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This Is Now
A gritty, urban New Adult Cinderella story where the princess can do her own rescuing — she just needs someone to believe in her.
Sister to car thieves, ex-girlfriend to a drug dealer, high school dropout, no-hoper and loser — Jess is on the sidelines, watching her life become one epic fail. Her dreams of university are fading fast, as the people in her life fight to confine her to their own expectations.
Then she meets Sebastien, a gifted cellist from a very different walk of life. Sebastien is clean and strong and talented. He likes and respects her, but he too has expectations. Sebastien seems to think she can do anything, and Jess, despite her fears and the secrets she hides, is starting to believe him.
But just as Jess dares to hope, the secrets in her past and the lies in her present catch up with her. All seems lost and she has to make a choice. Between past and future. Between home and hope. Between now and never. And this is now.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2014
100 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Gilbert
3 books10 followersMaggie Gilbert can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to be a writer, even when she was otherwise occupied.
She’s been an executive editor, an equestrian journalist and worked with horses for the Modern Pentathlon event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
She has an Equine Science Degree and wrote for Hoofbeats Magazine. Currently she works in the corporate world by day and is a writer wherever she can fit it in.
Maggie lives on a property in country NSW with her family and dog.
She’s been an executive editor, an equestrian journalist and worked with horses for the Modern Pentathlon event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
She has an Equine Science Degree and wrote for Hoofbeats Magazine. Currently she works in the corporate world by day and is a writer wherever she can fit it in.
Maggie lives on a property in country NSW with her family and dog.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 11, 2015
Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jess isn't perfect. Her family wasn't rich and her brothers involved in unlawful acts. She feels like her life won't change because of her family status and she'll follow their steps until she met this cellist named Sebastien. He was her prince charming but she's afraid that once he knew her secrets, he might leave her. Eventually, he's not that kind of guy who turns away just because of her life. He fell in love and made her special because he believes in her. He motivates her to achieve what she want to be and accept her imperfections.
There were times that I feel annoyed with Jess. She's too sensitive, dramatic and a bit childish at times. However, her character improved on the latter part of the story. She's more mature and confident about herself. What I really enjoyed the most in this book is Sebastien. He's one swoon-worthy male character. He's sweet and gentleman indeed. Gosh... I love this cellist. They just looked good together, the ending was a bit rushed but I still enjoyed it.
I really like this book because it's a good boy-bad girl love story. If you have read and loved Dare You To by Katie McGarry, you might like this one. I enjoyed the writing style and its characters. The love story however isn't that unique for me.
I would definitely love to read another Maggie Gilbert book. :)
Jess isn't perfect. Her family wasn't rich and her brothers involved in unlawful acts. She feels like her life won't change because of her family status and she'll follow their steps until she met this cellist named Sebastien. He was her prince charming but she's afraid that once he knew her secrets, he might leave her. Eventually, he's not that kind of guy who turns away just because of her life. He fell in love and made her special because he believes in her. He motivates her to achieve what she want to be and accept her imperfections.
There were times that I feel annoyed with Jess. She's too sensitive, dramatic and a bit childish at times. However, her character improved on the latter part of the story. She's more mature and confident about herself. What I really enjoyed the most in this book is Sebastien. He's one swoon-worthy male character. He's sweet and gentleman indeed. Gosh... I love this cellist. They just looked good together, the ending was a bit rushed but I still enjoyed it.
I really like this book because it's a good boy-bad girl love story. If you have read and loved Dare You To by Katie McGarry, you might like this one. I enjoyed the writing style and its characters. The love story however isn't that unique for me.
I would definitely love to read another Maggie Gilbert book. :)
February 12, 2017
Review also posted at Young Adult Hollywood
I won’t lie..the beautiful cover had me clicking the request button. It’s so pretty, beautiful and eye catching to be exact but like most books, a shinny cover doesn’t always mean the book itself will be dazzling but This Is Now did not disappoint!
This is Now follows the story of Jess who aspires to study at university despite her dysfunctional family belief that she shouldn’t expect more because of her social status. Then she meets Sebastien, a gifted cellist, who is completely from a different clique. He’s perfect and talented and has great faith in Jess despite all of the frightening secrets she’s keeping. She’s starting to let her wall down but as she tries to carve a path for herself, all her secrets are starting to catch up with her.
This is Now started as flat out raw and with no censor. I connected with Jess, the protagonist, immediately. I like the way she narrates and perceives things. WARNING: There were some instances where I wanted to shake her because I really think she can make better life choices. Despite my love/hate tension with her, she improves nonetheless. I liked her though initially I was overwhelmed by how much she worshiped gushed about Sebastien’s godly structural face. If I were in her shoes I probably would have also but seriously I don’t want the whole novel to be all about Sebastien’s face because we got that covered in the first 30% of the book. Thank God those fleeting moments passed. Sebastien is a great male pair for Jess. They are so different yet they fit together perfectly. Seriously guys, swoon. YOU WILL SWOON. The secondary characters are fully fleshed out as much as the main characters. I wouldn’t mind reading books about them also.
I liked the plot of the book. It’s not an unusual one but it was well written. The plot flow smoothly and is pretty much a coming-of-age based concept. I appreciated how the book served a great moral lesson in that no matter where you came from, you can still make a different life for yourself. Maggie Gilbert wrote the romance beautifully. It was believable although the ending is quite cheesy. They are so cute and their relationship is one of the many things I adored about the book! This is Now is not a perfect novel as there are some things I wish were better developed but I highly recommend it to everyone who wants a great easy read that has a great moral lesson for readers.
May 17, 2019
'This is now' is a novel about two teenagers, from entirely different walks of life, who fall in love. Through various trials and triumphs, they discover more about who they are and who they want to be in the future.
I have been deliberating for a while whether to write a review because I still have mixed feelings.
Overall, the novel reads very much like a romance you would find on Wattpad; the storyline is predictable, and the characters are cliche (but lovable anyway). Don't get me wrong, I love myself a cute romance story here and there (Yes, on Wattpad too!) but left a little disappointed. My reading journey was very turbulent, sometimes I was hooked and other times a bit bored. In some cases, there was a bit too much repetition (of thoughts mainly), which made the story a little clunky and overall needed a little more editing.
I gave it three stars because I liked the characteristics and personalities of the two main characters, Jess and Sebastien, and their character development. Plus, I did enjoy, for the most part, the narrative too!
I have been deliberating for a while whether to write a review because I still have mixed feelings.
Overall, the novel reads very much like a romance you would find on Wattpad; the storyline is predictable, and the characters are cliche (but lovable anyway). Don't get me wrong, I love myself a cute romance story here and there (Yes, on Wattpad too!) but left a little disappointed. My reading journey was very turbulent, sometimes I was hooked and other times a bit bored. In some cases, there was a bit too much repetition (of thoughts mainly), which made the story a little clunky and overall needed a little more editing.
I gave it three stars because I liked the characteristics and personalities of the two main characters, Jess and Sebastien, and their character development. Plus, I did enjoy, for the most part, the narrative too!
February 16, 2020
3.5 stars - really easy read that hooked me on. Characters felt real and the voice flowed.
September 3, 2014
This is now is a New Adult romance I enjoyed because it was quite different from usual NA books. This is especially due to the characters who definitely weren’t those you’re used to meet in such books. Jess has an alcoholic mother, two brothers who live by selling stolen cars and a boyfriend who deals drugs. So it’s obvious that living with such people, she isn’t the cleanest girl ever. But she doesn’t want to follow the same path as the rest of her family. She’s dreaming of going to university and finally escaping the life she’s trapped on. On the other side, Sebastien is a lovely and polite young man, talented musician, who’s grown up in a wealthy family. He’s never had to fight to have his voice heard.
So no good girl meets bad boy here, rather the contrary, good boy meets bad girl. I liked that for a change! Well, I must admit that this novel did have some of the typical NA traits: the unsure girl who meets a boy who helps her realize that she can break free from whatever’s preventing her from enjoying life, but still I never felt the “déjà-vu” I often feel when I’m reading NA.
I did like the characters because they’re unusual; however they definitely weren’t my favorite characters ever. I really had troubles connecting with Jess – she’s not really the kind of girl I’d get along with in real life, the kind who loves clubbing, drinking and the like. Also there were several times when I didn’t understand her reactions at all, for example she suddenly starts an argument with Sebastien and despite all my efforts I couldn’t figure out what exactly led her to start the argument in the first place. I still felt sorry for her, because of the life she is forced to live because of her family environment. I truly wished her to be able to follow the path of her dreams.
Sebastien was lovely, and I liked that he was a musician (being a musician myself I tend to find characters who are too more likeable than others). I found him a bit too chivalrous and caring for my taste though, but I think that was what Jess was needing, since she had always been used to men who only used her to obtain what they wanted and never truly cared about her.
This book is one you read very quickly, because there always is something happening that keeps you hooked. Well, don’t expect breathtaking suspense though, it’s a romance, not a thriller! But really, I devoured it in two sittings; I wasn’t expecting to get so stuck in the story. I had some troubles with the Australian slang at first (the story is set in Australia), but got used to it very fast and by the end of the book I was no longer noticing it.
I think one of the side aspects of the story was to emphasize the difference between social classes, and the “shock” when they collide. Several times it felt like Jess and Sebastien came from different worlds really, and obviously it put a hamper in their relationship since it often led to misunderstandings between them. I really liked that part, it was very interesting and that’s not something you often see in contemporary books.
If the story had a message, I guess it’d be: “you can always give yourself the means to live your dreams, no matter where you come from.”
In short, This is now is a nice, addictive and out of the ordinary New Adult romance. Probably not the best romance I have ever read but I had a great time reading it.
I recommend this book to you if: you like New Adult romances and want something new in this genre.
So no good girl meets bad boy here, rather the contrary, good boy meets bad girl. I liked that for a change! Well, I must admit that this novel did have some of the typical NA traits: the unsure girl who meets a boy who helps her realize that she can break free from whatever’s preventing her from enjoying life, but still I never felt the “déjà-vu” I often feel when I’m reading NA.
I did like the characters because they’re unusual; however they definitely weren’t my favorite characters ever. I really had troubles connecting with Jess – she’s not really the kind of girl I’d get along with in real life, the kind who loves clubbing, drinking and the like. Also there were several times when I didn’t understand her reactions at all, for example she suddenly starts an argument with Sebastien and despite all my efforts I couldn’t figure out what exactly led her to start the argument in the first place. I still felt sorry for her, because of the life she is forced to live because of her family environment. I truly wished her to be able to follow the path of her dreams.
Sebastien was lovely, and I liked that he was a musician (being a musician myself I tend to find characters who are too more likeable than others). I found him a bit too chivalrous and caring for my taste though, but I think that was what Jess was needing, since she had always been used to men who only used her to obtain what they wanted and never truly cared about her.
This book is one you read very quickly, because there always is something happening that keeps you hooked. Well, don’t expect breathtaking suspense though, it’s a romance, not a thriller! But really, I devoured it in two sittings; I wasn’t expecting to get so stuck in the story. I had some troubles with the Australian slang at first (the story is set in Australia), but got used to it very fast and by the end of the book I was no longer noticing it.
I think one of the side aspects of the story was to emphasize the difference between social classes, and the “shock” when they collide. Several times it felt like Jess and Sebastien came from different worlds really, and obviously it put a hamper in their relationship since it often led to misunderstandings between them. I really liked that part, it was very interesting and that’s not something you often see in contemporary books.
If the story had a message, I guess it’d be: “you can always give yourself the means to live your dreams, no matter where you come from.”
In short, This is now is a nice, addictive and out of the ordinary New Adult romance. Probably not the best romance I have ever read but I had a great time reading it.
I recommend this book to you if: you like New Adult romances and want something new in this genre.
February 15, 2014
Dream guy, oh yes he was, thank you God. I may not have done anything already to deserve a guy like this but I promise I'll do something that good sometime, somehow.
One of my favourite story dynamics to read is when opposites attract. Sebastien and Jess are almost as opposite as two people can get. But love doesn't care for such trivial things as wealth and social standing. It only cares for whats deep in the heart.
Jess has lived the life that's been expected of her. Dropping out of school, partying and drinking, drugs and sex. But when she looks around at her family, she is adamant that theirs is not the life she wants. An alcoholic mother, who settles for whatever man she can get, and drug dealing brothers who do a bit of stealing on the side. She wants a career and a better life than the one she has. So she sets out to finish her schooling, work hard and save money to set her dreams in motion. Then she meets Sebastien. And he sees in her the person that she wants to be.
Jess wasn't a character that I could instantly like. She seemed to sway between the two different guys that showed interest in her, depending on who she was with at the time. And without giving too much away, she does something that almost instantly turns me off a book. But I kept reading because we had the chance to meet Sebastian. Sebastian was so sweet and dreamy. A gifted musician from a well to do family. Their attraction is immediate, but it also wasn't love at first sight. It was a definite attraction which flowed into deep feelings. But I found myself consistently frustrated with Jess for not being honest with Sebastian. I could understand her reluctance to keep him separate from her dysfunctional family, but without honesty, a relationship just can't grow and flourish. But in saying that, while Sebastien's family seems perfect from the outside, they have their own secrets as well.
Imagine having parents that were so excited to see you that they didn't care about embarrassing themselves. Imagine having both parents. And imagine being so comfortable with them that extreme public affection didn't embarrass you.
I also found myself feeling really sad that Jess had such low self esteem. She constantly questioned Sebastien's motives for spending time with her or doing something nice for her, and almost sabotaged things before they had even really begun.
I love when an Aussie author sets their book in Australia. This is Now had so many little things peppered throughout that I could relate to and visualise so well. From the mention of places to the different shops that were talked about. Maggie Gilbert's pacing of the story was also spot on for me. It flowed so well. And the secondary characters added a nice layer to the story.
This Is Now was a quick read that I found I enjoyed for the most part, although it did fall a little short of my high expectations. Sebastian and the Aussie references and feel to the story are what kept me interested.
3/5 Opposites Attract Stars
Copy received for review from the publisher via Netgalley.
One of my favourite story dynamics to read is when opposites attract. Sebastien and Jess are almost as opposite as two people can get. But love doesn't care for such trivial things as wealth and social standing. It only cares for whats deep in the heart.
Jess has lived the life that's been expected of her. Dropping out of school, partying and drinking, drugs and sex. But when she looks around at her family, she is adamant that theirs is not the life she wants. An alcoholic mother, who settles for whatever man she can get, and drug dealing brothers who do a bit of stealing on the side. She wants a career and a better life than the one she has. So she sets out to finish her schooling, work hard and save money to set her dreams in motion. Then she meets Sebastien. And he sees in her the person that she wants to be.
Jess wasn't a character that I could instantly like. She seemed to sway between the two different guys that showed interest in her, depending on who she was with at the time. And without giving too much away, she does something that almost instantly turns me off a book. But I kept reading because we had the chance to meet Sebastian. Sebastian was so sweet and dreamy. A gifted musician from a well to do family. Their attraction is immediate, but it also wasn't love at first sight. It was a definite attraction which flowed into deep feelings. But I found myself consistently frustrated with Jess for not being honest with Sebastian. I could understand her reluctance to keep him separate from her dysfunctional family, but without honesty, a relationship just can't grow and flourish. But in saying that, while Sebastien's family seems perfect from the outside, they have their own secrets as well.
Imagine having parents that were so excited to see you that they didn't care about embarrassing themselves. Imagine having both parents. And imagine being so comfortable with them that extreme public affection didn't embarrass you.
I also found myself feeling really sad that Jess had such low self esteem. She constantly questioned Sebastien's motives for spending time with her or doing something nice for her, and almost sabotaged things before they had even really begun.
I love when an Aussie author sets their book in Australia. This is Now had so many little things peppered throughout that I could relate to and visualise so well. From the mention of places to the different shops that were talked about. Maggie Gilbert's pacing of the story was also spot on for me. It flowed so well. And the secondary characters added a nice layer to the story.
This Is Now was a quick read that I found I enjoyed for the most part, although it did fall a little short of my high expectations. Sebastian and the Aussie references and feel to the story are what kept me interested.
3/5 Opposites Attract Stars
Copy received for review from the publisher via Netgalley.
August 5, 2014
NOTE: I received the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I must confess I expecting more from this novel. True, it wasn't horrible, or anything like that, but it definitely wasn't great either. It didn't leave me with a feeling of contentment as I wanted it to and that was disappointing.
Some of the scenes and dialogues were a bit out there in the realm of surrealism. Jess's random hookups with Jay were unconvincing, to say the least. I really couldn't put myself in her shoes and understand why she would pretend she wasn't interested in him, when clearly she was and he was. Or shy she was so stuck up on hiding her background when there was nothing to be ashamed of.
The romance itself developed kind of fast for my taste and I'm not entirely sure it worked all that well.
Writing style
It was engaging, but there was some need for editing. It didn't bug me all that much, though it did make me flinch from time to time.
Storyline
Nothing really original in this novel. Perhaps the cello music could count as the original part, but nothing else struck me.
A girl from the slums falls for a rich guy who turns out not to be a snob and is also smitten by her. Some trouble arises between them but the ending is happy.
Themes
-Family & how it shapes you as a person
-Dilemma: to fit or not to fit with the people around you
-Jealousy and how far it can take you
-Love at first sight - is it real? Is it worth fighting for?
-Is it possible to fight for your dreams when they seem impossible?
Characters
Jess was weird. I couldn't understand her character, her reasoning and her confused thoughts. She was so unsure of herself, so ashamed of her family, that she pretended to be someone else entirely. She always assumed that people thought the worst of her. The had a trust issue with everyone and I got it to an extend. But she overdid it at times and that annoyed me. I hated how many times she repeated she was a slut for having slept with a couple of guys. She seriously believed she was worthless and I hated that her family was too broken to attempt to fix her.
Sebastien had a cool name and played a cool instrument - the cello. He had a great talent and was one of the people who dared to get close to Jess. He treated her with kindness even though he knew nothing about her and then when he learned more, he cared for her despite it. I understood his jealousy too, after all, he was left to make his own conclusions.
Anna, Sebastien's sister was mean, jealous of Jess. And unsure of herself to the extent of doing everything she could think of to harm Jess. And her family. And to think she pretended to be friendly. It was obvious she would never fit in Jay and Jess's social circles.
Jay, Jess's ex-boyfriend and sometimes hook-up, turned out to be a good guy who didn't hold a grudge. I respected him for that in the end.
Bryan, one of Jess's brothers turned out to be caring and a person to count on when difficult times came.
In Conclusion
A novel to pass the time, This Is Now could've actually been something spectacular.
I must confess I expecting more from this novel. True, it wasn't horrible, or anything like that, but it definitely wasn't great either. It didn't leave me with a feeling of contentment as I wanted it to and that was disappointing.
Some of the scenes and dialogues were a bit out there in the realm of surrealism. Jess's random hookups with Jay were unconvincing, to say the least. I really couldn't put myself in her shoes and understand why she would pretend she wasn't interested in him, when clearly she was and he was. Or shy she was so stuck up on hiding her background when there was nothing to be ashamed of.
The romance itself developed kind of fast for my taste and I'm not entirely sure it worked all that well.
Writing style
It was engaging, but there was some need for editing. It didn't bug me all that much, though it did make me flinch from time to time.
Storyline
Nothing really original in this novel. Perhaps the cello music could count as the original part, but nothing else struck me.
A girl from the slums falls for a rich guy who turns out not to be a snob and is also smitten by her. Some trouble arises between them but the ending is happy.
Themes
-Family & how it shapes you as a person
-Dilemma: to fit or not to fit with the people around you
-Jealousy and how far it can take you
-Love at first sight - is it real? Is it worth fighting for?
-Is it possible to fight for your dreams when they seem impossible?
Characters
Jess was weird. I couldn't understand her character, her reasoning and her confused thoughts. She was so unsure of herself, so ashamed of her family, that she pretended to be someone else entirely. She always assumed that people thought the worst of her. The had a trust issue with everyone and I got it to an extend. But she overdid it at times and that annoyed me. I hated how many times she repeated she was a slut for having slept with a couple of guys. She seriously believed she was worthless and I hated that her family was too broken to attempt to fix her.
Sebastien had a cool name and played a cool instrument - the cello. He had a great talent and was one of the people who dared to get close to Jess. He treated her with kindness even though he knew nothing about her and then when he learned more, he cared for her despite it. I understood his jealousy too, after all, he was left to make his own conclusions.
Anna, Sebastien's sister was mean, jealous of Jess. And unsure of herself to the extent of doing everything she could think of to harm Jess. And her family. And to think she pretended to be friendly. It was obvious she would never fit in Jay and Jess's social circles.
Jay, Jess's ex-boyfriend and sometimes hook-up, turned out to be a good guy who didn't hold a grudge. I respected him for that in the end.
Bryan, one of Jess's brothers turned out to be caring and a person to count on when difficult times came.
In Conclusion
A novel to pass the time, This Is Now could've actually been something spectacular.
May 7, 2014
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In all truthfulness, I had a hard time deciding if this book was a 3 star or a 4 star, so let's call this review a 3.5 star review. I have a tendency to love Australian writers, in my experience they tend to be amazing at getting me to bond with their characters, so I always look forward to reading a book written by an Australian. The first thing I noticed about this book though was that it used so much Australian slang and acronyms that I was kind of overwhelmed by it for the first couple of chapters (let's just say once I worked everything out thanks to google I got over it). I've read books written in Australian, U.S., and British English, and I've even read some books that are translations into English, and 90% of the time I don't even notice it because I tend to be pretty go at context clues, but this one I noticed, so I wanted to mention it for all U.S. readers.
That being said, it was a good book. A solid entry into the new adult genre. Jess is a girl from the wrong side of town, she has brothers who break the law for a living, a mother who is basically an out of work drunk who isn't very much of a mother to Jess, and an ex-boyfriend who still wants her. She has a lot going on at home, and on top of that she works and is going to school so she can get into a university and get all the things she wants in life. The thing about Jess is it's like she knows there is more to life than the one she has at home, but second guessing herself is so ingrained in her being that she's always willing to accept the worst possible scenario as being truth. She has a lot of self-doubt, and honestly that was the hardest thing for me to deal with in terms of me liking her as a character.
Sebastian comes from the right side of town, is an amazing cellist, and a supportive family with money to boot. I liked him as a character, he's not just a good looking, rich, talented guy, he's also a good guy. He is sweet to Jess, and at times awkward, he has some self-doubt too when it comes to Jess. I liked that he was so supportive of her and her dreams, no matter what they were, just as long as it was something she wanted, then it was what he wanted. I liked that he took things so slow with her, like he wanted to prove to her he was interested in her as a person, not just a quick roll in the sack.
Overall, I liked the book, but I had some issues with it. First, the ending was abrupt. There's all this build up to where things go wrong, and then they go wrong, time jump forward a few weeks, and then in the space of one chapter and conversation everything is fixed. It didn't feel authentic. I also wasn't a huge fan of the vast majority of Jess's family, although her brother Troy started redeeming himself towards the end. I also thought we spent a little too much time in Jess's head and not enough time with her interacting with other characters. The book is still a solid new adult book, so I would easily recommend this book to anyone who liked new adult.
In all truthfulness, I had a hard time deciding if this book was a 3 star or a 4 star, so let's call this review a 3.5 star review. I have a tendency to love Australian writers, in my experience they tend to be amazing at getting me to bond with their characters, so I always look forward to reading a book written by an Australian. The first thing I noticed about this book though was that it used so much Australian slang and acronyms that I was kind of overwhelmed by it for the first couple of chapters (let's just say once I worked everything out thanks to google I got over it). I've read books written in Australian, U.S., and British English, and I've even read some books that are translations into English, and 90% of the time I don't even notice it because I tend to be pretty go at context clues, but this one I noticed, so I wanted to mention it for all U.S. readers.
That being said, it was a good book. A solid entry into the new adult genre. Jess is a girl from the wrong side of town, she has brothers who break the law for a living, a mother who is basically an out of work drunk who isn't very much of a mother to Jess, and an ex-boyfriend who still wants her. She has a lot going on at home, and on top of that she works and is going to school so she can get into a university and get all the things she wants in life. The thing about Jess is it's like she knows there is more to life than the one she has at home, but second guessing herself is so ingrained in her being that she's always willing to accept the worst possible scenario as being truth. She has a lot of self-doubt, and honestly that was the hardest thing for me to deal with in terms of me liking her as a character.
Sebastian comes from the right side of town, is an amazing cellist, and a supportive family with money to boot. I liked him as a character, he's not just a good looking, rich, talented guy, he's also a good guy. He is sweet to Jess, and at times awkward, he has some self-doubt too when it comes to Jess. I liked that he was so supportive of her and her dreams, no matter what they were, just as long as it was something she wanted, then it was what he wanted. I liked that he took things so slow with her, like he wanted to prove to her he was interested in her as a person, not just a quick roll in the sack.
Overall, I liked the book, but I had some issues with it. First, the ending was abrupt. There's all this build up to where things go wrong, and then they go wrong, time jump forward a few weeks, and then in the space of one chapter and conversation everything is fixed. It didn't feel authentic. I also wasn't a huge fan of the vast majority of Jess's family, although her brother Troy started redeeming himself towards the end. I also thought we spent a little too much time in Jess's head and not enough time with her interacting with other characters. The book is still a solid new adult book, so I would easily recommend this book to anyone who liked new adult.
January 10, 2014
Once again, the Australian author card has been played and a well-crafted, delightful story has been created! (Seriously, Australians, dude, ya’ll are awesome).
By far my favorite thing about this book is the characters. They aren’t perfect and I appreciate that so much! They’re honest and I probably know someone like each of them.
Troy and Michelle! My top 2 favorite characters. I wish they each had their own story or something. Two very family oriented people who I believe really just want to help Jess.
Sebastien is just sweet. “Wealthy, gorgeous, incredibly gifted and incredibly sheltered”. Yeah, basically. That’s him. Sometimes he would say things super smooth but so corny, and I kept being reminded of this guy that texts me sometimes and it is semi creepy. And for my own selfish reasons, I didn’t like him as much as I like Jay. (Yeah surprise, surprise. I like the sensitive bad guy).
Jess was forever blushing. For everything. The most random shit made her face heat. But she is a strong girl, and that made her an admirable heroin.
Now. I feel the need to bring this up because I see it so much in YA books. The texting stuff.
“Jst lvng now, soz. A.”
First off, I spent a few seconds trying to process that. I still don’t know what “soz” is and I can’t help but wonder if people actually text like that. At least no one I know does. Does it save time or something? I mean, you spend the time putting in that comma but you can’t spell out the damn words.
I hate that shit and I see it in books all the time and I don’t understand it.
Anyways.
“Music could get to me sometimes, made me ache for something I couldn’t really describe.”
That sentence is perfection. Yes. That’s exactly what music is.
This Is Now is full of sweet, little flawless sentences that made me stop and smile. I really appreciate a book that is actually original.
“I didn’t understand the attraction with nightclubs either: it was loud, the drinks were expensive and usually not very good, and the only guys that ever seemed to hit on me were drunk and obnoxious or drunk and charming because they thought this gave them a better chance at getting into my pants”.
Oh my damn, yes. That is how I feel about clubs. Jess, you understand me!
The whole time I was reading this I was thinking about something that I love as much as Sebastien loves his cello or Jess loves architecture and I couldn’t think of a damn thing that I could spend the rest of my life doing and never get sick of it. (I was told traveling the world doesn’t count. And I can’t make a living off of being a ridiculous fandom freak). And so now this book has given me a life crisis and I’m kind of freaking out.
Maybe we are all supposed to get something different out of this book. It’s not something I will forget any time soon.
If you’re looking for an easy, pleasant story, this is it.
By far my favorite thing about this book is the characters. They aren’t perfect and I appreciate that so much! They’re honest and I probably know someone like each of them.
Troy and Michelle! My top 2 favorite characters. I wish they each had their own story or something. Two very family oriented people who I believe really just want to help Jess.
Sebastien is just sweet. “Wealthy, gorgeous, incredibly gifted and incredibly sheltered”. Yeah, basically. That’s him. Sometimes he would say things super smooth but so corny, and I kept being reminded of this guy that texts me sometimes and it is semi creepy. And for my own selfish reasons, I didn’t like him as much as I like Jay. (Yeah surprise, surprise. I like the sensitive bad guy).
Jess was forever blushing. For everything. The most random shit made her face heat. But she is a strong girl, and that made her an admirable heroin.
Now. I feel the need to bring this up because I see it so much in YA books. The texting stuff.
“Jst lvng now, soz. A.”
First off, I spent a few seconds trying to process that. I still don’t know what “soz” is and I can’t help but wonder if people actually text like that. At least no one I know does. Does it save time or something? I mean, you spend the time putting in that comma but you can’t spell out the damn words.
I hate that shit and I see it in books all the time and I don’t understand it.
Anyways.
“Music could get to me sometimes, made me ache for something I couldn’t really describe.”
That sentence is perfection. Yes. That’s exactly what music is.
This Is Now is full of sweet, little flawless sentences that made me stop and smile. I really appreciate a book that is actually original.
“I didn’t understand the attraction with nightclubs either: it was loud, the drinks were expensive and usually not very good, and the only guys that ever seemed to hit on me were drunk and obnoxious or drunk and charming because they thought this gave them a better chance at getting into my pants”.
Oh my damn, yes. That is how I feel about clubs. Jess, you understand me!
The whole time I was reading this I was thinking about something that I love as much as Sebastien loves his cello or Jess loves architecture and I couldn’t think of a damn thing that I could spend the rest of my life doing and never get sick of it. (I was told traveling the world doesn’t count. And I can’t make a living off of being a ridiculous fandom freak). And so now this book has given me a life crisis and I’m kind of freaking out.
Maybe we are all supposed to get something different out of this book. It’s not something I will forget any time soon.
If you’re looking for an easy, pleasant story, this is it.
January 28, 2014
4.5/5 stars!
Jess is living a hard life. Her bigger brothers deal drugs, steal cars and are high school drop outs. Jess is having difficulty not stepping into their world. One day she decides that she's going to stop and try to make something of her life. She's fascinated in architecture even though she tries to deny it. One night her friend, Anna, drags her to a party, but it turns out to be a concert of her brother. Sebastien has been playing the cello since he was four.
Sebastien's life is the exact opposite of Jess'. He comes from a rich family where everything is given to him, or so she thinks. The very second Jess meets Sebastien she becomes a rather shy and awkward girl, which makes the story even cuter. Jess finds a friend in Sebastien and all she can think about is kiss him(what girl wouldn't? sigh) As their friendship blossoms, Jess is terrified of Sebastian finding out the truth about her. That she doesn't live in a fancy big house and that her mother is visibly absent in her life. She's scared that the second he finds out, he will run away. But her secrets catch up to them and what will happen when Sebastien finds out?(that's a secret I'll never tell)
What a fun, quick read this was. I love romantic books with no added drama that doesn't even makes sense. This was a perfect read. Jess was a girl that didn't try to act different than she was. She knew where she came from and didn't try to escape that. And she seemed like a total fangirl, which made it even funner to read. In fact this whole book felt like reading a life of someone just like us. It sounds weird I know, but nowadays you have those female leads you can't really relate to, but boy oh boy I could relate to Jess' life. It doesn't have anything to do with the drugs dealing or the cars, but with the fact that she text like us, goes to work like us and drools over Sebastien like we drool over our favorite fictional characters. Sebastien -swoon- he's so nice to her. I love that about him and he's a cello player. It made him even sexier. I even loved the side characters even though they didn't play a big part. I totally ship Michele and Troy -and kind of hope for a sequel for them *cough*).
"Music could get to me sometimes, made me ache for something I couldn't really describe."
Exactly. This quote describes me.
This is now is a book filled with sweet, romantic moments. It's a book about a hopeless girl falling in love with a talented boy. It's about fighting for what you want to achieve.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone that wants a quick, cute read.
** ARC kindly provided by Netgalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review.
Jess is living a hard life. Her bigger brothers deal drugs, steal cars and are high school drop outs. Jess is having difficulty not stepping into their world. One day she decides that she's going to stop and try to make something of her life. She's fascinated in architecture even though she tries to deny it. One night her friend, Anna, drags her to a party, but it turns out to be a concert of her brother. Sebastien has been playing the cello since he was four.
Sebastien's life is the exact opposite of Jess'. He comes from a rich family where everything is given to him, or so she thinks. The very second Jess meets Sebastien she becomes a rather shy and awkward girl, which makes the story even cuter. Jess finds a friend in Sebastien and all she can think about is kiss him(what girl wouldn't? sigh) As their friendship blossoms, Jess is terrified of Sebastian finding out the truth about her. That she doesn't live in a fancy big house and that her mother is visibly absent in her life. She's scared that the second he finds out, he will run away. But her secrets catch up to them and what will happen when Sebastien finds out?(that's a secret I'll never tell)
What a fun, quick read this was. I love romantic books with no added drama that doesn't even makes sense. This was a perfect read. Jess was a girl that didn't try to act different than she was. She knew where she came from and didn't try to escape that. And she seemed like a total fangirl, which made it even funner to read. In fact this whole book felt like reading a life of someone just like us. It sounds weird I know, but nowadays you have those female leads you can't really relate to, but boy oh boy I could relate to Jess' life. It doesn't have anything to do with the drugs dealing or the cars, but with the fact that she text like us, goes to work like us and drools over Sebastien like we drool over our favorite fictional characters. Sebastien -swoon- he's so nice to her. I love that about him and he's a cello player. It made him even sexier. I even loved the side characters even though they didn't play a big part. I totally ship Michele and Troy -and kind of hope for a sequel for them *cough*).
"Music could get to me sometimes, made me ache for something I couldn't really describe."
Exactly. This quote describes me.
This is now is a book filled with sweet, romantic moments. It's a book about a hopeless girl falling in love with a talented boy. It's about fighting for what you want to achieve.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone that wants a quick, cute read.
** ARC kindly provided by Netgalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2014
Jess is from the wrong side of the tracks, but she has no intention of staying there. She's gone back to school and is working hard to complete her high school certificate, against the wishes or comprehension of her family. She's in an on and off again relationship with Jay, who is also her friend Anna's boyfriend. Then she meets Anna's brother, Sebastien. He's a gorgeous, classy cellist who sweeps Jess off her feet. Unfortunately, she can't quite bring herself to tell him the reality of her life.
Almost as soon as this novel began I was offside with the main character, Jess. I felt like I couldn't relate to her at all and really disliked her. At first, she seems to be a bit of a slapper - not for the reasons she has a reputation around the neighborhood, but because she is sleeping with her friend's boyfriend - and so I found it a little difficult to sympathize with her. Despite this, I found myself sucked into her world. Maggie Gilbert's writing is gritty and real and captivating and I couldn't have put down this book if I'd tried - which didn't occur to me once after those first ten minutes reading. Between then and the time I finished the book a few hours later, I had shifted between wanting to slap Jess, shake her, hug her and squeal on her behalf. As you might imagine, it was something of an emotional roller-coaster.
So yes, Jess is a difficult character to sympathize with initially, but that's partly because she's so much more realistic and complex than so many other heroines, and in such a way that you completely believe her journey.
And then there is Sebastien. He's a gorgeous, sweet, understanding, caring, amazing, swoon worthy hero. But don't get me wrong - he's not totally perfect either.... just maybe perfectly imperfect. Before I gush too much about Sebastien, it might be worth noting that I have a sweet spot for musicians (and cellists especially) and leave it at that.
I really love how realistic this novel feels. Yes, it is a romance, if new adult, but it's so much more frank about life than I'm used to. There are no Prado shoes here, instead there's up front counting dollars at the supermarket. Sure, there's still the escapism of the rich, hunky hero who buys expensive presents, but there's also acknowledgement of the issues of such a class divide. One of the reasons I love romance is certainly for the blatant escapism of it all, but the balance with honest realities in this novel was really appealing and made for a genuinely enjoyable read.
Although I struggled with the heroine of this novel, that is also strangely one of the things I ended up liking most about This is Now, which is a New Adult Romance I simply can't praise highly enough.
Almost as soon as this novel began I was offside with the main character, Jess. I felt like I couldn't relate to her at all and really disliked her. At first, she seems to be a bit of a slapper - not for the reasons she has a reputation around the neighborhood, but because she is sleeping with her friend's boyfriend - and so I found it a little difficult to sympathize with her. Despite this, I found myself sucked into her world. Maggie Gilbert's writing is gritty and real and captivating and I couldn't have put down this book if I'd tried - which didn't occur to me once after those first ten minutes reading. Between then and the time I finished the book a few hours later, I had shifted between wanting to slap Jess, shake her, hug her and squeal on her behalf. As you might imagine, it was something of an emotional roller-coaster.
So yes, Jess is a difficult character to sympathize with initially, but that's partly because she's so much more realistic and complex than so many other heroines, and in such a way that you completely believe her journey.
And then there is Sebastien. He's a gorgeous, sweet, understanding, caring, amazing, swoon worthy hero. But don't get me wrong - he's not totally perfect either.... just maybe perfectly imperfect. Before I gush too much about Sebastien, it might be worth noting that I have a sweet spot for musicians (and cellists especially) and leave it at that.
I really love how realistic this novel feels. Yes, it is a romance, if new adult, but it's so much more frank about life than I'm used to. There are no Prado shoes here, instead there's up front counting dollars at the supermarket. Sure, there's still the escapism of the rich, hunky hero who buys expensive presents, but there's also acknowledgement of the issues of such a class divide. One of the reasons I love romance is certainly for the blatant escapism of it all, but the balance with honest realities in this novel was really appealing and made for a genuinely enjoyable read.
Although I struggled with the heroine of this novel, that is also strangely one of the things I ended up liking most about This is Now, which is a New Adult Romance I simply can't praise highly enough.
February 26, 2014
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.
The first thing that interested me about this book is the title. It reminded me of SE Hinton's That Was Then, This Is Now, and there are some similarities, in that the main character in both books are trying to escape from the poverty and hopelessness that surround them and make something more of their lives.
The book is billed as a Cinderella story, and that it is, although it bears far more resemblance to another Cinderella inspired story, Pretty Woman. The author even makes mention of the film, and there is more than one scene that is immediately reminiscent of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
Jess and her family live in a run down area of Sydney. The type of place you wouldn't want to leave your car for fear of it being pinched, and where people driving slowly past the houses are probably looking to do a drug deal. She knows only to buy drinks in bottles in nightclubs, and not to put them down for fear of having them tampered with. She is a very real and down to earth character.
Not content with the life her brothers and mother seem to have settled on for her, Jess is going to TAFE (like a community college) in order to get her high school certificate in the hope of going to university and having a real career.
On a night out with her sort-of-friend Anna, Jess meets Anna's brother, Sebastien. Jess is instantly struck by Sebastien's model looks and prodigious talent. Sebastien seems just as enamoured with Jess, but she can't believe he honestly feels the same way, after all, he's rich beyond her dreams, what could he possibly see in her?
Gilbert creates a truly 3-dimensional character in Jess. Not all of the characters are so well developed. The romance between Jess and Sebastien develops rather predictably, but it's no less enjoyable for that. There are some kissing scenes that will make you blush. These two are hot together. And who doesn't love a cello? That is one sexy instrument.
Inevitably class differences threaten to get in the way of their relationship, and it looks like Jess might end up working in her friend's hairdressing salon after all, rather than pursuing her dream of becoming an architect. Will their love be enough to overcome the obstacles between them?
This is Now is quite different from most of the New Adult titles out there. It's refreshing to get a uniquely Australian take on the genre. Jess is no virginal college student, she's a street-smart woman trying to escape the benefits trap her family is stuck in. Her journey is interesting enough to keep you turning pages to find out whether she eventually prevails.
The first thing that interested me about this book is the title. It reminded me of SE Hinton's That Was Then, This Is Now, and there are some similarities, in that the main character in both books are trying to escape from the poverty and hopelessness that surround them and make something more of their lives.
The book is billed as a Cinderella story, and that it is, although it bears far more resemblance to another Cinderella inspired story, Pretty Woman. The author even makes mention of the film, and there is more than one scene that is immediately reminiscent of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
Jess and her family live in a run down area of Sydney. The type of place you wouldn't want to leave your car for fear of it being pinched, and where people driving slowly past the houses are probably looking to do a drug deal. She knows only to buy drinks in bottles in nightclubs, and not to put them down for fear of having them tampered with. She is a very real and down to earth character.
Not content with the life her brothers and mother seem to have settled on for her, Jess is going to TAFE (like a community college) in order to get her high school certificate in the hope of going to university and having a real career.
On a night out with her sort-of-friend Anna, Jess meets Anna's brother, Sebastien. Jess is instantly struck by Sebastien's model looks and prodigious talent. Sebastien seems just as enamoured with Jess, but she can't believe he honestly feels the same way, after all, he's rich beyond her dreams, what could he possibly see in her?
Gilbert creates a truly 3-dimensional character in Jess. Not all of the characters are so well developed. The romance between Jess and Sebastien develops rather predictably, but it's no less enjoyable for that. There are some kissing scenes that will make you blush. These two are hot together. And who doesn't love a cello? That is one sexy instrument.
Inevitably class differences threaten to get in the way of their relationship, and it looks like Jess might end up working in her friend's hairdressing salon after all, rather than pursuing her dream of becoming an architect. Will their love be enough to overcome the obstacles between them?
This is Now is quite different from most of the New Adult titles out there. It's refreshing to get a uniquely Australian take on the genre. Jess is no virginal college student, she's a street-smart woman trying to escape the benefits trap her family is stuck in. Her journey is interesting enough to keep you turning pages to find out whether she eventually prevails.
February 18, 2014
The publisher gave me a copy of this book to read and review (from NetGalley). This has, in no way, altered my opinion of the book and what is written below is a 100% honest review.
I don’t usually read books like this, but I’m glad that I made an exception. This was an interesting read, mostly because of the psychology of the main character, Jess. She felt real and well thought out and I really believe that Maggie Gilbert did an excellent job painting her back story and giving her a unique and believable voice. Jess feels stuck in a small town,caught between two drug-dealing, troublesome brothers. She has big dreams of becoming a famous architect, but feels like she will never be able to achieve her goals. Everyone and everything in her life says “quit”, except the charming, chivalrous cellist, Sebastien. He treats her like a princess and Jess falls wildly in love with him. Circumstances threaten their fairytale ending - mainly the fact that Jess is from a rougher “side of the tracks” and Sebastien lives in a modern mansion. She hides her background from him and her “slutty” reputation (even though she’s only slept with 2-3 men). Although the synopsis says that “she doesn’t need to be saved”, Jess is incredibly insecure. When Sebastien acts the part of the gentleman and puts off sleeping with her, she believes that possibly she has done something wrong. After all, if a man doesn’t want to sleep with you, does he really love you? That’s her kind of thinking. Gilbert did an excellent job of portraying this girl and I felt a lot of compassion for her.
I’d say that I wouldn’t have thought of this as a Cinderella story, necessarily. Gilbert did a good job of creating her own story and drawing on parts of the Cinderella tale, but not copying the story part-by-part or making it obvious that this was a sort of “retelling”.
Sebastien was a lovely gent, although I feel like the sex scene was kind of pointless. Does deep love always have to communicate itself through sex? Like… can’t a couple be deeply and completely in love and NOT have sex? REALLY THOUGH. I felt it was kind of pointless for Sebastien to “wait” and then suddenly give in to having sex with her. I felt a bit cheated. Not going to lie. So, yes, I liked the characterization, but felt like the sex scene was a bit (or A LOT) unneeded.
Overall, I thought this was a good read and, yes, I liked analyzing the characters to pieces.
I don’t usually read books like this, but I’m glad that I made an exception. This was an interesting read, mostly because of the psychology of the main character, Jess. She felt real and well thought out and I really believe that Maggie Gilbert did an excellent job painting her back story and giving her a unique and believable voice. Jess feels stuck in a small town,caught between two drug-dealing, troublesome brothers. She has big dreams of becoming a famous architect, but feels like she will never be able to achieve her goals. Everyone and everything in her life says “quit”, except the charming, chivalrous cellist, Sebastien. He treats her like a princess and Jess falls wildly in love with him. Circumstances threaten their fairytale ending - mainly the fact that Jess is from a rougher “side of the tracks” and Sebastien lives in a modern mansion. She hides her background from him and her “slutty” reputation (even though she’s only slept with 2-3 men). Although the synopsis says that “she doesn’t need to be saved”, Jess is incredibly insecure. When Sebastien acts the part of the gentleman and puts off sleeping with her, she believes that possibly she has done something wrong. After all, if a man doesn’t want to sleep with you, does he really love you? That’s her kind of thinking. Gilbert did an excellent job of portraying this girl and I felt a lot of compassion for her.
I’d say that I wouldn’t have thought of this as a Cinderella story, necessarily. Gilbert did a good job of creating her own story and drawing on parts of the Cinderella tale, but not copying the story part-by-part or making it obvious that this was a sort of “retelling”.
Sebastien was a lovely gent, although I feel like the sex scene was kind of pointless. Does deep love always have to communicate itself through sex? Like… can’t a couple be deeply and completely in love and NOT have sex? REALLY THOUGH. I felt it was kind of pointless for Sebastien to “wait” and then suddenly give in to having sex with her. I felt a bit cheated. Not going to lie. So, yes, I liked the characterization, but felt like the sex scene was a bit (or A LOT) unneeded.
Overall, I thought this was a good read and, yes, I liked analyzing the characters to pieces.
January 9, 2016
Jess is a hardworking young girl. Her goal is to make a better life for herself than her mother did. Living with her alcoholic mother and her two brothers who are not exactly working she doesn't have good role models. Jess learned early on to not disturb her mother during the day and to keep her mouth shut to the police when the law is looking for her brothers again. She dreams about being an architect but her dreams come with a cost.
Sebastien is a very known cello player. He has worked very hard to be where he is now. What money is concerned Sebastien hasn't had a rough life. He lives in a big house and money is no object for his family. When he meets Jess after one of his concerts he is blown away by her appearance. He wants to get to know her, the real her.
Jess is such a sweetheart. In the beginning you don't notice that, but when you keep on reading you find out that she is nothing more than an insecure young girl. All her life she's been told that she is not good enough, that there is nothing else in her future but an ordinary life with a criminal for a husband. She chooses to become more than that, to become what she has always dreamed of. I felt so sorry for her every time she thought she wasn't good enough or when she was put down by family, friends or teachers who only see the worst in her.
Sebastien never had any problems money wise, but even though he is looked at as the rich kid he is actually a hardworking musician. He worked hard for his accomplishments and his parents are rightfully proud. His story shows us that you never know what kind of struggles someone has. Money can't solve everything and won't promise you a life without hurt. I loved his character. He is caring, understanding and takes his time to get Jess to trust him instead of jumping on her immediately.
Maggie Gilbert has written a story that everyone will love. Good boy meets bad girl, at least so it seems... I found it easy to relate to the characters. We all have been insecure about something at some point in our lives. The subtle changes in Jess and Sebastien and the ending made my heart fill with love. This story proves that even though someone lives on the wrong side of the track and maybe made a few bad mistakes it doesn't define who a person is or will become.
Sebastien is a very known cello player. He has worked very hard to be where he is now. What money is concerned Sebastien hasn't had a rough life. He lives in a big house and money is no object for his family. When he meets Jess after one of his concerts he is blown away by her appearance. He wants to get to know her, the real her.
Jess is such a sweetheart. In the beginning you don't notice that, but when you keep on reading you find out that she is nothing more than an insecure young girl. All her life she's been told that she is not good enough, that there is nothing else in her future but an ordinary life with a criminal for a husband. She chooses to become more than that, to become what she has always dreamed of. I felt so sorry for her every time she thought she wasn't good enough or when she was put down by family, friends or teachers who only see the worst in her.
Sebastien never had any problems money wise, but even though he is looked at as the rich kid he is actually a hardworking musician. He worked hard for his accomplishments and his parents are rightfully proud. His story shows us that you never know what kind of struggles someone has. Money can't solve everything and won't promise you a life without hurt. I loved his character. He is caring, understanding and takes his time to get Jess to trust him instead of jumping on her immediately.
Maggie Gilbert has written a story that everyone will love. Good boy meets bad girl, at least so it seems... I found it easy to relate to the characters. We all have been insecure about something at some point in our lives. The subtle changes in Jess and Sebastien and the ending made my heart fill with love. This story proves that even though someone lives on the wrong side of the track and maybe made a few bad mistakes it doesn't define who a person is or will become.
August 10, 2016
The Deal: No one really expects much of Jess other than falling in line and get back together with her drug-dealer ex, and get over her dreams of finishing high school (She can't imagine what her siblings would say if she let them know she not only wants to finish high school but also go to college someday).
But Jess wants more for herself, even if that other life is all she has ever know, but she's also easily distracted by parties and clubbing with friends and drinking - which usually leads her back to her ex's bed, even if he's currently dating someone else - so her progress is rather slow.
And then she meets Sebastien, a talented musician from a rich family who takes an interest on her, and the two of them soon begin dating. But Jess can't bring herself to tell her about her life or bring him home and she's puzzled that he wants to take it slow between them.
Still, next to Sebastien, Jess starts to think she really has a shot at a different life, until her past catches up with her.
My Thoughts: I was actually very excited to read This is Now, last year I read Maggie Gilbert's Riding on Air and I totally loved it, sadly This is Now didn't live up to it.
To start with, is not always easy to empathize with Jess - she kind of shoots herself in the foot a few times, and she often comes off as lacking a backbone. Her one redeeming quality for me was that she was a hard worker, but half of the time I didn't feel like she took her dreams seriously.
Then there is Sebastien, who comes of a bit snobbish more often than not, he is not necessarily a bad sort but I just didn't find the swoon factor with him.
The rest of the characters weren't all that great either, they fade largely to the background and when they show up it's usually just to bring/keep Jess down.
Also, this is one of those "what? no grovel?" books. Sebastien does something really crappy to Jess toward the end and I was not happy with how that was handled.
But Jess wants more for herself, even if that other life is all she has ever know, but she's also easily distracted by parties and clubbing with friends and drinking - which usually leads her back to her ex's bed, even if he's currently dating someone else - so her progress is rather slow.
And then she meets Sebastien, a talented musician from a rich family who takes an interest on her, and the two of them soon begin dating. But Jess can't bring herself to tell her about her life or bring him home and she's puzzled that he wants to take it slow between them.
Still, next to Sebastien, Jess starts to think she really has a shot at a different life, until her past catches up with her.
My Thoughts: I was actually very excited to read This is Now, last year I read Maggie Gilbert's Riding on Air and I totally loved it, sadly This is Now didn't live up to it.
To start with, is not always easy to empathize with Jess - she kind of shoots herself in the foot a few times, and she often comes off as lacking a backbone. Her one redeeming quality for me was that she was a hard worker, but half of the time I didn't feel like she took her dreams seriously.
Then there is Sebastien, who comes of a bit snobbish more often than not, he is not necessarily a bad sort but I just didn't find the swoon factor with him.
The rest of the characters weren't all that great either, they fade largely to the background and when they show up it's usually just to bring/keep Jess down.
Also, this is one of those "what? no grovel?" books. Sebastien does something really crappy to Jess toward the end and I was not happy with how that was handled.
February 5, 2014
Book Review- This is Now by Maggie Gilbert
Jessica Carter lives with her mom and her two older brothers. She is trying to make it through school and save money she earns from waitressing. She wants to go to the university and study architecture. Buildings are her passion. She likes to inspect them and see how they are made. She wants a life different than what she has now. Her brothers deal stolen parts and her ex-boyfriend deals drugs. She wants out.
Her life changes when Anna, a new friend, wants to go to the clubs one night and invites Jess to go with her. Before they go they need to make an appearance at a concert Anna’s brother is playing at. Jess is not thrilled. She is dressed for the clubs and sticks out.
When the lights go out Anna’s brother, Sebastien, takes the stage and plays the cello. Jess is spellbound as she watches him. He is the hottest guy she has ever seen and feels an instant spark when she meets him. However, he is from a rich family and he is so far out of her league. There is no way he could possibly be interested in her, but somehow he is. Jess knows that any feeling he has will be killed when he learns what her life is truly like. She works hard to keep everything going and separated until it all comes crashing down.
I really liked this book. It was a modern day Cinderella and I liked the author’s spin. There were brothers and they really cared for Jessica. Things that happened in the book were believable and I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to see what else was thrown at Jessica and how she was going to handle it.
She was a fabulous character and I wanted to see her succeed. She worked so hard to get what she had and kept trying to better herself instead of sinking into the life her family had planned for her. She was a great character that the reader could invest in and root for. I recommend this book and give it a 4 out of 5.
Jessica Carter lives with her mom and her two older brothers. She is trying to make it through school and save money she earns from waitressing. She wants to go to the university and study architecture. Buildings are her passion. She likes to inspect them and see how they are made. She wants a life different than what she has now. Her brothers deal stolen parts and her ex-boyfriend deals drugs. She wants out.
Her life changes when Anna, a new friend, wants to go to the clubs one night and invites Jess to go with her. Before they go they need to make an appearance at a concert Anna’s brother is playing at. Jess is not thrilled. She is dressed for the clubs and sticks out.
When the lights go out Anna’s brother, Sebastien, takes the stage and plays the cello. Jess is spellbound as she watches him. He is the hottest guy she has ever seen and feels an instant spark when she meets him. However, he is from a rich family and he is so far out of her league. There is no way he could possibly be interested in her, but somehow he is. Jess knows that any feeling he has will be killed when he learns what her life is truly like. She works hard to keep everything going and separated until it all comes crashing down.
I really liked this book. It was a modern day Cinderella and I liked the author’s spin. There were brothers and they really cared for Jessica. Things that happened in the book were believable and I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to see what else was thrown at Jessica and how she was going to handle it.
She was a fabulous character and I wanted to see her succeed. She worked so hard to get what she had and kept trying to better herself instead of sinking into the life her family had planned for her. She was a great character that the reader could invest in and root for. I recommend this book and give it a 4 out of 5.
February 10, 2014
Like most New Adult novels, This is Now looks like a typical romance novel, however it refreshingly focused more on the main character’s growth. Which made it even more relatable since as a college student you’re trying to figure out what you will be doing for the rest of your life. In This is Now, the main character Jess has to figure out if she’s going to follow in her families footsteps and just do what is easy or apply herself and break free from her family’s restraints.
Also, Jess doesn’t come from a typical suburban household like most main characters she has brothers who steal cars for a living and who are also involved in drug dealing with her ex-boyfriend. It’s a complicated past. Those complications make for a great story. It’s hard not to root for Jess who wants to get out of her town, go to college and become an architect. Having such a complicated and unpredictable main character had me more excited to see how Jess would grow as a person then whether or not she ended up with Sebastian, the romantic lead.
Even though the love story doesn’t take center stage, it’s also a complex one that touches on class differences and family issues. Sebastian comes from a wealthy family, he doesn’t need to have a job because they can support him as he tries to make a career in music (which he happens to be a prodigy at). This causes problems for them as their different lifestyles clash. Yet, they are so good together that you can’t help but root for them.
There are not many complex, interesting and just all around great books in the New Adult genre, but This is Now is certainly one of them. I would recommend it to any college student looking for something to read. However I have one warning Maggie Gilbert is an Australian author so there were many cultural references and words that I had to look up but that’s what google is for. Plus, you get to learn about a different country in the process!
Also, Jess doesn’t come from a typical suburban household like most main characters she has brothers who steal cars for a living and who are also involved in drug dealing with her ex-boyfriend. It’s a complicated past. Those complications make for a great story. It’s hard not to root for Jess who wants to get out of her town, go to college and become an architect. Having such a complicated and unpredictable main character had me more excited to see how Jess would grow as a person then whether or not she ended up with Sebastian, the romantic lead.
Even though the love story doesn’t take center stage, it’s also a complex one that touches on class differences and family issues. Sebastian comes from a wealthy family, he doesn’t need to have a job because they can support him as he tries to make a career in music (which he happens to be a prodigy at). This causes problems for them as their different lifestyles clash. Yet, they are so good together that you can’t help but root for them.
There are not many complex, interesting and just all around great books in the New Adult genre, but This is Now is certainly one of them. I would recommend it to any college student looking for something to read. However I have one warning Maggie Gilbert is an Australian author so there were many cultural references and words that I had to look up but that’s what google is for. Plus, you get to learn about a different country in the process!
May 1, 2014
3.5 Stars
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
Jess has a complicated family life, and wants nothing more than to get out of the wrong side of the tracks. Her family isn't very supportive of her goals, but when you have two brothers that steal cars for a living, they don't understand the need to educate yourself further. Not only that, but Jess is caught up in a on again, off again relationship with a drug dealer.
It may not seem like she has any insecurities, but Jess struggles with where she comes from until she meets Sebastian. A cellist who lives in a wealthy neighborhood, and has ambition is exactly what Jess needs. He teaches her how a man should treat a lady, and encourages her to go after her dreams.
Ashamed of where she's from, Jess tries to hide her background from Sebastian since they come from such different environments. This causes some tension in their relationship. I wish the book was a bit longer, so I could connect with Jess and Sebastian more.
For someone who wants a better life, Jess doesn't make the best decisions in the beginning of the book. It was frustrating at times, and I think that's why I wish the book was a bit longer-so I can connect better to Jess towards the second half. Her partying and drunken ways didn't convince me that she was working towards her goal of getting her act together.
I'm happy Sebastian helped to change her life around, but I wish it had happened sooner in the book so I could enjoy their relationship. Other than that, it was an easy and enjoyable read.
February 1, 2014
I received an ARC of this book from Escape Publishing and NetGalley.
When I received the ARC of the book I was really excited to get started. I’m a sucker for a good fairytale retelling. The story started off a little slow but as the book progressed it definitely got better and better. Jess was a cool character and her attitude felt very genuine to her current situation and her history. I appreciated that she a dream and determination on her own and didn’t need a guy to tame her wild ways and make her see that she could have more.Sebastien is the “prince” in this Cinderella story. He is actually very smart and is a talented cellist. He is dedicated to his music and works hard to make that his career.
The best thing about this storyline was the pacing. It didn’t feel rushed. The secondary characters were nice additions to the story and played opposite the main characters well. It left me wanting to know more about them. That is probably the only real issue I had with this book. I wish I had the chance to really connect with the characters and learn more about their backgrounds and family dynamics. Overall, I really liked this story. It was a fun read and the characters were interesting and authentic.
For a complete review visit: http://prisonersofprint.wordpress.com...
When I received the ARC of the book I was really excited to get started. I’m a sucker for a good fairytale retelling. The story started off a little slow but as the book progressed it definitely got better and better. Jess was a cool character and her attitude felt very genuine to her current situation and her history. I appreciated that she a dream and determination on her own and didn’t need a guy to tame her wild ways and make her see that she could have more.Sebastien is the “prince” in this Cinderella story. He is actually very smart and is a talented cellist. He is dedicated to his music and works hard to make that his career.
The best thing about this storyline was the pacing. It didn’t feel rushed. The secondary characters were nice additions to the story and played opposite the main characters well. It left me wanting to know more about them. That is probably the only real issue I had with this book. I wish I had the chance to really connect with the characters and learn more about their backgrounds and family dynamics. Overall, I really liked this story. It was a fun read and the characters were interesting and authentic.
For a complete review visit: http://prisonersofprint.wordpress.com...
June 16, 2014
This book was graciously provided to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In some aspects this book was what I expected and in others I was surprised. All around though I enjoyed the read.
Jess's life has not been easy and she is struggling to find a new path while failure seems to be chasing her down. Life isn't easy and it seems to be reminding her at ever turn she should accept the lifestyle she was born into; that is until gifted cellist Sebastien walks into her life. He comes from a world of wealth and opportunity and their attraction is instant, bringing them both into the others world.
I think my only real hiccup with this story is that I wanted more angst and shown the issues with Jess's life. We got snippets of it but I still wanted more. Between her flaky Mom and her shady brothers there was a lot to work with. It left me longing for more. There were things Jess did for straight survival purposes but we were never shown why and I really wish Gilbert had.
Despite that little hiccup I enjoyed the read. I didn't stay up late reading but I enjoyed Jess and Sebastien's tale.
In some aspects this book was what I expected and in others I was surprised. All around though I enjoyed the read.
Jess's life has not been easy and she is struggling to find a new path while failure seems to be chasing her down. Life isn't easy and it seems to be reminding her at ever turn she should accept the lifestyle she was born into; that is until gifted cellist Sebastien walks into her life. He comes from a world of wealth and opportunity and their attraction is instant, bringing them both into the others world.
I think my only real hiccup with this story is that I wanted more angst and shown the issues with Jess's life. We got snippets of it but I still wanted more. Between her flaky Mom and her shady brothers there was a lot to work with. It left me longing for more. There were things Jess did for straight survival purposes but we were never shown why and I really wish Gilbert had.
Despite that little hiccup I enjoyed the read. I didn't stay up late reading but I enjoyed Jess and Sebastien's tale.
February 24, 2014
I thought this story by Australian author Maggie Gilbert was surprisingly good. The main character Jess is realistic and believable and basically wants more than the life fate has handed her. She gets that opportunity when she meets and falls for Sebastien, the brother of her friend Anna.
Worth a read-You'll enjoy it.
Worth a read-You'll enjoy it.
February 6, 2014
I did not want to put this book down!! I really liked the story line, a struggle to better oneself against the odds and learning that there was more to life and not everyone was a crook. A really fun, satisfying read...and I was serious earlier....I stayed up late until I finished it.
June 15, 2014
Gritty - very Australian. Resolution was little abrupt but not a bad read for this contemporary new adult fiction.
Thanks to Escape Publishing and NetGalley for providing a reading copy.
Thanks to Escape Publishing and NetGalley for providing a reading copy.
March 15, 2014
Review coming soon!
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