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Tight Knit
Talia Gregory relies on her Nan for everything, especially helping her calm the anxiety that controls her life. But Nan gets sick, and it couldn’t be worse timing. Talia’s panic attacks are getting worse, her boyfriend is a jerk, her best friend is distant, her parents are more absent than usual and she’s stuck planning the Cozy Christmas Charity Drive for her knitting group in place of Nan. If that’s not panic inducing enough, enter Lachlan.
Lachlan McCreedy doesn’t rely on anyone. Not after what he’s been through. It’s him and Gram, nothing else matters but keeping his past buried, and his secrets hidden. So when Gram forces him to help with her Christmas sale, Talia is the last thing he expected, and trusting her with his secrets comes as a shock to both of them. But when he unexpectedly falls for her, the question becomes can he trust her with his heart?
Lachlan McCreedy doesn’t rely on anyone. Not after what he’s been through. It’s him and Gram, nothing else matters but keeping his past buried, and his secrets hidden. So when Gram forces him to help with her Christmas sale, Talia is the last thing he expected, and trusting her with his secrets comes as a shock to both of them. But when he unexpectedly falls for her, the question becomes can he trust her with his heart?
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 30, 2012
23 people are currently reading
2215 people want to read
About the author
Allie Brennan
5 books204 followersI grew up on a farm in the Canadian prairies but got the call of the wild and migrated to the snowy mountains of the North where I spend my non-writing time outside doing outside-things.
I write books about young people.
Young people who love hard and screw up big time. Young people who question the world and push against what's expected of them.
Even if it's layered with sweet romance or a cute premise, I don't always write clean books and don't shy away from touchy subjects, but I'll always try and let you know what you're in for.
I am but an outlet for those who live inside my head.
I write books about young people.
Young people who love hard and screw up big time. Young people who question the world and push against what's expected of them.
Even if it's layered with sweet romance or a cute premise, I don't always write clean books and don't shy away from touchy subjects, but I'll always try and let you know what you're in for.
I am but an outlet for those who live inside my head.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
March 7, 2013
I wanted to like this book. Truly I did. And you would think that being a sufferer of panic attacks myself, I would be able to relate to the female protagonist, Talia Gregory. I suppose I could, in a way. But the overall feeling I had was irritation with Allie Brennan for not providing this poor character with a more interesting personality and maybe a psychiatrist.
The drama surrounding Talia is that she is attempting to control her panic attacks without the aid of medication. While her Nan is in favor of the no meds route, Talia's mother is completely against it, wanting Talia back on pills as soon as possible. I understand her concern since Talia is teetering on the edge of a panic attack pretty much all the time. Talia knows that if she can't control her attacks, her parents will eventually force her back on medication.
This is where I pinch the bridge of my nose and come to the realization that the author may not know as much about panic disorders as the reader has been led to believe. Putting that kind of stress (control this or you'll be forced to do something you hate) on a person suffering from a panic disorder is completely counterproductive, as it exacerbates the cycle of stress and panic. But that concern comes in second to my biggest concern; the fact that, apparently, neither one of Talia's parents (or her Nan, either, for that matter) have ever bothered to look for alternative means of helping Talia. There are behavioral exercises and trained mental health professionals readily available for people like Talia, but she is apparently left completely to her own devices to just...cope. The only person who has ever been able to bring her down from one of her panics has been her Nan. That is, until Lachlan McCreedy comes along.
Lachlan McCreedy. Here we go again. The damaged, emotionally distant bad boy with a sensitive heart of gold that no one notices because he keeps getting into trouble. Because he's troubled.
I'm not against the bad boy thing. Really. I'm not even against the "bad boy who needs help" thing. What I am against is the bad boy who suffered years of emotional and physical abuse only to have his walls completely torn down in a matter of what appears to be two weeks by some girl who's constantly on the verge of a complete and total mental breakdown. That bugs the living shit out of me. It's completely unrealistic and serves to further the myth that the only thing a troubled man needs is the right woman. While this is a sweet notion, it's also a little detrimental when presented in such a seemingly innocuous package.
Other than my obvious issue with how the characters are depicted, how does the rest of the book stack up? Grammatically, things seem OK. There were a few minor issues here and there, but nothing that made me want to give myself a lobotomy. As for the story itself, it's nothing more than your average, formulaic YA romance with some fairly silly, predictable and frankly, tedious obstacles. The romance becomes almost cloyingly sweet at times, too corny for its own good. I thought the laundry room scene was kind of hot, but that was the single bright spot in an otherwise foggy muddle of trying-too-hard-to-be-serious wording. There were a lot of plot points that either weren't properly presented or just plain left to dangle. I really did become quite bored with waiting for Lachlan to stop being an idiot, and I was offended by the way panic disorders are represented. It sickens me that there are actually people out there who believe a mental/emotional handicap makes a person "interesting". No. Do you know what makes a person interesting? Who they are. And those of us who suffer with panic and anxiety disorders are in a constant struggle to not be defined by those disorders.
My soapbox is starting to cave in a bit, so I suppose I'll finish this up by saying, if you're into the bad boy reformation stories, you'll probably get at least a little satisfaction from this book. It's not terrible, and I think Allie Brennan has potential as a writer. I just think she tried to tackle subject matter that was way over her head.
The drama surrounding Talia is that she is attempting to control her panic attacks without the aid of medication. While her Nan is in favor of the no meds route, Talia's mother is completely against it, wanting Talia back on pills as soon as possible. I understand her concern since Talia is teetering on the edge of a panic attack pretty much all the time. Talia knows that if she can't control her attacks, her parents will eventually force her back on medication.
This is where I pinch the bridge of my nose and come to the realization that the author may not know as much about panic disorders as the reader has been led to believe. Putting that kind of stress (control this or you'll be forced to do something you hate) on a person suffering from a panic disorder is completely counterproductive, as it exacerbates the cycle of stress and panic. But that concern comes in second to my biggest concern; the fact that, apparently, neither one of Talia's parents (or her Nan, either, for that matter) have ever bothered to look for alternative means of helping Talia. There are behavioral exercises and trained mental health professionals readily available for people like Talia, but she is apparently left completely to her own devices to just...cope. The only person who has ever been able to bring her down from one of her panics has been her Nan. That is, until Lachlan McCreedy comes along.
Lachlan McCreedy. Here we go again. The damaged, emotionally distant bad boy with a sensitive heart of gold that no one notices because he keeps getting into trouble. Because he's troubled.
I'm not against the bad boy thing. Really. I'm not even against the "bad boy who needs help" thing. What I am against is the bad boy who suffered years of emotional and physical abuse only to have his walls completely torn down in a matter of what appears to be two weeks by some girl who's constantly on the verge of a complete and total mental breakdown. That bugs the living shit out of me. It's completely unrealistic and serves to further the myth that the only thing a troubled man needs is the right woman. While this is a sweet notion, it's also a little detrimental when presented in such a seemingly innocuous package.
Other than my obvious issue with how the characters are depicted, how does the rest of the book stack up? Grammatically, things seem OK. There were a few minor issues here and there, but nothing that made me want to give myself a lobotomy. As for the story itself, it's nothing more than your average, formulaic YA romance with some fairly silly, predictable and frankly, tedious obstacles. The romance becomes almost cloyingly sweet at times, too corny for its own good. I thought the laundry room scene was kind of hot, but that was the single bright spot in an otherwise foggy muddle of trying-too-hard-to-be-serious wording. There were a lot of plot points that either weren't properly presented or just plain left to dangle. I really did become quite bored with waiting for Lachlan to stop being an idiot, and I was offended by the way panic disorders are represented. It sickens me that there are actually people out there who believe a mental/emotional handicap makes a person "interesting". No. Do you know what makes a person interesting? Who they are. And those of us who suffer with panic and anxiety disorders are in a constant struggle to not be defined by those disorders.
My soapbox is starting to cave in a bit, so I suppose I'll finish this up by saying, if you're into the bad boy reformation stories, you'll probably get at least a little satisfaction from this book. It's not terrible, and I think Allie Brennan has potential as a writer. I just think she tried to tackle subject matter that was way over her head.
Read
November 20, 2012This book... Seriously.
Love.
I wanna wrap up Talia in a knit bag and take her home and sorta want Lachlan to pin me against the wall... ;-O
Brennan did a FAB job with her characters, and there's a LOT more to this story than I expected going on, and I LURVED it.
Love.
I wanna wrap up Talia in a knit bag and take her home and sorta want Lachlan to pin me against the wall... ;-O
Brennan did a FAB job with her characters, and there's a LOT more to this story than I expected going on, and I LURVED it.
November 30, 2012
Such a good book. Totally fell for Lachlan!
January 1, 2013
Ohhh I like the sound of this. Lets hear it for indie authors!!!! Mini review to come
January 19, 2013
Finished last night. I knew this was going to be fantastic after reading an excerpt a while ago. This sat on my "can't wait for these to be released" list and then super duper bonus...it came out early and I could not put it down. 5 complete love love love stars :D
February 16, 2013
This is a really AWESOME book! I feel like the blurb just didn't do it justice! The writing was so well done and the characters... Oh man I just love it! I can't even get my thoughts in order right now! If I had been able to, I would have read it all in one sitting. Seriously, it flowed so smoothly I never wanted to put it down! I need to thank my friend Lindsay for recommending this one and then peer pressuring me into buddy reading it with her! [image error] I laughed, I cried, I got so freakin pissed I wanted to reach in and punch that d-bag Deacon. Talia was such a great leading lady! She had so much to deal with and started out so fragile and broken but we got to see her progress with dealing with all the things life threw at her. Lachlan, oh Lachlan! Who doesn't love a tattooed, broken but not beaten, bad boy who falls hard or his girl?!! I also loved that, while I am a die hard HEA fan, the ending left so many great possibilities open for another book, and I wasn't pissed! That alone says a lot for me. I am seriously strict in my HEA rule! I really can't wait to get my hands on the next one!
January 2, 2013
LOVE this book!
Lachlan is totally hot--I will ride his motorcycle any day... LOL!
Great debut! Can't wait for more from this author!
Highly recommend~
Lachlan is totally hot--I will ride his motorcycle any day... LOL!
Great debut! Can't wait for more from this author!
Highly recommend~
January 14, 2015
Yaaaay, I got this and I CANNOT wait to read it. So of course I'm reading it RIGHT NOW. Ahhhhh! *flails*
~~~
Goodness gracious, THIS BOOK. I feel it in my heart, you guys. ANd it's a happy, tingly feeling. AH! There will definitely be a full review soon.
And I love Lachlan. MY BOY. <3
~~~
Tight Knit by Allie Brennan. Goodness gracious, this book. It is cute and sweet and such a beautifully adorable book, I can't help but to smile right now as I think about it.
It's a story about a boy and a girl and about twenty other things that add together to make this story one that I read seriously fast. Honestly, I read this book in about two days, and that's only because I had to go to school. If I'd had a choice, I would have read it in one sitting. We have a couple of characters that are working through their own things. Then they meet each other and...normally that's where "everything changes" but really, everything just gets mixed together. Which was great to read. Everything was not just magically solved when they met, but things were abe to be dealt with in a different way.
Character Interview:
Talia: Talia was so cute, I'm not going to lie. Very skittish, but it was good to watch her work her way into becoming more confident and sure of herself as the book progressed. Also, to watch her change from having one friend and a douchebag boyfriend to being Hat Girl. I love Hat Girl.
Lachlan: Lachlan is MY. BOY. At first, he seems like a cliche. But then you find out more and more about him and...he's NOT. He's real. He's not a punk kid who wants to be nice and blah blah blah. There aren't a bunch of rumors about him that aren't true. Ha, no. He is what he's supposed to be. And I LOVED that. And I adore him to no end. Because even though he IS, he is also a sweetheart. Especially toward his grandmother.
Lachlan & Talia. These two are so great together, and for each other, there isn't any way to explain this other than perfect. Or maybe perfectly imperfect. Either way, it works out miraculously. I also love both of their relationships with their grandmothers. That was so cute.
Plot. GRRRR. Everything works out great. It's going wonderfully! But then there's that pesky little issue that GETS IN THE WAY. I'm not going to tell you what that issue is. But it's there. *sigh* No matter what, though, this story is still fabulous.
The ending. I LOVE IT. So much! A great turnaround from where we were when STUFF went down. Along with this entire story, this ending just makes me grin so much.
Overall, Tight Knit is a fantastically written story by Allie Brennan that makes me smile just thinking about it. It's cute and REAL and just plain wonderful. I am honestly excited for Allie's next book!
You can find more from me on my blog: Just a Booklover
~~~
Goodness gracious, THIS BOOK. I feel it in my heart, you guys. ANd it's a happy, tingly feeling. AH! There will definitely be a full review soon.
And I love Lachlan. MY BOY. <3
~~~
Tight Knit by Allie Brennan. Goodness gracious, this book. It is cute and sweet and such a beautifully adorable book, I can't help but to smile right now as I think about it.
It's a story about a boy and a girl and about twenty other things that add together to make this story one that I read seriously fast. Honestly, I read this book in about two days, and that's only because I had to go to school. If I'd had a choice, I would have read it in one sitting. We have a couple of characters that are working through their own things. Then they meet each other and...normally that's where "everything changes" but really, everything just gets mixed together. Which was great to read. Everything was not just magically solved when they met, but things were abe to be dealt with in a different way.
Character Interview:
Talia: Talia was so cute, I'm not going to lie. Very skittish, but it was good to watch her work her way into becoming more confident and sure of herself as the book progressed. Also, to watch her change from having one friend and a douchebag boyfriend to being Hat Girl. I love Hat Girl.
Lachlan: Lachlan is MY. BOY. At first, he seems like a cliche. But then you find out more and more about him and...he's NOT. He's real. He's not a punk kid who wants to be nice and blah blah blah. There aren't a bunch of rumors about him that aren't true. Ha, no. He is what he's supposed to be. And I LOVED that. And I adore him to no end. Because even though he IS, he is also a sweetheart. Especially toward his grandmother.
Lachlan & Talia. These two are so great together, and for each other, there isn't any way to explain this other than perfect. Or maybe perfectly imperfect. Either way, it works out miraculously. I also love both of their relationships with their grandmothers. That was so cute.
Plot. GRRRR. Everything works out great. It's going wonderfully! But then there's that pesky little issue that GETS IN THE WAY. I'm not going to tell you what that issue is. But it's there. *sigh* No matter what, though, this story is still fabulous.
The ending. I LOVE IT. So much! A great turnaround from where we were when STUFF went down. Along with this entire story, this ending just makes me grin so much.
Overall, Tight Knit is a fantastically written story by Allie Brennan that makes me smile just thinking about it. It's cute and REAL and just plain wonderful. I am honestly excited for Allie's next book!
You can find more from me on my blog: Just a Booklover
January 5, 2013
I checked out this book at first because I liked the cover and I love knitting, and even though I knew it was a YA and I'm really too old for that, I decided I'd give it a try and downloaded the sample chapters. After reading them, I decided I had to buy it, because I needed to know what would happen to Talia and Lachlan. Who cares I'm not a YA anymore? We've all been there at some point in our lives, haven't we?
Well, I loved the story and the characters - don't we all secretly love bad boys? ;-) - and I loved to read how love helped both characters, when they both felt lost and hopeless.
I loved seeing the story both through Talia's and Lachlan's eyes, it was funny to see how different and yet alike they were thinking and seeing things.
The dialogues are very well crafted and feel "real" (it's definitely not an easy task for a writer) and the story is a mixture of drama, fun and love that will keep you turning pages.
The writing flows smoothly (there are a few typos every now and then, nothing a proofread can't fix) and the characters really come to life (which is another hard task for a writer).
Kudos to the author! Her writing's really good and I'm happy I discovered this book.
PS I couldn't help falling for Lachlan...although, like I said, I'm too old for YA. :-)
Well, I loved the story and the characters - don't we all secretly love bad boys? ;-) - and I loved to read how love helped both characters, when they both felt lost and hopeless.
I loved seeing the story both through Talia's and Lachlan's eyes, it was funny to see how different and yet alike they were thinking and seeing things.
The dialogues are very well crafted and feel "real" (it's definitely not an easy task for a writer) and the story is a mixture of drama, fun and love that will keep you turning pages.
The writing flows smoothly (there are a few typos every now and then, nothing a proofread can't fix) and the characters really come to life (which is another hard task for a writer).
Kudos to the author! Her writing's really good and I'm happy I discovered this book.
PS I couldn't help falling for Lachlan...although, like I said, I'm too old for YA. :-)
December 23, 2018
Talía ha sufrido de ataques de pánico la mayor parte de su vida. Su novio es un idiota que la toma por loca y de repente se encuentra que su mejor amiga también la traiciona. Más ataques de pánico? Añadamos ahora que su abuela se ha puesto enferma y Talía está a punto de ahogarse... Hasta que conoce a Lachlan. Él es como ella, ambos están rotos y dañados pero no dice el refrán: siempre hay un roto para un descosido?
Me encanta, os juro que los amo a los dos. Me encanta Lachlan con su actitud chico malo pero que cada vez que estaba con su abuela era un pequeño niño que solo necesitaba un poco de amor y mimos. Y me encantó Talía y su manera de sacar su carácter a través de todos los ataques de pánico, como se rehizo a sí misma.
Lloré, obviamente por Lachlan y su sufrimiento pero me ha encantado la historia de principio a fin.
Solo tengo una queja y es que el supuesto final no lo consideraría yo un final. La salida del mundo chungo de Lachlan para mí no fue realmente un cierre, y en cuando al pedazo de mierda de Deacon se va a ir así, de rositas? Quedaron cosas sin cerrar para mí gusto. Por lo demás la historia es perfecta ❤️
Me encanta, os juro que los amo a los dos. Me encanta Lachlan con su actitud chico malo pero que cada vez que estaba con su abuela era un pequeño niño que solo necesitaba un poco de amor y mimos. Y me encantó Talía y su manera de sacar su carácter a través de todos los ataques de pánico, como se rehizo a sí misma.
Lloré, obviamente por Lachlan y su sufrimiento pero me ha encantado la historia de principio a fin.
Solo tengo una queja y es que el supuesto final no lo consideraría yo un final. La salida del mundo chungo de Lachlan para mí no fue realmente un cierre, y en cuando al pedazo de mierda de Deacon se va a ir así, de rositas? Quedaron cosas sin cerrar para mí gusto. Por lo demás la historia es perfecta ❤️
February 15, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised by this book....It wasn't what I expected. I truly LOVED this book. It was such a great YA love story but touched on some serious subject matters. This book sucked me in from the first page and kept me interested throughout the whole book....I couldn't put it down. Lachlan is amazing!!!!! I love his name but I also fell for the person he was. He went through a sh!t storm as a child and made some big mistakes in his life but he came out a better person in the end. I really liked Talia....she didn't drive me crazy at all. She also had some issues she had to deal with and with the help of Lachlan was able to become the stronger person everyone knew she was. My only negative was that I thought the end was kind of rushed and abrupt. Now with that said it could leave it open for another book, but there were some things that I felt went unanswered. I would still recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of a clean YA love story....This is one to read!!!!!!
February 13, 2013
There's something about seeing the bad boy that's a marshmallow on the inside that is just so romantic. Thanks for bringing me that in Lachlan!
January 17, 2019
I didn't really expect much from this book, I picked it up on a whim, but I loved it! I thought it was going to be just another typical good/innocent girl and bad boy contemporary, but it actually surprised me! I wasn't a huge fan of the writing at first, but it grew on me because of how much I loved the characters!
January 22, 2013
From the very first page of Tight Knit I was pulled into the the story of Talia and Lachlan. The title works perfectly for this story too... The knitting is almost like a secondary character here and I loved it.
Talia has been dealing with panic attacks for most of her life and at the urging of her grandmother, Nan, she has gone off her medication, determined to be strong enough to learn how to handle the attacks on her own.
Nan has been her rock for most of her life... as an only child, her parents aren't at all involved or interested in what's going on in her life. She's got a crappy boyfriend and a best friend who is acting strange. When Nan gets sick, Talia is pushed into the role of leader when she has to set up and plan the annual Christmas Charity Drive for the knitting group that she is a part of.
Lachlan hasn't had an easy life and has learned to depend on no one except his Gram. She's bailed him out of so much, and he's determined to keep his past a secret from anyone and everyone. When Gram tells him he has to help with the Christmas sale, he never expected to end up wanting to be there.
I really loved the characters that Allie has created in this story. They are realistic and flawed and believable. They make bad choices and they hurt, yet none of it was over the top.
Talia was incredibly likable as someone who struggled with fitting in and overcoming these attacks that seemed to be taking over her life. Watching the growth of her character and having her find the strength that was inside was wonderful.
Lachlan, even with all his flaws, was kinda swoony!
I spot the hat first, then the soft curls, then the defined jaw and sharp nose. Lachlan is definitely not movie star gorgeous, but there's something about him that demands attention. I would be lying if I said I didn't like looking at him.
Everyone in school knew he had been in juvie and with his Tattoos and motorcycle... he's the bad boy everyone admires from afar. And he does a good job at keeping everyone at arms length. Counting down the days to his 18th birthday and getting released from the debt he owes is his only focus until he meets Talia.
I have to say that I really loved the evolution of his relationship with Talia. It wasn't rushed and they were incredibly sweet together.
He kicks the bike to life and we drive away. He takes hold of my arm wrapped around his waist and slides his hand down until his fingers touch mine. He laces our hands together and squeezes.
Even the secondary characters of Gram and Nan were wonderfully written! Everyone needs wise, incredible women like this in their lives.
"Did you love her?"
"Janna?" I'm still confused. "Yeah. I loved Janna."
"Well then cry for her. Not him."
I open my mouth and then close it again before any excuses escape.
"Those we love are the only ones worth crying over," Nan continues.
I think the only issue I had is with the end of the book. It was a bit rushed for me, and I would have liked to see a bit more development and resolution with the whole Lachlan/Deacon issue (without getting too specific we don't know if there are any consequences to what Lachlan has been doing.)
If you're looking for a sweet opposites attract story with some light drama this might be just what you need! I wasn't sure what to label this... it definitely leans more toward the YA but definitely the mature end.
This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:
Talia has been dealing with panic attacks for most of her life and at the urging of her grandmother, Nan, she has gone off her medication, determined to be strong enough to learn how to handle the attacks on her own.
Nan has been her rock for most of her life... as an only child, her parents aren't at all involved or interested in what's going on in her life. She's got a crappy boyfriend and a best friend who is acting strange. When Nan gets sick, Talia is pushed into the role of leader when she has to set up and plan the annual Christmas Charity Drive for the knitting group that she is a part of.
Lachlan hasn't had an easy life and has learned to depend on no one except his Gram. She's bailed him out of so much, and he's determined to keep his past a secret from anyone and everyone. When Gram tells him he has to help with the Christmas sale, he never expected to end up wanting to be there.
I really loved the characters that Allie has created in this story. They are realistic and flawed and believable. They make bad choices and they hurt, yet none of it was over the top.
Talia was incredibly likable as someone who struggled with fitting in and overcoming these attacks that seemed to be taking over her life. Watching the growth of her character and having her find the strength that was inside was wonderful.
Lachlan, even with all his flaws, was kinda swoony!
I spot the hat first, then the soft curls, then the defined jaw and sharp nose. Lachlan is definitely not movie star gorgeous, but there's something about him that demands attention. I would be lying if I said I didn't like looking at him.
Everyone in school knew he had been in juvie and with his Tattoos and motorcycle... he's the bad boy everyone admires from afar. And he does a good job at keeping everyone at arms length. Counting down the days to his 18th birthday and getting released from the debt he owes is his only focus until he meets Talia.
I have to say that I really loved the evolution of his relationship with Talia. It wasn't rushed and they were incredibly sweet together.
He kicks the bike to life and we drive away. He takes hold of my arm wrapped around his waist and slides his hand down until his fingers touch mine. He laces our hands together and squeezes.
Even the secondary characters of Gram and Nan were wonderfully written! Everyone needs wise, incredible women like this in their lives.
"Did you love her?"
"Janna?" I'm still confused. "Yeah. I loved Janna."
"Well then cry for her. Not him."
I open my mouth and then close it again before any excuses escape.
"Those we love are the only ones worth crying over," Nan continues.
I think the only issue I had is with the end of the book. It was a bit rushed for me, and I would have liked to see a bit more development and resolution with the whole Lachlan/Deacon issue (without getting too specific we don't know if there are any consequences to what Lachlan has been doing.)
If you're looking for a sweet opposites attract story with some light drama this might be just what you need! I wasn't sure what to label this... it definitely leans more toward the YA but definitely the mature end.
This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:
February 6, 2013
Originally Posted at: Book Freak
Tali Meets Lannie: The Bad Boy & The Shy Girl.
She's dead shy.
He oozes confidence.
She knew of him - he's bad news.
It was the first time he saw her - she looked so innocent.
It was his Gram's scheme - him meeting her.
But they were like Night & Day.
They're so different....
Yet somehow the same.
♥.♥.♥
The Bad Boy: Lachlan/Lannie
Lachlan has this strange mixture of mysterious bad boy with southern gentlemen with rockstar charm. #swoon
He's been to juvie and currently on probation. He did things he wasn't proud of and there were still things he's doing that he wished he has the power to stop. Tattoos graced his skin, no one knew but his grams, his mother and father what was underneath it and how did it came. He's cocky, sweet, but he's also close and tight knit - preferred to keep his deepest darkest secret to himself.
The Shy Girl: Talia
Shy is an understatement. This girl is a walking panic attack and nothing really caused her attach in the first place: no trauma or abusive parents. But her attacks are worse: it's Iatrogenic. She already stopped her medications. It was only her grandmother who can soothe her and bring her out from her attacks - until Lannie came along. He was just in time: her boyfriend cheated on her - and she just lost her best friend.
The Grandmamas: Grams & Nan
They're the most scheming, amazing and loving grandmothers ever! I love them both more than the two main characters. They are the heart of the novel - both of them are Lannie and Talia's savior and strength during their the darkest and weakest moments of their lives. They never judged, condemn or abandon any of them. This is what love should be - being their not only during the good times but also in the worst time in someone's life. It was Georgina (Grams) who introduced the both of them. But bad things comes to those who are good. When tragedy hits both - can Lannie and Talia take it?
♥.♥.♥
Their relationship is unconventional. I thought two people with tons of baggage and hang-ups in life is bound for disaster - but they just complimented each other. They are what each other needed to face their own demons: her panic attacks and his past. To summarize their relationship: roller coaster, complicated, confusing yet SWEET.
They have their moments and it would just make you smile and swoon.
Lachlan can be bad, but he can be the sweetest, most adoring boyfriend ever. Who doesn't want a reformed bad boy at her disposal?
To End.
I loved the book. The ending was as realistic as the author could have put it. After all, not all people can have their happy ending. Allie Brennan made a tightly knitted story about love, friendship, surviving its idiosyncrasies and getting out of it alive. It's about forgiveness, acceptance and second chances.
Tali Meets Lannie: The Bad Boy & The Shy Girl.
She's dead shy.
He oozes confidence.
She knew of him - he's bad news.
It was the first time he saw her - she looked so innocent.
It was his Gram's scheme - him meeting her.
But they were like Night & Day.
They're so different....
Yet somehow the same.
♥.♥.♥
The Bad Boy: Lachlan/Lannie
Lachlan has this strange mixture of mysterious bad boy with southern gentlemen with rockstar charm. #swoon
He's been to juvie and currently on probation. He did things he wasn't proud of and there were still things he's doing that he wished he has the power to stop. Tattoos graced his skin, no one knew but his grams, his mother and father what was underneath it and how did it came. He's cocky, sweet, but he's also close and tight knit - preferred to keep his deepest darkest secret to himself.
The Shy Girl: Talia
Shy is an understatement. This girl is a walking panic attack and nothing really caused her attach in the first place: no trauma or abusive parents. But her attacks are worse: it's Iatrogenic. She already stopped her medications. It was only her grandmother who can soothe her and bring her out from her attacks - until Lannie came along. He was just in time: her boyfriend cheated on her - and she just lost her best friend.
The Grandmamas: Grams & Nan
They're the most scheming, amazing and loving grandmothers ever! I love them both more than the two main characters. They are the heart of the novel - both of them are Lannie and Talia's savior and strength during their the darkest and weakest moments of their lives. They never judged, condemn or abandon any of them. This is what love should be - being their not only during the good times but also in the worst time in someone's life. It was Georgina (Grams) who introduced the both of them. But bad things comes to those who are good. When tragedy hits both - can Lannie and Talia take it?
♥.♥.♥
Their relationship is unconventional. I thought two people with tons of baggage and hang-ups in life is bound for disaster - but they just complimented each other. They are what each other needed to face their own demons: her panic attacks and his past. To summarize their relationship: roller coaster, complicated, confusing yet SWEET.
They have their moments and it would just make you smile and swoon.
Lachlan can be bad, but he can be the sweetest, most adoring boyfriend ever. Who doesn't want a reformed bad boy at her disposal?
To End.
I loved the book. The ending was as realistic as the author could have put it. After all, not all people can have their happy ending. Allie Brennan made a tightly knitted story about love, friendship, surviving its idiosyncrasies and getting out of it alive. It's about forgiveness, acceptance and second chances.
February 4, 2013
Oh. My. Goodness.
I picked up Tight Knit, knowing it would be a good read, but all the while wondering about the concept of a teenage girl who knits and hangs out with her nan. It's not your average YA book, that's for sure!
As someone who has had to deal with panic attacks since I was a teenager, I connected with Talia right away. Every detail of how an attack feels, to the complete exhaustion afterwards is written to perfection. Nobody ever talks about the tiredness that comes with an intense attack, and few people understand just how loopy it can make you for a while when you're caught between having one and trying to fight one off. I wanted to scoop Talia up in my arms and take care of her. It didn't matter to me that she cried a lot, and didn't have an army of friends to help her through. That girl is TOUGH, and I wish I'd had a friend like her when I was growing up!
Now, Lachlan. Oh man. I'm getting a little flustered just thinking about him! Gorgeous, dangerous, flirty, but tormented by his past. In spite of how it might appear, he isn't the classic "bad boy who is tamed by the love of his life." Yes, he was calmer when he met Talia but he was already a good guy underneath all the trouble he'd been in.
The relationship between the pair was absolutely perfect. It grew naturally, and it was very honest. Reading the different perspectives, it was great to see how their feelings evolved, and how they questioned things in the way only teenagers can.
I'm going to finish this review with a gigantic high five, hug and thank you for Allie Brennan. This book is not only a fantastic romance, but it is a comforting hand to anyone who suffers from panic attacks and goes through every day feeling like they are the only one.
I picked up Tight Knit, knowing it would be a good read, but all the while wondering about the concept of a teenage girl who knits and hangs out with her nan. It's not your average YA book, that's for sure!
As someone who has had to deal with panic attacks since I was a teenager, I connected with Talia right away. Every detail of how an attack feels, to the complete exhaustion afterwards is written to perfection. Nobody ever talks about the tiredness that comes with an intense attack, and few people understand just how loopy it can make you for a while when you're caught between having one and trying to fight one off. I wanted to scoop Talia up in my arms and take care of her. It didn't matter to me that she cried a lot, and didn't have an army of friends to help her through. That girl is TOUGH, and I wish I'd had a friend like her when I was growing up!
Now, Lachlan. Oh man. I'm getting a little flustered just thinking about him! Gorgeous, dangerous, flirty, but tormented by his past. In spite of how it might appear, he isn't the classic "bad boy who is tamed by the love of his life." Yes, he was calmer when he met Talia but he was already a good guy underneath all the trouble he'd been in.
The relationship between the pair was absolutely perfect. It grew naturally, and it was very honest. Reading the different perspectives, it was great to see how their feelings evolved, and how they questioned things in the way only teenagers can.
I'm going to finish this review with a gigantic high five, hug and thank you for Allie Brennan. This book is not only a fantastic romance, but it is a comforting hand to anyone who suffers from panic attacks and goes through every day feeling like they are the only one.
January 3, 2013
3.5/5
Tight Knit being a debut novel with very few reviews and all, I didn't know what to expect. But I certainly didn't expect to like Lachlan as much as I did.
Instantly, I was drawn to Lachlan's secrets and mysterious charm, lurking beneath his bad boy exterior. His anger issues could have been explored further, and I felt, the "drug runs" were unnecessary. However, I did like the focus on Lachlan and Talia's relationship. Also, I enjoyed Lachlan's POV, as his voice felt natural and real. And the shifts regarding the alternating narratives felt effortless, natural and easy.
However, I didn't really like Talia's weakness. I was holding out hope for some big reveal about the cause of her panic attacks, yet there were none. And she was constantly weeping, drowning in her own tears, shyness and fear. I wanted to both shake her and comfort her. But of course, she ultimately learns to control her panic attacks on her own & breaks out of her shell, so to speak; thanks to Lachlan's influence and presence in her life.
The incidents with the grandmothers, panic attacks & the drug runs seemed unnecessary and crammed into the story just for the sake of conflict and drama. And I thought it was going to be a darker read than it was, because of the ex-convict, ex-druggie, attractive, yet self-destructive, bad-boy-loner vibe I got from Lachlan, and Talia’s extreme panic attacks. But no. It's more of a simpler, lighter read.
In sum, it was a light and easy read, although there were some heavy issues that very briefly touched upon. Still, I enjoyed this debut novel; I was both impressed and shocked at how much I loved Lachlan!
I'm looking forward to reading of Ms. Brennan's works. (;
Tight Knit being a debut novel with very few reviews and all, I didn't know what to expect. But I certainly didn't expect to like Lachlan as much as I did.
Instantly, I was drawn to Lachlan's secrets and mysterious charm, lurking beneath his bad boy exterior. His anger issues could have been explored further, and I felt, the "drug runs" were unnecessary. However, I did like the focus on Lachlan and Talia's relationship. Also, I enjoyed Lachlan's POV, as his voice felt natural and real. And the shifts regarding the alternating narratives felt effortless, natural and easy.
However, I didn't really like Talia's weakness. I was holding out hope for some big reveal about the cause of her panic attacks, yet there were none. And she was constantly weeping, drowning in her own tears, shyness and fear. I wanted to both shake her and comfort her. But of course, she ultimately learns to control her panic attacks on her own & breaks out of her shell, so to speak; thanks to Lachlan's influence and presence in her life.
The incidents with the grandmothers, panic attacks & the drug runs seemed unnecessary and crammed into the story just for the sake of conflict and drama. And I thought it was going to be a darker read than it was, because of the ex-convict, ex-druggie, attractive, yet self-destructive, bad-boy-loner vibe I got from Lachlan, and Talia’s extreme panic attacks. But no. It's more of a simpler, lighter read.
In sum, it was a light and easy read, although there were some heavy issues that very briefly touched upon. Still, I enjoyed this debut novel; I was both impressed and shocked at how much I loved Lachlan!
I'm looking forward to reading of Ms. Brennan's works. (;
January 30, 2013
So, I liked the premise of this book, but it's was just kind of ok for me. I just couldn't help but feel like I was missing something reading it. It was a little all over the place. I never really felt like Lachlan's back story was explained. Spoilers.......
January 23, 2013
4.5 stars!
Tight Knit was a very sweet read. I enjoyed the story and the ups and downs of the characters. I was easily drawn into the story on the very first page and wanted to continue reading until the end. Talia and Lachlan were great characters and I loved their relationship and how they helped one another since they were both broken. The knitting aspect is what made me buy the book since I'm a beginning knitter (ok, I've attempted knitting and I really wish I was better at it) and I loved how it played a role in the story. What was going on with Talia's Nan hit very close to home for me and I loved their relationship. Tight Knit is a very sweet, cute, but real story that was well-written and flowed easily. I can't wait to read more by Allie Brennan.
Tight Knit was a very sweet read. I enjoyed the story and the ups and downs of the characters. I was easily drawn into the story on the very first page and wanted to continue reading until the end. Talia and Lachlan were great characters and I loved their relationship and how they helped one another since they were both broken. The knitting aspect is what made me buy the book since I'm a beginning knitter (ok, I've attempted knitting and I really wish I was better at it) and I loved how it played a role in the story. What was going on with Talia's Nan hit very close to home for me and I loved their relationship. Tight Knit is a very sweet, cute, but real story that was well-written and flowed easily. I can't wait to read more by Allie Brennan.
January 5, 2013
I think I just found a new author to add to my favourites list! Great debut novel! Finished it in one day. The next book out by this author looks great too, can't wait!!!
February 24, 2013
The main reason I picked this book was because I needed something different to read. I've read a lot of dystopian novels and some adult fictions lately and I figured that it's time to try out something new. When I read the blurb of Tight Knit I got curious because it's about a kid with a panic disorder and is facing a lot of stress. I knew it was exactly what I needed and I read it immediately. I was not disappointed.
"We all harbor little pieces of pain that accumulate inside us. Pain we wish we could cast out, but in truth defines us. All we really need is someone to help us bear the hurt. Someone to say I’m right beside you. Someone to say no matter what you’re not alone. I want that. I want to be that. For him."Talia was once an anxiety drug dependent to be able to function, however, her grandmother pulled her out of her medication and is helping her to cope with her panic disorder. Her Nana is the only person who can calm her during her panic attacks and when she found out that she's sick, Talia is at a loss. On top of that, she is starting to feel that her bestfriend is hiding something from her, she couldn't stand to be with her boyfriend, and lastly, she was appointed to plan a charity drive for her and her Nana's knitting group. Needless to say, her panic attacks became more frequent than ever... and then she met Lachlan.
- Talia
"It’s so easy to forget with her. Forget all the things in my life that have brought me to this point. All the mistakes I’ve made, the disappointment I’ve been to those I care about the most. Now I’ve added her to that list.If there's one person the legendary bad boy Lachlan loved and feared, it's his Gram. So when she asked him to pick her up and was obviously being set up with a girl from her knitting group, he went along with it. Talia looked nice and innocent, he knew he's not good enough for her. When his Gram forced him to help with the charity drive for the knitting group, he learned more about Talia and started to fall for her.
It’s not fair to her.
I want to forget, but first I have to let her in".
- Lachlan
“Sometimes Opposites Attract, and find out they're not as opposite as they thought....”I loved this book! It has enough angst and family drama that really pulled me in. The characters are so unique. Talia for example, she's 17 years old and she only have one friend her age. She hangs out with older people and she knits... that's very unusual for a normal 17 year old right? Lachlan reminds me a bit of the boys in the Perfect Chemistry series because like them, Lannie is also involved with gangs. The relationship between the two wasn't perfect, since both are emotionally unstable, they both struggled with their feelings. However, when they finally realized that they can trust each other, it was amazing. I also loved how the story ended, not all their problems were resolved--- Lachlan's Gram died, Nan's cancer didn't magically disappear, Tali's parents are still working out their relationship, etc. The point is, life goes on, there are still issues unresolved but now Lachlan and Talia doesn't have to face their problems alone.
“I feel like no matter what happens I can handle it. I’ve never felt like this before. It feels good.”The book isn't perfect though, there are some stuff I wished were explored, like how did Lachlan owed the gang and ended up doing "errands" for them; what happened to Tali's relationship with her mom, etc. Also, I wasn't very convinced about Janna being Deacon's victim... I mean, in the beginning Tali already noticed some changes about Janna's behavior... so yeah, I think she was a willing participant at first.
-Talia
Anyway, this book was a great read. Highly recommended to YA realistic fiction readers. BTW, I forgot to mention how I loved the grandmothers in this book (except for Deacon's granny, that old lady was awful)! Also, I think the cover looks good!
4 solid stars for Tight Knit!
January 28, 2013
Oh my gosh you guys, this book was incredible. I'm trying to figure out where I even want to begin. I had heard about this book through a friend of mine, who said it was a really great book. After having read it, I can see why. If you've followed my reviews, you will know how much I love well written Contemporary works. Tight Knit is definitely up there on my list of favorite Contemporaries now. Allie's writing was really great too, I will get into that more when I talk about the actual story.
I loved how simple this story was, while still having a ton of depth. If you were to do a basic overview, you could very easily describe the book. It's the amount of depth Allie added that makes it so enjoyable. The drama, all of the troubles and everything the characters go through. Those where the things that take you on that emotional roller-coaster and really makes you enjoy the ride. And trust me, there is a ton of emotion in this book and quite a wide range at that. I was finding myself laughing at something, and several pages later being sad or upset. I loved that.
The characters Allie has created for Tight Knit... Wow. I can't even really express how much I loved these characters. Especially Talia and Lachlan. The relationship they have in this book, so epic. Easily one of my favorite book relationships. And them as separate characters, I can't tell you how many times Talia had me laughing throughout this book. If she wants to say something, she will say it. And I can promise you that she has several awesome moments throughout this book where she will have you laughing when she puts her foot down on some things. There was one line in particular where I completely lost it. She is such an incredible character.
Lachlan is also really great. He has been through so much, but he is still such an awesome character. And even now, there is a lot he is going through and he holds a really big secret. I just couldn't help but enjoy him as a character, how he stands up to the jerk Deacon and protects Talia early on you really see that he is a pretty great guy. He might have a lot of troubles from his past, and even currently. But I can assure you that he is a pretty great guy, and a really enjoyable character.
And who could forget these twos Grandmonthers? These ladies were awesome, and I thought they were such a great addition the the story. I loved having them in it, really made things more enjoyable. And I thought it was awesome how they were such great friends. I just think it is awesome that Talia and Lachlan were able to share a connection through them.
Overall, this book was amazing. Seriously. I didn't find anything in this book that I didn't enjoy, and if you follow my reviews you will know how picky I am. Allie really hit it out of the park with this book, and I can definitely say that I will be reading more of her books in the future. I am already really excited for Under the Dusty Sky to come out.
If you haven't read this book yet, you really, really need to. I can't say that enough, it is an incredible book that I feel so many people will enjoy. So make sure to try to read it if you get the chance, and hopefully you will end up enjoying it just as much as I did.
I loved how simple this story was, while still having a ton of depth. If you were to do a basic overview, you could very easily describe the book. It's the amount of depth Allie added that makes it so enjoyable. The drama, all of the troubles and everything the characters go through. Those where the things that take you on that emotional roller-coaster and really makes you enjoy the ride. And trust me, there is a ton of emotion in this book and quite a wide range at that. I was finding myself laughing at something, and several pages later being sad or upset. I loved that.
The characters Allie has created for Tight Knit... Wow. I can't even really express how much I loved these characters. Especially Talia and Lachlan. The relationship they have in this book, so epic. Easily one of my favorite book relationships. And them as separate characters, I can't tell you how many times Talia had me laughing throughout this book. If she wants to say something, she will say it. And I can promise you that she has several awesome moments throughout this book where she will have you laughing when she puts her foot down on some things. There was one line in particular where I completely lost it. She is such an incredible character.
Lachlan is also really great. He has been through so much, but he is still such an awesome character. And even now, there is a lot he is going through and he holds a really big secret. I just couldn't help but enjoy him as a character, how he stands up to the jerk Deacon and protects Talia early on you really see that he is a pretty great guy. He might have a lot of troubles from his past, and even currently. But I can assure you that he is a pretty great guy, and a really enjoyable character.
And who could forget these twos Grandmonthers? These ladies were awesome, and I thought they were such a great addition the the story. I loved having them in it, really made things more enjoyable. And I thought it was awesome how they were such great friends. I just think it is awesome that Talia and Lachlan were able to share a connection through them.
Overall, this book was amazing. Seriously. I didn't find anything in this book that I didn't enjoy, and if you follow my reviews you will know how picky I am. Allie really hit it out of the park with this book, and I can definitely say that I will be reading more of her books in the future. I am already really excited for Under the Dusty Sky to come out.
If you haven't read this book yet, you really, really need to. I can't say that enough, it is an incredible book that I feel so many people will enjoy. So make sure to try to read it if you get the chance, and hopefully you will end up enjoying it just as much as I did.
June 23, 2013
I think the cover is really cute.
Talia has suffered from severe anxiety/panic attacks for many years. She was put on medication for awhile and felt numb like a zombie. She goes off the medication and struggles to learn how to control her debilitating anxiety. Lachlan has been dealt some terrible cards in life. He does not like feeling numb and is used to pain. He puts on this tough guy persona when really he is a vulnerable/broken person.
Talia's Nan is president of the Tight Knit Society. It is a knitting group. Every year they participate in a Charity Drive to raise money for a homeless shelter. Only Talia's Nan is sick and she asks Talia to take over her duties as president for a while. Well with Talia's panic attacks that could pose a problem. Lachlan's Gram happens to be a part of the knitting club and ropes him into helping out Talia organize for the event. I kind of wanted one of those hats Talia made in the book.
I think having grandma's in the book and centering a lot of the story around them and their relationships with the grandkids was a nice change. It was really lovely to see Nan and Gram (the grandmas) in this book. They are both wonderful grandma's. The book pays homage to grandmas and the importance of that relationship. Throughout the story, Lachlan and Talia take the lessons their grandma's impart on them and apply them to different situation
Talia's boyfriend at the beginning of the book, Deacon, was despicable.
It was adorable how Grams (Georgina) tries to play matchmaker with Lachlan and Talia. She recognizes that each could be just what the other one needs. On the surface they seem so different but deep down they are not so different. Talia and Lachlan complement each other really well. Lachlan brings Talia out of her shell and he knows how to calm her anxiety. Lachlan is used to being around a rougher crowd and Talia is very sweet and innocent so she helps him strive to be better (so does his Gram's). Lachlan is not good at expressing his emotions and Talia helps him open up more. I like Talia builds more of a backbone and a voice as the story progresses.
It was a cute story but it dealt with some serious issues. The story shows how unexpected life can be in good ways and bad ways.
I think there is going to be a companion book about Talia's friend Janna and a guy named Jordan.
Talia has suffered from severe anxiety/panic attacks for many years. She was put on medication for awhile and felt numb like a zombie. She goes off the medication and struggles to learn how to control her debilitating anxiety. Lachlan has been dealt some terrible cards in life. He does not like feeling numb and is used to pain. He puts on this tough guy persona when really he is a vulnerable/broken person.
Talia's Nan is president of the Tight Knit Society. It is a knitting group. Every year they participate in a Charity Drive to raise money for a homeless shelter. Only Talia's Nan is sick and she asks Talia to take over her duties as president for a while. Well with Talia's panic attacks that could pose a problem. Lachlan's Gram happens to be a part of the knitting club and ropes him into helping out Talia organize for the event. I kind of wanted one of those hats Talia made in the book.
I think having grandma's in the book and centering a lot of the story around them and their relationships with the grandkids was a nice change. It was really lovely to see Nan and Gram (the grandmas) in this book. They are both wonderful grandma's. The book pays homage to grandmas and the importance of that relationship. Throughout the story, Lachlan and Talia take the lessons their grandma's impart on them and apply them to different situation
Talia's boyfriend at the beginning of the book, Deacon, was despicable.
It was adorable how Grams (Georgina) tries to play matchmaker with Lachlan and Talia. She recognizes that each could be just what the other one needs. On the surface they seem so different but deep down they are not so different. Talia and Lachlan complement each other really well. Lachlan brings Talia out of her shell and he knows how to calm her anxiety. Lachlan is used to being around a rougher crowd and Talia is very sweet and innocent so she helps him strive to be better (so does his Gram's). Lachlan is not good at expressing his emotions and Talia helps him open up more. I like Talia builds more of a backbone and a voice as the story progresses.
It was a cute story but it dealt with some serious issues. The story shows how unexpected life can be in good ways and bad ways.
I think there is going to be a companion book about Talia's friend Janna and a guy named Jordan.
January 28, 2013
This book is one of the cutest things I have ever read, and that’s saying a lot. It’s the debut baby of my genius cover artist, AllieBrennan, and I’m so glad I moved it up my list.
I was immediately drawn into Talia’s panic-driven world. I wanted to hug her, tuck her into my heart, and strip her of all her fears. With her sweetheart personality, it was heart-wrenching to see her suffer. But panic attacks are something that so many do suffer from, I appreciated this subject being brought to light. Though I do actually knit (I’m terrible at it) and crochet (pretty good at it), I wasn’t sure how I’d respond to the knitting aspect being such a big part of the novel, but I loved it. It was a great addition to the story, wonderfully unique. I was pleasantly entertained by each of the ladies Talia meets with. Nan and Georgina both made me laugh, made me cry. I have only one grandmother that I’m close with, but we live so far away. This story made me miss her terribly.
Lachlan was what I like to call a real dream. He was incredibly real and honest and hooked me from the get-go, but he’s a dream because he’s a dream. Duh. He’s cute and kind. Can be an ass at times, but what guy isn’t? And come on, girls. We can admit that the jerky part of a guy makes us swoon sometimes. Even prudish little jock-hater me can appreciate the swoon-worthiness of a guy being a guy. My heart also broke for Lachlan and the suffering her went through as a child.
What started as a classic case of two broken people finding each other became so much more. The characters were deep. They brought me to tears and wrenched at my heart more times than I can remember. For me, this novel was a slow read, which is not to mean that it was long and/or dreary. The opposite actually. When I term a novel a “slow read” it simply means that the story was so beautiful, I took my time reading it and digested every delicious word. I didn’t rush through paragraphs of inner monologue to get to the dialogue, I enjoyed it all.
If you haven’t put this on your to-read, do it now. And if you can, I suggest moving it up the list. You won’t regret it.
I was immediately drawn into Talia’s panic-driven world. I wanted to hug her, tuck her into my heart, and strip her of all her fears. With her sweetheart personality, it was heart-wrenching to see her suffer. But panic attacks are something that so many do suffer from, I appreciated this subject being brought to light. Though I do actually knit (I’m terrible at it) and crochet (pretty good at it), I wasn’t sure how I’d respond to the knitting aspect being such a big part of the novel, but I loved it. It was a great addition to the story, wonderfully unique. I was pleasantly entertained by each of the ladies Talia meets with. Nan and Georgina both made me laugh, made me cry. I have only one grandmother that I’m close with, but we live so far away. This story made me miss her terribly.
Lachlan was what I like to call a real dream. He was incredibly real and honest and hooked me from the get-go, but he’s a dream because he’s a dream. Duh. He’s cute and kind. Can be an ass at times, but what guy isn’t? And come on, girls. We can admit that the jerky part of a guy makes us swoon sometimes. Even prudish little jock-hater me can appreciate the swoon-worthiness of a guy being a guy. My heart also broke for Lachlan and the suffering her went through as a child.
What started as a classic case of two broken people finding each other became so much more. The characters were deep. They brought me to tears and wrenched at my heart more times than I can remember. For me, this novel was a slow read, which is not to mean that it was long and/or dreary. The opposite actually. When I term a novel a “slow read” it simply means that the story was so beautiful, I took my time reading it and digested every delicious word. I didn’t rush through paragraphs of inner monologue to get to the dialogue, I enjoyed it all.
If you haven’t put this on your to-read, do it now. And if you can, I suggest moving it up the list. You won’t regret it.
January 6, 2013
Loved this, and it was exactly what I had been craving, I was all set to start reading some book I already own that I was kind of 'whatever guess this will do' about and then I saw one of my friends on Goodreads marked this as to-read and I just casually clicked on it to see what it was about, and then I thought, never mind that other book this sounds like more fun.
I really enjoyed it, when I first started reading it, I was super tired but I really wanted to keep reading, (The one time I'm tired!) so I had to force myself to put it down because seeing wasn't going well. Anyways, I like this, because these two think they're very different and wrong for each other, but they're actually very much a like they just had very different circumstances thrown at each other, and they're also very good for each other. They both have mental health issues and are trying to change a part of themselves for the better. They fight all the time but keep ending up back together.
It's really just a well written book with some complex very real characters and I liked hearing from both of their perspectives, this is not a common thing in a contemporary romance and it turned out so well, each character had their own very distinctive voice, so well written. Can't wait to read more books by this author.
I really enjoyed it, when I first started reading it, I was super tired but I really wanted to keep reading, (The one time I'm tired!) so I had to force myself to put it down because seeing wasn't going well. Anyways, I like this, because these two think they're very different and wrong for each other, but they're actually very much a like they just had very different circumstances thrown at each other, and they're also very good for each other. They both have mental health issues and are trying to change a part of themselves for the better. They fight all the time but keep ending up back together.
It's really just a well written book with some complex very real characters and I liked hearing from both of their perspectives, this is not a common thing in a contemporary romance and it turned out so well, each character had their own very distinctive voice, so well written. Can't wait to read more books by this author.
January 17, 2013
It was a great book. A comforter and also a sweetheart, just like the cover suggests. I really loved the characters. :) The old women were funny... no, hilarious, a scream, really, while Talia and Lachlan was a lot like Alex and Brittany from Perfect Chemistry.
It's a lovely story with the slow roll of the American countryside, yet it had some serious big city suburban drama, too.
I absolutely loved it and in the end it was difficult to let the characters go. If I weren't so exhausted I would have read this in one, max. two sittings. It's that good.
I loved the picturesque, dead-on descriptions of small gestures that made the whole story film-like. Like how Talia throws her phone back into her bag after texting at a red light or Lachlan turns out of the bathroom, covering his eyes with his arm.
The one funny thing was that though the author is a she, Lachlan's parts are much better, than that of Talia's.
You'll love this book. :)
It's a lovely story with the slow roll of the American countryside, yet it had some serious big city suburban drama, too.
I absolutely loved it and in the end it was difficult to let the characters go. If I weren't so exhausted I would have read this in one, max. two sittings. It's that good.
I loved the picturesque, dead-on descriptions of small gestures that made the whole story film-like. Like how Talia throws her phone back into her bag after texting at a red light or Lachlan turns out of the bathroom, covering his eyes with his arm.
The one funny thing was that though the author is a she, Lachlan's parts are much better, than that of Talia's.
You'll love this book. :)
January 11, 2013
I've wanted to read this book for a while. I've seen the cover everywhere. It's super cute. Then I started reading and Lachlan walked it. So not what I expected from this book. He is such a broken person. So many scars and issues. I loved the intensity that these two brought out in each other. I loved that they helped the other person become more whole. The only part that gave me pause was the end felt a tiny bit rushed. **Spoilers** When Gram dies my breath was taken away by the wording she uses to describe how Lachlan feels. Here's a tiny sample: "There's a gurgle that comes from my mouth as the crack moves through me, tearing me open." His grief is momentarily profound. Which it should be. She is all he's ever had until Talia. I just felt this grief needed to last a little longer or be explored a little more.**End Spoilers**
But in the end I LOVED this story. Can't wait to read her next book. It sounds like so much fun!
But in the end I LOVED this story. Can't wait to read her next book. It sounds like so much fun!
March 7, 2013
How cute is this book cover? So cute.
I really liked this story. I'm not usually a fan of the changing POV every chapter back and forth, but it worked well with these characters. This was probably one of the most "real" books I've read in a while. Talia was a female character that I didn't think I'd like, because I had nothing in common with her. She was the type of girl I normally get frustrated with - but this author wrote her so beautifully that I started to feel protective of her.
The ending was a bit open and I didn't get a lot of resolution. Normally I would not like that, but I've decided to look at it like this: These are teens. There's no way to get more resolution without going further in to their futures - and this story wasn't about that. I'm accepting it for the part of their lives it is. It might be interesting to run in to them again 15 years down the road.
Overall, a solid and well written book. I'm actually adding it to my favorites shelf.
I really liked this story. I'm not usually a fan of the changing POV every chapter back and forth, but it worked well with these characters. This was probably one of the most "real" books I've read in a while. Talia was a female character that I didn't think I'd like, because I had nothing in common with her. She was the type of girl I normally get frustrated with - but this author wrote her so beautifully that I started to feel protective of her.
The ending was a bit open and I didn't get a lot of resolution. Normally I would not like that, but I've decided to look at it like this: These are teens. There's no way to get more resolution without going further in to their futures - and this story wasn't about that. I'm accepting it for the part of their lives it is. It might be interesting to run in to them again 15 years down the road.
Overall, a solid and well written book. I'm actually adding it to my favorites shelf.
January 5, 2013
Talia has panic attacks and has no idea why she has them.Lachlan has had a very hard upbringing and has been in trouble with the law.Knitting club ironically brings these two unlikely people together. Talia's nan is sick so she has to run the club and Lachlan's Grandma Georgina asks him to help with a charity function.
Tight Knit was a superb book.I loved it.Could.Not.Put.It.Down.Ive been waiting for it to release for awhile and Im so glad it did.I LOVED Talia and Lachlan's chemistry was pretty hot.I was unable to put Tight Knit down.It definitely exceeded my expectations.I would love to read a sequel with Talia and Lachlan.Job Well done Allie Brennan I look forward to reading more by you!
Taken from my Blog Le'BookSquirrel
Tight Knit was a superb book.I loved it.Could.Not.Put.It.Down.Ive been waiting for it to release for awhile and Im so glad it did.I LOVED Talia and Lachlan's chemistry was pretty hot.I was unable to put Tight Knit down.It definitely exceeded my expectations.I would love to read a sequel with Talia and Lachlan.Job Well done Allie Brennan I look forward to reading more by you!
Taken from my Blog Le'BookSquirrel
May 14, 2013
There were elements of this that I loved & others parts not so much.
I found Talia's POV's a little hard at times, I could nearly feel a panic attack coming on myself (which is probably a credit to the author to be fair).
I liked Laughlan a lot, he was a great bad boy
And though I enjoyed their story (I flew through it and couldn't put it down) & was rooting for them I didn't feel the connection between them that I wanted to feel.
The grandmothers were fantastic, probably my favorite part.
I found Talia's POV's a little hard at times, I could nearly feel a panic attack coming on myself (which is probably a credit to the author to be fair).
I liked Laughlan a lot, he was a great bad boy
And though I enjoyed their story (I flew through it and couldn't put it down) & was rooting for them I didn't feel the connection between them that I wanted to feel.
The grandmothers were fantastic, probably my favorite part.
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