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Love Is All You Need: Wild Roses; The Nature of Jade
Get a double dose of realistic romance in this collection of two fan favorites from Printz Honor medal winner and National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti.
Love may or may not be all you actually need, but it’s easy to feel that it is when you’re wrapped up in one of these two stories from Deb Caletti.
In Wild Roses , Cassie is in love, but she can’t let her stepfather know. Her mom’s husband is a beloved public figure, but a private nightmare whose manic phases and paranoia are getting worse. Cassie begins to fear for the safety of her boyfriend…and herself.
In The Nature of Jade , Jade struggles with Panic Disorder. Her boyfriend is a calming influence…until she learns that he’s hiding a terrible secret. A secret that will force Jade to decide between what is right—and what feels right.
Love may or may not be all you actually need, but it’s easy to feel that it is when you’re wrapped up in one of these two stories from Deb Caletti.
In Wild Roses , Cassie is in love, but she can’t let her stepfather know. Her mom’s husband is a beloved public figure, but a private nightmare whose manic phases and paranoia are getting worse. Cassie begins to fear for the safety of her boyfriend…and herself.
In The Nature of Jade , Jade struggles with Panic Disorder. Her boyfriend is a calming influence…until she learns that he’s hiding a terrible secret. A secret that will force Jade to decide between what is right—and what feels right.
608 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
38 people are currently reading
1024 people want to read
About the author
Deb Caletti
37 books2,279 followersDeb Caletti is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over twenty books for adults and young adults, including Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Heart in a Body in the World, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and she was a finalist for the PEN USA Award. She lives with her family in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 6, 2013
I only read the second book which is, "The Nature of Jade." After buying the book and bringing it home I discovered that I had already read the first book, which is "Wild Roses," and from what I can remember I didn't like it that much, so I didn't bother reading it again. Maybe one day I will reread to see if my mind changes.
Anyway, "The Nature of Jade" is about a girl, Jade (obviously), who suffers from extreme anxiety and she is afraid of truly living her life because she never knows when an anxiety attack might strike. However, she lives near a zoo and she soon falls in love with visiting the animals, especially the elephants. She is so in love that late at night she likes to watch the elephants on a live stream on her computer, and one night she sees a boy in a red jacket sneaking into sit and watch the elephants. She immediately feels a connection to this boy and she wants to learn more about him. Jade starts volunteering at the zoo where she works directly with the elephants, while she also hopes she will run into the mysterious boy. Her wish finally comes true when she has a chance encounter with this boy, however, he is hiding some dark secrets himself. She starts up a relationship with him, but will his secrets send Jade packing, or will she finally learn how to live her life.
I'm not sure why I continue to read Deb Caletti books. I mean, I don't hate them, but they really do nothing for me. I'm not sure if it's Caletti's writing style that bothers me, but I do know she often has pages that contain no dialogue, and that really bores me.
Like this book, the beginning was so boring and I was just waiting for the relationship to develop, but when it finally did, I didn't feel a connection to it. There wasn't enough detail in it, I wanted more of the love to be shown, but it wasn't, it seemed a bit rushed and I couldn't really make a connection with the characters.
Also, I couldn't stand Jade's mom. She was one of those annoying hovering mothers and I just wanted to slap her some of the times. She just came off as selfish and a little juvenile. The dad was also distant and didn't really have any redeeming qualities in him and it made me feel bad for Jade. The only family member of Jade's that I liked was her brother Oliver, this may be because he loved the book, "The Chronicles of Narnia," and anyone who knows me, knows that I also am obsessed with that book!
However, I did like Sebastian (who is the boy in the red jacket), I liked that he took control over the situation he was in and he did the right thing. As I said earlier, I just wish Jade's relationship with him would have been made more of a focus. I felt like Caletti was just telling us how much Jade loved him instead of showing us, and really letting the reader be immersed in the relationship. That storyline should have been stronger.
I gave this book 3/5 stars because I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. It is one of those books that I am probably going to forget about.
Anyway, "The Nature of Jade" is about a girl, Jade (obviously), who suffers from extreme anxiety and she is afraid of truly living her life because she never knows when an anxiety attack might strike. However, she lives near a zoo and she soon falls in love with visiting the animals, especially the elephants. She is so in love that late at night she likes to watch the elephants on a live stream on her computer, and one night she sees a boy in a red jacket sneaking into sit and watch the elephants. She immediately feels a connection to this boy and she wants to learn more about him. Jade starts volunteering at the zoo where she works directly with the elephants, while she also hopes she will run into the mysterious boy. Her wish finally comes true when she has a chance encounter with this boy, however, he is hiding some dark secrets himself. She starts up a relationship with him, but will his secrets send Jade packing, or will she finally learn how to live her life.
I'm not sure why I continue to read Deb Caletti books. I mean, I don't hate them, but they really do nothing for me. I'm not sure if it's Caletti's writing style that bothers me, but I do know she often has pages that contain no dialogue, and that really bores me.
Like this book, the beginning was so boring and I was just waiting for the relationship to develop, but when it finally did, I didn't feel a connection to it. There wasn't enough detail in it, I wanted more of the love to be shown, but it wasn't, it seemed a bit rushed and I couldn't really make a connection with the characters.
Also, I couldn't stand Jade's mom. She was one of those annoying hovering mothers and I just wanted to slap her some of the times. She just came off as selfish and a little juvenile. The dad was also distant and didn't really have any redeeming qualities in him and it made me feel bad for Jade. The only family member of Jade's that I liked was her brother Oliver, this may be because he loved the book, "The Chronicles of Narnia," and anyone who knows me, knows that I also am obsessed with that book!
However, I did like Sebastian (who is the boy in the red jacket), I liked that he took control over the situation he was in and he did the right thing. As I said earlier, I just wish Jade's relationship with him would have been made more of a focus. I felt like Caletti was just telling us how much Jade loved him instead of showing us, and really letting the reader be immersed in the relationship. That storyline should have been stronger.
I gave this book 3/5 stars because I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. It is one of those books that I am probably going to forget about.
February 14, 2013
Deb Caletti’s Love Is All You Need is a collection of two of her works: The Nature of Jade and Wild Roses. Both stories will deal and tackle with some serious and very real problems. As the title suggest, it deals with romance but it stretches beyond that. In Wild Roses, protagonist Cassie must deal with the relationships she has with her mother, father, and step-father, while keeping her boyfriend a secret from her public figure stepfather. In The Nature of Jade, it tells an intriguing story of Jade and her panic disorder. While her boyfriend is a comforting influence in her life, she soon discovers of a terrible secret that he has been hiding. She realizes that a choice will need be made and is torn between which to go forward with.
Both stories have strong themes about how one must deal with the relationships that are presented to them. One revelation can alter the present and a choice will be made. The way author Deb brings the stories of Cassie and Jade onto text is absolutely wonderful. She’s able to take readers into the minds of her characters and get a true feeling of what they are going through. It gives a meaningful understanding of the reasoning behind their choices and the explanations of the outcomes are fully detailed in beautiful words. Although the theme is romance/love, there are points in both stories that will dwell on other emotions. Love Is All You Need pulls together two delightful stories that fathom unique and imperative subject matter.
Both stories have strong themes about how one must deal with the relationships that are presented to them. One revelation can alter the present and a choice will be made. The way author Deb brings the stories of Cassie and Jade onto text is absolutely wonderful. She’s able to take readers into the minds of her characters and get a true feeling of what they are going through. It gives a meaningful understanding of the reasoning behind their choices and the explanations of the outcomes are fully detailed in beautiful words. Although the theme is romance/love, there are points in both stories that will dwell on other emotions. Love Is All You Need pulls together two delightful stories that fathom unique and imperative subject matter.
February 2, 2013
I loved the 2 story but my favorite was the nature of Jade , i have anxiety and i really love animals so I can relate to her and Sébastian is so cute with Bo i really enjoyed reading this story :)
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March 16, 2015I did not like this book... I tried oh so very hard to get into this book but it did not grab my attention. I feel it took way to long to get to a point
January 24, 2013
Pretty soon after starting Wild Roses, I knew I would not regret my decision to review this omnibus. The quirky, hilarious character of Cassie charmed me immediately. Her narration makes this book such a joy to read from page one. Though the book tackles some seriously heavy issues, the tone remains light and humorous because that's how Cassie explains things. She's both wise for her age and totally a teenager, as exhibited in her whining about her parents and childish dream that they will rekindle their relationship, despite her mother's remarriage. Oh, also, and I know this is kind of weird, but I love love love the way Cassie sometimes imagines things from her dog's perspective.
While the omnibus suggests that the main theme of these two novels is romance, that certainly is not the case here. Yes, Cassie does have a relationship with a cute boy (Ian, a violin student of her step-father), but the book spends much more time on Cassie's relationship with her family, mother, father and step-father. Both of her biological parents love her, but are caught up in their personal issues, the father with getting his ex-wife back and the mother with her sensitive new husband.
Caletti really delves into Dino's descent into madness, considering the relation between creative genius and insanity. Cassie has obviously done a lot of research into this subject since Dino came into her life, and regularly drops in trivia about all of the famous artistic types who have gone off the deep end. I love trivia, so I always looked forward to these bits of knowledge.
Much as I wholeheartedly enjoyed Wild Roses, I do have a couple of concerns. From a technical perspective, Caletti does some changing of tenses that I found quite strange. For the most part, the novel is written in past tense, but Cassie occasionally makes a reflection in the present tense, and a whole chapter towards the end is written in present tense. This may have been an intentional stylistic decision, but I found it quite distracting.
Now, I really love Cassie, but I really have no conception of how she lived before Dino Cavalli came into her life. Her only semblance of a friend in the beginning is a girl who follows her home because of an interest in Dino's music. She essentially has no friends. Since she's not socially awkward or antisocial, the fact that she was apparently friendless but doesn't ever seem bothered by that really seems a bit off to me.
Nevertheless, I have added all of Caletti's other books to Goodreads, because authors who can write MCs I am so entertained by are ones I need to fill my life with.
The Nature of Jade:
As much as I liked Wild Roses, I have to say that The Nature of Jade is even more solid as a novel. Like the first, Caletti deals with tough subjects, while keeping the tone light with the delightful voice of the heroine.
Jade has a lot of anxiety, and sees a shrink on a regular basis. She has panic attacks so severe she feels like she's dying. As such, she's a very cautious person, avoiding possibly upsetting situations. This also results in her remaining pretty aloof from people at school, fearing that they'll drive like maniacs if they spend time together or force her to a party where she might be uncomfortable. Despite this, Jade has a really engaging personality, and it's really sad to see how she's locked herself down.
Caletti tackles three big issues in The Nature of Jade. The first is family. Jade's parents have been growing apart, resulting in arguments and the looming possibility of divorce. Jade's mother gets incredibly involved at Jade's school, volunteering for everything and chaperoning dances Jade doesn't even go to. Meanwhile, her father signs his un-athletic son up for every single sport at school, desperate to have a son like himself. Their family dynamics aren't happy, but they're real, full of squabbling and misunderstandings and good intentions gone wrong.
Living near the zoo, Jade has become obsessed with the elephants, and always keeps an elephant cam up on her computer. She spies a young guy and a baby watching the elephants regularly, and begins to go to the zoo physically herself again in hopes of meeting him and learning his story. Her regularity at the zoo gets her a volunteer position working with the elephants. There is so much respect for the animal kingdom in the book, a wonderful understanding that humans are not the only creatures with real, complex emotions.
The romance is touching and strange, the first of its kind I've as yet encountered. Jade does meet the guy, Sebastian, who takes the baby to watch the elephants, and it is his baby. He's only two years older than she is, but his life is so different because of the choices he made. He and Jade develop a sweet, if a bit over-swift bond. Sebastian stands apart from the typical YA hero, and that difference makes him so interesting. Also, he and his whole family are great.
Needless to say, I do not regret having added all of Caletti's books to my to-read list. Her books are fun and hilarious, while also plumbing unique and important subject matter.
August 7, 2014
So I finished reading this book at last!!!
It is composed of Two stories:
1. "Wild Roses"
- This story, the first one, is the one I don't like between the two. It bores me up to the point that I regret buying this book. If you're gonna ask me on my rating bout this story, I'm gonna give it a three or even a two point five stars.
I'm really bored and honestly, only the sarcasm and occasional meanness of the characters are the ones that keeps me reading it, they managed to keep my hopes up for the story that I'll eventually like it, but it fails to do so.
BUT that changes when the second story comes in... (The Nature of Jade)
2. "The Nature of Jade"
- WOW WOW WOW. Yes you read it right. I enjoyed this one pretty much opposed to what I've felt in the "Wild Roses". BUT honestly, this one broke my heart. T_____T
The same hurt feeling I've felt when I finished reading "Love and Other Perishable Items" by Laura Buzo but a bit on a higher level.
I love the fact that Caletti gives trivia(s) on every chapters of it regarding animals. Now I feel like a genius bout certain animals most especially on elephants. With that being said, I couldn't help but think of Jonathan Safran Foer from the first chapter up to the last. If you've read his Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close book, you'll understand me. If not, then better read it. ;)
I'm looking forward for a collaboration between the two, and if in case Calleti is also behind Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close book, I wouldn't be surprise, but she's not (I knew it because I read it already. Haha).
Anyway, I really liked this second story and the four star rating I gave for this book is mainly because of this story alone. Never mind "Wild Roses". :p
I would also like to mention that I love the characters in the second book.! :D
All in all, maybe this is the first and last book of Caletti for me now. :)
It is composed of Two stories:
1. "Wild Roses"
- This story, the first one, is the one I don't like between the two. It bores me up to the point that I regret buying this book. If you're gonna ask me on my rating bout this story, I'm gonna give it a three or even a two point five stars.
I'm really bored and honestly, only the sarcasm and occasional meanness of the characters are the ones that keeps me reading it, they managed to keep my hopes up for the story that I'll eventually like it, but it fails to do so.
BUT that changes when the second story comes in... (The Nature of Jade)
2. "The Nature of Jade"
- WOW WOW WOW. Yes you read it right. I enjoyed this one pretty much opposed to what I've felt in the "Wild Roses". BUT honestly, this one broke my heart. T_____T
The same hurt feeling I've felt when I finished reading "Love and Other Perishable Items" by Laura Buzo but a bit on a higher level.
I love the fact that Caletti gives trivia(s) on every chapters of it regarding animals. Now I feel like a genius bout certain animals most especially on elephants. With that being said, I couldn't help but think of Jonathan Safran Foer from the first chapter up to the last. If you've read his Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close book, you'll understand me. If not, then better read it. ;)
I'm looking forward for a collaboration between the two, and if in case Calleti is also behind Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close book, I wouldn't be surprise, but she's not (I knew it because I read it already. Haha).
Anyway, I really liked this second story and the four star rating I gave for this book is mainly because of this story alone. Never mind "Wild Roses". :p
I would also like to mention that I love the characters in the second book.! :D
All in all, maybe this is the first and last book of Caletti for me now. :)
July 8, 2013
Two books in one? What more could I ask for?
This is my first take on Deb Caletti. Haven't even heard of her after buying this book. I bought this book with little to no information of its story. I bought this because of how thick it is and I thought to myself, "Hey! It's been such a long time since you've read a book this thick. Why not buy it right? It's not that expensive anyway!" And so I did. I bought it because of thickness and the black and white background with a splash of red made it look enticing.
I loved how both books had some psychological factors in them. Dino having a mental illness and Jade with her anxiety. Being a psychology graduate, I'm always into reading books with characters who experiences these illnesses.
What can I say? I enjoyed both books and I love each characters and how their lives turned out to be. It was such a breeze reading this. It's easy to understand and easy to love.
And oh,
I think I might just read another Deb Caletti book sometime. :)
This is my first take on Deb Caletti. Haven't even heard of her after buying this book. I bought this book with little to no information of its story. I bought this because of how thick it is and I thought to myself, "Hey! It's been such a long time since you've read a book this thick. Why not buy it right? It's not that expensive anyway!" And so I did. I bought it because of thickness and the black and white background with a splash of red made it look enticing.
I loved how both books had some psychological factors in them. Dino having a mental illness and Jade with her anxiety. Being a psychology graduate, I'm always into reading books with characters who experiences these illnesses.
What can I say? I enjoyed both books and I love each characters and how their lives turned out to be. It was such a breeze reading this. It's easy to understand and easy to love.
And oh,
I think I might just read another Deb Caletti book sometime. :)
July 5, 2013
In Wild Roses, Cassie is in love, but she cannot let her stepfather know. He is a famous person and on the outside all appearances are wonderful, but his creative genius has caused him to spiral into madness and paranoia. Cassie fears for her boyfriend and herself as things begin to spiral down. In The Nature of Jade, Jade is a teenager who has a wonderful boyfriend who tries to help her stay calm through her panic disorder episodes. He appears to Jade to be the perfect guy….but then she discovers that he has been hiding a dark secret from her and this secret will force Jade to make decisions she does not want to make.
Both of these books are good in the sense that the female protagonists are teenage girls who are strong and not dependent upon someone else to tell them what to do. They are written in a manner that makes the reader understand a little about issues that are real world and wonder - is love all you really need?
I recommend this book to fans of Deb Caletti, girls from 8th grade up. Both books are well written and have depth to them.
Both of these books are good in the sense that the female protagonists are teenage girls who are strong and not dependent upon someone else to tell them what to do. They are written in a manner that makes the reader understand a little about issues that are real world and wonder - is love all you really need?
I recommend this book to fans of Deb Caletti, girls from 8th grade up. Both books are well written and have depth to them.
December 17, 2014
The whole "white girl stream of conciousness" style of writing made it really hard for me to like this book let alone just read it.
For one, I do not know why I did this to myself because just the title "love is all you need" is puke worthy.
and second.
because I do have a heart.
i like human interaction just like everyone else.
and I swoon at guys worthy
BUT THIS BOOK. GOD DAMN.
It's predictable in the whole "bam cute guy just came out of nowhere" kind of way which of course! results in the "wow, he's perfect" thing from the girls.
Like pull yourself and your ovaries together.
Goodnight.
For one, I do not know why I did this to myself because just the title "love is all you need" is puke worthy.
and second.
because I do have a heart.
i like human interaction just like everyone else.
and I swoon at guys worthy
BUT THIS BOOK. GOD DAMN.
It's predictable in the whole "bam cute guy just came out of nowhere" kind of way which of course! results in the "wow, he's perfect" thing from the girls.
Like pull yourself and your ovaries together.
Goodnight.
January 17, 2014
I do enjoy the cover and appreciate two books in one with similar themes, but my issue with the book is partly the the extreme drama of both stories with over-the-top characters (at least that's the voice that comes through in my head). I would love to get more in to the two stories for their meatier issues of mental health, OCD, and choice-making/decision-making, but it's marred by the voices of the characters.
March 26, 2013
"Love Is All You Need" focuses more on family and I like that. I also love how Cassie (Wild Roses) balances her life between family and relationship despite all the problems she and her parents are facing...even between her and Ian. Her sense of humor with a little bit of "sarcasm" sometimes made me love the book more :-)
August 14, 2013
I loved this book, the second one in the book was a lot more intriguing I thought, the first one seemed to out there and unrealistic. It took me a while to get Into this book, but after I did I couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to someone who Is looking for a fun read. This book is easy going and enjoyable.
April 28, 2014
Love is All you need
When you get two books of Deb Caletti in one its definitely like magic. The Nature of Jade and Wild Roses in one book and the cover was definitely a nice twist and such a nice touch to the meaning of both books, definitely a nice read.
When you get two books of Deb Caletti in one its definitely like magic. The Nature of Jade and Wild Roses in one book and the cover was definitely a nice twist and such a nice touch to the meaning of both books, definitely a nice read.
Want to read
December 31, 2012Love Is NOT All You Need.
April 9, 2013
Don't judge a book by its cover.
March 19, 2013
The wild Roses is more enjoyable to read rather than The Nature of Jade.
August 3, 2013
i liked nature of jade more. much more realistic. i also liked it because of the elephants. it made me want to study elephants too.
August 22, 2013
Two very good stories that will capture the young adult heart and soul. Both stories are unique in their own way. Look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Read
October 18, 2013I'm going to rate/review this book by the individual stories
July 27, 2014
Two books in a book? Hm. It's not I didn't like it, it was good actually. It was not thrilling enough, I think?
Read
June 23, 2016Picked this up because I liked the cover however I didn't like the premises when I sat down to read it and decided not to read these stories.
January 6, 2019
- the second book I gave 3 ⭐️'s kind of slow to read
January 4, 2015
I was not fond of this book.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews