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Because of Her
For seventeen-year-old Tabitha "Tabby" Morton, life sucks. Big time. Forced to move to London thanks to her father’s new job, she has to leave her friends, school, and, most importantly, her girlfriend Amy, far behind. To make matters worse, Tabby’s parents enroll her in the exclusive Queen Victoria Independent School for Girls, hoping that it will finally make a lady of her.
But Tabby has other ideas.
Loathing her new school, Tabby fights against everything and everyone, causing relations with her parents to hit rock bottom. But when the beautiful and beguiling Eden Palmer walks into her classroom one day and catches her eye, Tabby begins to wonder if life there might not be so bad after all.
When Amy drops a bombshell about their relationship following a disastrous visit, Tabby starts to see the need for new direction in her life. Fighting her own personal battles, Eden brings the possibility of change for them both. Gradually, Tabby starts to turn her life around—and it’s all because of her.
But Tabby has other ideas.
Loathing her new school, Tabby fights against everything and everyone, causing relations with her parents to hit rock bottom. But when the beautiful and beguiling Eden Palmer walks into her classroom one day and catches her eye, Tabby begins to wonder if life there might not be so bad after all.
When Amy drops a bombshell about their relationship following a disastrous visit, Tabby starts to see the need for new direction in her life. Fighting her own personal battles, Eden brings the possibility of change for them both. Gradually, Tabby starts to turn her life around—and it’s all because of her.
264 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2014
9 people are currently reading
1335 people want to read
About the author
K.E. Payne
9 books52 followersKE Payne was born in Bath, the English city, not the tub, and after leaving school she worked for the British government for fifteen years, which probably sounds a lot more exciting than it really was.
Fed up with spending her days moving paperwork around her desk and making models of the Taj Mahal out of paperclips, she packed it all in to go to university in Bristol and graduated as a mature student in 2006 with a degree in linguistics and history.
After graduating, she worked at a university in the Midlands for a while, again moving all that paperwork around, before finally leaving to embark on her dream career as a writer.
She moved to the idyllic English countryside in 2007 where she now lives and works happily surrounded by dogs and guinea pigs.
Fed up with spending her days moving paperwork around her desk and making models of the Taj Mahal out of paperclips, she packed it all in to go to university in Bristol and graduated as a mature student in 2006 with a degree in linguistics and history.
After graduating, she worked at a university in the Midlands for a while, again moving all that paperwork around, before finally leaving to embark on her dream career as a writer.
She moved to the idyllic English countryside in 2007 where she now lives and works happily surrounded by dogs and guinea pigs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 31, 2018
Good read! A nice coming out story with some very relatable and enjoyable characters. Only downside to this storyline it ended way too quickly.
May 7, 2014
Tabby, 17, has been dating Amy for two years. When Tabby leaves town, promises are exchanged, but after a few months apart and with new challenges to face, they realize how hard it’s to stay true to themselves without breaking the promises they made. Things get even more complicated when Tabby falls for Eden. Who is straight.
I can’t describe how much I like Tabby. She used to be the rebellious type, but never neglected her education. She’s comfortable in her own skin, but also has some insecurity issues, like any other teenager. She’s funny in a caustic way, but doesn’t use it to hide her emotions. These contradictory elements create a believable character, which is something I expect every time I read a book.
Eden’s reaction to Tabby was so realistic; I could feel what she was feeling. Also, it was so sweet to see their friendship grow, especially during the fencing classes. If you don’t like cheating in your books, there is nothing to worry about. ;)
Two of my favorite scenes are (1) when Tabby’s father talks to her about Amy and Eden and (2) when Eden explains to her parents how she feels about Tabby. I can see both situations happening in real life.
I’m excited to read more of Payne’s work.
*ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I can’t describe how much I like Tabby. She used to be the rebellious type, but never neglected her education. She’s comfortable in her own skin, but also has some insecurity issues, like any other teenager. She’s funny in a caustic way, but doesn’t use it to hide her emotions. These contradictory elements create a believable character, which is something I expect every time I read a book.
Eden’s reaction to Tabby was so realistic; I could feel what she was feeling. Also, it was so sweet to see their friendship grow, especially during the fencing classes. If you don’t like cheating in your books, there is nothing to worry about. ;)
Two of my favorite scenes are (1) when Tabby’s father talks to her about Amy and Eden and (2) when Eden explains to her parents how she feels about Tabby. I can see both situations happening in real life.
I’m excited to read more of Payne’s work.
*ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
April 9, 2014
This one really blew my mind with the interest that developed throughout the story.
When I discovered this novel for some reason I was hesitant but those feelings were quickly dispelled once I actually started reading. This is the perfect Lesbian romance novel for young adults and really explores the trepidation when it comes to coming out to both parents and friends, as well as young love.
The main character, Tabby, is a wonderful protagonist. She is first and foremost honest with herself about her sexuality. It's nice to see a young woman represented so strongly and positively. She is confident about her sexuality which is a breath of fresh air in a sea of confused and unsure women. But there is still Eden to show the fear that people face but not in a domineering way. It's all very subtle.
The plot is simple but powerful in the message that it is conveying. It is easy to understand and follows a simple pattern. There is no contrived love triangle, just the falling out of one relationship and discovering another. No cheating just real feelings.
Overall, this is an amazing young adult novel about same-sex relationships.
Well done.
When I discovered this novel for some reason I was hesitant but those feelings were quickly dispelled once I actually started reading. This is the perfect Lesbian romance novel for young adults and really explores the trepidation when it comes to coming out to both parents and friends, as well as young love.
The main character, Tabby, is a wonderful protagonist. She is first and foremost honest with herself about her sexuality. It's nice to see a young woman represented so strongly and positively. She is confident about her sexuality which is a breath of fresh air in a sea of confused and unsure women. But there is still Eden to show the fear that people face but not in a domineering way. It's all very subtle.
The plot is simple but powerful in the message that it is conveying. It is easy to understand and follows a simple pattern. There is no contrived love triangle, just the falling out of one relationship and discovering another. No cheating just real feelings.
Overall, this is an amazing young adult novel about same-sex relationships.
Well done.
May 31, 2020
It was a cute YA book and I would have loved to read this one when I was twenty(twenty eight years ago) Maybe then I would have recognized the girl crushes I had in my teens as such and a lightbulb would go off. As it is I didn’t know until I was thirty four. But as I said it was cute, but not for me anymore. Which is not to say I don’t like YA books. I love The Space between by Michelle L Teichman. This one just doesn’t give me the same feelings. Still good though. So a solid 3 stars.
September 12, 2016
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Because of Her is such a beautiful and realistic portrayal of a young girls struggle with school, love and life in general, not to mention the unique spin her sexuality puts on all of it. Tabby is seventeen, and heartbroken over having to leave her girlfriend, Amy, behind when her family moves to London. Things become even more complicated when Tabby starts feel draw to Eden, a popular school mate who also appears to be straight.
I love Tabby so much. The story is told first person from her perspective, and it goes a long way to really help ground the reader in Tabby’s life and make us care about her as a person. It also made it really easy for me to be nostalgic about my own youth, and how much I could identify with Tabby.
Like most teenage girls she enjoys reading and hanging out with her new London friends. She doesn’t agree with her parents, since her father is the reason the moved, and of course, she’s head over heels in love. A key to Tabby’s charm and accessible is that she’s unassuming, down to earth. She is likely a girl you know, or used to know, or your own daughter. Or she feels like a part of yourself, which was the case for me.
Despite this being a Lesbian YA romance, this isn’t an “issues book.” Tabby’s sexual orientation is a fundamental part of her and her story, as it is with many LGBTQ people, but it’s not the sole plot point of the book. I cannot tell you how much of a relief it was to discover that this is really truly about Tabby’s life and love, not a angst tale about how lesbians’ are doomed to be heartbroken and alone.
In fact, few times that I cried while reading was from relief and joy at how Tabby has a very such middle of the road adolescent experiences. I mean it’s not all stars and rainbows, but there’s no suicide, abuse, death, or shark-jumping drama you see so often in YA, but most especially in stories featuring LGBTQ characters.
Tabby is funny, smart and so earnest, but also very inexperienced with love and relationships. That primary plot of the story is her learning to navigate the shifting landscape of love, and maturity. Trials everyone goes through when we’re young, in love and believe that nothing could ever change it.
Another delightful part of the story is her friends, Libby and Greg. They too feel and act like real teenagers, but are the best friends a girl could ever ask for. I love how we got to see a lot of Tabby’s time with them, and how their support and love played a huge part in her story. The dialogue in their conversations weren’t only very realistic, but downright funny at times. I often laughed out loud while reading, especially when Libby and Tabby talked.
Eden and Amy are also interesting characters, real and flawed in all the right ways. I was especially impressed by how they didn’t seem over idealize, which is an easy thing to do within a first person narrative. But I found myself feeling compassion and understanding for both girls, even when I didn’t like what they were doing.
As a bisexual woman, this is the kind of book I’ve been searching for, one that does the same things Anna and the French Kiss did for me, but with a romance featuring lesbians. While Because of Her is 100% its own story, with unique characters and a completely different setting and plot, it is a similar in tone and themes. Young love is a universal experience, no matter our sexual orientation. Because of Her only highlights that by telling an fun, interesting and accessible story featuring a teenage lesbian.
I wish I could go back in time to give 13 year old me a copy of this book. Stories like Tabby’s mean so much than the most well intentioned declaration of “it gets better,” because it shows how life doesn’t end when you come out. In fact, it’s only just begun to get interesting.
Because of Her is such a beautiful and realistic portrayal of a young girls struggle with school, love and life in general, not to mention the unique spin her sexuality puts on all of it. Tabby is seventeen, and heartbroken over having to leave her girlfriend, Amy, behind when her family moves to London. Things become even more complicated when Tabby starts feel draw to Eden, a popular school mate who also appears to be straight.
I love Tabby so much. The story is told first person from her perspective, and it goes a long way to really help ground the reader in Tabby’s life and make us care about her as a person. It also made it really easy for me to be nostalgic about my own youth, and how much I could identify with Tabby.
Like most teenage girls she enjoys reading and hanging out with her new London friends. She doesn’t agree with her parents, since her father is the reason the moved, and of course, she’s head over heels in love. A key to Tabby’s charm and accessible is that she’s unassuming, down to earth. She is likely a girl you know, or used to know, or your own daughter. Or she feels like a part of yourself, which was the case for me.
Despite this being a Lesbian YA romance, this isn’t an “issues book.” Tabby’s sexual orientation is a fundamental part of her and her story, as it is with many LGBTQ people, but it’s not the sole plot point of the book. I cannot tell you how much of a relief it was to discover that this is really truly about Tabby’s life and love, not a angst tale about how lesbians’ are doomed to be heartbroken and alone.
In fact, few times that I cried while reading was from relief and joy at how Tabby has a very such middle of the road adolescent experiences. I mean it’s not all stars and rainbows, but there’s no suicide, abuse, death, or shark-jumping drama you see so often in YA, but most especially in stories featuring LGBTQ characters.
Tabby is funny, smart and so earnest, but also very inexperienced with love and relationships. That primary plot of the story is her learning to navigate the shifting landscape of love, and maturity. Trials everyone goes through when we’re young, in love and believe that nothing could ever change it.
Another delightful part of the story is her friends, Libby and Greg. They too feel and act like real teenagers, but are the best friends a girl could ever ask for. I love how we got to see a lot of Tabby’s time with them, and how their support and love played a huge part in her story. The dialogue in their conversations weren’t only very realistic, but downright funny at times. I often laughed out loud while reading, especially when Libby and Tabby talked.
Eden and Amy are also interesting characters, real and flawed in all the right ways. I was especially impressed by how they didn’t seem over idealize, which is an easy thing to do within a first person narrative. But I found myself feeling compassion and understanding for both girls, even when I didn’t like what they were doing.
As a bisexual woman, this is the kind of book I’ve been searching for, one that does the same things Anna and the French Kiss did for me, but with a romance featuring lesbians. While Because of Her is 100% its own story, with unique characters and a completely different setting and plot, it is a similar in tone and themes. Young love is a universal experience, no matter our sexual orientation. Because of Her only highlights that by telling an fun, interesting and accessible story featuring a teenage lesbian.
I wish I could go back in time to give 13 year old me a copy of this book. Stories like Tabby’s mean so much than the most well intentioned declaration of “it gets better,” because it shows how life doesn’t end when you come out. In fact, it’s only just begun to get interesting.
March 2, 2014
Seventeen year old Tabitha Morton, (Tabby) is devastated. Her family have moved down to London from the northeast of England. Tabby feels like her life is on a downward spiral having left her girlfriend, Amy, in the northeast after declaring her undying love. How could her life not suck? After all, two years is a long time to be together, just to be torn apart.
To top everything and put the icing on the cake, Tabby’s parents have enrolled her in the very posh Queen Victoria Independent School for Girls. They are hoping this will put Tabby back on track with her studies and make a lady of her.
Tabby is not impressed and sets out to thwart and hamper her parents at every turn. She detests her school, causes disruptions and her relationship with her parents drops to an all time low.
The day Tabby meets Eden Palmer, she begins to have second thoughts about school and her move to London. Is it so bad after all?
When Tabby’s girlfriend, Amy, visits one weekend, their reunion is a disaster. Amy has some news which may not go down too well with Tabby. In light of Amy’s revelation, Tabby knows she has choices to make. She needs to find a new path to follow.
Eden is hiding a secret and battling some personal issues. But, she introduces some new possibilities and directions for them both.
Tabby slowly begins to allow the changes to alter her way of thinking and begins to turn her life around. All these changes are because of her.
Although this is a young adult book, don’t let that stop you from buying it and enjoying it. I was hooked in from the first page right the way through to the last page. KE Payne has a wonderful way with words and her stories are well written and emotionally charged. She really seems to get into the teenage mind. Although I’m well past my teens, I could still identify with the feelings Tabby and Eden were experiencing. In fact, I couldn’t put this book down once I’d started it and read well into the night to finish it.
Both Tabby and Eden are well developed, multi-faceted characters, and are backed up by a wealth of secondary characters to interact and progress the story forward at a nice steady pace. Some are friends, some are insufferable and not nice to know, but they are all essential to the story.
There is a lot crammed into this book and KE Payne has managed to get the point across that it is okay to be gay. We follow Tabby who knows what she is, what she wants and who she wants, to the indecisive Eden, who, although deep down, she suspects she may be a lesbian, is confused and wants to have her cake and eat it too.
Homophobia, teen angst, teen romance, coming out, keeping secrets, is all dealt with in a sympathetic and understanding way against a back drop of an upper crust school and parents at the end of their tethers with their teenage daughters. Hard for any parent, let alone when you find out your daughter is a lesbian. KE Payne has really shown us what is was like for two very different sets of parents and how they each reacted and handled the situation.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this up and coming author soon.
To top everything and put the icing on the cake, Tabby’s parents have enrolled her in the very posh Queen Victoria Independent School for Girls. They are hoping this will put Tabby back on track with her studies and make a lady of her.
Tabby is not impressed and sets out to thwart and hamper her parents at every turn. She detests her school, causes disruptions and her relationship with her parents drops to an all time low.
The day Tabby meets Eden Palmer, she begins to have second thoughts about school and her move to London. Is it so bad after all?
When Tabby’s girlfriend, Amy, visits one weekend, their reunion is a disaster. Amy has some news which may not go down too well with Tabby. In light of Amy’s revelation, Tabby knows she has choices to make. She needs to find a new path to follow.
Eden is hiding a secret and battling some personal issues. But, she introduces some new possibilities and directions for them both.
Tabby slowly begins to allow the changes to alter her way of thinking and begins to turn her life around. All these changes are because of her.
Although this is a young adult book, don’t let that stop you from buying it and enjoying it. I was hooked in from the first page right the way through to the last page. KE Payne has a wonderful way with words and her stories are well written and emotionally charged. She really seems to get into the teenage mind. Although I’m well past my teens, I could still identify with the feelings Tabby and Eden were experiencing. In fact, I couldn’t put this book down once I’d started it and read well into the night to finish it.
Both Tabby and Eden are well developed, multi-faceted characters, and are backed up by a wealth of secondary characters to interact and progress the story forward at a nice steady pace. Some are friends, some are insufferable and not nice to know, but they are all essential to the story.
There is a lot crammed into this book and KE Payne has managed to get the point across that it is okay to be gay. We follow Tabby who knows what she is, what she wants and who she wants, to the indecisive Eden, who, although deep down, she suspects she may be a lesbian, is confused and wants to have her cake and eat it too.
Homophobia, teen angst, teen romance, coming out, keeping secrets, is all dealt with in a sympathetic and understanding way against a back drop of an upper crust school and parents at the end of their tethers with their teenage daughters. Hard for any parent, let alone when you find out your daughter is a lesbian. KE Payne has really shown us what is was like for two very different sets of parents and how they each reacted and handled the situation.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this up and coming author soon.
April 28, 2014
When Tabby leaves her small town and moves to London she's certain it's the worst thing that ever happened to her. Instead it turns out to be the best when she meets Eden. Smart, funny, and beautiful, Eden gets right into Tabby's head.
This was great love story that was hard to put down. I was completely drawn into Tabby's life. Every internal feeling and worry she had about Eden was so real and familiar that I felt myself aching with her. The ups and downs were realistic and everything seemed to play out exactly the way it would in real life.
Since the book takes place in London, it is full of British English, which might turn some American readers off, but I personally loved. To me that just added another layer to the story and made it easier to fall into.
Overall I loved this book. All the main characters were well fleshed out and easy to keep track of, the pace was perfect, loved it!
This was great love story that was hard to put down. I was completely drawn into Tabby's life. Every internal feeling and worry she had about Eden was so real and familiar that I felt myself aching with her. The ups and downs were realistic and everything seemed to play out exactly the way it would in real life.
Since the book takes place in London, it is full of British English, which might turn some American readers off, but I personally loved. To me that just added another layer to the story and made it easier to fall into.
Overall I loved this book. All the main characters were well fleshed out and easy to keep track of, the pace was perfect, loved it!
July 17, 2014
*I received a free ARC of Because of Her from Bold Strokes Books via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*
Because of her is a beautiful, and different, coming of age story where the protagonists have more to deal with than just falling in love - having to face judgmental people is never easy, but Tabby and Eden did pretty well.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
Because of her is a beautiful, and different, coming of age story where the protagonists have more to deal with than just falling in love - having to face judgmental people is never easy, but Tabby and Eden did pretty well.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
May 31, 2014
Originally posted at Butterfly-o-Meter Books on March 15th 2014:
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: Awesome contemporary London setting, complete with a couple of “touristy�� walks around the city.
Characters:The MC, Tabby, was a fun high-school girl and I found her fun. I didn’t connect emotionally with her, but then again I often find I don’t connect emotionally with characters that age. I don’t think I did when I was that age, which might be the heart of the problem for me. But she was fun, a bit confused, a bit crush-centered – authentic, if you ask me. I liked her, I wanted her issues to be solved and for her to get a happy ending, but I can’t say I was gutted or sitting at the edge of my seat until we got there.
The Eden/Amy thing was interesting, a less metaphoric evolution from a first crush to a new love. I especially liked the way each character was in a different point of the coming out process, either accepting in their own hearts that they were gay, or coming to terms with it, or trying to hide it from other for fear of becoming ‘different’.Tabby was the bravest of the triangle, and I respected her a lot for it. I found I felt the same for Eden by the end, but it sure was a bumpy road there. I loved the diversity inside the diversity, if you will, and I applaud that.
Favorite Character: Libby (one of Tabby’s friends) :D
Plot: Unfortunately (for me) a lot of the story revolved around coming out, crushes and high-school life – that last there isn’t a terribly interesting topic for me. If you’re a lot into high-school drama though, this will be a fab read.
Writing: First person narrative, Tabby’s POV.
Curb Appeal: Nice cover, hooking blurb – impulsive buy material for one of my LGBTQ reading moods.
For me, this was more of a 3.5 butterflies read, but close enough to a 4.
All in all, I found this read fun and I enjoyed it. I didn’t experience a rush, if you will, I wasn’t twitchy with excitement but I enjoyed it. Then again, this was a sweet (angist-ish in places) teen romance, a kind of scenario I’m not much interested in by large. Despite that, I enjoyed the read and I recommend it if you’re a lover and supporter of diversity.
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: Awesome contemporary London setting, complete with a couple of “touristy�� walks around the city.
Characters:The MC, Tabby, was a fun high-school girl and I found her fun. I didn’t connect emotionally with her, but then again I often find I don’t connect emotionally with characters that age. I don’t think I did when I was that age, which might be the heart of the problem for me. But she was fun, a bit confused, a bit crush-centered – authentic, if you ask me. I liked her, I wanted her issues to be solved and for her to get a happy ending, but I can’t say I was gutted or sitting at the edge of my seat until we got there.
The Eden/Amy thing was interesting, a less metaphoric evolution from a first crush to a new love. I especially liked the way each character was in a different point of the coming out process, either accepting in their own hearts that they were gay, or coming to terms with it, or trying to hide it from other for fear of becoming ‘different’.Tabby was the bravest of the triangle, and I respected her a lot for it. I found I felt the same for Eden by the end, but it sure was a bumpy road there. I loved the diversity inside the diversity, if you will, and I applaud that.
Favorite Character: Libby (one of Tabby’s friends) :D
Plot: Unfortunately (for me) a lot of the story revolved around coming out, crushes and high-school life – that last there isn’t a terribly interesting topic for me. If you’re a lot into high-school drama though, this will be a fab read.
Writing: First person narrative, Tabby’s POV.
Curb Appeal: Nice cover, hooking blurb – impulsive buy material for one of my LGBTQ reading moods.
For me, this was more of a 3.5 butterflies read, but close enough to a 4.
All in all, I found this read fun and I enjoyed it. I didn’t experience a rush, if you will, I wasn’t twitchy with excitement but I enjoyed it. Then again, this was a sweet (angist-ish in places) teen romance, a kind of scenario I’m not much interested in by large. Despite that, I enjoyed the read and I recommend it if you’re a lover and supporter of diversity.
May 5, 2014
What I really appreciated about Payne’s novel was its realism. Though I will admit I was a tad bit wary after all of Tabby’s obsessive gushing over Eden’s appearance in the first few chapters, I quickly got over it (Tabby is a teenage girl after all.) Instead of giving us the stereotypical new-girl-in-town-falls-madly-in-love-with-someone-society-says-she-can’t-have route (like Twilight), we’re given one that also winds itself around personal growth, accepting those in your life for who they are rather than who you think they are, and realizing that it’s okay, and even better, when life strays from what you’d originally planned it to be.
When we first meet Tabby, she’s still pining over her girlfriend, Amy, back home and absolutely hates her new school; but once Eden walks into her life, she begins to question all of that. We learn that her relationship with Amy wasn’t the healthiest and that they both deserve to be with people who help them reach their own full potentials. We learn that Eden is stuck in a friendship where she has to pretend to be someone she’s not and that it’s okay to move on for your own happiness when you realize you’re in that kind of a relationship: that it’s okay to be yourself and stand up for that self no matter what everyone else tells you. Then, when Tabby and Eden finally find a way to be together, we learn that people definitely don’t always live up to our expectations: they have flaws and weaknesses and sometimes that means we have to work with them to help them become the people they want to be.
Finally, I’ve read some LGBT teen books that are somewhat polarizing. They emphasize and focus on how other the main character is from society rather than that they’re just human and love is love. While Tabby is definitely treated horribly by plenty of people, Because of Her never falls into this pattern. Tabby is indeed different, but only in the same way we all are: it’s an inclusive difference. The people who can’t celebrate that difference are now the ones who are other. They are the ones who are the problem and who need to change, not Tabby or Eden. I think, by switching this focus, it helps all readers to just see the characters as teenage girls in love and enjoy the story instead of perpetuating stereotypes.
When we first meet Tabby, she’s still pining over her girlfriend, Amy, back home and absolutely hates her new school; but once Eden walks into her life, she begins to question all of that. We learn that her relationship with Amy wasn’t the healthiest and that they both deserve to be with people who help them reach their own full potentials. We learn that Eden is stuck in a friendship where she has to pretend to be someone she’s not and that it’s okay to move on for your own happiness when you realize you’re in that kind of a relationship: that it’s okay to be yourself and stand up for that self no matter what everyone else tells you. Then, when Tabby and Eden finally find a way to be together, we learn that people definitely don’t always live up to our expectations: they have flaws and weaknesses and sometimes that means we have to work with them to help them become the people they want to be.
Finally, I’ve read some LGBT teen books that are somewhat polarizing. They emphasize and focus on how other the main character is from society rather than that they’re just human and love is love. While Tabby is definitely treated horribly by plenty of people, Because of Her never falls into this pattern. Tabby is indeed different, but only in the same way we all are: it’s an inclusive difference. The people who can’t celebrate that difference are now the ones who are other. They are the ones who are the problem and who need to change, not Tabby or Eden. I think, by switching this focus, it helps all readers to just see the characters as teenage girls in love and enjoy the story instead of perpetuating stereotypes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2016
Wow, this is one super cute romance story!
Sure, I could have used more character insight about who all these people are, their interests, what their hopes are for the future, etc, etc...but as a first person story about a character swept up in a maelstrom of her new romantic interest, it doesn't really need to do that. I've been there and can relate to the reality of Tabby's day to day being filtered through her obsession with schoolmate Eden.
I loved the pacing, with Tabby's sense of immediacy, the longing, the magic in little interactions, the anxiety of potentially losing the chance to be with Eden. The story never feels rushed and isn't so long it outstays it's welcome. It's kind of perfect at what it sets out to be.
Sure, I could have used more character insight about who all these people are, their interests, what their hopes are for the future, etc, etc...but as a first person story about a character swept up in a maelstrom of her new romantic interest, it doesn't really need to do that. I've been there and can relate to the reality of Tabby's day to day being filtered through her obsession with schoolmate Eden.
I loved the pacing, with Tabby's sense of immediacy, the longing, the magic in little interactions, the anxiety of potentially losing the chance to be with Eden. The story never feels rushed and isn't so long it outstays it's welcome. It's kind of perfect at what it sets out to be.
maybe-to-read
March 12, 2016March 11th, 2016
I'm kind of apprehensive about reading this book because it seems to be extremely relationship based, which is the kind of thing I tend to extremely dislike about realistic fiction and which is why I tend to stay on the fantasy side of things...but I'll give it a try, perhaps.
I'm kind of apprehensive about reading this book because it seems to be extremely relationship based, which is the kind of thing I tend to extremely dislike about realistic fiction and which is why I tend to stay on the fantasy side of things...but I'll give it a try, perhaps.
December 18, 2014
Yeah, pretty good story dealing with teenagers struggling for coming out and beeing accepted by friends and parents. What's best is that the novel is set in London.
February 19, 2018
This is my favorite Payne book. It's perfect. Road to Her could have been perfect too if Holly's love interest is Eden. I just love that character and she deserves better.
September 14, 2019
I have some thoughts about this one. I'm always hopeful that lesbian (or general LGBTQ+) YA will impress me, but I just feel irritated after finishing this. Maybe I'm just super hateful of the idea of 1) cheating, 2) writing about lesbians falling for straight girls, and 3) books where the ONLY plot point is pining over the love interest. But damn if this didn't feel like it was written by a straight person trying to characterise queer experiences and falling short, which is disappointing as K.E. Payne is a lesbian who writes primarily lesbian YA. Something just didn't click. Every character who wasn't the protagonist was myopic and pushed to the side when the plot needed it, I found both Tabby & Eden to be painful to read about, and the resolution felt contrived and out of place. Even the responses to both of the girls' I'm kinda mad!
February 24, 2014
tl;dr I really liked this book! It was super cute and I loved it.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Description Tabby's parents have forced her to move from northern England to London for her father's new job, and Tabby is not at all happy about it. She hates the city and misses her girlfriend Amy dearly. But then Tabby meets Eden, and falls head over heels for her. But Eden is straight, and Tabby promised Amy she'd do everything she could to get kicked out of Queen Victoria's school and make her way back to the north. Tabby is torn between the girl she was with Amy, and the girl she wants to be when she's around Eden.
I must say, I really liked this book! Normally I'm a bit wary of contemporary romance, because its almost always just feels the same. Girl meets boy and BAM insta!love, they are thrown together and girl is constantly insecure that boy doesn't like her when its blatantly obvious he does, then theres drama and then they end up together.
But this one was different. It starts out how any romance does, girl meets someone who instantly captivates her and she's interested. This story builds at a great pace, and it isn't so long that you are just waiting for it to be done. I mean, maybe because is the first lesbian YA book that I've read but it was nice and refreshing take on the contemporary romance.
I liked Tabby a lot, and I really liked her character growth a lot. I liked reading from her narrative, and getting to know Eden through her perspective. I thought the whole story was really sweet and was a fun story to read.
I also liked the aspects of coming out in this story. At first, I wasn't sure if she was out to her friends or family. Then she came out to her two new friends at school, who took it wonderfully and I think it felt pretty well, having had a few close friends come out to me before. I liked the dynamic of Tabby having feelings for Eden, but not able to act on them because Eden is straight, I felt like that was an interesting conflict.
Anyways I really liked this story. It was a fantastic young adult story that I would suggest to any teen looking for a good romance book.
February 18, 2014
(in my review there are several links to websites present; those can be seen on my blog: https://readingthething.wordpress.com...)
I rarely read romance novels. They don’t appeal to me, because of the heteronormativity, mono-normativity (similar to heteronormativity, but themn towards monogamous relationships; and most books would be so short if they decided having more than one relationship is fine too!), and trope-filled plots. Other themes in books interest me way more. But since there was a Romance-square on the Book Bingo 2014, I was forced (*ahum*) to read a romance-book this year. Then I came accross “Because of Her” on Netgalley and because of the obvious lack of my first objection to romance novels, and the interesting description, I decided to request it.
If I had not forced myself to go to sleep because of my early alarm the next morning, I would’ve read it in one sitting. This book is relatively short (264 pages) and is quick to read because of the simple language (it’s YA, after all). I loved reading about a developing crush and the recognizable thoughts and feelings that arise. Especially the extra doubt that comes to be when a girl likes another girl: is there a chance she’s into girls too? I also liked the parts that dealt with the Long-Distance-Relationship of the protagonist. Since I was in an LDR when I was her age, past-me could really relate to her. The difficulty of the coming out to friends and family was also touched upon, and this was that was equaly relatable, and described in a realistic way, both from the side of the person that comes out as gay as from the persons that they came out to. I would have really loved to read this when I was about 15, just coming to terms with the fact that I liked girls as well as boys.
There are a few things I liked less. It happens several times, characters do something that is out of character for them. I understand this is probably meant as character-development, but it’s often a bit too sudden and without a nice and slow transition. Also, there is a clear straight/gay dichotomy in the book: bisexuality does not exist. Being bisexual myself, that irked a bit. And there is the title of course! Whenever I read it, there’s Kelly Clarkson singing in my head. (okay, that is not a -real- downside; it is distracting however).
If I look at this book for what it is, a YA romance novel with a LGBT theme, it’s a good read. I would especially recommend it to young people, straight, gay, bi, not sure, or something different all together, for the recognizable themes and likeable characters. My advice for adults would be to read this if you want something light and simple between more complex books, but not something that is completely without substance. This book will be published at the 1st of march of this year.
I rarely read romance novels. They don’t appeal to me, because of the heteronormativity, mono-normativity (similar to heteronormativity, but themn towards monogamous relationships; and most books would be so short if they decided having more than one relationship is fine too!), and trope-filled plots. Other themes in books interest me way more. But since there was a Romance-square on the Book Bingo 2014, I was forced (*ahum*) to read a romance-book this year. Then I came accross “Because of Her” on Netgalley and because of the obvious lack of my first objection to romance novels, and the interesting description, I decided to request it.
If I had not forced myself to go to sleep because of my early alarm the next morning, I would’ve read it in one sitting. This book is relatively short (264 pages) and is quick to read because of the simple language (it’s YA, after all). I loved reading about a developing crush and the recognizable thoughts and feelings that arise. Especially the extra doubt that comes to be when a girl likes another girl: is there a chance she’s into girls too? I also liked the parts that dealt with the Long-Distance-Relationship of the protagonist. Since I was in an LDR when I was her age, past-me could really relate to her. The difficulty of the coming out to friends and family was also touched upon, and this was that was equaly relatable, and described in a realistic way, both from the side of the person that comes out as gay as from the persons that they came out to. I would have really loved to read this when I was about 15, just coming to terms with the fact that I liked girls as well as boys.
There are a few things I liked less. It happens several times, characters do something that is out of character for them. I understand this is probably meant as character-development, but it’s often a bit too sudden and without a nice and slow transition. Also, there is a clear straight/gay dichotomy in the book: bisexuality does not exist. Being bisexual myself, that irked a bit. And there is the title of course! Whenever I read it, there’s Kelly Clarkson singing in my head. (okay, that is not a -real- downside; it is distracting however).
If I look at this book for what it is, a YA romance novel with a LGBT theme, it’s a good read. I would especially recommend it to young people, straight, gay, bi, not sure, or something different all together, for the recognizable themes and likeable characters. My advice for adults would be to read this if you want something light and simple between more complex books, but not something that is completely without substance. This book will be published at the 1st of march of this year.
October 26, 2016
Overall I thought this was an okay read - nothing particularly outstanding, but nothing horrifyingly bad either.
Sypnosis: The book follows Tabby Morton, a teenager who's been forced to move from Scotland to London by her parents. She's enrolled at a posh independent school and at first despises it, her hate largely being fueled due to missing her girlfriend Amy, who's she's left up north. However a few days in and she's already fallen head over heels for another girl, Eden - and Tabby is left feeling conflicted.
Summary:
- Some likeable characters. Greg and Libby in particular (two kids who befriend her upon her arrival) honestly would be great friends to have in real life. I admire Libby's loyalty defiance especially.
- Fairly accurate portrayal of British life (I should know, I live in England!). The descriptions of London weren't super elaborate or anything but they matched how I personally would describe it, and famous landmarks and attractions are given attention, plus of course the London Underground and Tube are also detailed. Occasionally the topics Tabby's studying are briefly mentioned and again it's pretty accurate; all the biology stuff mentioned comes straight from the A-Level syllabus. However, to reiterate, these mentions are only fleeting so you won't get bored to death.
- Eden and Tabby's relationship largely develops through their after school fencing sessions which was interesting at first but got a little tiring by the end.
- I wouldn't say it's super fast-paced but it doesn't drag on for ages either, there's usually something happening in each chapter.
- I liked how the stigma surrounding LGBT+ was portrayed and it explores why people are scared to speak out and acceptance can be difficult to find. There's also some examples of typical hate speech and abuse thrown around which unfortunately many people face and I liked how it wasn't super over the top either, it's something I can actually imagine people saying. However, I can't say it tackles the issues in a new light either, plenty of other books have taken the same angle.
- I don't want to reveal too much of the plot so all I'll say is that some elements were predictable and not super interesting.
- I felt like the whole Tabby/Amy/Eden love triangle was rather anticlimatic, a third of the way through the book and it's pretty easy to figure out who's going to end up with who.
If you're looking for something fairly light and easy to read then maybe this is the book for you. If you want a book that explores LGBT issues in a more hard-hitting manner or something with substance, then I'd look elsewhere.
Sypnosis: The book follows Tabby Morton, a teenager who's been forced to move from Scotland to London by her parents. She's enrolled at a posh independent school and at first despises it, her hate largely being fueled due to missing her girlfriend Amy, who's she's left up north. However a few days in and she's already fallen head over heels for another girl, Eden - and Tabby is left feeling conflicted.
Summary:
- Some likeable characters. Greg and Libby in particular (two kids who befriend her upon her arrival) honestly would be great friends to have in real life. I admire Libby's loyalty defiance especially.
- Fairly accurate portrayal of British life (I should know, I live in England!). The descriptions of London weren't super elaborate or anything but they matched how I personally would describe it, and famous landmarks and attractions are given attention, plus of course the London Underground and Tube are also detailed. Occasionally the topics Tabby's studying are briefly mentioned and again it's pretty accurate; all the biology stuff mentioned comes straight from the A-Level syllabus. However, to reiterate, these mentions are only fleeting so you won't get bored to death.
- Eden and Tabby's relationship largely develops through their after school fencing sessions which was interesting at first but got a little tiring by the end.
- I wouldn't say it's super fast-paced but it doesn't drag on for ages either, there's usually something happening in each chapter.
- I liked how the stigma surrounding LGBT+ was portrayed and it explores why people are scared to speak out and acceptance can be difficult to find. There's also some examples of typical hate speech and abuse thrown around which unfortunately many people face and I liked how it wasn't super over the top either, it's something I can actually imagine people saying. However, I can't say it tackles the issues in a new light either, plenty of other books have taken the same angle.
- I don't want to reveal too much of the plot so all I'll say is that some elements were predictable and not super interesting.
- I felt like the whole Tabby/Amy/Eden love triangle was rather anticlimatic, a third of the way through the book and it's pretty easy to figure out who's going to end up with who.
If you're looking for something fairly light and easy to read then maybe this is the book for you. If you want a book that explores LGBT issues in a more hard-hitting manner or something with substance, then I'd look elsewhere.
April 10, 2016
"I never knew you were such an authority on lesbians," I said.
"I told you, my cousin's—"
"Dabbled," I interrupted. "I know." (144)
Mm. Cute and lacking. Tabby knows she's gay, and she'd give anything to be back in Cragthorne with Amy, her girlfriend. Instead, no thanks to her parents, she's in London, in a posh school...with Eden, a wickedly hot, and presumably straight, girl to crush on.
While the relationship is reasonably sweet, I never really got a handle on any of the characters. Tabby is a reformed 'bad girl' who now fences. Amy is a current 'bad girl' who's kind of nasty to Tabby. Eden (Eden? Really?) is a very hot, presumably popular girl who doesn't like her friends and also fences. Tabby's sidekick friends are...supportive sidekicks. Her brother is...a brother. Her father's a banker. Eden's friends are total witches who either are popular/hot or think they're popular/hot (not clear). Unfortunately, nobody's really characterised past that. Do they have interests? Career goals? We never find out.
Tabby's already comfortable in her sexuality (yay), although she's not really out; instead, much of the conflict revolves around 1) whether or not she'll stay with Amy and 2) whether or not Eden can find her way out of the closet. Seems reasonable for YA fiction, though it's a bit disappointing on both ends: there's never any doubt that Amy's not The One (as is typical in YA fiction—and romance—the ex or soon-to-be-ex is not allowed to be a decent person/partner), so she's really only there to be an obstacle, and while Eden's eventual coming out is treated as the be-all and end-all, it seems to me that it's just the start of things she has to (and they have to) figure out. (Again typical for YA—and lesbian U-Haul jokes—they start making relationship plans for a year in the future(!) when they've only hooked up once, and then a day or two later start tossing around the word 'love'...)
So...I suppose I wish the proportions of the conflicts had been played around with more, but it's still a cute, fast read. Hurray for interlibrary loan. (The librarians must scratch their heads in bewilderment when they look at my request records.)
"I told you, my cousin's—"
"Dabbled," I interrupted. "I know." (144)
Mm. Cute and lacking. Tabby knows she's gay, and she'd give anything to be back in Cragthorne with Amy, her girlfriend. Instead, no thanks to her parents, she's in London, in a posh school...with Eden, a wickedly hot, and presumably straight, girl to crush on.
While the relationship is reasonably sweet, I never really got a handle on any of the characters. Tabby is a reformed 'bad girl' who now fences. Amy is a current 'bad girl' who's kind of nasty to Tabby. Eden (Eden? Really?) is a very hot, presumably popular girl who doesn't like her friends and also fences. Tabby's sidekick friends are...supportive sidekicks. Her brother is...a brother. Her father's a banker. Eden's friends are total witches who either are popular/hot or think they're popular/hot (not clear). Unfortunately, nobody's really characterised past that. Do they have interests? Career goals? We never find out.
Tabby's already comfortable in her sexuality (yay), although she's not really out; instead, much of the conflict revolves around 1) whether or not she'll stay with Amy and 2) whether or not Eden can find her way out of the closet. Seems reasonable for YA fiction, though it's a bit disappointing on both ends: there's never any doubt that Amy's not The One (as is typical in YA fiction—and romance—the ex or soon-to-be-ex is not allowed to be a decent person/partner), so she's really only there to be an obstacle, and while Eden's eventual coming out is treated as the be-all and end-all, it seems to me that it's just the start of things she has to (and they have to) figure out. (Again typical for YA—and lesbian U-Haul jokes—they start making relationship plans for a year in the future(!) when they've only hooked up once, and then a day or two later start tossing around the word 'love'...)
So...I suppose I wish the proportions of the conflicts had been played around with more, but it's still a cute, fast read. Hurray for interlibrary loan. (The librarians must scratch their heads in bewilderment when they look at my request records.)
October 16, 2020
I received this book via netgalley for an honest review.
Not going to lie, even if it was a quick read, the first half of the book was not my favorite.
At first it was nice and good. You get to know the characters little by little but unfortunately, Tabby got on my nerve a little at some point and didn't really see the appeal of Eden myself (but again, I think I have problem with lots of love interests these days). But I didn't have to love Eden myself to get that Tabby loved her.
The part I liked Tabby less was how she handle her long-term relationship with her girlfriend still in the North.
The fact she grew to unlove her?! Of course, it's totally fine, real and it happens. But I liked less the way she behaved with her girlfriend, Amy, and I was part relieved and annoyed the way her relationship with her (Amy) ended. Relieved it actually ended, it felt dragged, and annoyed how it was done.
Tabby was so passive and it felt like she was handed a way-out. It felt too easy.
From the very beginning of the novel, all she can think about is Eden. Ok, that's good. So what I couldn't get is why she didn't even considered breaking things off with Amy way before.
Not at the beggining, because yes I got she loved Amy and she needed time, but when all she could think of was Eden and didn't really think about Amy anymore, or to feel guilty/annoyed by her. WHY DIDN'T SHE EVEN BROUGHT UP THE SUBJECT OF BREAKING UP? Amy was her safe option and it annoyed me, especially when she plainly admitted she stayed with her because Eden wouldn't date her anyway so...
So yeah, it's somewhat understable, it what's making this book feel true and real, even if annoying but it got me to think she was putting issue on herself she didn't have to have and then complain about it.
That being said, I like the part after that better, if still sometimes frustrating.
Tabby really found herself two great friends, I was glad she got them. The parents of this books were not really present, but presented us with some personality.
Finally, I like this book. It felt true and brings out real issues. But I also found it predictable at some points, somewhat clichés at others.
Not going to lie, even if it was a quick read, the first half of the book was not my favorite.
At first it was nice and good. You get to know the characters little by little but unfortunately, Tabby got on my nerve a little at some point and didn't really see the appeal of Eden myself (but again, I think I have problem with lots of love interests these days). But I didn't have to love Eden myself to get that Tabby loved her.
The part I liked Tabby less was how she handle her long-term relationship with her girlfriend still in the North.
The fact she grew to unlove her?! Of course, it's totally fine, real and it happens. But I liked less the way she behaved with her girlfriend, Amy, and I was part relieved and annoyed the way her relationship with her (Amy) ended. Relieved it actually ended, it felt dragged, and annoyed how it was done.
Tabby was so passive and it felt like she was handed a way-out. It felt too easy.
From the very beginning of the novel, all she can think about is Eden. Ok, that's good. So what I couldn't get is why she didn't even considered breaking things off with Amy way before.
Not at the beggining, because yes I got she loved Amy and she needed time, but when all she could think of was Eden and didn't really think about Amy anymore, or to feel guilty/annoyed by her. WHY DIDN'T SHE EVEN BROUGHT UP THE SUBJECT OF BREAKING UP? Amy was her safe option and it annoyed me, especially when she plainly admitted she stayed with her because Eden wouldn't date her anyway so...
So yeah, it's somewhat understable, it what's making this book feel true and real, even if annoying but it got me to think she was putting issue on herself she didn't have to have and then complain about it.
That being said, I like the part after that better, if still sometimes frustrating.
Tabby really found herself two great friends, I was glad she got them. The parents of this books were not really present, but presented us with some personality.
Finally, I like this book. It felt true and brings out real issues. But I also found it predictable at some points, somewhat clichés at others.
March 5, 2014
For some reason, there aren't many gay girls in YA fiction. There are a lot of gay boy best friends, which annoys me a little, but gay girls are rare. So it was a real delight to find Because of Her. It's such a typical contemporary YA romance, but with girls - it's exactly what the genre needs. There must be a lot of girls out there who are either questioning their sexuality, unsure of how to deal with it, or just want to find someone else who feels the same. This book is perfect for all of them, and I think confident straight girls would enjoy it too. It's the perfect book to show straight girls that gay girls have all the same feelings as them, just for different people.
Payne creates a host of well-developed, realistic characters to play with. I thought they were all brilliant, from the parents to the best friends to the bitchy girls, and of course Tabby herself.
The book deals with a lot of different issues - the trauma of moving away from everyone and everything you know, starting again at a new school in a new city, long distance relationships, a guilty crush, and then there's the whole homophobia and coming out to friends and family thing. It's a lot to pack into one book, but Payne does it well. It doesn't feel rushed or over-done at any point. The pacing is good, and everything is given due consideration.
I found Because of Her a very sweet story. The way Tabby describes how she feels about Eden, first as a crush and then something more, is very well written and gave me that squiggly feeling inside. I felt Tabby's hurt when things were going against her, and I felt her anguish over how things went with her girlfriend Amy. Reading Tabby's story really took me back to that time in my life, not because I went through the same things, but just because Payne really captures the way a girl that age feels and processes things.
Immensely enjoyable read, I will definitely be looking up Payne's other books.
Copy supplied by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Payne creates a host of well-developed, realistic characters to play with. I thought they were all brilliant, from the parents to the best friends to the bitchy girls, and of course Tabby herself.
The book deals with a lot of different issues - the trauma of moving away from everyone and everything you know, starting again at a new school in a new city, long distance relationships, a guilty crush, and then there's the whole homophobia and coming out to friends and family thing. It's a lot to pack into one book, but Payne does it well. It doesn't feel rushed or over-done at any point. The pacing is good, and everything is given due consideration.
I found Because of Her a very sweet story. The way Tabby describes how she feels about Eden, first as a crush and then something more, is very well written and gave me that squiggly feeling inside. I felt Tabby's hurt when things were going against her, and I felt her anguish over how things went with her girlfriend Amy. Reading Tabby's story really took me back to that time in my life, not because I went through the same things, but just because Payne really captures the way a girl that age feels and processes things.
Immensely enjoyable read, I will definitely be looking up Payne's other books.
Copy supplied by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 14, 2014This is a NetGalley read.
So I'm not really one for summaries, what I like to do is just get to the point. This is supposed to be a coming of age story about a girl who moves from Upper England to London, leaving her girlfriend behind and then falling in love with her crush at her new school.
I actually took notes with this one, to prove how much DOESN'T happen. I read a lot of biting lips, a lot of wondering and guessing and "Does she or doesn't she like me?" That's the whole. Entire. Book. Literally nothing happens. There's a little bit of "action" that happens when the main character goes on a date with her crush and they go to the eye of London (pictured on the cover of the book). That was the most interesting part. The rest of the chapters, seriously neither moved the plot forward, or added anything to the growth and development of the characters. NO changed and no one learned anything.
I've been to London, once. As an outsider, the author could have glamorized and described London better. London is fun and exciting and interesting. This London was so meh, it might as well have been, I don't know. New Jersey or something. (Used to go to school in Jersey, so I know.)
As someone who enjoys a good bi/lesbian coming of age romance, this one didn't do it for me. I wanted more than meh. I wanted to feel something. Love, lust, crush, curiosity, fear, angst. I got and looooong dose of uncertainty. And that's it. Yes, I know, and I remember, what being a teenager was like. It's definitely full of uncertainty. But there's more to it--crushes and discovering your sexuality, and this book just falls short of any of it. I wouldn't recommend this to a LGBTQ teenager to read this to gain any insight for themselves.
So I'm not really one for summaries, what I like to do is just get to the point. This is supposed to be a coming of age story about a girl who moves from Upper England to London, leaving her girlfriend behind and then falling in love with her crush at her new school.
I actually took notes with this one, to prove how much DOESN'T happen. I read a lot of biting lips, a lot of wondering and guessing and "Does she or doesn't she like me?" That's the whole. Entire. Book. Literally nothing happens. There's a little bit of "action" that happens when the main character goes on a date with her crush and they go to the eye of London (pictured on the cover of the book). That was the most interesting part. The rest of the chapters, seriously neither moved the plot forward, or added anything to the growth and development of the characters. NO changed and no one learned anything.
I've been to London, once. As an outsider, the author could have glamorized and described London better. London is fun and exciting and interesting. This London was so meh, it might as well have been, I don't know. New Jersey or something. (Used to go to school in Jersey, so I know.)
As someone who enjoys a good bi/lesbian coming of age romance, this one didn't do it for me. I wanted more than meh. I wanted to feel something. Love, lust, crush, curiosity, fear, angst. I got and looooong dose of uncertainty. And that's it. Yes, I know, and I remember, what being a teenager was like. It's definitely full of uncertainty. But there's more to it--crushes and discovering your sexuality, and this book just falls short of any of it. I wouldn't recommend this to a LGBTQ teenager to read this to gain any insight for themselves.
March 7, 2014
Tabby is new in town.. and what a change. Her father has just dragged her from her rural town in Northern England to horrible, huge, noisy, unfriendly London. Worse than that they've enrolled her in a posh private school where she is expected to learn to be a lady. All Tabby wants is to go back home to her small town and the arms of her girlfriend Amy. Making friends at school is not easy, but she manages, even being courted as a companion on outings in the city by the lovely Eden. Trouble with Eden is her stuck up friends who corral her in their humiliation of anyone not their kind. Tabby likes Eden, yes, in that way, but she's sure Eden does not reciprocate and even wonders if all the fun they are having is a big joke the posh clique put Eden up to. In the meantime Amy is starting to grow faint in Tabby's affections.
As for Eden, she's blindsided by her feelings for Tabby and he threat to her own comfortable status quo.
Payne does a fine job creating a typical teen angst story into a lesbian teen angst story, mirroring so many mainstream -- read "straight" -- stories of cliques, crushes and parental tyranny. The novel goes farther, depicting how Tabby's former contrariness becomes her real and valuable identity as she learns and matures. In the meantime we all get to do some sightseeing in London.
That's All I Read, http://kitmossreviews.blogspot.com
GLBT Bookshelf, http://glbtbookshelf.com
As for Eden, she's blindsided by her feelings for Tabby and he threat to her own comfortable status quo.
Payne does a fine job creating a typical teen angst story into a lesbian teen angst story, mirroring so many mainstream -- read "straight" -- stories of cliques, crushes and parental tyranny. The novel goes farther, depicting how Tabby's former contrariness becomes her real and valuable identity as she learns and matures. In the meantime we all get to do some sightseeing in London.
That's All I Read, http://kitmossreviews.blogspot.com
GLBT Bookshelf, http://glbtbookshelf.com
April 20, 2014
Really cute story, with just the right balance of teenage angst and romance.
It's a story about Tabitha, who is forced to London because of her father's job. As a result, she must leave her girlfriend, Amy, in their small town, while she herself tries to adapt to the big city and a new school, while trying to maintain he long distance relationship with Amy. But enter hot girl at Tabby's new school, and queue teenage drama as Tabby tries to reconcile her feelings for her new friend with the feelings she has for her girlfriend.
The writing itself is not fantastic. There is quite a big of dialogue and not nearly enough description.
The characters are not really fleshed out. Perhaps Tabby and Eden are, but the secondary characters seem to just exist for Tabby, to either help or hinder, with few, if any, motivations of their own. Even Eden doesn't seem to exist outside of her relationship with Tabby.
But for all that, it's still enjoyable. And, on a personal note, holds some relevance to my life at the moment. Definitely worth reading if you're into some light young adult lesbian fiction.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book.
It's a story about Tabitha, who is forced to London because of her father's job. As a result, she must leave her girlfriend, Amy, in their small town, while she herself tries to adapt to the big city and a new school, while trying to maintain he long distance relationship with Amy. But enter hot girl at Tabby's new school, and queue teenage drama as Tabby tries to reconcile her feelings for her new friend with the feelings she has for her girlfriend.
The writing itself is not fantastic. There is quite a big of dialogue and not nearly enough description.
The characters are not really fleshed out. Perhaps Tabby and Eden are, but the secondary characters seem to just exist for Tabby, to either help or hinder, with few, if any, motivations of their own. Even Eden doesn't seem to exist outside of her relationship with Tabby.
But for all that, it's still enjoyable. And, on a personal note, holds some relevance to my life at the moment. Definitely worth reading if you're into some light young adult lesbian fiction.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book.
February 13, 2014
I finished Because of Her, 24 hours ago and still I do not have the courage to start reading another book for the fear of loosing the feeling Ke Payne has evoked in me.
Tabitha and Eden have lovingly crept under my skin and snuggly found a place inside my heart to stay.
I found the book real and authentic. Raw in its feelings as crudely unprocessed, are those emotions that make us break from adolescents to young adults, from rebellious teenagers to conscious bearers of future generations.
Yes it is a book I would recommend to any young lesbian out there (and not so young ones too!). For hurdles are made to be jumped and only in that leap for love and through love, we can start a change that is the passport to a better us, a better world...just because of her.
Tabitha and Eden have lovingly crept under my skin and snuggly found a place inside my heart to stay.
I found the book real and authentic. Raw in its feelings as crudely unprocessed, are those emotions that make us break from adolescents to young adults, from rebellious teenagers to conscious bearers of future generations.
Yes it is a book I would recommend to any young lesbian out there (and not so young ones too!). For hurdles are made to be jumped and only in that leap for love and through love, we can start a change that is the passport to a better us, a better world...just because of her.
January 29, 2015
I hesitated between 1 and 2 stars. I opted for 2, just because I've read worse.
But I feel like I have read this story a thousand times before. I have read fanfictions a million times better.
I'm 24, but I still remember falling in love at 15.I remember what it was like, and I remember it being very real. But for some reason, this story felt so naive. I believe the first person POV also ruined it for me. It's one thing to have an author telling a story of young love from a neutral POV, with amazing writing and a sort of wisdom translated in the narration. it's another to read a story told by a 17 year old, in a writing that is so basic and...well, adolescent. I just hated that. I don't understand how anyone older can stand to read a story like that.
But I feel like I have read this story a thousand times before. I have read fanfictions a million times better.
I'm 24, but I still remember falling in love at 15.I remember what it was like, and I remember it being very real. But for some reason, this story felt so naive. I believe the first person POV also ruined it for me. It's one thing to have an author telling a story of young love from a neutral POV, with amazing writing and a sort of wisdom translated in the narration. it's another to read a story told by a 17 year old, in a writing that is so basic and...well, adolescent. I just hated that. I don't understand how anyone older can stand to read a story like that.
December 6, 2017
I don’t usually write reviews but I felt the need to on this book.
I didn’t think I would make it past the first chapter on this book. The beginning was really weak and made me want to stop reading, but I spent $7.99 on this book and was determined to read it. If you can get past the fact this book starts slow and isn’t amazingly written the first few chapters, you will like it. It’s an easy contemporary YA read with an LGBT romance. The MC has strong development, even though I’m not sure if I liked her throughout the novel. I liked Eden way better than Tabby. Tabby seems like a stalker at some points and I don’t like the way it’s perceived in the novel. Nothing really shocked me about the story line but it was a cute read!
I didn’t think I would make it past the first chapter on this book. The beginning was really weak and made me want to stop reading, but I spent $7.99 on this book and was determined to read it. If you can get past the fact this book starts slow and isn’t amazingly written the first few chapters, you will like it. It’s an easy contemporary YA read with an LGBT romance. The MC has strong development, even though I’m not sure if I liked her throughout the novel. I liked Eden way better than Tabby. Tabby seems like a stalker at some points and I don’t like the way it’s perceived in the novel. Nothing really shocked me about the story line but it was a cute read!
February 15, 2014
Very easy to read, took me less than a day. At first I thought it read a bit like fan fiction, but it got better the further into it I went. It was slightly predictable in the beginning, of course Eden would have been at fencing etc. But the characters definitely grew on me, and the second part of the book I enjoyed a lot more. 3 stars because in the start I found myself not liking the characters, but as the story progressed I found it to be a lot more realistic and an honest portrayal of young romance.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2014
Tabby and her family has moved due to her fathers new job in London. She is unhappy living so far away from her girlfriend Amy. Her parents enrolled her in a school to make her become the lady they want. Tabby fights everyone until she meets Eden at school. When Amy comes to visit Tabby, she drops a bombshell about their relationship. Knowing Eden helps Tabby to change her life.
I found myself caring about Tabby as she fights for her being who she is. This is a great "coming out" story for young adults and adults. It is an excellent story. Life is difficult enough for teenagers and made tougher when one stands out with a different sexuality.
I found myself caring about Tabby as she fights for her being who she is. This is a great "coming out" story for young adults and adults. It is an excellent story. Life is difficult enough for teenagers and made tougher when one stands out with a different sexuality.
August 31, 2015
When you read YA, it's only fair that you get to deal with teenage characters; characterization is not why I deducted 2 stars. The 3 stars is solely for the ending, which was a totally thoughtless dick move presented as a triumphal coming out. I can see a teenager doing this kind of dumb, over-the-top, later embarrassing thing, but the authorial voice was so effusive that I could only cringe at the unshakable feeling that Eden's moment was supposed to be flawless. To be fair, I probably would have been impressed at 14. Eden is 18 though.
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