectly. I also liked the sense of separation from the world and loneliness we feel with her description of the island, especially when Willow's going towards it on the ferry one day and it is completely covered in snow.
In all, I would recommend this to fans of books by the likes of Nicholas Sparks or books that deal with real life issues. It's an emotional read, but a good one.
July 14, 2012
I received this book through We Love YA Books ARR.
First off I completely adored this story! It was one of those books that you could just curl up on a lazy summer afternoon and read the day away without even realizing it! I also loved the cover and the title! The pier heading out to sea really seemed to reflect the book or at lease I think so. At first I was a little nervous because the first part of the book contained a lot of scenes leading up to the real conflict but the author did a very good job of including Michael in at the most perfect moments in Willow's life. This book is definitely for people (probably mostly teenage girls) who like fun summer reads like Sarah Dessen novels or the like. I found that it was very easy to relate to Willow's character and I thought Tessa's character balanced out the book nicely. Brian's whole back story towards the end was a little rushed but overall summed up nicely. There was one quote by Michael that I particularly liked, “We are all dying, aren’t we, Willow, from the very moment we are born?” Overall this book was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone!
First off I completely adored this story! It was one of those books that you could just curl up on a lazy summer afternoon and read the day away without even realizing it! I also loved the cover and the title! The pier heading out to sea really seemed to reflect the book or at lease I think so. At first I was a little nervous because the first part of the book contained a lot of scenes leading up to the real conflict but the author did a very good job of including Michael in at the most perfect moments in Willow's life. This book is definitely for people (probably mostly teenage girls) who like fun summer reads like Sarah Dessen novels or the like. I found that it was very easy to relate to Willow's character and I thought Tessa's character balanced out the book nicely. Brian's whole back story towards the end was a little rushed but overall summed up nicely. There was one quote by Michael that I particularly liked, “We are all dying, aren’t we, Willow, from the very moment we are born?” Overall this book was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone!
October 16, 2012
This is a coming of age novel. The main character, Willow, feels alone and out of place on a tiny island her family has moved to. I could really feel for Willow and how she felt out of place in a new town without her old friends. The author did a good job of describing how she felt moving away from the only place she ever knew. When she meets Michael, it is very brief. When they later began to talk and develop a relationship, I felt that there was no real basis for the depth of emotions they felt when they barely knew each other. The author really missed the boat when it came to developing their relationship and Michael as a character. To me, Michael was secondary in Willow's story and Willow trying to fit in, was the real basis of the novel. The author did a great job of showing how important choosing your friends can be and how you can end up in bad situations when you make poor choices. Two and a half stars, it was just okay for me.
I received this book for free and this is my honest review.
I received this book for free and this is my honest review.
November 27, 2020
The writing was so poor that as I was reading I was constantly fixing sentences in my head to make them flow better.
Willow was an obnoxious, selfish character and everyone else was completely undeveloped, including her relationships with them. I am okay with unlikable characters (Hello, Jessica Darling) but Willow was just too much awful.
There was a major incident at a party that was fluffed over, but really should have been more greatly explored.
Willow was an obnoxious, selfish character and everyone else was completely undeveloped, including her relationships with them. I am okay with unlikable characters (Hello, Jessica Darling) but Willow was just too much awful.
There was a major incident at a party that was fluffed over, but really should have been more greatly explored.
June 4, 2020
It just really wasn't a good book. I know it is for YA readers but the characters were so undeveloped and the flow just wasn't there. The writing style wasn't great either. As much as I'd like to know where the story goes, it's not enough to push myself through it
July 15, 2012
A hands-down, fun story where you feel the things you don't want to feel come alive with only a few things to hold onto, this was a good story :)
June 3, 2021
It was okay...
Read
November 19, 2013The sequel to IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE is published and is called SOMEWHERE AT LAST.
August 1, 2012
Right from the beginning, I loved the front cover and design taken up throughout the book (chapter design as well since I got this on kindle). The picture and the title practically yelled how the story went.
It took me a while to read this book, mostly because I got it as a review giveaway, along with a bunch of other books. I had too many books to read and review, since they were all so tempting. Even though I told myself getting so many was stupid, I just couldn't help myself, like a child standing in front of a candy shop, I just had to walk in. Having to balance that with my compulsion to internet surf, read manga, talk to people and keep other commitments (like watching my beloved Teen Wolf) I had to hurry to finish this book the day before the deadline. Well, time to get on with it...
I can't classify this novel as Contemporary, though it says so on my blog label, but it felt different from me, a striking difference to other books. Maybe I'm not used to the genre yet, but this book felt like a fresh yet explainable idea.
Continuing on, I will be discussing this novel in four stages (since right now I'm obsesed with order):
Plot
Character
Romance
Writing
Plot
The base storyline was both creative and entertaining. I loved how the author threw in her ideas to carve a story like this. However, (I'm not sure whether this is a good or bad thing) the plot was circular around Willow, and most of the few sub-plots I noticed in the first half of the story had a strong connection to Willow.
Willow's breakdown over her mom's growing life was an interesting and emotional twist that added to the attractiveness of the story. I was sympathetic to her all the way through that ordeal, but did wish Michael had gotten more involved around this part of the novel.
Unfortunately, big events weren't always thoroughly stressed. Some things were easily forgotten because the author did not repeat them the way they could have been. (I can't give examples for fear of giving away massive plot twists but please send me a message if you want to know what I mean).
Characters
The author's ideas for characters were interesting and worth paying attention to. However, the characters were not always sent across properly. The author described who they were and didn't let us see what they did. Unfortunately, the author took prioritising her characters to an extreme. For example, compared to other characters around Willow's age, Tessa and Jacques were highly developed. This proved to show inconsistencies in the strength of her characters.
There was also the problem of how a teenage essence was not fully carried across (though this book was involved in a lot of growing up). Her age seemed slightly unstable and unsure, though I could tell she was a teenager.
As I started reading the book, I began to feel a forbidden emotion for Tessa. I get that as the novel begins she's supposed to be the meanie, but she was the kind of character that made me smile. (Sorry, can't help it). During the first few chapters where she played a part, Willow, our main character, began to annoy me when it came to Tessa. She seemed kind of judgemental and took Tessa's words the wrong way. Saying "That sucks." after someone tells you about their tragic lifestyle is not offensive. I mean, what exactly is she supposed to say? But of course, around the end, I felt a lot of pity for her. It was sad to watch how she tried to function without basic family needs.
There were times when Willow’s character came across as whining and ungrateful. The best example was her birthday ordeal. At first, when everyone cancelled on her, it was completely understandable for her to be pissed and upset, but when she began to claim that it ‘ruined’ her birthday, it became annoying and less relateable. This could have been solved if she got over it the next day, but she was still complaining, even after her brother and mother came home with 16helium balloons and a chocolate cake. If I got that for my birthday, I’d be screaming with happiness, yet she still complained about being all alone. For goodness sake, you are not alone! She has a right to be u[pset over her situation, but overreacting makes you annoying and unrelatable.
There were also other times when she came across as annoying. She did not stick up for her friends as she should have, and she tended to treat them as if she didn't really care about what they were saying. With Tessa for instance, at times she treated Tessa really badly without even acknowledging it. Other times, she'd treat her supposed 'best friends for life' from her old neighbourhood, as if their problems were minuscule compared to her own. (Such as when they were having an argument over a guy and Becca felt as if she were caught in the middle). However, some strategically placed sarcastic character-oriented sentences made her quirky and interesting.
Continuing on with the however, at times Willow proved to have spunk. Like when Brian gave her that little threat, what she called being 'indignant' was what I called sticking up for herself. I had to root for her then, I would be severely disappointed in myself if I didn't, though I did wish Willow spoke to her mom as soon as she found things out.
Then there’s her family. Her totally piss-taking family. For a second, I had to wonder if her mom was blind not see the way her daughter felt about Brian. It was pretty obvious she didn’t want him around, yet she still chose to invite him to her daughter’s birthday. Honestly, that was just cruel. (I admit this bit is more a rant than a flaw in the novel). Though, I guess I can't be angry at her considering the way things turned out in that particular chapter.
Brian... I never trusted Brian, and I kept wishing Willow would do something about him as she made discoveries about who he really was. His personality though was perfectly placed and fit into the story easily. There was something completely natural (but jarring nonetheless) about how the author fit him in.
Down to her friends. Near the middle of the book, I discovered that I totally hated but understood Erica and Taylor's judgemental behaviour towards Tessa. It showed a slice of how people generally act when it comes to judging people they do not know.
Honestly, getting off point, I liked Jacques and wished he wasn't stoned all the time. He could have made a great male lead in another book with his cheerful and slightly goofy personality.
Okay, problem time. There were times when the author seemed to be so busy making the novel dramatic that she forgot to keep the characters in shape. Michael's mom for instance. A lot of the things she did were said, not done, and her emotions weren't properly expanded on. Really important moments weren't given out properly. (I'll expand on this later).
Romance
I have to admit, Michael was pretty darn awesome. Though he was strange (not that I'm complaining) and there were chunks of the novel where he was virtually none existent I loved him (though unfortunately, he did dim my care for Willow and made her less likable with is ever encompassing awesomeness). I found even myself getting butterflies from some of the things he said. Like once, when he said:
"I know, but I still wanted to see you." Michael brushed a wisp of hair from my forehead and let is fingers linger. "I needed to see you," he leaned in closer, "to touch you."
I think my heart stopped at that bit. Why do I find that so hot?
Going on, when I found out about his 'situaton,' it actually made me sad. Half of me wishes the author hadn't added that detail, while the other realises that's how the world works, and it's almost endearing to give it to one of the most important characters.
There was also the way the author wrote about Michael, which made it almost feel like I was Willow, having a crush on him, liking him but not sure it I could trust him (maybe that's just me being paranoid), yet grieving over every chance we missed to be together. I can say at least one thing: Julie Ann Knudsen can definitely write romance.
However, as the novel went along, the way the author ignored us during Michael and Willow's crucial bonding time was both understandable and frustrating. At times it felt like the author had laid a rock foundation but had left large pits and attempted to cover them with blocks of Styrofoam. It didn't provide enough safety when it came to readers loving her book. This goes back to the situation of saying and not doing.
Writing
This book was one of those novels where the author failed at using the first person to describe her main character's appearance without making her less likable. There are also moments when things were laid down a bit thick to the reader, with too much procrastination.
There was also the case of the author treating first person like third person. If Willow was in such a daze she didn't hear her friend speak, then it shouldn't be written before she pays attention. Her friend could repeat the question after Willow says, "What?" or something like that.
I liked how the author wielded the problem of her mother changing. However, a lot of the tragedies were not written in a classic emotional style. The act and the story were there but at times the emotion was M.I.A.
This book seemed like it was meant to teach the readers a lesson. However, it seemed to give a more vantage point view due to the writing style. The main character wasn't as relatable as other main character's in this genre usually are. However this style was encouraging as the reader sat by and watched with a cinematic view, (now that I think about it, this book was a lot like a romantic movie, Julie Ann should try her hand at playwrighting) judging her actions. So, this book was unique when it came to how it spoke to the reader. This style was risky and kind of subjective to how the reader saw it, especially during peer pressure involved situations. Essentially, I hated some things, but they were par to the story so I couldn't really complain.
Though the 'cinematic view' the author gave us was interesting, it came with it's flaws. The author had a tendency to write the story play by play with a hint of a third person style thrown in for like. I'd like to continue reading her works in first person, but several flaws came with it, such as once, she said: "My big blue eyes got bigger." That can be used, but using it twice reaches the borderline of dangerous writing.
I admit, around the end I got scared (black dress, black sandals, what was I supposed to think?) but the novel ended up finishing beautifully, without ripping my heart out. It was the best ending the book could have had, and it gave even me butterflies
All in all, I was condescending when I started this book, but ended up discovering something I didn't expect as it felt like, I went on the journey with Willow, discovering what she'd always been missing and realising that I absolutely adore this book.
Quirky bits
This book thought me something about dry cleaning
Oh, by the way, God can't die (Something Willow said)
Willow and Julie have the same middle name!
Thank you for reading :)
For more reviews, check outmy blog: heartbeatpom.blogspot.co.uk
It took me a while to read this book, mostly because I got it as a review giveaway, along with a bunch of other books. I had too many books to read and review, since they were all so tempting. Even though I told myself getting so many was stupid, I just couldn't help myself, like a child standing in front of a candy shop, I just had to walk in. Having to balance that with my compulsion to internet surf, read manga, talk to people and keep other commitments (like watching my beloved Teen Wolf) I had to hurry to finish this book the day before the deadline. Well, time to get on with it...
I can't classify this novel as Contemporary, though it says so on my blog label, but it felt different from me, a striking difference to other books. Maybe I'm not used to the genre yet, but this book felt like a fresh yet explainable idea.
Continuing on, I will be discussing this novel in four stages (since right now I'm obsesed with order):
Plot
Character
Romance
Writing
Plot
The base storyline was both creative and entertaining. I loved how the author threw in her ideas to carve a story like this. However, (I'm not sure whether this is a good or bad thing) the plot was circular around Willow, and most of the few sub-plots I noticed in the first half of the story had a strong connection to Willow.
Willow's breakdown over her mom's growing life was an interesting and emotional twist that added to the attractiveness of the story. I was sympathetic to her all the way through that ordeal, but did wish Michael had gotten more involved around this part of the novel.
Unfortunately, big events weren't always thoroughly stressed. Some things were easily forgotten because the author did not repeat them the way they could have been. (I can't give examples for fear of giving away massive plot twists but please send me a message if you want to know what I mean).
Characters
The author's ideas for characters were interesting and worth paying attention to. However, the characters were not always sent across properly. The author described who they were and didn't let us see what they did. Unfortunately, the author took prioritising her characters to an extreme. For example, compared to other characters around Willow's age, Tessa and Jacques were highly developed. This proved to show inconsistencies in the strength of her characters.
There was also the problem of how a teenage essence was not fully carried across (though this book was involved in a lot of growing up). Her age seemed slightly unstable and unsure, though I could tell she was a teenager.
As I started reading the book, I began to feel a forbidden emotion for Tessa. I get that as the novel begins she's supposed to be the meanie, but she was the kind of character that made me smile. (Sorry, can't help it). During the first few chapters where she played a part, Willow, our main character, began to annoy me when it came to Tessa. She seemed kind of judgemental and took Tessa's words the wrong way. Saying "That sucks." after someone tells you about their tragic lifestyle is not offensive. I mean, what exactly is she supposed to say? But of course, around the end, I felt a lot of pity for her. It was sad to watch how she tried to function without basic family needs.
There were times when Willow’s character came across as whining and ungrateful. The best example was her birthday ordeal. At first, when everyone cancelled on her, it was completely understandable for her to be pissed and upset, but when she began to claim that it ‘ruined’ her birthday, it became annoying and less relateable. This could have been solved if she got over it the next day, but she was still complaining, even after her brother and mother came home with 16helium balloons and a chocolate cake. If I got that for my birthday, I’d be screaming with happiness, yet she still complained about being all alone. For goodness sake, you are not alone! She has a right to be u[pset over her situation, but overreacting makes you annoying and unrelatable.
There were also other times when she came across as annoying. She did not stick up for her friends as she should have, and she tended to treat them as if she didn't really care about what they were saying. With Tessa for instance, at times she treated Tessa really badly without even acknowledging it. Other times, she'd treat her supposed 'best friends for life' from her old neighbourhood, as if their problems were minuscule compared to her own. (Such as when they were having an argument over a guy and Becca felt as if she were caught in the middle). However, some strategically placed sarcastic character-oriented sentences made her quirky and interesting.
Continuing on with the however, at times Willow proved to have spunk. Like when Brian gave her that little threat, what she called being 'indignant' was what I called sticking up for herself. I had to root for her then, I would be severely disappointed in myself if I didn't, though I did wish Willow spoke to her mom as soon as she found things out.
Then there’s her family. Her totally piss-taking family. For a second, I had to wonder if her mom was blind not see the way her daughter felt about Brian. It was pretty obvious she didn’t want him around, yet she still chose to invite him to her daughter’s birthday. Honestly, that was just cruel. (I admit this bit is more a rant than a flaw in the novel). Though, I guess I can't be angry at her considering the way things turned out in that particular chapter.
Brian... I never trusted Brian, and I kept wishing Willow would do something about him as she made discoveries about who he really was. His personality though was perfectly placed and fit into the story easily. There was something completely natural (but jarring nonetheless) about how the author fit him in.
Down to her friends. Near the middle of the book, I discovered that I totally hated but understood Erica and Taylor's judgemental behaviour towards Tessa. It showed a slice of how people generally act when it comes to judging people they do not know.
Honestly, getting off point, I liked Jacques and wished he wasn't stoned all the time. He could have made a great male lead in another book with his cheerful and slightly goofy personality.
Okay, problem time. There were times when the author seemed to be so busy making the novel dramatic that she forgot to keep the characters in shape. Michael's mom for instance. A lot of the things she did were said, not done, and her emotions weren't properly expanded on. Really important moments weren't given out properly. (I'll expand on this later).
Romance
I have to admit, Michael was pretty darn awesome. Though he was strange (not that I'm complaining) and there were chunks of the novel where he was virtually none existent I loved him (though unfortunately, he did dim my care for Willow and made her less likable with is ever encompassing awesomeness). I found even myself getting butterflies from some of the things he said. Like once, when he said:
"I know, but I still wanted to see you." Michael brushed a wisp of hair from my forehead and let is fingers linger. "I needed to see you," he leaned in closer, "to touch you."
I think my heart stopped at that bit. Why do I find that so hot?
Going on, when I found out about his 'situaton,' it actually made me sad. Half of me wishes the author hadn't added that detail, while the other realises that's how the world works, and it's almost endearing to give it to one of the most important characters.
There was also the way the author wrote about Michael, which made it almost feel like I was Willow, having a crush on him, liking him but not sure it I could trust him (maybe that's just me being paranoid), yet grieving over every chance we missed to be together. I can say at least one thing: Julie Ann Knudsen can definitely write romance.
However, as the novel went along, the way the author ignored us during Michael and Willow's crucial bonding time was both understandable and frustrating. At times it felt like the author had laid a rock foundation but had left large pits and attempted to cover them with blocks of Styrofoam. It didn't provide enough safety when it came to readers loving her book. This goes back to the situation of saying and not doing.
Writing
This book was one of those novels where the author failed at using the first person to describe her main character's appearance without making her less likable. There are also moments when things were laid down a bit thick to the reader, with too much procrastination.
There was also the case of the author treating first person like third person. If Willow was in such a daze she didn't hear her friend speak, then it shouldn't be written before she pays attention. Her friend could repeat the question after Willow says, "What?" or something like that.
I liked how the author wielded the problem of her mother changing. However, a lot of the tragedies were not written in a classic emotional style. The act and the story were there but at times the emotion was M.I.A.
This book seemed like it was meant to teach the readers a lesson. However, it seemed to give a more vantage point view due to the writing style. The main character wasn't as relatable as other main character's in this genre usually are. However this style was encouraging as the reader sat by and watched with a cinematic view, (now that I think about it, this book was a lot like a romantic movie, Julie Ann should try her hand at playwrighting) judging her actions. So, this book was unique when it came to how it spoke to the reader. This style was risky and kind of subjective to how the reader saw it, especially during peer pressure involved situations. Essentially, I hated some things, but they were par to the story so I couldn't really complain.
Though the 'cinematic view' the author gave us was interesting, it came with it's flaws. The author had a tendency to write the story play by play with a hint of a third person style thrown in for like. I'd like to continue reading her works in first person, but several flaws came with it, such as once, she said: "My big blue eyes got bigger." That can be used, but using it twice reaches the borderline of dangerous writing.
I admit, around the end I got scared (black dress, black sandals, what was I supposed to think?) but the novel ended up finishing beautifully, without ripping my heart out. It was the best ending the book could have had, and it gave even me butterflies
All in all, I was condescending when I started this book, but ended up discovering something I didn't expect as it felt like, I went on the journey with Willow, discovering what she'd always been missing and realising that I absolutely adore this book.
Quirky bits
This book thought me something about dry cleaning
Oh, by the way, God can't die (Something Willow said)
Willow and Julie have the same middle name!
Thank you for reading :)
For more reviews, check outmy blog: heartbeatpom.blogspot.co.uk
August 23, 2012
First, I would like to thank the author, Julie Ann Knudsen for giving me a copy of this book to review.
In the Middle of Nowhere is a story about learning to overcome lose, it’s a story about learning to open up and letting go.
I was really looking forward to reading this book. When I first found it I was excited, it seemed really interesting, and then I was lucky enough to get a copy of it from the author to review. I was so happy! I was looking forward to losing myself in Willow’s life story and how hers and Michael’s love started. But things didn’t go quite as planned.
Willow. Willow Flynn is the new girl in town, or maybe the new girl in the… island. Whatever. After losing her father in a tragic accident at a very young age, and in a way losing her mother at that moment too, Willow is somewhat disenchanted with life. She’s closed off to the best things life has to offer. She’s the new girl; she has no friends, a little brother that only cares about video games and a completely absent mother.
On one of her first days at her new school she notices a boy staring at her. She tries to ignore him, she looks away, embarrassed. But before the period is over that same boy sends her a cryptic message:
And then he’s gone. He doesn’t show for school for weeks, and against her better judgment, Willow starts wondering about Michael, the mysterious boy that disappeared. She asks a few people about him but no one seems to care about him, or the fact that he might be seriously ill. What’s left to do? Investigate online.
She finds him through one of her social networks, and having previously refused his friendship invitation she feels bad. But her curiosity (and maybe a little bit of worry) gets the better of her and she sends him a request back.
They chat online a few times, and then through the phone. But after one evening –when Michael shows up at her house uninvited (that doesn’t end particularly well) –he disappears again. And she seems to forget all about him.
Willow makes a lot of mistakes through the book, and while that might be okay, considering she’s a teenager and all, I still did not appreciate her giving in to her “friends” pressure. Doing drugs and drinking just because she didn’t want to seem naïve and inexperienced, just didn’t sit well with me. If anything, she passed as even more naïve by doing so.
Maybe you can say that I didn’t like Willow very much. I didn’t like that she kept giving in, I didn’t like that she forgot about Michael so easily, I didn’t like that she seemed pretty shallow sometimes. Of course she was strong, and maybe by doing reckless things she was just trying to be a teenager again, considering that her mother had her as a personal babysitter all the time. Yet, I couldn’t really connect with her character. I rarely felt anything for her.
Michael is another story.
Michael Cooper is the reason I kept reading this book. He’s mysterious, maybe a little creepy sometimes, but he’s sweet and pretty straight forward. He’s not afraid to speak his mind and let Willow know how he feels, and I loved that about him. Well, most of the time it’s the poet in him speaking and it can get a bit cheesy, just a warning to those that can’t stand cheesy I guess (he is worth it, though). But sadly we learn little to nothing about Michael in this book, nothing much other than that he’s sick and a little bit about his family. I wish the author had given us more insight into his life. I wish the author had given us more Michael overall.
And then we have the secondary characters. We have Erica and Taylor, Willow’s new friends, who I despised. Wait, they were okay but their constant worry about appearances got in my nerves. Then there’s Tessa. Tessa wasn’t much of a friend of Willow’s, but they did spend a lot of time together, mostly doing things they shouldn’t. It was clear that all Tessa wanted was to get her parents’ attention, she needed someone to rely on and she found that in Willow. I liked her, she didn’t hide who she was for appearance’s sake.
Last but not least is Willow’s mother. I didn’t like this woman one bit, in fact I was pretty close to hating her. She was neglecting her kids, she was drowning in sorrow instead of trying to let go of her husband and take care of her children. And she does, she moves on but she does so because she found someone else, and while that’s okay, she has a right to find love again, it’s not okay to pay more attention to your new boyfriend instead of your kids? Hell no!
What angered me the most was that she asked Willow to babysit all the time, but then she would say things like: “You can go out on Saturday, Willow, I can babysit James for you.” And I would stare at the page and think: No, you can’t fucking babysit James because you are his fucking mother! You know what I mean? Babysit! *SNORT* Woman, it’s your job to take care of your kid, no his older sister’s!
That’s probably a small thing that most people can overlook, but I couldn’t. Her mother was getting on my nerves so much I couldn’t stand to see her. Sure, she redeemed herself at the end, but it was a little too late for me.
Oh, there was also her mother’s boyfriend. He wasn’t much on the picture, but the few times he talked to Willow he seemed to be threatening her. The girl lost her father! She was not going to react well to a stranger trying to fill that role.
But all in all In the Middle of Nowhere was an easy read. When I started reading it went smoothly, before I knew it I was already half way through. Yet I couldn’t help but feel like there was something missing (hence the rating). I don’t want to be cliché, but it was missing a spark. Something that props you forward and makes you want to know more.
Michael was that spark for me, but he was so rarely in the book. In fact he was almost not there at all. I missed him, and I found myself reading only to see if he would show up.
The end was probably what I loved the most. I was actually tearing up. Michael was breaking my heart. It was one of the only moments that I felt a connection with the characters. It was heartbreaking and sweet at the same time.
In the Middle of Nowhere is probably a book for younger readers, readers that can overlook things I couldn’t (like Willow’s mother) and truly enjoy the story, for it really is sweet and sometimes endearing.
I hear that there might be a sequel to come, so I’m looking forward to reading it. It is definitely worth a try, since I’m excited to see how the relationship between Willow and Michael will turn out.
Until then!
Au revoir.
In the Middle of Nowhere is a story about learning to overcome lose, it’s a story about learning to open up and letting go.
I was really looking forward to reading this book. When I first found it I was excited, it seemed really interesting, and then I was lucky enough to get a copy of it from the author to review. I was so happy! I was looking forward to losing myself in Willow’s life story and how hers and Michael’s love started. But things didn’t go quite as planned.
Willow. Willow Flynn is the new girl in town, or maybe the new girl in the… island. Whatever. After losing her father in a tragic accident at a very young age, and in a way losing her mother at that moment too, Willow is somewhat disenchanted with life. She’s closed off to the best things life has to offer. She’s the new girl; she has no friends, a little brother that only cares about video games and a completely absent mother.
On one of her first days at her new school she notices a boy staring at her. She tries to ignore him, she looks away, embarrassed. But before the period is over that same boy sends her a cryptic message:
"Sweet dream, my dear
Sweet dreams, you dare?
Be done with dreams
And face your fear."
And then he’s gone. He doesn’t show for school for weeks, and against her better judgment, Willow starts wondering about Michael, the mysterious boy that disappeared. She asks a few people about him but no one seems to care about him, or the fact that he might be seriously ill. What’s left to do? Investigate online.
She finds him through one of her social networks, and having previously refused his friendship invitation she feels bad. But her curiosity (and maybe a little bit of worry) gets the better of her and she sends him a request back.
They chat online a few times, and then through the phone. But after one evening –when Michael shows up at her house uninvited (that doesn’t end particularly well) –he disappears again. And she seems to forget all about him.
Willow makes a lot of mistakes through the book, and while that might be okay, considering she’s a teenager and all, I still did not appreciate her giving in to her “friends” pressure. Doing drugs and drinking just because she didn’t want to seem naïve and inexperienced, just didn’t sit well with me. If anything, she passed as even more naïve by doing so.
Maybe you can say that I didn’t like Willow very much. I didn’t like that she kept giving in, I didn’t like that she forgot about Michael so easily, I didn’t like that she seemed pretty shallow sometimes. Of course she was strong, and maybe by doing reckless things she was just trying to be a teenager again, considering that her mother had her as a personal babysitter all the time. Yet, I couldn’t really connect with her character. I rarely felt anything for her.
Michael is another story.
Michael Cooper is the reason I kept reading this book. He’s mysterious, maybe a little creepy sometimes, but he’s sweet and pretty straight forward. He’s not afraid to speak his mind and let Willow know how he feels, and I loved that about him. Well, most of the time it’s the poet in him speaking and it can get a bit cheesy, just a warning to those that can’t stand cheesy I guess (he is worth it, though). But sadly we learn little to nothing about Michael in this book, nothing much other than that he’s sick and a little bit about his family. I wish the author had given us more insight into his life. I wish the author had given us more Michael overall.
And then we have the secondary characters. We have Erica and Taylor, Willow’s new friends, who I despised. Wait, they were okay but their constant worry about appearances got in my nerves. Then there’s Tessa. Tessa wasn’t much of a friend of Willow’s, but they did spend a lot of time together, mostly doing things they shouldn’t. It was clear that all Tessa wanted was to get her parents’ attention, she needed someone to rely on and she found that in Willow. I liked her, she didn’t hide who she was for appearance’s sake.
Last but not least is Willow’s mother. I didn’t like this woman one bit, in fact I was pretty close to hating her. She was neglecting her kids, she was drowning in sorrow instead of trying to let go of her husband and take care of her children. And she does, she moves on but she does so because she found someone else, and while that’s okay, she has a right to find love again, it’s not okay to pay more attention to your new boyfriend instead of your kids? Hell no!
What angered me the most was that she asked Willow to babysit all the time, but then she would say things like: “You can go out on Saturday, Willow, I can babysit James for you.” And I would stare at the page and think: No, you can’t fucking babysit James because you are his fucking mother! You know what I mean? Babysit! *SNORT* Woman, it’s your job to take care of your kid, no his older sister’s!
That’s probably a small thing that most people can overlook, but I couldn’t. Her mother was getting on my nerves so much I couldn’t stand to see her. Sure, she redeemed herself at the end, but it was a little too late for me.
Oh, there was also her mother’s boyfriend. He wasn’t much on the picture, but the few times he talked to Willow he seemed to be threatening her. The girl lost her father! She was not going to react well to a stranger trying to fill that role.
But all in all In the Middle of Nowhere was an easy read. When I started reading it went smoothly, before I knew it I was already half way through. Yet I couldn’t help but feel like there was something missing (hence the rating). I don’t want to be cliché, but it was missing a spark. Something that props you forward and makes you want to know more.
Michael was that spark for me, but he was so rarely in the book. In fact he was almost not there at all. I missed him, and I found myself reading only to see if he would show up.
The end was probably what I loved the most. I was actually tearing up. Michael was breaking my heart. It was one of the only moments that I felt a connection with the characters. It was heartbreaking and sweet at the same time.
In the Middle of Nowhere is probably a book for younger readers, readers that can overlook things I couldn’t (like Willow’s mother) and truly enjoy the story, for it really is sweet and sometimes endearing.
I hear that there might be a sequel to come, so I’m looking forward to reading it. It is definitely worth a try, since I’m excited to see how the relationship between Willow and Michael will turn out.
Until then!
Au revoir.
May 14, 2020
Willow is NOT happy when her mother uproots the family to move to a tiny island off the coast of Portland, ME. Life hasn't been easy since her father's death five years earlier, and now being stranded on an unknown island has further complicated her life. When she meets an unusual boy in home room through a poem he passes her, she doesn't know what to think, especially when he doesn't come to school again. She tries to make friends, but that's hindered by her mother's new love interest, having to babysit her younger brother, and being made into a pet by the rich, wild, somewhat neglected bad girl of school, Tessa Anderson. When Willow lands in trouble after some alcohol/drug induces antics by Tessa and some of the football team members, she finally starts to appreciate Michael, who has cystic fibrosis, and is truly quite ill. Her priorities finally straighten out during one of Michael's medical crises and the book ends on a positive note. Realistic and engaging.
December 30, 2024
I found this book in my Kindle app, likely downloaded years ago and forgotten. I suspect it was free to download, and I can see why.
Willow's behavior frustrated me repeatedly. For most of the book, she seemed to expect people to reach out to her, yet made no effort to reach out herself. Maybe that's just how the mind of a 15-16 year old works, but it was frustrating to read. She didn't follow through with anything, like getting her driving permit or a job or video games she promised her brother. If ADHD was a character, it's Willow. Willow is unable to accept that her mother has a right to date, five years after her father's death. I also found that frustrating. Maybe it's immaturity? I struggle to enjoy books when the main character just isn't very likable. I would have liked to get to know Michael a bit more. He was barely more than his diagnosis.
Willow's behavior frustrated me repeatedly. For most of the book, she seemed to expect people to reach out to her, yet made no effort to reach out herself. Maybe that's just how the mind of a 15-16 year old works, but it was frustrating to read. She didn't follow through with anything, like getting her driving permit or a job or video games she promised her brother. If ADHD was a character, it's Willow. Willow is unable to accept that her mother has a right to date, five years after her father's death. I also found that frustrating. Maybe it's immaturity? I struggle to enjoy books when the main character just isn't very likable. I would have liked to get to know Michael a bit more. He was barely more than his diagnosis.
December 1, 2020
Oh my goodness this was such a great read. I truly felt pulled back to my teenage years testing the waters just as Willow did, I’m pretty sure I was not as level headed as she was though. It did make cringe, silently begging her not to do it, but we have to make the mistake (and sometimes even a few times) to learn from it. The one thing that really got me was how Willow was constantly left to babysit James. That point really sunk in with me and left me feeling like she had to lie or negotiate time for herself to just be a kid. But I was so happy to see her path lead her in the right direction in the end❤️
So excited for what is to come next ❤️❤️
So excited for what is to come next ❤️❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2018
Being Willow
Willow has a hard time adjusting to life on the island, her father gone and mother's new man. A brilliant book, quiet and descriptive, you are on her mind and see the world through her eyes. Good book.
Willow has a hard time adjusting to life on the island, her father gone and mother's new man. A brilliant book, quiet and descriptive, you are on her mind and see the world through her eyes. Good book.
May 15, 2020
Overall a really good story with believable characters. I enjoyed it and really liked the was the author tried to encompass teenage angst and rebellion verses a typical Hollywood perfect version of life.
June 22, 2020
I rate it a 4 because it was really good! There are two other books in the series, but this book could definitely be a stand a line book. Meaning I'm probably only going to read this one and not the others. Willow made so many stupid decisions. It makes me feel like I'm smart for once 😂
June 30, 2020
An unlikeable character
The story itself isn’t so bad but the main character, Willow, was just obnoxious. She was the stereo teen girl and her self-centeredness made the story hard to enjoy. I have it three stars in hopes that the target Audrey would learn how not to behave!
The story itself isn’t so bad but the main character, Willow, was just obnoxious. She was the stereo teen girl and her self-centeredness made the story hard to enjoy. I have it three stars in hopes that the target Audrey would learn how not to behave!
January 1, 2018
This was a good book for me because it has a little bit of romance , and it had a little bit of problems that teens face in reality.
June 22, 2020
Amazing book
July 19, 2020
Enjoyed the just off the coast of Maine island life and coming of age story. A quick pool read after some longer heavier reads. Although some aspects that will make your tear. 3.5
July 20, 2020
Good, interesting story though the ending was not what I expected and a bit of a let down.
September 8, 2020
Great love story
This book is about love and faith and facing fears. Mothers and daughter finding love in the middle of nowherec
This book is about love and faith and facing fears. Mothers and daughter finding love in the middle of nowherec
January 22, 2021
I liked the setting
Mother/daughter relationship did not seem very realistic to me. Too much time hiding in her room. Very nice ending tho
Mother/daughter relationship did not seem very realistic to me. Too much time hiding in her room. Very nice ending tho
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