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Grounding Quinn
Eighteen-year-old Quinn MacPherson's biggest fear has always been turning out like her mentally unstable mother or cold-hearted father. That is, until she meets Benjamin Shaw.
Quinn thinks hooking up with Ben over summer vacation will be nothing more than a quick fling, and with his hot body and heart-breaking smile that's all she really wants from him. But she quickly realises that, Ben is not just some guy. He gets her - the real her, flaws and all - and that scares the hell out of her. So when Ben does the unthinkable and tells Quinn he's in love with her, she does what comes naturally: she pushes him away, breaking his heart, before he can break hers.
Ben isn't prepared to let go that easily, he knows that Quinn is something special, and he'll do whatever it takes to make sure they're together. But will he be able to persuade Quinn to open herself up and allow Ben in to her life… and her heart?
Quinn thinks hooking up with Ben over summer vacation will be nothing more than a quick fling, and with his hot body and heart-breaking smile that's all she really wants from him. But she quickly realises that, Ben is not just some guy. He gets her - the real her, flaws and all - and that scares the hell out of her. So when Ben does the unthinkable and tells Quinn he's in love with her, she does what comes naturally: she pushes him away, breaking his heart, before he can break hers.
Ben isn't prepared to let go that easily, he knows that Quinn is something special, and he'll do whatever it takes to make sure they're together. But will he be able to persuade Quinn to open herself up and allow Ben in to her life… and her heart?
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 2011
28 people are currently reading
3452 people want to read
About the author
Steph Campbell
34 books1,139 followersMom.
Wife.
YA Author.
So Cal Native.
Bayou Transplant.
Reluctant Texan.
I hate shows with laugh tracks.
Wife.
YA Author.
So Cal Native.
Bayou Transplant.
Reluctant Texan.
I hate shows with laugh tracks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
November 16, 2012
Here We Go Again. It looks long but it goes fast ;)
The Story is the most cliché thing you’ll find. Girl afraid to fall in Love. Boy that Loves her. She pushes him away. They get back together. End of the story. A lot of books have this plot and I LOVE IT! It's my favorite subject – I think… - and so when I read the summary I knew I had to read it. Sadly, my relationship with this book didn’t turn out nearly as good as I hoped :/ This is not a hate review whatsoever, it’s just a take on my personal opinion.
The first half of the book was great, it’s the part where the girl – Quinn – and the guy – Ben – fall in love. It was really good. This is also the part where she starts to get scared – Normal – and then they break up – Normal. I was sure I was going to give it 4 stars. The next half make me think I would give it 1.
They got into this Here We Go Again thing that was a pain in the butt. It went like this:
She did something. Something really bad. He’s pissed and goes away. She begs. He decides to forgive her. She tells him to go away (if the guy is willing to forgive you, why the hell do you tell him to go? O.o).He goes to a party with another girl. She yells at him stuff about moving on too fast and him dumping her for the ‘promiscuous’ girl [I say promiscuous to make it sound nicer] (whaaaaat? She dumped Him. Then he begs her again. She pushes him Away. Tells him she hates him. Feels bad afterwards. And blah blah.
There where WAY to many of this episodes and I was LITERALLY rolling my eyes by the end. And it was so much time that passed after they broke up, she says so herself, more than 100 days! It was somewhere around 5 months. So It also seemed unreal that they weren't moving past this, it's like 'Dude, Move On!!!' I was seriously – practically begging – for the book to end with both of them going their separate ways.
Another thing was the families. Ben’s mom was a bitch! And not once does he confront her. And also Quinn’s dad is a bitch! He’s sleeping with their neighbor! And her mom is crazy – literary. She has problems with them but she also never actually confronts them. In one chapter her dad is being pushy and she takes out the your-cheating-on-my-mom card. But that’s all, no sorting things out, just a check mate.
Being Scared is one thing, scared to fall in love, to confront someone and to just live your life. It is a whole other thing to be weak, which was what I got form Quinn :/
It had some good points, because she learns some valuable lessons, and by the end it seems that she finally got it, and even though a thousand Here We Go Again episodes happened, I was ready to see her come to her senses and talk to Ben. And when she’s at his house, she suddenly says:
“Never mind, it was stupid of me to come.”
Oh. Dear. God. Kill Me.
She threw everything she had learned, all the things she went through during the book directly to the trash with that line. All I wanted to do was grab the book and hit my forehead against it! If it wasn’t because there were 2 pages left I wouldn’t have continued reading it.
I’m not a girl that likes Here We Go Again relationships – been there – and I sort of can’t stand people who feel sorry for themselves, I get it, you get down sometimes – done that – but you get UP again. And the same goes to Quinn, she went through a lot of stuff, but you have got to move on.
So I’m giving it 2 stars. More like 2.5. Which means that it was OK. It had its meaning, but it just didn’t work nearly as well as I hoped. More than that I feel crushed, I wanted so bad to love it
If you can stand way to many Here We Go Again episodes then this book is for you.
The Story is the most cliché thing you’ll find. Girl afraid to fall in Love. Boy that Loves her. She pushes him away. They get back together. End of the story. A lot of books have this plot and I LOVE IT! It's my favorite subject – I think… - and so when I read the summary I knew I had to read it. Sadly, my relationship with this book didn’t turn out nearly as good as I hoped :/ This is not a hate review whatsoever, it’s just a take on my personal opinion.
The first half of the book was great, it’s the part where the girl – Quinn – and the guy – Ben – fall in love. It was really good. This is also the part where she starts to get scared – Normal – and then they break up – Normal. I was sure I was going to give it 4 stars. The next half make me think I would give it 1.
They got into this Here We Go Again thing that was a pain in the butt. It went like this:
She did something. Something really bad. He’s pissed and goes away. She begs. He decides to forgive her. She tells him to go away (if the guy is willing to forgive you, why the hell do you tell him to go? O.o).He goes to a party with another girl. She yells at him stuff about moving on too fast and him dumping her for the ‘promiscuous’ girl [I say promiscuous to make it sound nicer] (whaaaaat? She dumped Him. Then he begs her again. She pushes him Away. Tells him she hates him. Feels bad afterwards. And blah blah.
There where WAY to many of this episodes and I was LITERALLY rolling my eyes by the end. And it was so much time that passed after they broke up, she says so herself, more than 100 days! It was somewhere around 5 months. So It also seemed unreal that they weren't moving past this, it's like 'Dude, Move On!!!' I was seriously – practically begging – for the book to end with both of them going their separate ways.
Another thing was the families. Ben’s mom was a bitch! And not once does he confront her. And also Quinn’s dad is a bitch! He’s sleeping with their neighbor! And her mom is crazy – literary. She has problems with them but she also never actually confronts them. In one chapter her dad is being pushy and she takes out the your-cheating-on-my-mom card. But that’s all, no sorting things out, just a check mate.
Being Scared is one thing, scared to fall in love, to confront someone and to just live your life. It is a whole other thing to be weak, which was what I got form Quinn :/
It had some good points, because she learns some valuable lessons, and by the end it seems that she finally got it, and even though a thousand Here We Go Again episodes happened, I was ready to see her come to her senses and talk to Ben. And when she’s at his house, she suddenly says:
“Never mind, it was stupid of me to come.”
Oh. Dear. God. Kill Me.
She threw everything she had learned, all the things she went through during the book directly to the trash with that line. All I wanted to do was grab the book and hit my forehead against it! If it wasn’t because there were 2 pages left I wouldn’t have continued reading it.
I’m not a girl that likes Here We Go Again relationships – been there – and I sort of can’t stand people who feel sorry for themselves, I get it, you get down sometimes – done that – but you get UP again. And the same goes to Quinn, she went through a lot of stuff, but you have got to move on.
So I’m giving it 2 stars. More like 2.5. Which means that it was OK. It had its meaning, but it just didn’t work nearly as well as I hoped. More than that I feel crushed, I wanted so bad to love it
If you can stand way to many Here We Go Again episodes then this book is for you.
March 13, 2012
This sounds like an awful book.
March 24, 2012
For those of us who prefer dysfunction to dystopia, relationships to spaceships, cupid's darts to bows and arrows, and real emotions to EMOTING, this is an awesome book. When we first meet MC Quinn, she's in the principal's office, sneakily blacking out her father's smarmy class photo smugface with a sharpy. And Quinn spends most of the rest of the book trying to obliterate herself, as well. She's actually doing a pretty good job of it, too, what with the prescription drugs she steals from her wacked out mom, her "fake it till you make it" relationships with various frenemies and faux boyfriends, and sliding through school with the minimum possible effort (and results). But then this guy Ben shows up ...
Ben is a wonderful male YA character. He's open and vulnerable, without being a creampuff, thoughtful, creative and kind of innocent without being naive. Ok, he's not without his flaws, he's a bit dominated by his GCB mom, and he lets Quinn pull a lot of shit that maybe he should have called her on (I'll grant that I'm not exactly sure how, but still). Quinn is also an awesome character, possessed of a wry, sarcastic wit - she really knows her way around a smart-ass quip, that's for sure - but those of us equipped with internal dialog vision know that she's not without her softer side as well. The first half of the book is really fun, clever, funny, warm and even sweet. Thank goodness we've already fallen in love with Quinn's self-destructive little self by the time she steers the ride out of the Tunnel of Love into the House of Mystery, because it gets pretty darn dark in there. There's one moment in particular (trust me you'll know when you get there) where you want to reach in and shout, "Quinny, no, don't, you're already regretting this!" But alas, she didn't listen, to me, or even to her broken little heart.
The basic story is not unfamiliar to YA readers, especially the "I'm too effed-up for you to love me," theme. But in capable author Stephanie Campbell's hands, it's treated so cleverly, with such literary skill and depth, and with such warmth and compassion towards her characters, that it glows like a nightlight in a dark place. The kids in this book are like many of the kids I know in real life. They are so privileged in so many ways ("You don't know how good you've got it," Quinn's father screams, just when she's at her lowest), but still bereft, after so many nights of "working late," parental affairs and alcohol issues, that they are hollowed out inside. This is a look at how some of them, sometimes, find their way out, despite all that. Stephanie does a masterful job of portraying them, and their world, with humor, style, warmth and compassion for her character and the reader. There is catharsis here, although it's a night light, like I said, not an all consuming sunny glow. And that feels real, just like the rest of this extremely well-done and lovely book.
Ben is a wonderful male YA character. He's open and vulnerable, without being a creampuff, thoughtful, creative and kind of innocent without being naive. Ok, he's not without his flaws, he's a bit dominated by his GCB mom, and he lets Quinn pull a lot of shit that maybe he should have called her on (I'll grant that I'm not exactly sure how, but still). Quinn is also an awesome character, possessed of a wry, sarcastic wit - she really knows her way around a smart-ass quip, that's for sure - but those of us equipped with internal dialog vision know that she's not without her softer side as well. The first half of the book is really fun, clever, funny, warm and even sweet. Thank goodness we've already fallen in love with Quinn's self-destructive little self by the time she steers the ride out of the Tunnel of Love into the House of Mystery, because it gets pretty darn dark in there. There's one moment in particular (trust me you'll know when you get there) where you want to reach in and shout, "Quinny, no, don't, you're already regretting this!" But alas, she didn't listen, to me, or even to her broken little heart.
The basic story is not unfamiliar to YA readers, especially the "I'm too effed-up for you to love me," theme. But in capable author Stephanie Campbell's hands, it's treated so cleverly, with such literary skill and depth, and with such warmth and compassion towards her characters, that it glows like a nightlight in a dark place. The kids in this book are like many of the kids I know in real life. They are so privileged in so many ways ("You don't know how good you've got it," Quinn's father screams, just when she's at her lowest), but still bereft, after so many nights of "working late," parental affairs and alcohol issues, that they are hollowed out inside. This is a look at how some of them, sometimes, find their way out, despite all that. Stephanie does a masterful job of portraying them, and their world, with humor, style, warmth and compassion for her character and the reader. There is catharsis here, although it's a night light, like I said, not an all consuming sunny glow. And that feels real, just like the rest of this extremely well-done and lovely book.
do-not-read
March 14, 2012Reason in Comments
July 23, 2011
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE YA REVIEWS AT READING, EATING & DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF
Grounding Quinn by Stephanie Campbell was a well-written, engaging story. This story was good and it made an impression, however, it was what the author, Stephanie Campbell, did that made me like this book so much: In so many different ways, she made this story REALITISTIC AND AUTHENTIC!
Grounding Quinn was a marvelous modern-day romance and extremely hilarious at times. I loved that it was current and relatable (Facebook stalking comment, sly twilight references, etc.).
QUINN-
What to say about Quinn? She has a wall around her heart and she doesn’t really let people in. She screws up pretty often and is rather selfish. But these things don’t make her a bad character…they make her real and relatable. (Who hasn’t gotten themselves into situations that they regretted immediately or later on down the road? Also, I’m not a stalker, but I definitely would have found a way to show up at that party- that’s all I’m saying.) The only thing I disliked about Quinn was, at times, I thought she was a little whinny. Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed the snarky, little biatch.
BEN-
Ben is a very unique character, in my opinion. He's innocent (like the BIG innocent). In most novels, authors paint the girl as the innocent character still holding onto her “v” card, but not this one. Campbell reversed the roles, and (surprisingly) I really liked the twist. My only problem with Ben was that he's sort of a push over. There were times where I pictured him big, strong and manly and other times he seemed like a little child. But it works because I think it’s a part of his characters growth and development. Oh, and I seriously want to slap his mother.
One thing Stephanie Campbell did that really stood out to me (that not many authors do): She gave her character “hobbies” or "side action" (I guess you could call it) without it turning into the characters identity. Throughout the novel, Quinn takes a few gymnastic lessons and Ben sometimes plays bass, but it's not her life’s mission to go the Olympics and he's not trying to start a band or write lyrics the whole novel. In real life, people enjoy hobbies without them becoming their identity, but in books, I feel like if an author mentions a hobby then it's going to come to mean something later on or stay a constant theme throughout the novel. Campbell giving her characters extra “hobbies” that weren’t necessarily crucial to them as a character made her characters more realistic and relatable.
Also, in my opinion, she gave readers a fantastic, realistic conclusion (read below my spoiler alert at the bottom if you want to know why)!
I gave Grounding Quinn by Stephanie Campbell 4 STARS. The story is good, but the writing and the unique quirks in this book make it even better. I recommend this story for older teens that are looking for a real-day romance. I think Stephanie Campbell is a unique author, and I can’t wait to see what she writes in the future. I am especially looking forward to reading Delicate, a companion novel to Grounding Quinn about Sydney, Quinn’s best friend. Delicate will tell the story of Sydney’s abusive ex-boyfriend and will take place a year before Grounding Quinn.
*****SPOILER ALERT!*****
My thoughts on the ending: Some authors want to tie every loose end together at the end of their novel. However, Campbell doesn't do this. At the end of the day, Quinn’s family is still crazy and Ben’s mom is still a stuck-up wench. They didn't have to go through their cliché “I learned my lesson, I will get better moments” and this really added to the authenticity of the story.
Book quirks: I thought it was interesting how Quinn calls herself a thief, her parents accuse her of being a thief, her brother, too, makes a comment about her stealing, but I can’t remember one time in the novel where she actually stole something in the present day. I thought that was interesting. (In real life your past and past actions shape other peoples opinions of you and the opinion you have of yourself. Once, someone thinks of you in a particular way it isn’t always easy to change their mind about you. I am not sure if this was put in there for that purpose, but after I read this novel I contemplated on this for a while. Was that what Campbell was trying to say?) Also, who the heck stole the gas card? Did I somehow miss this? I don’t think I did, and I thinks it’s great that Campbell left some of the "less important" things unanswered or unresolved. Also, I loved how after I finished Grounding Quinn I considered these things.
-XOXO
READING, EATING & DREAMING
Grounding Quinn by Stephanie Campbell was a well-written, engaging story. This story was good and it made an impression, however, it was what the author, Stephanie Campbell, did that made me like this book so much: In so many different ways, she made this story REALITISTIC AND AUTHENTIC!
Grounding Quinn was a marvelous modern-day romance and extremely hilarious at times. I loved that it was current and relatable (Facebook stalking comment, sly twilight references, etc.).
QUINN-
What to say about Quinn? She has a wall around her heart and she doesn’t really let people in. She screws up pretty often and is rather selfish. But these things don’t make her a bad character…they make her real and relatable. (Who hasn’t gotten themselves into situations that they regretted immediately or later on down the road? Also, I’m not a stalker, but I definitely would have found a way to show up at that party- that’s all I’m saying.) The only thing I disliked about Quinn was, at times, I thought she was a little whinny. Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed the snarky, little biatch.
BEN-
Ben is a very unique character, in my opinion. He's innocent (like the BIG innocent). In most novels, authors paint the girl as the innocent character still holding onto her “v” card, but not this one. Campbell reversed the roles, and (surprisingly) I really liked the twist. My only problem with Ben was that he's sort of a push over. There were times where I pictured him big, strong and manly and other times he seemed like a little child. But it works because I think it’s a part of his characters growth and development. Oh, and I seriously want to slap his mother.
One thing Stephanie Campbell did that really stood out to me (that not many authors do): She gave her character “hobbies” or "side action" (I guess you could call it) without it turning into the characters identity. Throughout the novel, Quinn takes a few gymnastic lessons and Ben sometimes plays bass, but it's not her life’s mission to go the Olympics and he's not trying to start a band or write lyrics the whole novel. In real life, people enjoy hobbies without them becoming their identity, but in books, I feel like if an author mentions a hobby then it's going to come to mean something later on or stay a constant theme throughout the novel. Campbell giving her characters extra “hobbies” that weren’t necessarily crucial to them as a character made her characters more realistic and relatable.
Also, in my opinion, she gave readers a fantastic, realistic conclusion (read below my spoiler alert at the bottom if you want to know why)!
I gave Grounding Quinn by Stephanie Campbell 4 STARS. The story is good, but the writing and the unique quirks in this book make it even better. I recommend this story for older teens that are looking for a real-day romance. I think Stephanie Campbell is a unique author, and I can’t wait to see what she writes in the future. I am especially looking forward to reading Delicate, a companion novel to Grounding Quinn about Sydney, Quinn’s best friend. Delicate will tell the story of Sydney’s abusive ex-boyfriend and will take place a year before Grounding Quinn.
*****SPOILER ALERT!*****
My thoughts on the ending: Some authors want to tie every loose end together at the end of their novel. However, Campbell doesn't do this. At the end of the day, Quinn’s family is still crazy and Ben’s mom is still a stuck-up wench. They didn't have to go through their cliché “I learned my lesson, I will get better moments” and this really added to the authenticity of the story.
Book quirks: I thought it was interesting how Quinn calls herself a thief, her parents accuse her of being a thief, her brother, too, makes a comment about her stealing, but I can’t remember one time in the novel where she actually stole something in the present day. I thought that was interesting. (In real life your past and past actions shape other peoples opinions of you and the opinion you have of yourself. Once, someone thinks of you in a particular way it isn’t always easy to change their mind about you. I am not sure if this was put in there for that purpose, but after I read this novel I contemplated on this for a while. Was that what Campbell was trying to say?) Also, who the heck stole the gas card? Did I somehow miss this? I don’t think I did, and I thinks it’s great that Campbell left some of the "less important" things unanswered or unresolved. Also, I loved how after I finished Grounding Quinn I considered these things.
-XOXO
READING, EATING & DREAMING
September 1, 2011
Wow. This novel was definitely a surprise. A great surprise. Perhaps more of a crossover YA/Adult novel than straight up YA contemporary, Grounding Quinn is a brilliantly written, hard-edged coming-of-age romance.
The eighteen year old titled heroine, Quinn, is a wonderfully drawn character. Her voice is snarky with arsenic-laced wit and yet there is a beautiful vulnerability to her and undeniable likeability, despite her varied flaws. But perhaps THAT is what is so beautiful about Quinn.
The romance between her and Ben is authentic and sweet and extremely electric, and I also loved Ben’s POV. He’s such a loyal and passionate character and the complete opposite to Quinn, which was exactly what she needed. Although the romance is a huge part of the story the real story is how the romance helps Quinn deal with the emotional issues she suffers due to her dysfunctional family. She’s not an easy character. She makes some terrible mistakes but throughout it all Campbell does a fantastic job of letting the reader in on the reasons behind Quinn’s errors in judgement, so much so that I could never truly blame her and was utterly sympathetic to her character.
Quinn’s voice is at once laugh-out-loud funny with her quick quips and faux confidence and at the other end of the spectrum she is somehow heartbreaking. I found Grounding Quinn an extremely easy read with its smooth prose, well-written romance and three dimensional characters. It was also a surprisingly emotional read for me and I was amazed by how much Stephanie Campbell’s writing touched me.
Fantastic book. I’ll be keeping a lookout for more work from this great author.
Five Massive Stars!
The eighteen year old titled heroine, Quinn, is a wonderfully drawn character. Her voice is snarky with arsenic-laced wit and yet there is a beautiful vulnerability to her and undeniable likeability, despite her varied flaws. But perhaps THAT is what is so beautiful about Quinn.
The romance between her and Ben is authentic and sweet and extremely electric, and I also loved Ben’s POV. He’s such a loyal and passionate character and the complete opposite to Quinn, which was exactly what she needed. Although the romance is a huge part of the story the real story is how the romance helps Quinn deal with the emotional issues she suffers due to her dysfunctional family. She’s not an easy character. She makes some terrible mistakes but throughout it all Campbell does a fantastic job of letting the reader in on the reasons behind Quinn’s errors in judgement, so much so that I could never truly blame her and was utterly sympathetic to her character.
Quinn’s voice is at once laugh-out-loud funny with her quick quips and faux confidence and at the other end of the spectrum she is somehow heartbreaking. I found Grounding Quinn an extremely easy read with its smooth prose, well-written romance and three dimensional characters. It was also a surprisingly emotional read for me and I was amazed by how much Stephanie Campbell’s writing touched me.
Fantastic book. I’ll be keeping a lookout for more work from this great author.
Five Massive Stars!
January 7, 2013
Ok my earlier review was horrible...I wasn't feeling ok and I took it out on the book...now this is my real review...
When I saw the cover of this book it automatically grabbed my attention (don't ask why) and when I read the description I thought this will be good! I absolutely love this kind of books where the guy fights for the girl and they stay together and live happily ever after. But this one I don't know what happened.
The first part was really good we got to know Quinn and Ben and I thought their relationship was beautiful. Her family was so messed up I felt really sorry for her and could understand why she was afraid of commitment. I fell for Ben completely but halfway through the book when they broke up (she did something horrible...I wanted to punch her) Ben was mad at her, she was sorry...blah blah blah. After a while Ben decides to give a second chance and she pushes him away because she is no good for him...and that's how the story goes from then on...Ben chasing this girl and she pushes him away...then she goes all nuts because she sees him with some other girl but she still pushes him away...Drama drama drama.
Time goes by and she kind of learns some things so he goes looking for him and tries to talk to him...and they get back together...in some other book I would've been really happy but for some reason I wasn't with this one. To be honest I wanted them to go their own way. It seemed to me that would've been better than getting back together.
I felt very depressed throughout most of the book because Bens mom was a bitch and Quinn family was just...sad. I tried to like it but I couldn't and that's why I give it 2 stars
When I saw the cover of this book it automatically grabbed my attention (don't ask why) and when I read the description I thought this will be good! I absolutely love this kind of books where the guy fights for the girl and they stay together and live happily ever after. But this one I don't know what happened.
The first part was really good we got to know Quinn and Ben and I thought their relationship was beautiful. Her family was so messed up I felt really sorry for her and could understand why she was afraid of commitment. I fell for Ben completely but halfway through the book when they broke up (she did something horrible...I wanted to punch her) Ben was mad at her, she was sorry...blah blah blah. After a while Ben decides to give a second chance and she pushes him away because she is no good for him...and that's how the story goes from then on...Ben chasing this girl and she pushes him away...then she goes all nuts because she sees him with some other girl but she still pushes him away...Drama drama drama.
Time goes by and she kind of learns some things so he goes looking for him and tries to talk to him...and they get back together...in some other book I would've been really happy but for some reason I wasn't with this one. To be honest I wanted them to go their own way. It seemed to me that would've been better than getting back together.
I felt very depressed throughout most of the book because Bens mom was a bitch and Quinn family was just...sad. I tried to like it but I couldn't and that's why I give it 2 stars
May 10, 2012
Oh my, what a rollercoaster that was! I loved the book but there sure were a lot of ups and downs!
The story follows Quinn, the female main character. She has a dysfunctional family and believes herself to be a damaged, unloveable product of that. Her mum drinks way too much and takes a vast amount of medication each day leaving her spaced out. Her dad likes everyone to see them as a happy family but that doesn't stop him doing things he shouldn't. Her parents constantly argue with each other but then unite to gang up on Quinn and dish out their latest punishment.
Quinn meets Ben over the summer and he makes her feel different, like she can open up to him in a way she never does with anyone else, but then he says those 3 little words - I love you - and everything changes. Quinn immediately pushes him away, she isn't worthy of his love as she's such a screw up. The story then follows her journey of self destruction, self loathing and her punishing herself.
I really liked Quinn. She had a great sense of humour and her sarcastic wit was brilliant! I also loved her choices of OPI nail polish! I wanted to cry for her when she messed things up, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. If only she'd let people in ...
Ben was such a cute, loveable character. He refused time and time again to give up on Quinn no matter what she did/said. I think he needed to stand up to his awful, overbearing mum a bit but how far can you go when you're 18 and still have to live under her roof?!
My only tiny, tiny negative would be that I would've liked an epilogue so I could've known a little bit more about what happened in the few weeks/months after the ending.
The story follows Quinn, the female main character. She has a dysfunctional family and believes herself to be a damaged, unloveable product of that. Her mum drinks way too much and takes a vast amount of medication each day leaving her spaced out. Her dad likes everyone to see them as a happy family but that doesn't stop him doing things he shouldn't. Her parents constantly argue with each other but then unite to gang up on Quinn and dish out their latest punishment.
Quinn meets Ben over the summer and he makes her feel different, like she can open up to him in a way she never does with anyone else, but then he says those 3 little words - I love you - and everything changes. Quinn immediately pushes him away, she isn't worthy of his love as she's such a screw up. The story then follows her journey of self destruction, self loathing and her punishing herself.
I really liked Quinn. She had a great sense of humour and her sarcastic wit was brilliant! I also loved her choices of OPI nail polish! I wanted to cry for her when she messed things up, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. If only she'd let people in ...
Ben was such a cute, loveable character. He refused time and time again to give up on Quinn no matter what she did/said. I think he needed to stand up to his awful, overbearing mum a bit but how far can you go when you're 18 and still have to live under her roof?!
My only tiny, tiny negative would be that I would've liked an epilogue so I could've known a little bit more about what happened in the few weeks/months after the ending.
February 18, 2014
(Source: I own a copy of this book.)
Quinn likes to steal her mother’s pills, and likes the buzz they give her, she also likes sex.
When she starts dating a new boy called Ben, she wants to have sex with him, but he’s a virgin, and doesn’t want to rush into things.
Can Quinn wait for Ben though? And will popping her mother’s pills land her in the hospital?
I really wish I hadn’t bothered reading this book; it was dull, and fairly boring.
I didn’t really like Quinn, and I couldn’t relate to her. I didn’t get enough from her to really empathise with her situation, and as such, she bored me.
The storyline was okay, but again, I just couldn’t connect to the story. The pace was too slow, and I basically just felt bored throughout most of the book. I wasn’t impressed with the way a guy from Quinn’s father office kept making passes at her, I wasn’t impressed at the way she responded to him, and I also wasn’t impressed at the way her father seemed to be having multiple affairs himself!
The romance did nothing for me, and when I got to the end I have to say that I was just glad to have finished.
Overall; dull
4 out of 10.
Quinn likes to steal her mother’s pills, and likes the buzz they give her, she also likes sex.
When she starts dating a new boy called Ben, she wants to have sex with him, but he’s a virgin, and doesn’t want to rush into things.
Can Quinn wait for Ben though? And will popping her mother’s pills land her in the hospital?
I really wish I hadn’t bothered reading this book; it was dull, and fairly boring.
I didn’t really like Quinn, and I couldn’t relate to her. I didn’t get enough from her to really empathise with her situation, and as such, she bored me.
The storyline was okay, but again, I just couldn’t connect to the story. The pace was too slow, and I basically just felt bored throughout most of the book. I wasn’t impressed with the way a guy from Quinn’s father office kept making passes at her, I wasn’t impressed at the way she responded to him, and I also wasn’t impressed at the way her father seemed to be having multiple affairs himself!
The romance did nothing for me, and when I got to the end I have to say that I was just glad to have finished.
Overall; dull
4 out of 10.
August 27, 2011
While the writing is clever, well-paced and engaging - sadly the story is not. "Quinn" is one of those teen-land dysfunctional love stories that has been done to death. Plot redundancy in and of itself is not the end of the world, but this story never explores more than one level and time spent on that level was brutally interminable. Quinn is such an expert at sabotaging herself, I'm surprised Ms. Campbell didn't title this "Burying Quinn". The author, however, is clearly talented and I really enjoyed her voice. Perhaps had she peeled back more layers - at least two or three - her novel would be something I could recommend.
June 11, 2012
A poignant and powerful book about the relationship between two people in many ways opposite. One from the mythical perfect family who always does what is right, and the other from a hot mess of dysfunctional family who cannot even follow the rules, such as they are, it has.
I found this book very moving, and the lead female character reminded me in a lot of ways of my first love. I'm not ashamed to admit that tears were running down my face several times during this book. It brought back some of the hardest, saddest, most crushing moments of my life, also the most passionate and exciting, as if they had happened just yesterday and not 40 years ago. The power and the passion in this book were utterly authentic, completely believable and hit you like a speeding bus.
I give it my highest recommendation. I'll be looking for more works by this author first thing in the morning.
I found this book very moving, and the lead female character reminded me in a lot of ways of my first love. I'm not ashamed to admit that tears were running down my face several times during this book. It brought back some of the hardest, saddest, most crushing moments of my life, also the most passionate and exciting, as if they had happened just yesterday and not 40 years ago. The power and the passion in this book were utterly authentic, completely believable and hit you like a speeding bus.
I give it my highest recommendation. I'll be looking for more works by this author first thing in the morning.
March 24, 2012
Heavy sigh... So there was great potential here, I live for a good gritty tale however this one left me with a huge "WTF". Girl has messed up family, girl abuses prescription meds and almost OD's, girl falls for the obvious great guy-gets scared due to her emotionally distressed up bringing-ends up screwing up relationship with said perfect guy. Months pass by and girl has an epiphany, goes crawling back to perfect guy, he forgives her. Happily ever after. The end. No back lash from over dosing, no major fall out for calling daddy dearest out on his affair, perfect boy is all too forgiving about girl sleeping with her fathers co-worker...see where I am going? No consequences for actions. No moral to the story. Just a tale of screw ups tied into a pretty bow to be all forgiven because love conquers all. So much possibility just wasn't executed properly
March 26, 2012
If you enjoy contemporary romance, then this is a great novel to read. I love a good romance, but Grounding Quinn is so much more than that. Stephanie Campbell has done a wonderful job writing this novel. Quinn is a beautiful young girl who comes from a very dysfunctional family. Her mom is mentally unstable, and lives on prescription meds, and her dad certainly has a plethora of his own issues. Growing up in the midst of all this has left Quinn a very insecure girl, though she tries desperately to mask it, and her coping mechanisms are not the best of choices. She is afraid to open up to anyone, and has presented the facade that everything is great, good, and normal with her friends. Then things change when Quinn meets Ben over the summer, and hottie Ben is not just a summer fling, she really cares about him.
Ben is a totally swoon worthy guy. He is protective and caring, and he falls hard for Quinn, even telling her that he loves her, and Quinn is afraid of love. She cares deeply for Ben, and has opened up to him more than she ever has with anyone, yet her insecurities and fears of letting someone past the walls she has built up cause her to make some really bad choices. Those choices lead to some painful consequences, but the judgement and punishment Quinn places upon herself is far worse than anyone else could do. Quinn has to come to terms with the things she has done, the choices she has made, her own lack of self-worth and inability to forgive herself and accept forgiveness from others, especially Ben. Ben continues to love and accept her through all of this though she continues to push him away. He is one of those absolutely dreamy guys every girl would love to have, but even he has his limits, and has his own issues with his family, though his family dynamic is entirely different from Quinn's.
Stephanie Campbell has written the book in such a way that you get to experience the whole gamut of emotions going on and you feel elated and heartbroken as you journey though real life experiences with real-life characters. The situations they face deal with genuine issues, and the characters and supporting characters are far from perfect, which makes them so believable. I was hooked from the first page and totally engrossed through the whole novel, waiting to see if the love Quinn and Ben have could stand the tests that face them. This is an amazing novel and I would definitely recommend reading it. Enjoy it, oh yes I did.
Ben is a totally swoon worthy guy. He is protective and caring, and he falls hard for Quinn, even telling her that he loves her, and Quinn is afraid of love. She cares deeply for Ben, and has opened up to him more than she ever has with anyone, yet her insecurities and fears of letting someone past the walls she has built up cause her to make some really bad choices. Those choices lead to some painful consequences, but the judgement and punishment Quinn places upon herself is far worse than anyone else could do. Quinn has to come to terms with the things she has done, the choices she has made, her own lack of self-worth and inability to forgive herself and accept forgiveness from others, especially Ben. Ben continues to love and accept her through all of this though she continues to push him away. He is one of those absolutely dreamy guys every girl would love to have, but even he has his limits, and has his own issues with his family, though his family dynamic is entirely different from Quinn's.
Stephanie Campbell has written the book in such a way that you get to experience the whole gamut of emotions going on and you feel elated and heartbroken as you journey though real life experiences with real-life characters. The situations they face deal with genuine issues, and the characters and supporting characters are far from perfect, which makes them so believable. I was hooked from the first page and totally engrossed through the whole novel, waiting to see if the love Quinn and Ben have could stand the tests that face them. This is an amazing novel and I would definitely recommend reading it. Enjoy it, oh yes I did.
May 12, 2012
Grounding Quinn is the story of eighteen-year-old Quinn MacPherson, a pill popping product of an extremely dysfunctional family. Her mother is a bit crazy, her father is banging the girl the next door, and Quinn has learned that the only safe way to live is by keeping people at a very safe distance. Then she meets a guy, Ben, and falls for him. She doesn’t exactly handle it very well.
I enjoyed the book on a lot of levels. Witty, believable dialogue, characters with real problems, and some laugh out loud moments. Plot wise it is somewhat predictable, but there were some twists which took me by surprise and added real depth to the story.
There was one moment (you’ll know it when you get there) when Quinn almost managed to completely lose my sympathy. I wanted to throw my iPad across the room and scream. But the shame and guilt she felt as a result of what she did was so human, and so deftly written, that she won me over again within a few pages. It was frustrating to see her push away everyone who cared about her… but then again, it’s frustrating when you see real people do that.
If you enjoy contemporary young adult fiction, this one is worth reading. I’d caution that it’s not for kids. Drug use, language and sex (not explicit) push it higher age ranges. At the same time, however, I’m not a fan of fiction that glosses over this stuff. After all, when I was the age of these characters (and younger), drug use, foul language and sex were all on the table. They’re real issues that real people have to deal with. Campbell doesn’t moralize about them, but she also is realistic about the repercussions.
I enjoyed the book on a lot of levels. Witty, believable dialogue, characters with real problems, and some laugh out loud moments. Plot wise it is somewhat predictable, but there were some twists which took me by surprise and added real depth to the story.
There was one moment (you’ll know it when you get there) when Quinn almost managed to completely lose my sympathy. I wanted to throw my iPad across the room and scream. But the shame and guilt she felt as a result of what she did was so human, and so deftly written, that she won me over again within a few pages. It was frustrating to see her push away everyone who cared about her… but then again, it’s frustrating when you see real people do that.
If you enjoy contemporary young adult fiction, this one is worth reading. I’d caution that it’s not for kids. Drug use, language and sex (not explicit) push it higher age ranges. At the same time, however, I’m not a fan of fiction that glosses over this stuff. After all, when I was the age of these characters (and younger), drug use, foul language and sex were all on the table. They’re real issues that real people have to deal with. Campbell doesn’t moralize about them, but she also is realistic about the repercussions.
September 11, 2011
What a beautiful and amazing book! Let me tell you people that this book rock my socks off. It is beautifully written, amazingly told and a great book that I can read over and over again! From the very first word on the page, I was hooked and done for.
What got me hooked on this book is the amazing plot line. I loved that Ms. Campbell created greatly flawed characters. I love seeing characters grow and become new. Seeing characters open their eyes to what they thought they were to someone they are meant to be. Every turn of the page left me either feeling love, sad, or just pissed off. The way the author is able to pull my emotions along with the book left me in awe!
The love interest in the book is so simple, something that happens everyday in this real world that it was super good to read. Love is not easy for everyone. I loved how Ben fought for Quinn. There is a line in the book that stole my heart. "If you love her. You fight for her." And Ben fought. And when he did, I swooned like there is no tomorrow. I fell in love with Ben, and rooted for him.
This is a great book! It not something based on over dramatic stuff, but real love, real problems, and a real girl just trying to find out where she stands. I loved that the author took many real elements adding them to her book. Grounding Quinn is an amazing debut! Filled with heart ache, one messed up family and a love that will with stand time, you must read this book!
What got me hooked on this book is the amazing plot line. I loved that Ms. Campbell created greatly flawed characters. I love seeing characters grow and become new. Seeing characters open their eyes to what they thought they were to someone they are meant to be. Every turn of the page left me either feeling love, sad, or just pissed off. The way the author is able to pull my emotions along with the book left me in awe!
The love interest in the book is so simple, something that happens everyday in this real world that it was super good to read. Love is not easy for everyone. I loved how Ben fought for Quinn. There is a line in the book that stole my heart. "If you love her. You fight for her." And Ben fought. And when he did, I swooned like there is no tomorrow. I fell in love with Ben, and rooted for him.
This is a great book! It not something based on over dramatic stuff, but real love, real problems, and a real girl just trying to find out where she stands. I loved that the author took many real elements adding them to her book. Grounding Quinn is an amazing debut! Filled with heart ache, one messed up family and a love that will with stand time, you must read this book!
January 28, 2012
Quinn is the product of an overachieving accountant with so much professional success it outshines his family obligations, and a mother who masks her entire world by being constantly absorbed in alcohol and prescription medication. No wonder this poor girl is so distraught! Quinn finds herself at a stand still in life. A senior in high school and already 18, Quinn has no motivation and no ambition because she somehow assumes she will end up like one her parents regardless of what she does. Choosing to deal with the inevitable, she barely passed in school, puts on a happy facade around friends, and chooses relationships where she knows nothing serious will come out of! When she meets Ben she is forced to acknowledge feelings that she has never had nor received in her life. This self sabotaging, misguided, hopeless teen soon makes decisions that lead her down a downward spiral where the only place left to go is up!
I like how the end doesn't tie up all the loose ends, because let's face it, mistakes take time and change isn't always an option for some people. I like how Ben and Quinn learn that flaws are what seys people apart, especially those you love, which gives them a quality that can not be imitated by anyone else. Be advised that this story does contain non explicit sexual contact, teen drinking and drug use. But unfortunately, so does adolescence today!!
I like how the end doesn't tie up all the loose ends, because let's face it, mistakes take time and change isn't always an option for some people. I like how Ben and Quinn learn that flaws are what seys people apart, especially those you love, which gives them a quality that can not be imitated by anyone else. Be advised that this story does contain non explicit sexual contact, teen drinking and drug use. But unfortunately, so does adolescence today!!
December 22, 2011
Real. That's the word I kept coming back to as I read this novel. It's not a story about perfect people doing perfect things, it's ugly -- in a good way. Every character had their flaws, even Mason. I really liked it because of that. Quinn's downward spiral at times was frustrating. I just wanted to yell at her to get it together at several points, which takes me back to "real." We've probably all been there to a certain extent, and I know I have in some of the stupid mistakes she makes. Campbell portrays this well and you can really feel what Quinn is feeling. Ben is also solid character. Flawed but whole and determined and I liked him a lot. Finally, on a timing note, I was happy that the book ends on Christmas since we're so close to the holiday. That really was a nice touch as I was reading it beside my Christmas tree.
June 15, 2011
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book.
No, she is not my friend, family member, or someone who paid me ;O
I ran across her blog, saw the cover, read the first chapter and had to read more.
She did a brilliant job with tough subjects, a tortured but so freaking awesome MC in Quinn and a book-boy worthy of anyone's love.
Her character's were real, the language was beautiful and the story had EVERYTHING I look for in good fiction.
So, yeah. I'd recommend this to anyone :D
No, she is not my friend, family member, or someone who paid me ;O
I ran across her blog, saw the cover, read the first chapter and had to read more.
She did a brilliant job with tough subjects, a tortured but so freaking awesome MC in Quinn and a book-boy worthy of anyone's love.
Her character's were real, the language was beautiful and the story had EVERYTHING I look for in good fiction.
So, yeah. I'd recommend this to anyone :D
Read
April 18, 2013Both the US and UK ebooks have undergone cover makeovers!
Check out all of the new covers here: http://stephcampbell.blogspot.com/201...
The Simon & Schuster UK edition (in both ebook and paperback) releases May 9th, 2013, and contains updated and new content! :)
Check out all of the new covers here: http://stephcampbell.blogspot.com/201...
The Simon & Schuster UK edition (in both ebook and paperback) releases May 9th, 2013, and contains updated and new content! :)
June 6, 2012
Awesome read. Very strong snarky voice on protagonist, Quinn. Equally engaging & well written from 1st person POV is her love interest Ben. Gets you engaged from page 1. Buy this book you will love it.
August 25, 2012
this book tortured the HELL out of me...and i loved every damn second.
March 27, 2012
I really like stories where teenage characters act like teenagers would - dramatic, without thought of consequences. This is what I loved most about this book.
June 6, 2013
Last year, when I read Delicate there was one particular character that stuck out to me. While I enjoyed Sydney and Grant's story, I was anxious to learn more about Quinn. There was just something about her that intrigued me. She was a good friend to Sydney, but I could tell there were more layers to her and I wanted to find out why. Well, I finally got to know Quinn and she was even more interesting than I had imagined.
I don't want to give too much about the story, but I feel it's necessary to explain that Quinn's home life looks nice on the outside, but is completely destructive on the inside. Her only solace is her brother, Carter, but he's away at college. Sure, Quinn has a younger brother and friends, but she's a tough girl to really 'know'. She's learned to guard her heart. She's so used to seeing how badly her parents treat each other, that she has no real example to follow as far as relationships go. Or at least a healthy example. Plus, she doesn't want to allow herself to feel that vulnerable or dependent on anyone, ever. So, when she meets Ben during the summer before her senior year, she thinks he may be a fun distraction. She never anticipated that he would be the guy to break down her walls and open her heart.
Ben is genuinely a good guy. He moves into town and meets Quinn by chance. He's captivated by her. She's gorgeous, funny, and a bit snarky. She's different from the girl he used to date. Quinn is a bit wild, but I think Ben identified that Quinn needed someone she could trust and depend on. Ben wanted to be that person for her. That was a role he was comfortable playing. And despite his mother's warnings, he wanted her like he's never wanted anything.
So, now that you get a picture of the kind of characters are in the story, let me tell you how I felt about them. Quinn is not a perfect character. She makes mistakes, she hurts people intentionally, and she shuts everyone out. While that can be a turn off to some people, I found similarities. Now, to be clear, my home life was in no way similar to Quinn's, but most people have some type of issue. And because of my own set of issues, I empathized with Quinn...a lot. I got her. I saw the wounded girl. I saw the girl who had no faith in herself or the ability to trust anyone. I felt her fears about letting Ben get close. I understood the mistakes she made because of that fear, even though I wanted to slap her. What I appreciated most of all, was that I was able to feel those things with this character. It made me love her even more and made those moments when she smiled, that much better.
As for Ben...oh this boy. He is simply perfect. Simply perfect. Now, I love my bad boys, but it is so refreshing when I get to fall in love with a good man. Ben's honesty, openness, and his willingness to forgive left an impression on my heart. Despite the fact that Quinn's life was chaotic, Ben gave her comfort, solid ground, and showed what it was like to feel loved. Which in turn, taught her how to feel confident in herself.
On a side note, I really liked seeing Sydney and Grant again. They were such a great couple. I also really liked Quinn's brother, Carter. He was a good support for Quinn even though he wasn't around all that much. I loved the conversations they had when he was home. He really gave her some great insight.
Overall, I loved this book. It's just one of those reads that will stay with me. I loved Ben and Quinn together. In all honesty, I was uncertain about how the book would end, but I can tell you that I was one happy girl. I loved their story, but it was the characters that truly made the book special for me. I highly recommend this one!
Quotes:
~Quinn looks like on of those fragile girls you want to protect-until you get to know her, and you realize she doesn't need-and absolutely doesn't want your protection.-pg 56
~She rifles through my desk drawers until she finds a pencil, and then shoves it through the brunette knot to hold it in place. Why is it that everything she does, even the simplest of things, seem like magic to me?-pg 58
~"Sure about what?" she asks, her eyes cracking open.
I stare at our linked hands for a moment, before looking her in the eye.
She's waiting.
I've never said it to anyone before.
"Sure that you love me as much as I love you."-pg 73
~"Shit, Quinn, we're all flawed. I'm not looking for perfect. I don't care if it's messy. I'm looking for real...I thought that's what we had."-pg 172
I don't want to give too much about the story, but I feel it's necessary to explain that Quinn's home life looks nice on the outside, but is completely destructive on the inside. Her only solace is her brother, Carter, but he's away at college. Sure, Quinn has a younger brother and friends, but she's a tough girl to really 'know'. She's learned to guard her heart. She's so used to seeing how badly her parents treat each other, that she has no real example to follow as far as relationships go. Or at least a healthy example. Plus, she doesn't want to allow herself to feel that vulnerable or dependent on anyone, ever. So, when she meets Ben during the summer before her senior year, she thinks he may be a fun distraction. She never anticipated that he would be the guy to break down her walls and open her heart.
Ben is genuinely a good guy. He moves into town and meets Quinn by chance. He's captivated by her. She's gorgeous, funny, and a bit snarky. She's different from the girl he used to date. Quinn is a bit wild, but I think Ben identified that Quinn needed someone she could trust and depend on. Ben wanted to be that person for her. That was a role he was comfortable playing. And despite his mother's warnings, he wanted her like he's never wanted anything.
So, now that you get a picture of the kind of characters are in the story, let me tell you how I felt about them. Quinn is not a perfect character. She makes mistakes, she hurts people intentionally, and she shuts everyone out. While that can be a turn off to some people, I found similarities. Now, to be clear, my home life was in no way similar to Quinn's, but most people have some type of issue. And because of my own set of issues, I empathized with Quinn...a lot. I got her. I saw the wounded girl. I saw the girl who had no faith in herself or the ability to trust anyone. I felt her fears about letting Ben get close. I understood the mistakes she made because of that fear, even though I wanted to slap her. What I appreciated most of all, was that I was able to feel those things with this character. It made me love her even more and made those moments when she smiled, that much better.
As for Ben...oh this boy. He is simply perfect. Simply perfect. Now, I love my bad boys, but it is so refreshing when I get to fall in love with a good man. Ben's honesty, openness, and his willingness to forgive left an impression on my heart. Despite the fact that Quinn's life was chaotic, Ben gave her comfort, solid ground, and showed what it was like to feel loved. Which in turn, taught her how to feel confident in herself.
On a side note, I really liked seeing Sydney and Grant again. They were such a great couple. I also really liked Quinn's brother, Carter. He was a good support for Quinn even though he wasn't around all that much. I loved the conversations they had when he was home. He really gave her some great insight.
Overall, I loved this book. It's just one of those reads that will stay with me. I loved Ben and Quinn together. In all honesty, I was uncertain about how the book would end, but I can tell you that I was one happy girl. I loved their story, but it was the characters that truly made the book special for me. I highly recommend this one!
Quotes:
~Quinn looks like on of those fragile girls you want to protect-until you get to know her, and you realize she doesn't need-and absolutely doesn't want your protection.-pg 56
~She rifles through my desk drawers until she finds a pencil, and then shoves it through the brunette knot to hold it in place. Why is it that everything she does, even the simplest of things, seem like magic to me?-pg 58
~"Sure about what?" she asks, her eyes cracking open.
I stare at our linked hands for a moment, before looking her in the eye.
She's waiting.
I've never said it to anyone before.
"Sure that you love me as much as I love you."-pg 73
~"Shit, Quinn, we're all flawed. I'm not looking for perfect. I don't care if it's messy. I'm looking for real...I thought that's what we had."-pg 172
August 10, 2012
I loved the uniqueness of this book! We have lots of good girls falling for bad boys but it is rare that we have a good boy falling for a bad girl. I LOVED it!
One of the major deciding factors on whether or not I like a book is how well I connect to it emotionally and I connected with this one. The characters were well written and I completely understood them and their actions. The storyline was also very believable because of the character's pasts and personalities.
In my opinion, Quinn is actually a really nice girl but years of mistreatment by her parents have caused her to spiral downward. She steals from her parents (but sometimes returns it), has developed an addiction to prescription drugs, doesn't care much about her future or school and in general, has kind of given up on herself as a person worthy of good things. What Quinn really wants is attention and they always say if a person can't get attention in a positive way, he or she will start seeking negative attention. Her parents always seem ready to punish her but never offer praise. She gets involved with some boys that don't have the best of intentions but that doesn't seem to matter because in that moment, they are giving her attention.
Ben walks into Quinn's life at the beginning of the book and they quickly develop a friendship that turns into more. Ben is patient and kind. He is well-behaved and the overall perfect mold that his parents want him to be. For him, Quinn is different from other girls and he finds that attractive even if his mom does not. Quinn needs him even if she doesn't realize it. He is her opposite but opposites attract. I wonder if he would feel the same way about the Quinn that doesn't have all these issues and quirks?
I think Ben is the best thing that has ever happened to Quinn and he gives her that attention she craves without asking for too much. Quinn is good for Ben because she takes risks and he could learn a thing or two from her. They seem to genuinely be in love but Quinn thinks that beautiful things never last, especially for her, and at times takes it upon herself to prove that point.
There were some great supporting characters in this one as well! I actually really liked Daniel and thought he was a pretty good friend when Quinn needed him. Sydney was also very good to Quinn and I was excited to see that she is the leading lady in Delicate which I read right after this!
I appreciated that Campbell did not tie everything into a neat little bow at the end. It doesn't happen in real life and it shouldn't happen in books either! I can't wait to follow the couple in the sequel Beautiful Things Never Last which is slated to be released December 2012. The title has me nervous but I know where it came from so I am hopeful;)
I highly recommend this story to all YA Romance lovers:)
One of the major deciding factors on whether or not I like a book is how well I connect to it emotionally and I connected with this one. The characters were well written and I completely understood them and their actions. The storyline was also very believable because of the character's pasts and personalities.
In my opinion, Quinn is actually a really nice girl but years of mistreatment by her parents have caused her to spiral downward. She steals from her parents (but sometimes returns it), has developed an addiction to prescription drugs, doesn't care much about her future or school and in general, has kind of given up on herself as a person worthy of good things. What Quinn really wants is attention and they always say if a person can't get attention in a positive way, he or she will start seeking negative attention. Her parents always seem ready to punish her but never offer praise. She gets involved with some boys that don't have the best of intentions but that doesn't seem to matter because in that moment, they are giving her attention.
Ben walks into Quinn's life at the beginning of the book and they quickly develop a friendship that turns into more. Ben is patient and kind. He is well-behaved and the overall perfect mold that his parents want him to be. For him, Quinn is different from other girls and he finds that attractive even if his mom does not. Quinn needs him even if she doesn't realize it. He is her opposite but opposites attract. I wonder if he would feel the same way about the Quinn that doesn't have all these issues and quirks?
I think Ben is the best thing that has ever happened to Quinn and he gives her that attention she craves without asking for too much. Quinn is good for Ben because she takes risks and he could learn a thing or two from her. They seem to genuinely be in love but Quinn thinks that beautiful things never last, especially for her, and at times takes it upon herself to prove that point.
There were some great supporting characters in this one as well! I actually really liked Daniel and thought he was a pretty good friend when Quinn needed him. Sydney was also very good to Quinn and I was excited to see that she is the leading lady in Delicate which I read right after this!
I appreciated that Campbell did not tie everything into a neat little bow at the end. It doesn't happen in real life and it shouldn't happen in books either! I can't wait to follow the couple in the sequel Beautiful Things Never Last which is slated to be released December 2012. The title has me nervous but I know where it came from so I am hopeful;)
I highly recommend this story to all YA Romance lovers:)
August 7, 2012
Steph Campbell has collaborated with Liz Reinhardt to write LENGTHS. It's scheduled to be released August 13th. *Squeee!!!* deep breath.... *Squeee!!*
So, this had me thinking. Two of my favorite authors writing a book together? Can the Indie world handle that much awesomeness in one book?
*Answer: Yes, yes we can!*
I read Grounding Quinn months ago. I can write this review at the top of my head. This book just stuck with me. I love when ANY novel refuses to let me go. It rings my emotions every way possible, and I just CAN'T forget it!
I've lost count of the amount of "He's so dreamy" personas that are out there. They drive me to insanity. But they help me appreciate those amazingly courageous female characters that are so few and far between!!
Quinn MacPherson is such a detailed, strong female character. One minute she oozed confidence, and at the next turn, her insecurities came into play. But it was okay. It made sense. She represents about every female out there!! I was able to connect with Quinn in a way that is so rare for me!
And Benjamin Shaw... sigh... *Right now I'm clutching my reader close to chest..I'm just reminiscing over this guy.. Ignore me.*
Gimme a reason to love a male character besides his freakishly handsome face. Gimme a good reason and I'm hooked.
Steph gives you the freakishly handsome face and so much more.
I could list those reason to you.. I could. But I won't spoil anything!!
I WILL give you one reason!! Ben's dedication to Quinn, to understanding the turmoil that she goes through is so thoughtful. He needs to be around her despite her imperfections. They're just apart of her, and he wants to know how they got there.
I know, I know...It seems like I'm polishing Ben's halo on my shirt. Good ole' Ben isn't perfect though.
I still love him though!!
There's some drama. *I need my daily dose of book drama!*
Sometimes it made it made cringe. I forgot that it was fiction and yelled at a few secondary characters. Only a few times. Okay, more than that!
How it was handled made it good! How it was written made me keep clicking onto the next page.
There is a sequel to Grounding Quinn!!! *squee* Titled, Beautiful Things Never Last. It's slated for release in December 2012. Praise God! I need to know what happens to Quinn and Ben!!!
So, this had me thinking. Two of my favorite authors writing a book together? Can the Indie world handle that much awesomeness in one book?
*Answer: Yes, yes we can!*
I read Grounding Quinn months ago. I can write this review at the top of my head. This book just stuck with me. I love when ANY novel refuses to let me go. It rings my emotions every way possible, and I just CAN'T forget it!
I've lost count of the amount of "He's so dreamy" personas that are out there. They drive me to insanity. But they help me appreciate those amazingly courageous female characters that are so few and far between!!
Quinn MacPherson is such a detailed, strong female character. One minute she oozed confidence, and at the next turn, her insecurities came into play. But it was okay. It made sense. She represents about every female out there!! I was able to connect with Quinn in a way that is so rare for me!
And Benjamin Shaw... sigh... *Right now I'm clutching my reader close to chest..I'm just reminiscing over this guy.. Ignore me.*
Gimme a reason to love a male character besides his freakishly handsome face. Gimme a good reason and I'm hooked.
Steph gives you the freakishly handsome face and so much more.
I could list those reason to you.. I could. But I won't spoil anything!!
I WILL give you one reason!! Ben's dedication to Quinn, to understanding the turmoil that she goes through is so thoughtful. He needs to be around her despite her imperfections. They're just apart of her, and he wants to know how they got there.
I know, I know...It seems like I'm polishing Ben's halo on my shirt. Good ole' Ben isn't perfect though.
I still love him though!!
There's some drama. *I need my daily dose of book drama!*
Sometimes it made it made cringe. I forgot that it was fiction and yelled at a few secondary characters. Only a few times. Okay, more than that!
How it was handled made it good! How it was written made me keep clicking onto the next page.
There is a sequel to Grounding Quinn!!! *squee* Titled, Beautiful Things Never Last. It's slated for release in December 2012. Praise God! I need to know what happens to Quinn and Ben!!!
April 13, 2015
“You always hear people talk about how there are moments in your life when you just know that things will never be the same. I always thought that was all horses**t. But here, now, with the feeling of her soft, incredible lips moving with mine, I know that it happens.”
This was my second book by author Steph Campbell (the first being Delicate) and I have to say, I definitely enjoyed Quinn's story more than Sydney's.
In Grounding Quinn we see Quinn, an eighteen-year-old high school student struggling in life. She hasn't got the best relationship with her mother or father, and she tries to be the best she can for her younger brother, but life keeps getting her down. She has no-one she can confined in and, no-one seems to understand her. When she meets Ben, Quinn finally feels like she has someone to lean on, but somewhere in the back of her mind is, knowing that she will eventually destroy the one good thing she has in her life - because she's no good for anyone. Will Quinn be able to let people help her, or will she always feel like her life is out of control?
Grounding Quinn is definitely a highly charged emotional read and it's one of reasons I enjoyed it more than Delicate. Quinn's life has so many different problems and yes, most I believe she brings on herself, but for a girl of her age and to be struggling as much as she is, can I really blame her? Of course not! I felt for Quinn's situation, I wanted her to open up to her friends or talk to her parents about the mistakes they're making but I could also see why she couldn't. It was easier for her to run from her problems, instead of facing them head on.
With the story being told in Quinn and Ben's point of view, it really gave you an insight to see how Ben was feeling about everything. Quinn does some pretty mean stuff to him and it was good to get inside his head. He proved himself to be a very loyal character and I loved that about him.
The story has a few good twists and once again it's very emotional with very likable characters, so it was definitely worth a read if you're a fan of this genre.
This was my second book by author Steph Campbell (the first being Delicate) and I have to say, I definitely enjoyed Quinn's story more than Sydney's.
In Grounding Quinn we see Quinn, an eighteen-year-old high school student struggling in life. She hasn't got the best relationship with her mother or father, and she tries to be the best she can for her younger brother, but life keeps getting her down. She has no-one she can confined in and, no-one seems to understand her. When she meets Ben, Quinn finally feels like she has someone to lean on, but somewhere in the back of her mind is, knowing that she will eventually destroy the one good thing she has in her life - because she's no good for anyone. Will Quinn be able to let people help her, or will she always feel like her life is out of control?
Grounding Quinn is definitely a highly charged emotional read and it's one of reasons I enjoyed it more than Delicate. Quinn's life has so many different problems and yes, most I believe she brings on herself, but for a girl of her age and to be struggling as much as she is, can I really blame her? Of course not! I felt for Quinn's situation, I wanted her to open up to her friends or talk to her parents about the mistakes they're making but I could also see why she couldn't. It was easier for her to run from her problems, instead of facing them head on.
With the story being told in Quinn and Ben's point of view, it really gave you an insight to see how Ben was feeling about everything. Quinn does some pretty mean stuff to him and it was good to get inside his head. He proved himself to be a very loyal character and I loved that about him.
The story has a few good twists and once again it's very emotional with very likable characters, so it was definitely worth a read if you're a fan of this genre.
September 15, 2011
If you need a great read, pick up this novel. The characters have depth and will become friends with the reader. The reader will be rooting for Quinn and Benjamin, the main characters, throughout the novel. The plot itself, while nothing otherworldly or extra special, is very interesting. Not too many books are about a girl having a fear of relationships and not chasing after the guy.
Quinn makes for a great, complex character. She has a safe where her heart should be. However, she doesn't make the best choices when it comes to guys. She tends to be afraid of intimacy. Selfishness, while not an ideal quality, makes Quinn seem much more realistic and likable.
Benjamin is Quinn's opposite in many ways. He is much more protective, caring, and responsible. He doesn't make that many mistakes. He is much more innocent than Quinn. For whatever reason, he really tries to love and respect Quinn. He takes all of her jabs and her pushing him away and continues to go after her.
The book has many ups and downs as well as quite a few exciting scenes. The reader will not be bored while reading this novel. The ending is definitely satisfying and not even all that predictable. This book is recommended for young adults/adults (females) who enjoy romance novels with a twist.
January 5, 2012
I've been wanting to read this, and so when I finally saw it on sale in the Kindle Store for £0.86 (99cents) I grabbed it! Yay!
This book was a lot heavier than I thought it would be. Quinn's family is dysfunction all around. But, who's family doesn't have a little bit of dysfunction? I know mine does! Quinn takes it to another level though. She thinks because her family isn't perfect and she has many problems, that she isn't worth loving.
That's when Ben comes in. Ben makes Quinn feel normal. Or at least Ben gives her the peace she needs to get through all the drama with her family. Until Ben says, "I Love You." Quinn doesn't think she is worthy of that. So she does the unthinkable. She pushes Ben away. Her life is such a wreck now more than ever without Ben in her life.
I liked it. I was expecting something a little lighter, but this was still good. I wanted more from the ending. It called for it. A bit more resolve. But it was good. I liked Ben a lot. He's a really great character.
A bit heavy, but a great story. We all are worthy of love. No matter how much of a screw up we are (or our family). It's on sale now in the Kindle store! Grab it!
Quote:
"I have no clue what my motive is for following him, maybe I'm just bored. Maybe it's just so easy to cyber-stalk hotties on Facebook that I've moved on to doing it in real life."
This book was a lot heavier than I thought it would be. Quinn's family is dysfunction all around. But, who's family doesn't have a little bit of dysfunction? I know mine does! Quinn takes it to another level though. She thinks because her family isn't perfect and she has many problems, that she isn't worth loving.
That's when Ben comes in. Ben makes Quinn feel normal. Or at least Ben gives her the peace she needs to get through all the drama with her family. Until Ben says, "I Love You." Quinn doesn't think she is worthy of that. So she does the unthinkable. She pushes Ben away. Her life is such a wreck now more than ever without Ben in her life.
I liked it. I was expecting something a little lighter, but this was still good. I wanted more from the ending. It called for it. A bit more resolve. But it was good. I liked Ben a lot. He's a really great character.
A bit heavy, but a great story. We all are worthy of love. No matter how much of a screw up we are (or our family). It's on sale now in the Kindle store! Grab it!
Quote:
"I have no clue what my motive is for following him, maybe I'm just bored. Maybe it's just so easy to cyber-stalk hotties on Facebook that I've moved on to doing it in real life."
June 4, 2012
Well, I can assure you that this book is great. I’d want to read it all over again. I think alot of people would be able relate to this book, especially those who find it hard to trust people again and those who wouldnt want to be like their parents or those who wouldnt want to make the same mistakes their elders did. :)
I find myself relating to Quinn, as she stumbles along through life and the way she's having a hard time letting people in. Most especially her fear to become like her mother. I adore her strength in being brave for herself and her loyalty to Ben though it was really hard to just simply love him.
I admire Ben in this story. Not alot of guys would pursue a girl even after a long time and after they've seen the girls flaws. You'd really see how how he has learned to love Quinn very much.Plus, they're total opposites here, and I find myself believeing that Opposites do attract. And how I wish there'd still be someone like Ben in the real world, but then they're very hard to find now.
The book has alot of ups and downs and you'd be surprised along the way and I guess thats what makes this story not boring to read. :)
I find myself relating to Quinn, as she stumbles along through life and the way she's having a hard time letting people in. Most especially her fear to become like her mother. I adore her strength in being brave for herself and her loyalty to Ben though it was really hard to just simply love him.
I admire Ben in this story. Not alot of guys would pursue a girl even after a long time and after they've seen the girls flaws. You'd really see how how he has learned to love Quinn very much.Plus, they're total opposites here, and I find myself believeing that Opposites do attract. And how I wish there'd still be someone like Ben in the real world, but then they're very hard to find now.
The book has alot of ups and downs and you'd be surprised along the way and I guess thats what makes this story not boring to read. :)
March 20, 2013
This was just a frustrating book for me. So, don't take my 1 star rating to heart.
Others may love this book - I just don't like cheaters. I couldn't forgive someone who cheated. I know that I would not be able to build the trust back up and would not be able to forgive them fully, ever.
So, kuddos to Ben for still wanting Quinn even after she tore him apart.
But beyond that, Quinn is such a mess, she shouldn't be with anyone. She can't even have friends without throwing herself at every male or feeling competition from every female. She's so unstable she's popping pills and drinking like it's an afterschool sport. I would have loved to have a little more "I need to get myself better before I drag anyone into my crap again" and a little less her stumbling back into her ways...
Most odd however was the addition of the violence in the home by the father that was never addressed. the obvious addiction her mom has - never addressed. Not a very uplifting book.
Others may love this book - I just don't like cheaters. I couldn't forgive someone who cheated. I know that I would not be able to build the trust back up and would not be able to forgive them fully, ever.
So, kuddos to Ben for still wanting Quinn even after she tore him apart.
But beyond that, Quinn is such a mess, she shouldn't be with anyone. She can't even have friends without throwing herself at every male or feeling competition from every female. She's so unstable she's popping pills and drinking like it's an afterschool sport. I would have loved to have a little more "I need to get myself better before I drag anyone into my crap again" and a little less her stumbling back into her ways...
Most odd however was the addition of the violence in the home by the father that was never addressed. the obvious addiction her mom has - never addressed. Not a very uplifting book.
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