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Twelve Steps
"With her debut novel, Veronica Bartles creates a fun, fast-paced story about a feisty heroine whose plan to steal her oh-so-perfect sister's spotlight leads to a messy love triangle ... no, love pentagon. TWELVE STEPS will have you cheering when Cinderella finds her backbone, Prince Charming learns that not every stepsister wants his glass slipper, and the heroine realizes she's been shining in her own light all along." Laura Bowers, Author of BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT and JUST FLIRT
"Smart and funny, Twelve Steps perfectly captures the gut-wrenching joy and supreme mortification of unrequited love. Authentic and *oh so* relatable, Bartles hits it out of the park with her debut! For anyone who's ever felt second best, or struggled to find their place in the world, this book is for you! Grab the chocolate, turn off the phone, and prepare to ride the roller coaster of Andi's life as it unfolds, page after humor filled page. This is contemporary romance done right!" -- Rachel Harris, Author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES
Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. The only thing Andi's sure she has going for her is her awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina's perfect everything else.
When Andi's crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough, and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina and get the guy.
Step 1: Admit she's powerless to change her perfect sister, and accept that her life really, really sucks.
Step 4: Make a list of her good qualities. She MUST have more than just great hair, right?
Step 7: Demand attention for more than just the way she screws things up.
When a stolen kiss from her crush ends in disaster, Andi realizes that her twelve-step program isn't working. Her prince isn't as charming as she'd hoped, and the spotlight she's been trying to steal isn't the one she wants.
As Laina's flawless façade begins to crumble, the sisters work together to find a spotlight big enough for both to shine.
"Smart and funny, Twelve Steps perfectly captures the gut-wrenching joy and supreme mortification of unrequited love. Authentic and *oh so* relatable, Bartles hits it out of the park with her debut! For anyone who's ever felt second best, or struggled to find their place in the world, this book is for you! Grab the chocolate, turn off the phone, and prepare to ride the roller coaster of Andi's life as it unfolds, page after humor filled page. This is contemporary romance done right!" -- Rachel Harris, Author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES
Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. The only thing Andi's sure she has going for her is her awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina's perfect everything else.
When Andi's crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough, and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina and get the guy.
Step 1: Admit she's powerless to change her perfect sister, and accept that her life really, really sucks.
Step 4: Make a list of her good qualities. She MUST have more than just great hair, right?
Step 7: Demand attention for more than just the way she screws things up.
When a stolen kiss from her crush ends in disaster, Andi realizes that her twelve-step program isn't working. Her prince isn't as charming as she'd hoped, and the spotlight she's been trying to steal isn't the one she wants.
As Laina's flawless façade begins to crumble, the sisters work together to find a spotlight big enough for both to shine.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2014
3 people are currently reading
794 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Bartles
2 books151 followersAs the second of eight children and the mother of four, Veronica Bartles is no stranger to the ups and downs of sibling relationships. (She was sandwiched between the gorgeous-and-insanely-popular older sister and the too-adorable-for-words younger sister.) She uses this insight to write stories about siblings who mostly love each other, even while they’re driving one another crazy. When she isn’t writing or getting lost in the pages of her newest favorite book, Veronica enjoys knitting fabulous bags and jewelry out of recycled plastic bags and old VHS tapes, sky diving (though she hasn’t actually tried that yet), and inventing the world’s most delectable cookie recipes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 22, 2014
For anyone who's ever felt second best, or struggled to find their place in the world, this book is for you! Smart and funny, Twelve Steps perfectly captures the gut-wrenching joy and supreme mortification of unrequited love. Grab the chocolate, turn off the phone, and prepare to ride the roller coaster of Andi's life as it unfolds, page after humor filled page. This is contemporary romance done right!
March 29, 2016
Andrea Anderson (Andi) has to compete with her perfect sister Laina not only for her parents' attention, but for the affections of Jarod, who also happens to be Laina's best friend. So Andi sets in motion a twelve step plan to get her life back on track. When she finds out that Laina has a crush on Shane, who's going out with Laina's ex-best friend Rachel, Andi hatches a plan to set Laina up with him so that she can have Jarod for herself.
Along the way, Andi discovers that Laina is not as perfect as she thought; she's got problems of her own. What's with the sabotaging behavior of Laina's so-called best friend Kendra? And what dark secret is Laina hiding from Andi? Andi also realizes that Laina's not the only one getting attention from boys; she herself has no shortage of admirers, especially the ever-present Dave. Even Jarod seems to be ambivalent about the two sisters. Who will he choose? And will he be too late? Maybe love is right under our noses the whole time; we just have to stop looking in the wrong direction.
"Twelve Steps" is a great clean read for teens. Even the swearing is cute, for example, "Oh. My. Gobstopper!" The story is fast-paced and written in a great natural style from the point-of-view of sixteen-year-old Andi. The real life action is cleverly mirrored in the stage production of Cinderella, starring Jarod as Prince Charming and Andi as one of the step-sisters. Andi's humor prevents her from becoming an unlikeable character, and, thankfully, her shallow and selfish attitude turns around and she finally starts thinking about others instead of just herself. In addition, the author subtly hints, through snippets of conversation, that all may not be as it seems, and that Andi's perceptions of reality may be clouded by her own emotions. This would make a great movie!
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Along the way, Andi discovers that Laina is not as perfect as she thought; she's got problems of her own. What's with the sabotaging behavior of Laina's so-called best friend Kendra? And what dark secret is Laina hiding from Andi? Andi also realizes that Laina's not the only one getting attention from boys; she herself has no shortage of admirers, especially the ever-present Dave. Even Jarod seems to be ambivalent about the two sisters. Who will he choose? And will he be too late? Maybe love is right under our noses the whole time; we just have to stop looking in the wrong direction.
"Twelve Steps" is a great clean read for teens. Even the swearing is cute, for example, "Oh. My. Gobstopper!" The story is fast-paced and written in a great natural style from the point-of-view of sixteen-year-old Andi. The real life action is cleverly mirrored in the stage production of Cinderella, starring Jarod as Prince Charming and Andi as one of the step-sisters. Andi's humor prevents her from becoming an unlikeable character, and, thankfully, her shallow and selfish attitude turns around and she finally starts thinking about others instead of just herself. In addition, the author subtly hints, through snippets of conversation, that all may not be as it seems, and that Andi's perceptions of reality may be clouded by her own emotions. This would make a great movie!
I received this book in return for an honest review.
January 12, 2015
Twelve Steps is a contemporary high school romance. It was an enjoyable book that held my interest. There was nothing in it that made it stand out as a favorite but did I like watching Andi finally figure out that the grass is not always greener on the other side. It was a filled with some fun moments that made me smile. I couldn't help but love Dave and was grateful Andi finally started to open her eyes to what was right in front of her.
Her sister Laina's secret was fairly easy to figure out early on but it took Andi a long time to finally put the pieces together because she started out so focused on herself. Overall this is a entertaining read with a good message that I'm glad I took the time to read.
Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good Book
Content: couple instances of language, little innuendo
Source: Ebook Review Copy
Her sister Laina's secret was fairly easy to figure out early on but it took Andi a long time to finally put the pieces together because she started out so focused on herself. Overall this is a entertaining read with a good message that I'm glad I took the time to read.
Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good Book
Content: couple instances of language, little innuendo
Source: Ebook Review Copy
April 23, 2018
I had so much fun writing TWELVE STEPS, and I love hearing from you as you read it! Thank you all so much!! <3
(Here's a post from December 2012, when I talked about this book and what inspired it: http://i-am-so-grateful.blogspot.com/...)
(Here's a post from December 2012, when I talked about this book and what inspired it: http://i-am-so-grateful.blogspot.com/...)
March 28, 2014
I absolutely loved it! First of all I want to say that I can totally relate to Andi-Alaina relationship and feelings for each other. And let me tell you that it was right on!!.... being perfect is no easy feat, and I think the author has captured all the tension plus drama between two sisters superbly, without giving any negativity which could have spoiled the whole story.
"We could sit around and chat about how our flawless family members are systematically destroying our lives."
Laina is perfect and her perfection has haunted Andi for ages. Everyone keeps comparing her to her perfect elder sister and she is sick and tired of it. The boy she has been crushing on for years is also interested in Laina and not her. In fact every single boy in school is interested in Laina, not that she pays attention to them. Still they keep following her around and ignoring Andi.
Andi thinks that she is powerless because of Laina's perfection and she should just take charge of her life. So when Jarod asks her to help him win her sister, she starts work on her own agenda instead. A twelve-step programme which will make all her problems disappear. Most importantly it'll make Jarod realised that she was the sister for him no Laina. When Shane entered the picture, it gave her a perfect opportunity to make her dream come true. But things rarely go the way one plans....
She has always acted as if it didn't matter, as if she didn't notice people comparing her to Laina and finding her less than perfect. And she is good at acting too, no one sees her like she really is except Dave. He is the only person who sees through her lies....
"Didn't anyone ever tell you that you're supposed to keep things vague when you're lying through your teeth."
So she is not as clueless as her sister. She knows when someone is interested in her but she cannot by anything more than friends with Dave. She has always been in love with Jarod and that will never change or so she thinks.....
Its a beautifully written story, which is perfect for young readers. I'm no teenager but I loved it too. All the characters are well crafted and I especially loved Dave's character. Didn't like Jarod though. He was no hero-material if you asked me. He was stringing Andi along while pining for Laina. But the book demanded that character so it was perfect in its own way. Everyone was as they should be and this made it a 5-star read.
For Giveaway go to link below;
http://mineofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/...
"We could sit around and chat about how our flawless family members are systematically destroying our lives."
Laina is perfect and her perfection has haunted Andi for ages. Everyone keeps comparing her to her perfect elder sister and she is sick and tired of it. The boy she has been crushing on for years is also interested in Laina and not her. In fact every single boy in school is interested in Laina, not that she pays attention to them. Still they keep following her around and ignoring Andi.
Andi thinks that she is powerless because of Laina's perfection and she should just take charge of her life. So when Jarod asks her to help him win her sister, she starts work on her own agenda instead. A twelve-step programme which will make all her problems disappear. Most importantly it'll make Jarod realised that she was the sister for him no Laina. When Shane entered the picture, it gave her a perfect opportunity to make her dream come true. But things rarely go the way one plans....
She has always acted as if it didn't matter, as if she didn't notice people comparing her to Laina and finding her less than perfect. And she is good at acting too, no one sees her like she really is except Dave. He is the only person who sees through her lies....
"Didn't anyone ever tell you that you're supposed to keep things vague when you're lying through your teeth."
So she is not as clueless as her sister. She knows when someone is interested in her but she cannot by anything more than friends with Dave. She has always been in love with Jarod and that will never change or so she thinks.....
Its a beautifully written story, which is perfect for young readers. I'm no teenager but I loved it too. All the characters are well crafted and I especially loved Dave's character. Didn't like Jarod though. He was no hero-material if you asked me. He was stringing Andi along while pining for Laina. But the book demanded that character so it was perfect in its own way. Everyone was as they should be and this made it a 5-star read.
For Giveaway go to link below;
http://mineofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/...
March 27, 2014
I absolutely adored this book! I first heard about TWLEVE STEPS during Pitch Wars when the book’s author, Veronica Bartles, shared, via Twitter, the story of how she ended up getting published and got her agent. It’s story of a girl living in her sister’s shadow drew me in not only because of the girl’s humorous yet practical approach to dealing with her problem (aka her twelve step program), but because I’m the older sister and my siblings are always saying things like, “I’m not you, Patrice.”
That being said, I’m not Laina, maybe my siblings see me as that, but I strongly identify with Andi: her feelings of being lost and wanting to be something more than who people see you as, especially. And I LOVE theater…I actually recited a monologue from Our Town during a UIL competition senior year of high school & I love Cinderella so that only brought back great memories…Also, in musicals I NEVER got the part I wanted (plays were my strong suit) so, like Andi, I had to learn how to steal the show “from the shadows.”
There were so many great lines in the book. It read so well, I could easily see this staged, as a play or movie. I think it’s the theater person in me + my junior year of AP English during which my teacher made me fall in love with sentence structure that had me highlighting lines. Here are a few of my favorites from Andi (I picked them from early on so as to not spoil anything):
“It isn’t as easy as you’d think to keep up the “I am who I am, and I don’t really care what you say about me” act, but what other choice do I have?”
“They believe me, because they want to.”
“You never have to actually answer most questions. You only have to make people think you did.”
I resonate so much with these lines. I like to think I’m a reformed manipulator and I can definitely say that acting like you don’t care is often much harder than letting your emotions show.
I focused a lot on the sister-sister relationship 1) because you don’t see a lot of that in YA and 2) because that’s what really drew me in, but the romance is equally as good. It’s sweet, bittersweet at first, but all’s well that ends well! I love how Andi gets to see that Laina isn’t as perfect as she thinks she is. I try to be very honest with my siblings about that, even though it’s hard to let those who look up to you know that you have made (& make) mistakes.
It’s a fast read that’ll have you laughing during one chapter and crying during the next, but it leaves you feeling refreshed and so much more content with yourself. I’m definitely going to give this to my little sister(s) to read when they’re a bit older (my brother would likely say, “ugh, I already know I’m awesome, duh.”…completely missing the point, LOL.) It’s $2.99 so you should definitely go buy you a copy, it’s worth every penny!
**I received this book from YA Bound & Swoon Reads to read & review for the tour. This is a 100% honest review.**
That being said, I’m not Laina, maybe my siblings see me as that, but I strongly identify with Andi: her feelings of being lost and wanting to be something more than who people see you as, especially. And I LOVE theater…I actually recited a monologue from Our Town during a UIL competition senior year of high school & I love Cinderella so that only brought back great memories…Also, in musicals I NEVER got the part I wanted (plays were my strong suit) so, like Andi, I had to learn how to steal the show “from the shadows.”
There were so many great lines in the book. It read so well, I could easily see this staged, as a play or movie. I think it’s the theater person in me + my junior year of AP English during which my teacher made me fall in love with sentence structure that had me highlighting lines. Here are a few of my favorites from Andi (I picked them from early on so as to not spoil anything):
“It isn’t as easy as you’d think to keep up the “I am who I am, and I don’t really care what you say about me” act, but what other choice do I have?”
“They believe me, because they want to.”
“You never have to actually answer most questions. You only have to make people think you did.”
I resonate so much with these lines. I like to think I’m a reformed manipulator and I can definitely say that acting like you don’t care is often much harder than letting your emotions show.
I focused a lot on the sister-sister relationship 1) because you don’t see a lot of that in YA and 2) because that’s what really drew me in, but the romance is equally as good. It’s sweet, bittersweet at first, but all’s well that ends well! I love how Andi gets to see that Laina isn’t as perfect as she thinks she is. I try to be very honest with my siblings about that, even though it’s hard to let those who look up to you know that you have made (& make) mistakes.
It’s a fast read that’ll have you laughing during one chapter and crying during the next, but it leaves you feeling refreshed and so much more content with yourself. I’m definitely going to give this to my little sister(s) to read when they’re a bit older (my brother would likely say, “ugh, I already know I’m awesome, duh.”…completely missing the point, LOL.) It’s $2.99 so you should definitely go buy you a copy, it’s worth every penny!
**I received this book from YA Bound & Swoon Reads to read & review for the tour. This is a 100% honest review.**
March 15, 2014
Don't get me wrong, it's not all daisies and roses, but this story is SO SWEET! I can't wait to share my full review with you after it goes up on the blog!
March 26, 2014
Originally posted at Geeky Chiquitas
Reviewed by: Kimi
Twelve Steps is a book about two sisters who go to the same highschool, and both think one is better than the other. Andi and Laina have a tight sibling relationship and are very close, but both have their own problems and insecurities. Andi is in love with Laina's best friend Jared, but Jared has been in love with Laina ever since. Laina, on the other hand, has her own troubled past which she keeps bottled up in her diaries. This is a story of how these two sisters find themselves and break out of their own shells.
Twelve Steps is something that I was immediately drawn to right after reading the first few pages. I love reading stories about sisters, it's a kind of trope that I haven't been exposed to more. I think this book would've been very problematic if not handled as light and cutesy as it was. This one's premise is basically "We're both popular but we think the other one is better than the other" Not that I am undermining other people's problems, but that kind of premise would've lacked depth and emotional value if not treated correctly. It is not so relatable or rewarding to read, and would not have worked as well. Reading contemporary has always been difficult to me as I'm usually presented with books that contain the same premises and characters and love interests that it has gotten way too tiring. Twelve Steps was an enjoyable book that definitely exceeded my expectations. I read it expecting to read something with fluff, but got out with something more.
What I loved the most about this book is Andi. Andi was a compelling protagonist who spoke her mind and did whatever the hell she wanted no matter what. It was very easy to relate to this girl, as I myself am the second child in my family, and do strive to be better than my older sister. I found Andi to be a strong and independent character, and though she came off to me as manipulative with her schemes, bottomline is she had a good heart who put her sister first before anything else. This was proven throughout the book when every time she felt second-best or hurt, she was always more concerned about her sister's welfare rather than her own. She also came off as very feminist to me, and I found myself cheering "you go girl!" every time she delivered a piece of dialogue that made me root for her. Her snarkiness and witty humour all came hand in hand.
"First of all, you need to drop the competitive attitude. Dating isn't a contest. And no girl in her right mind actually wants to have guys fighting over her like she's some kind of prize. Laina's a person with feelings, not a trophy for the winner. And you're going to lose her entirely if you don't stop treating her like the toy at the bottom of your cereal box. She doesn't belong to you."
"I don't know what hurts worse: the fact that Jared is such a male chauvinist pig that he can't see why turning my sister into the prize to be won in a stupid pissing contest with Shane Crawford is a bad thing, or the fact that he's never even thought about fighting for me."
Laina was an okay character that I felt was underdeveloped. She didn't seem to progress from Point A at the beginning to Point B at the end. I felt no substantial character development. I was hoping that she would be the one to finally confess about what had happened to her (no spoilers!) but it was Andi had gone to tell the truth. But overall, I thought Laina was a great sister. What I didn't like about this book the most though are the male characters. Shane and Jared... Jesus, where do I even begin? I think I have had enough of scumbag misogynists, but they keep popping up everywhere! Again, there is no problem with creating problematic characters, but I hate it when they stay that way and don't develop. Shane was a crappy character, and yes he doesn't get the girl in the end, but with all chances to change, he never makes an effort and just keeps screwing things up. I was glad to see him go in the end. Jared, Oh God... I can vouch for Andi about how annoying this guy is. He is in love with Laina, but he leads Andi on and even kisses her and thinks it's okay. I don't like how the ending makes it seem like he's such a great guy who defends Laina - you spent the entire year thinking Laina was okay about what had happened just because it didn't technically happen so you automatically assume it was okay? I don't like how in the end he kind of gets Laina (it is implied...?) when he clearly doesn't deserve her or Andi. If Laina had known how poorly Jared treated Andi, I'm sure she'd leave him on the curb to die.
The only formidable guy character in this whole book is Dave, who treats Andi like a real person and doesn't use her at his disposal. But I wasn't too sure about the ending as I kind of saw Andi as someone independent and wished she hadn't ended up with any of them. I couldn't see the chemistry between her and Dave, so that contributes to that too.
Overall, Twelve Steps was a cute and fascinating read which I recommend to anyone who's in for something light and funny. It was really enjoyable and had some underlying themes, which were best to be just subtle given the tone of the book. It was well-written and had great plot pacing as well. Twelve Steps is definitely a great book of sibling rivalry and finding your place in this world.
Reviewed by: Kimi
Twelve Steps is a book about two sisters who go to the same highschool, and both think one is better than the other. Andi and Laina have a tight sibling relationship and are very close, but both have their own problems and insecurities. Andi is in love with Laina's best friend Jared, but Jared has been in love with Laina ever since. Laina, on the other hand, has her own troubled past which she keeps bottled up in her diaries. This is a story of how these two sisters find themselves and break out of their own shells.
Twelve Steps is something that I was immediately drawn to right after reading the first few pages. I love reading stories about sisters, it's a kind of trope that I haven't been exposed to more. I think this book would've been very problematic if not handled as light and cutesy as it was. This one's premise is basically "We're both popular but we think the other one is better than the other" Not that I am undermining other people's problems, but that kind of premise would've lacked depth and emotional value if not treated correctly. It is not so relatable or rewarding to read, and would not have worked as well. Reading contemporary has always been difficult to me as I'm usually presented with books that contain the same premises and characters and love interests that it has gotten way too tiring. Twelve Steps was an enjoyable book that definitely exceeded my expectations. I read it expecting to read something with fluff, but got out with something more.
What I loved the most about this book is Andi. Andi was a compelling protagonist who spoke her mind and did whatever the hell she wanted no matter what. It was very easy to relate to this girl, as I myself am the second child in my family, and do strive to be better than my older sister. I found Andi to be a strong and independent character, and though she came off to me as manipulative with her schemes, bottomline is she had a good heart who put her sister first before anything else. This was proven throughout the book when every time she felt second-best or hurt, she was always more concerned about her sister's welfare rather than her own. She also came off as very feminist to me, and I found myself cheering "you go girl!" every time she delivered a piece of dialogue that made me root for her. Her snarkiness and witty humour all came hand in hand.
"First of all, you need to drop the competitive attitude. Dating isn't a contest. And no girl in her right mind actually wants to have guys fighting over her like she's some kind of prize. Laina's a person with feelings, not a trophy for the winner. And you're going to lose her entirely if you don't stop treating her like the toy at the bottom of your cereal box. She doesn't belong to you."
"I don't know what hurts worse: the fact that Jared is such a male chauvinist pig that he can't see why turning my sister into the prize to be won in a stupid pissing contest with Shane Crawford is a bad thing, or the fact that he's never even thought about fighting for me."
Laina was an okay character that I felt was underdeveloped. She didn't seem to progress from Point A at the beginning to Point B at the end. I felt no substantial character development. I was hoping that she would be the one to finally confess about what had happened to her (no spoilers!) but it was Andi had gone to tell the truth. But overall, I thought Laina was a great sister. What I didn't like about this book the most though are the male characters. Shane and Jared... Jesus, where do I even begin? I think I have had enough of scumbag misogynists, but they keep popping up everywhere! Again, there is no problem with creating problematic characters, but I hate it when they stay that way and don't develop. Shane was a crappy character, and yes he doesn't get the girl in the end, but with all chances to change, he never makes an effort and just keeps screwing things up. I was glad to see him go in the end. Jared, Oh God... I can vouch for Andi about how annoying this guy is. He is in love with Laina, but he leads Andi on and even kisses her and thinks it's okay. I don't like how the ending makes it seem like he's such a great guy who defends Laina - you spent the entire year thinking Laina was okay about what had happened just because it didn't technically happen so you automatically assume it was okay? I don't like how in the end he kind of gets Laina (it is implied...?) when he clearly doesn't deserve her or Andi. If Laina had known how poorly Jared treated Andi, I'm sure she'd leave him on the curb to die.
The only formidable guy character in this whole book is Dave, who treats Andi like a real person and doesn't use her at his disposal. But I wasn't too sure about the ending as I kind of saw Andi as someone independent and wished she hadn't ended up with any of them. I couldn't see the chemistry between her and Dave, so that contributes to that too.
Overall, Twelve Steps was a cute and fascinating read which I recommend to anyone who's in for something light and funny. It was really enjoyable and had some underlying themes, which were best to be just subtle given the tone of the book. It was well-written and had great plot pacing as well. Twelve Steps is definitely a great book of sibling rivalry and finding your place in this world.
September 9, 2020
Cute. Andi feels like she lives in the shadow of her sister. She even likes the boy that’s in love with Laina. But through the story she discovers more about herself and her own talents and what she truly wants. Good clean romance.
April 12, 2014
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Twelve Steps by Veronica Bartles
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Rate: 3 stars
Review:
Twelve Steps is for everyone who's ever felt second best, for those people with a gorgeous sister or friend that overshadows everyone else. Veronica Bartles wrote a funny, sweet and lovable story where Laina must stop being the second best of her sister, and she's willing to do anything!
Laina's in love with Jarod, but Jarod doesn't see her that way thanks to her gorgeous and innocent sister. Because she's a good friend, she tries to discover who her sister likes, and it turns out to be Shane, who's going out with Laina's ex-best friend, Rachel. So the master plan is helping her sister get her crush (aka Shane), so she can have Jarod for herself. Sounds like a good plan, right?
However, throughout the story Andi gets to truly know her sister and discover she's not as perfect as Andi thought. The two sisters get to spend more time together and the once "broken" bond starts to heal. In the meantime, Jarod seems to be willing to leave Laina behind so she can be happy with Shane. Losing Laina, means that now there's nothing between Andi and him. But how can Laina keep being the second best? She wants someone who loves her for herself, not being a second choice because her sister wasn't available.
As the story keeps going, we meet new characters, new awkward and funny situations, we will discover Laina's deep secret and we would know what Andi decides to do with her love life.
Twelve Steps is a clean read, with funny situations and with a character that has a strong and powerful personality. It reflects perfectly how someone must feel after being in love and end up rejected for your lovable sister, but always being there to be the second choice just in case the first plan doesn't work. Veronica Bartles brings some humor to the situation but putting her main character in some situations like when she has a place in the production of Cinderella, and she's one of the step-sisters and Jarod Prince Charming.
What I liked about this book was Laina's personality. You could know just by reading her point of view that despite her not-so-lucky love life, she's a strong girl and secure of herself. She's not afraid to go after what she wants and she has to have some guts to play matchmaker for her sister. Her snarky comments and whatever-attitude create some wonderful and funny situations throughout the story.
I think that my problem was that there were an overwhelming amount of boys in the story. I couldn't place my heart with only one and I must confess that I was kind of confused.
I also liked how this story changes from "my life sucks thanks to my sister just for being beautiful" to a more mature and rational aspect like understanding what's best for her sister and try to do the right thing. Also the author wrapped up everything, by giving Andi her shot at true love. Although, I would have like more of those moments (not saying who she ends up with, sorry!). And by the way, just saying that I'm team Dave all the way down and I didn't like how she treated him sometimes.
Overall, Twelve Steps is a hilarious, sweet and romantic YA story. Entwined and complicated relationships, a group of friends and a main character seeking her happy ever after along with some sister rivalry, this YA story will make you smile and think about what's like to be left as a second choice. If you like this type of stories, Twelve Steps is definitely your story!
Twelve Steps by Veronica Bartles
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Review:
Twelve Steps is for everyone who's ever felt second best, for those people with a gorgeous sister or friend that overshadows everyone else. Veronica Bartles wrote a funny, sweet and lovable story where Laina must stop being the second best of her sister, and she's willing to do anything!
Laina's in love with Jarod, but Jarod doesn't see her that way thanks to her gorgeous and innocent sister. Because she's a good friend, she tries to discover who her sister likes, and it turns out to be Shane, who's going out with Laina's ex-best friend, Rachel. So the master plan is helping her sister get her crush (aka Shane), so she can have Jarod for herself. Sounds like a good plan, right?
However, throughout the story Andi gets to truly know her sister and discover she's not as perfect as Andi thought. The two sisters get to spend more time together and the once "broken" bond starts to heal. In the meantime, Jarod seems to be willing to leave Laina behind so she can be happy with Shane. Losing Laina, means that now there's nothing between Andi and him. But how can Laina keep being the second best? She wants someone who loves her for herself, not being a second choice because her sister wasn't available.
As the story keeps going, we meet new characters, new awkward and funny situations, we will discover Laina's deep secret and we would know what Andi decides to do with her love life.
Twelve Steps is a clean read, with funny situations and with a character that has a strong and powerful personality. It reflects perfectly how someone must feel after being in love and end up rejected for your lovable sister, but always being there to be the second choice just in case the first plan doesn't work. Veronica Bartles brings some humor to the situation but putting her main character in some situations like when she has a place in the production of Cinderella, and she's one of the step-sisters and Jarod Prince Charming.
What I liked about this book was Laina's personality. You could know just by reading her point of view that despite her not-so-lucky love life, she's a strong girl and secure of herself. She's not afraid to go after what she wants and she has to have some guts to play matchmaker for her sister. Her snarky comments and whatever-attitude create some wonderful and funny situations throughout the story.
I think that my problem was that there were an overwhelming amount of boys in the story. I couldn't place my heart with only one and I must confess that I was kind of confused.
I also liked how this story changes from "my life sucks thanks to my sister just for being beautiful" to a more mature and rational aspect like understanding what's best for her sister and try to do the right thing. Also the author wrapped up everything, by giving Andi her shot at true love. Although, I would have like more of those moments (not saying who she ends up with, sorry!). And by the way, just saying that I'm team Dave all the way down and I didn't like how she treated him sometimes.
Overall, Twelve Steps is a hilarious, sweet and romantic YA story. Entwined and complicated relationships, a group of friends and a main character seeking her happy ever after along with some sister rivalry, this YA story will make you smile and think about what's like to be left as a second choice. If you like this type of stories, Twelve Steps is definitely your story!
April 2, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.
Twelve Steps was just too cute to pass up. Oh YA, how I've missed you! I knew I had to read this book - I have a younger sister, and although I'm the older one, I don't believe I outshone her. But she always thought I was our parents' favorite, able to get away with a bunch of stuff while I felt they were way harder on me than on her. You know, typical sister stuff.
Reading about Andi and Laina in Twelve Steps reminded me a lot of growing up with my sister - with all of the fun times, sad times, and the inbetween as well as the awkwardness I experienced during my teenage years. This book is exactly why I love the YA genre.
The Second Class Sibling
Andi has labeled herself "the second class sibling" after years of feeling like she can never measure up to her older sister, Laina. After crushing on Jarod, the guy who's close with both sisters but only has eyes for Laina, for years, there's a hugely awkward moment involving a kiss that had me clutching my chest in a bit of heartbreak for Andi.
I felt so bad for her! She's a firecracker - always entertaining and witty, there's never a dull moment with her. She would be loads of fun to hang out with. At the same time, she can be manipulative and sneaky in order to get what she wants. She doesn't mean to intentionally hurt anyone, but that's usually what ends up happening. She isn't selfish, just a lovesick teenage girl with a massive crush on someone who possibly might not ever give her the time of day.
The Most Perfect Girl in the School
When you have the kind of personality Laina has, eager to please, I think you put much more pressure on yourself than anyone else ever could. Once you've achieved certain things like being on the "A" honor roll or being the top flute player in band, then it becomes expected you stay there. The pressure may not even necessarily come from others - it could be coming from you so strongly that you might perceive it as coming from others.
I was surprised Laina isn't superficial and stuck up and went out of her way to be a good sister to Andi because from the synopsis, I figured she treated Andi like she's better than her. That isn't how Laina is at all, and it was refreshing to find that out. She's clueless about the way Andi is jealous of her - she doesn't think there's anything special about her.
The Scheme
Hmmm...Jarod. Is he really worth Andi's time anyway? Or Laina's? The further Andi went to send Laina into Shane's (a guy Laina likes) arms, the more hilarious the situation became. Shane couldn't stop making creeptastic comments, and I couldn't stop laughing at them. Poor guy! He was so nervous around Laina! He didn't mean to come off creepy, either. *facepalm*
The Unexpected Hottie
I became more interested in Dave for Andi and wanted Jarod out of the way. Dave saw right through Andi's facade, and I think she's met her match in him. One of my favorite moments is when he tells Andi that she's beautiful and of course guys are attracted to her, and I was cheering.
The Bottom Line
Good Lord I love this book! I haven't been reading much YA lately, and Twelve Steps has made me realize just how much I've missed it. All the teenage angst and drama - I'll never get tired of any of it. Bartles has done a fantastic job of writing a YA novel that's screamingly hilarious with those moments of embarrassment and angst I remember from my own years as a teenager. Twelve Steps is the kind of book that's the perfect example of why YA rocks.
Twelve Steps was just too cute to pass up. Oh YA, how I've missed you! I knew I had to read this book - I have a younger sister, and although I'm the older one, I don't believe I outshone her. But she always thought I was our parents' favorite, able to get away with a bunch of stuff while I felt they were way harder on me than on her. You know, typical sister stuff.
Reading about Andi and Laina in Twelve Steps reminded me a lot of growing up with my sister - with all of the fun times, sad times, and the inbetween as well as the awkwardness I experienced during my teenage years. This book is exactly why I love the YA genre.
The Second Class Sibling
Andi has labeled herself "the second class sibling" after years of feeling like she can never measure up to her older sister, Laina. After crushing on Jarod, the guy who's close with both sisters but only has eyes for Laina, for years, there's a hugely awkward moment involving a kiss that had me clutching my chest in a bit of heartbreak for Andi.
I felt so bad for her! She's a firecracker - always entertaining and witty, there's never a dull moment with her. She would be loads of fun to hang out with. At the same time, she can be manipulative and sneaky in order to get what she wants. She doesn't mean to intentionally hurt anyone, but that's usually what ends up happening. She isn't selfish, just a lovesick teenage girl with a massive crush on someone who possibly might not ever give her the time of day.
The Most Perfect Girl in the School
When you have the kind of personality Laina has, eager to please, I think you put much more pressure on yourself than anyone else ever could. Once you've achieved certain things like being on the "A" honor roll or being the top flute player in band, then it becomes expected you stay there. The pressure may not even necessarily come from others - it could be coming from you so strongly that you might perceive it as coming from others.
I was surprised Laina isn't superficial and stuck up and went out of her way to be a good sister to Andi because from the synopsis, I figured she treated Andi like she's better than her. That isn't how Laina is at all, and it was refreshing to find that out. She's clueless about the way Andi is jealous of her - she doesn't think there's anything special about her.
The Scheme
Hmmm...Jarod. Is he really worth Andi's time anyway? Or Laina's? The further Andi went to send Laina into Shane's (a guy Laina likes) arms, the more hilarious the situation became. Shane couldn't stop making creeptastic comments, and I couldn't stop laughing at them. Poor guy! He was so nervous around Laina! He didn't mean to come off creepy, either. *facepalm*
The Unexpected Hottie
I became more interested in Dave for Andi and wanted Jarod out of the way. Dave saw right through Andi's facade, and I think she's met her match in him. One of my favorite moments is when he tells Andi that she's beautiful and of course guys are attracted to her, and I was cheering.
The Bottom Line
Good Lord I love this book! I haven't been reading much YA lately, and Twelve Steps has made me realize just how much I've missed it. All the teenage angst and drama - I'll never get tired of any of it. Bartles has done a fantastic job of writing a YA novel that's screamingly hilarious with those moments of embarrassment and angst I remember from my own years as a teenager. Twelve Steps is the kind of book that's the perfect example of why YA rocks.
January 2, 2015
I read this book in one sitting. I mean, it's not like this is an extraordinarily long book or anything, but still. I sat down and I read this whole thing in just a few hours. The biggest reason this is important? I was in the middle of reading Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout at the time. If you know me, you know that reading a different book while I could be reading one of hers is kind of a big deal. But Twelve Steps was so worth it!
I adore this premise. I'm the third child myself, so I can kind of get where Andi's coming from. Not completely, since I don't have any sisters, but still. The idea of a twelve step program to get past feeling inferior was awesome. My only dilemma is that I wish the twelve steps had more to do with the story. Don't get me wrong--there are twelve steps in this story. But they don't pertain to what was going on as much as I'd hoped. Which isn't a huge deal, since I still very much enjoyed this novel.
Andi was such a lively protagonist. I actually had a great time sticking around inside her head throughout this story. I kind of wished she would stop being so gosh darn stubborn about some certain things...but overall, I was cool with her. She had a personality that I just loved.
Andi's sister was actually really friendly. I'd imagined her big sister to be terrible to her, since she had sibling issues, but they got along pretty well. I didn't like Laina as much as I liked Andi, but I didn't really have a problem with her, either. Well, except for her complete obliviousness for Jared's feelings. I mean, COME ON. Open your eyes. Her blindness to that reality did get annoying. But still, she wasn't too bad. A great sister, for sure.
Speaking of Jared...yeah, I'm not the biggest fan of him. I started out thinking I might heart him, but nope. He was kind of a jerk to Andi. I'm not okay with that, no matter how conflicted he was over Laina. And Shane...I know he has nothing to do with Andi's romantic relationships, but I must say that he seemed sweet, but I liked him even less than I liked Jared. I actually wanted to slap Shane a couple times. So yeah, I totally prefer Jared and, even though he wasn't great to Andi, I think he and Laina are perfect.
And then there is Dave. I was on his team from the moment we met the guy. Why? Because he was nice. And that little boy was like "that's the girl you told my mom about" and I legit was like AWWWW. He had me from that point on, and he totally deserved it. He was so nice, and sweet, and can I just have him, please? I'm kind of mad at Andi for taking so long to get on the Dave train, officially, but since I like Andi, I'll let it slide.
Overall, Twelve Steps is all kinds of cute. It's sweet and fun and the perfect story to pick up when you just want to read something to make you feel good and happy. I loved these characters, and their story was just as adorable as the cover suggests. I am definitely looking forward to checking out whatever Veronica Bartles has coming our way next.
You can find more from me on my blog: Just a Booklover
I adore this premise. I'm the third child myself, so I can kind of get where Andi's coming from. Not completely, since I don't have any sisters, but still. The idea of a twelve step program to get past feeling inferior was awesome. My only dilemma is that I wish the twelve steps had more to do with the story. Don't get me wrong--there are twelve steps in this story. But they don't pertain to what was going on as much as I'd hoped. Which isn't a huge deal, since I still very much enjoyed this novel.
Andi was such a lively protagonist. I actually had a great time sticking around inside her head throughout this story. I kind of wished she would stop being so gosh darn stubborn about some certain things...but overall, I was cool with her. She had a personality that I just loved.
Andi's sister was actually really friendly. I'd imagined her big sister to be terrible to her, since she had sibling issues, but they got along pretty well. I didn't like Laina as much as I liked Andi, but I didn't really have a problem with her, either. Well, except for her complete obliviousness for Jared's feelings. I mean, COME ON. Open your eyes. Her blindness to that reality did get annoying. But still, she wasn't too bad. A great sister, for sure.
Speaking of Jared...yeah, I'm not the biggest fan of him. I started out thinking I might heart him, but nope. He was kind of a jerk to Andi. I'm not okay with that, no matter how conflicted he was over Laina. And Shane...I know he has nothing to do with Andi's romantic relationships, but I must say that he seemed sweet, but I liked him even less than I liked Jared. I actually wanted to slap Shane a couple times. So yeah, I totally prefer Jared and, even though he wasn't great to Andi, I think he and Laina are perfect.
And then there is Dave. I was on his team from the moment we met the guy. Why? Because he was nice. And that little boy was like "that's the girl you told my mom about" and I legit was like AWWWW. He had me from that point on, and he totally deserved it. He was so nice, and sweet, and can I just have him, please? I'm kind of mad at Andi for taking so long to get on the Dave train, officially, but since I like Andi, I'll let it slide.
Overall, Twelve Steps is all kinds of cute. It's sweet and fun and the perfect story to pick up when you just want to read something to make you feel good and happy. I loved these characters, and their story was just as adorable as the cover suggests. I am definitely looking forward to checking out whatever Veronica Bartles has coming our way next.
You can find more from me on my blog: Just a Booklover
July 12, 2014
originally posted here: http://alwayslostinbooks.wordpress.co...
Andi has always seen her older sister as the perfect one or the favorite one. She has always felt overshadowed, but there are times when she would take it in a positive light. For example, she sees her sister as a real-life barbie doll that she dresses up and everything. I found this sisterly bonding really nice. Of the two sisters, Andi is definitely the street smart person who understands people more. She even knows how to manipulate them sometimes. She does well in school, but she’s not a straight-A student like her sister. But Andi is anything but inferior. She just needs to see it for herself, and she needs to realize when to hold on and when to let go.
Laina, on the other hand, doesn’t really herself as the better sister. But in reality, she’s always so beautiful with the perfect features and curves. She also always has the best grades. But Laina isn’t always so perfect. She hides a secret, which I easily guessed, that has scarred her and caused her to close out other people. She also has an awful best friend, who does nothing but harm her self-esteem. And like Andi’s opposite, she’s more book-smart and she doesn’t seem to pick up on social things like when guys like her. I was actually a lot like Laina in high school, and I liked that she was also given a chance to show herself even though the story was in Andi’s perspective.
It’s sad how these two sisters felt insecure because of each other when they had so much going on for them. I think a lot of teens would be able to relate in how we keep on comparing ourselves to others and thinking so little of ourselves. It’s also sad how Andi was obsessed over her sister’s best friend who wasn’t even that great. I think it was really good to show off the sister’s vulnerable sides, and how they needed to accept themselves and gain some confidence.
In terms of romance, I felt that the ending was lacking and wasn’t very satisfying. It didn’t even feel much like an ending. As a romance novel, I think this book would have benefited from more details on the relationship between Andi and the guy she ends up with. Or maybe there should have been something big or some confession near the end. I understand there were some hints throughout the book, but there weren’t much explanations like why didn’t the guy make any moves on her. That seriously made me disappointed because seeing them together made me feel so giddy. I kept looking for more pages that weren’t there.
**************************************************
OVERALL, Twelve Steps is a light, fun read that felt a little lacking near the end. It felt like the whole thing just fizzled out. I did enjoy reading most of it though, and the characters are definitely relatable. Twelve Steps brought me back to my younger teenage years where insecurities abounded and naivety was normal. I think that this was a really good novel, but it has a lot of room for improvement. I would recommend it to those who would want a fast and fluffy contemporary read.
Andi has always seen her older sister as the perfect one or the favorite one. She has always felt overshadowed, but there are times when she would take it in a positive light. For example, she sees her sister as a real-life barbie doll that she dresses up and everything. I found this sisterly bonding really nice. Of the two sisters, Andi is definitely the street smart person who understands people more. She even knows how to manipulate them sometimes. She does well in school, but she’s not a straight-A student like her sister. But Andi is anything but inferior. She just needs to see it for herself, and she needs to realize when to hold on and when to let go.
Laina, on the other hand, doesn’t really herself as the better sister. But in reality, she’s always so beautiful with the perfect features and curves. She also always has the best grades. But Laina isn’t always so perfect. She hides a secret, which I easily guessed, that has scarred her and caused her to close out other people. She also has an awful best friend, who does nothing but harm her self-esteem. And like Andi’s opposite, she’s more book-smart and she doesn’t seem to pick up on social things like when guys like her. I was actually a lot like Laina in high school, and I liked that she was also given a chance to show herself even though the story was in Andi’s perspective.
It’s sad how these two sisters felt insecure because of each other when they had so much going on for them. I think a lot of teens would be able to relate in how we keep on comparing ourselves to others and thinking so little of ourselves. It’s also sad how Andi was obsessed over her sister’s best friend who wasn’t even that great. I think it was really good to show off the sister’s vulnerable sides, and how they needed to accept themselves and gain some confidence.
In terms of romance, I felt that the ending was lacking and wasn’t very satisfying. It didn’t even feel much like an ending. As a romance novel, I think this book would have benefited from more details on the relationship between Andi and the guy she ends up with. Or maybe there should have been something big or some confession near the end. I understand there were some hints throughout the book, but there weren’t much explanations like why didn’t the guy make any moves on her. That seriously made me disappointed because seeing them together made me feel so giddy. I kept looking for more pages that weren’t there.
**************************************************
OVERALL, Twelve Steps is a light, fun read that felt a little lacking near the end. It felt like the whole thing just fizzled out. I did enjoy reading most of it though, and the characters are definitely relatable. Twelve Steps brought me back to my younger teenage years where insecurities abounded and naivety was normal. I think that this was a really good novel, but it has a lot of room for improvement. I would recommend it to those who would want a fast and fluffy contemporary read.
April 12, 2014
The story in a nutshell…
Andi has had enough of being in the shadow of her perfect older sister and she also tired of being second best especially when it comes to her crush, Jarod. So she vows to herself that enough is enough and devises twelve steps so she can come out of her sister’s shadow and get the boy of her dreams. But then things aren’t quite what they have always seemed and as Andi enumerates all these steps, she discovers more and more not just about sister, the boy she’s been mooning over for a long time, but also about herself.
What worked for me?
It was definitely a treat to be in Andi’s head. In the beginning, I was a little afraid I won’t be able to connect with her because her misgivings and ill-feelings towards her lot in life as the shadowed sister were a bit shallow and whiny. But as I get to understand her more, as well as her circumstances and situations, I began to really enjoy the story from her eyes. She’s not timid at all like I initially suspected. She’s brave, a little insecure, yes (but then again, who isn’t?). But she’s loyal, she’s smart, and she really cares about the people she loves. And I love all these things about her.
I also enjoy watching the dynamics unfold between the sisters, Laina and Andi. (And how pretty are their names: Alaina and Andrea ^_^) It was really a great reading experience to read more about this kind of relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I live and breathe romance in books but once in a while, it’s also great to read something other than romantic love. Family love, especially good sister relationships are rare finds for me.
I really love how the content and focus of Andi’s twelve steps evolved. You can see a lot of character growth through those short lines and it’s a great way to showcase Andi’s coming into her own, gaining confidence in what she can offer other people, and generally just learning to love and accept herself more. And I think that’s a really great message to the readers.
What didn’t work for me?
I have no major dislikes in this book. Although, there were times when I wanted to hit the guys in this book on the head with something, a book maybe, or just shake them so they come to their senses or grow a pair. They were a bit trumped by the girls in the character department but they’re still adorable in their own little ways so I’m willing to give them a little break. I do have to make an exception for one guy, who was a total dream in this book. I’m not going to mention his name because technically that would spoil the story for you. ^_^
My over-all take on it?
This is an very enjoyable read with very important messages about discovering that you’re worth something, finding and accepting the good in you, and not comparing yourself to others but building your own standards for yourself.
Andi has had enough of being in the shadow of her perfect older sister and she also tired of being second best especially when it comes to her crush, Jarod. So she vows to herself that enough is enough and devises twelve steps so she can come out of her sister’s shadow and get the boy of her dreams. But then things aren’t quite what they have always seemed and as Andi enumerates all these steps, she discovers more and more not just about sister, the boy she’s been mooning over for a long time, but also about herself.
What worked for me?
It was definitely a treat to be in Andi’s head. In the beginning, I was a little afraid I won’t be able to connect with her because her misgivings and ill-feelings towards her lot in life as the shadowed sister were a bit shallow and whiny. But as I get to understand her more, as well as her circumstances and situations, I began to really enjoy the story from her eyes. She’s not timid at all like I initially suspected. She’s brave, a little insecure, yes (but then again, who isn’t?). But she’s loyal, she’s smart, and she really cares about the people she loves. And I love all these things about her.
I also enjoy watching the dynamics unfold between the sisters, Laina and Andi. (And how pretty are their names: Alaina and Andrea ^_^) It was really a great reading experience to read more about this kind of relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I live and breathe romance in books but once in a while, it’s also great to read something other than romantic love. Family love, especially good sister relationships are rare finds for me.
I really love how the content and focus of Andi’s twelve steps evolved. You can see a lot of character growth through those short lines and it’s a great way to showcase Andi’s coming into her own, gaining confidence in what she can offer other people, and generally just learning to love and accept herself more. And I think that’s a really great message to the readers.
What didn’t work for me?
I have no major dislikes in this book. Although, there were times when I wanted to hit the guys in this book on the head with something, a book maybe, or just shake them so they come to their senses or grow a pair. They were a bit trumped by the girls in the character department but they’re still adorable in their own little ways so I’m willing to give them a little break. I do have to make an exception for one guy, who was a total dream in this book. I’m not going to mention his name because technically that would spoil the story for you. ^_^
My over-all take on it?
This is an very enjoyable read with very important messages about discovering that you’re worth something, finding and accepting the good in you, and not comparing yourself to others but building your own standards for yourself.
April 24, 2015
When I first read the blurb for TWELVE STEPS, I thought it might be just a little TOO cute and a little TOO contemporary YA for my taste. It didn't sound like it was exactly up my alley of reading, not the genre I'd go for. It wasn't quite a HOW TO DATE A NERD, which I could relate to.
Oh, yeah. There was the whole sister relationship.
I have a sister.
But the rivalry was a younger sister jealous of her perfect older sister.
I am the older sister. I am NOT perfect.
We're also further apart in age. We never crushed on the same boys.
It just didn't resonate with me from the blurb.
But Veronica and I both publish with Swoon Romance, and I consider her a "sister author", a friend in a way, and I kept my eye out for more about TWELVE STEPS.
Somewhere along the way, I saw what clicked with me, and I knew I had to read it.
"There should be a support group for kids with perfect siblings."
Why yes, Andi. There should be. I don't care if Laina is your older sister, and she's the one who's so perfect she drives you nuts, some of us grew up with the all-too-perfect-can-do-no-wrong younger sibling. And it sucked.
For me, the romantic aspect of TWELVE STEPS began as a side interest to the relationship between Andi and Laina, which quickly sucked me in with its wit and banter and everything that made it hilarious BECAUSE ANDI'S POV IS SO WELL WRITTEN BY THE AMAZING VERONICA BARTLES. I was invested in the whole darn thing, and couldn't disentangle myself from any part of it.
I'm in the middle of my own deadline for the second book of my series, so I started reading TWELVE STEPS with the intent to read a little bit at a time until I was finished. I managed to pry myself away the first day. Unwillingly. The second day? Forget it. I read it straight through to the end then kept tapping my Kindle Fire screen, begging there to be another chapter.
No. No. No. Where was the rest? AGH. But... But... I wasn't ready to let go of Andi or Laina or Jarod or Dave yet!!!
Darn Veronica and her incredible story and characters and writing. I loved every minute of it and was so mad it was all over. :'(
I won't say more, because SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS, and I can't imagine what I'd say without doing that. Just go buy it. Read it. You'll understand.
In short, I was horribly disappointed because there was a last page. The book did not have enough enough chapters, and I fully intend to stalk Veronica down for a sequel to fulfill my need for more.
That said, TWELVE STEPS earned 6 stars, but since no one lets me give 6 stars on Goodreads or Amazon, I have to give it 5, and that is an epic fail of the system. This book deserves more.
Oh, yeah. There was the whole sister relationship.
I have a sister.
But the rivalry was a younger sister jealous of her perfect older sister.
I am the older sister. I am NOT perfect.
We're also further apart in age. We never crushed on the same boys.
It just didn't resonate with me from the blurb.
But Veronica and I both publish with Swoon Romance, and I consider her a "sister author", a friend in a way, and I kept my eye out for more about TWELVE STEPS.
Somewhere along the way, I saw what clicked with me, and I knew I had to read it.
"There should be a support group for kids with perfect siblings."
Why yes, Andi. There should be. I don't care if Laina is your older sister, and she's the one who's so perfect she drives you nuts, some of us grew up with the all-too-perfect-can-do-no-wrong younger sibling. And it sucked.
For me, the romantic aspect of TWELVE STEPS began as a side interest to the relationship between Andi and Laina, which quickly sucked me in with its wit and banter and everything that made it hilarious BECAUSE ANDI'S POV IS SO WELL WRITTEN BY THE AMAZING VERONICA BARTLES. I was invested in the whole darn thing, and couldn't disentangle myself from any part of it.
I'm in the middle of my own deadline for the second book of my series, so I started reading TWELVE STEPS with the intent to read a little bit at a time until I was finished. I managed to pry myself away the first day. Unwillingly. The second day? Forget it. I read it straight through to the end then kept tapping my Kindle Fire screen, begging there to be another chapter.
No. No. No. Where was the rest? AGH. But... But... I wasn't ready to let go of Andi or Laina or Jarod or Dave yet!!!
Darn Veronica and her incredible story and characters and writing. I loved every minute of it and was so mad it was all over. :'(
I won't say more, because SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS, and I can't imagine what I'd say without doing that. Just go buy it. Read it. You'll understand.
In short, I was horribly disappointed because there was a last page. The book did not have enough enough chapters, and I fully intend to stalk Veronica down for a sequel to fulfill my need for more.
That said, TWELVE STEPS earned 6 stars, but since no one lets me give 6 stars on Goodreads or Amazon, I have to give it 5, and that is an epic fail of the system. This book deserves more.
August 13, 2016
I haven’t read a contemporary young adult for a while and Twelve Steps was a lot of fun. Ah teenage angst and that all important show of getting the boys attention, what fun it was…. Veronica Bartles has a very fun and enthusiastic way of showing sibling rivalry and teenage misunderstandings. I loved it!
Andrea (Andi) Anderson is known among her school as the sister of Alaina (Laina). Laina is projected as the perfect daughter and Andi is forever trying to prove herself, with no prevail. Andi is always in the shadow of her sister, all the boys want her and the girls want to be like her.
Jarod Johnson has been best friends with Laina for a long time and as such Andi has had a crush on him during that time. Andi now wants more, she tries to get his attention and become something other than just Laina’s sister. But everyone knows that Jarod has always had a crush on Laina. The other problem is that Laina has always had a crush on Shane. Man, what complicated chaos.
Andi has a twelve step list that will help her overcome the perfect sister syndrome and build her own confidence to be her own person. She has made a plan to help Shane and Laina get together, so then that will allow Jarod to pay attention to Andi instead of Laina. What a convoluted idea and as usual nothing goes to plan.
Andi meets Dave on a night on the town with Laina and Dave seems to be the go to man for Andi when she needs help. Dave helps Andi realise that she has her own aspirations and slowly even her parents come around to realise she isn’t a bad daughter. Andi grows in confidence and discovers (through unethical means) that Laina has her own insecurities.
Jarod must make a choice between the two sisters, but this isn’t really fair on him or the girls. What has happened to squash Laina’s confidence? She won’t share her secret and Jarod won’t either. Performing in Cinderella, Andi realises that Cinderella always gets the prince and her plan to get Jarod changes direction.
Will Andi find the boy of her dreams that gives her butterflies and isn’t after her sister? Will Laina and Andi overcome their rivalry? Who will Jarod choose in the end?
A fantastic teenage romance with realistic scenarios and sibling interactions. I love Andi and her attitude and I love how she grew up and become her own person instead of the shadow. I highly recommend this to all young adult readers of contemporary romances, loved it.
Andrea (Andi) Anderson is known among her school as the sister of Alaina (Laina). Laina is projected as the perfect daughter and Andi is forever trying to prove herself, with no prevail. Andi is always in the shadow of her sister, all the boys want her and the girls want to be like her.
Jarod Johnson has been best friends with Laina for a long time and as such Andi has had a crush on him during that time. Andi now wants more, she tries to get his attention and become something other than just Laina’s sister. But everyone knows that Jarod has always had a crush on Laina. The other problem is that Laina has always had a crush on Shane. Man, what complicated chaos.
Andi has a twelve step list that will help her overcome the perfect sister syndrome and build her own confidence to be her own person. She has made a plan to help Shane and Laina get together, so then that will allow Jarod to pay attention to Andi instead of Laina. What a convoluted idea and as usual nothing goes to plan.
Andi meets Dave on a night on the town with Laina and Dave seems to be the go to man for Andi when she needs help. Dave helps Andi realise that she has her own aspirations and slowly even her parents come around to realise she isn’t a bad daughter. Andi grows in confidence and discovers (through unethical means) that Laina has her own insecurities.
Jarod must make a choice between the two sisters, but this isn’t really fair on him or the girls. What has happened to squash Laina’s confidence? She won’t share her secret and Jarod won’t either. Performing in Cinderella, Andi realises that Cinderella always gets the prince and her plan to get Jarod changes direction.
Will Andi find the boy of her dreams that gives her butterflies and isn’t after her sister? Will Laina and Andi overcome their rivalry? Who will Jarod choose in the end?
A fantastic teenage romance with realistic scenarios and sibling interactions. I love Andi and her attitude and I love how she grew up and become her own person instead of the shadow. I highly recommend this to all young adult readers of contemporary romances, loved it.
April 1, 2014
Let the fan girling begins!
I can't tell you how much I loved this book. I read it all in one sitting and by the end I was grinning like a fool in love.
Andi is the younger sister who feels she's never going to be good enough for anybody. That's her sister job, she's the one who pleases everyone and always does everything right. andi is the funny one, "the little sister" that got the bad genes. Laina is the older sister who feels the preassure of having to please everyone while her little sister has the attention of the entire school without even trying.
This book has so much more than what the summary offers, or even what you expect at first glance. I love the twists Veronica added to the story. How real the characters feel. Because the "so perfect sister" has some problems to deal with and makes mistakes like everyone else, and Andi isn't so much of a mess as she thinks.
This book really can represent both sides of the sibilings even when the book is written from Andi's point of view. It will call to you weather you are the older (as me, and it will make you feel a bit guilty) or the younger one (as Diana, and it will make you feel a bit guilty too)
The Love is story...
I don't really know how to go around this without giving something away. The love interest of the girls are a bit all over the place.
Andi's crush is no other than Laina's best friend, Jarod. Problem? He's in love with Laina.
Laina's crush is Shane. Laina's ex best friend's boyfriend.
And then we have Dave.
In other words...
Dave likes Andi. Andi likes Jarod. Jarod likes Laina. Laina likes Shane.
Lucky for Laina, Shane does like her... he's not very good at showing it though.
All three boys can be supper sweet or incredible dense. We want to kiss them, we want to punch them. Basically, you can totally see why Andi and Laina are so confused.
While you may think this is too messy to understand, the relationship between all the characters are so well developed that you alays know were you stand what who likes who.
Veronica's characters are real people that come out of this pages. She'll keep you alert at every turn, twist and second though of each character to see who will get their happy ending. And all the time thinking about how will the sisters get over this little rivaliry they have and accept themself as they are.
I can't tell you how much I loved this book. I read it all in one sitting and by the end I was grinning like a fool in love.
Andi is the younger sister who feels she's never going to be good enough for anybody. That's her sister job, she's the one who pleases everyone and always does everything right. andi is the funny one, "the little sister" that got the bad genes. Laina is the older sister who feels the preassure of having to please everyone while her little sister has the attention of the entire school without even trying.
This book has so much more than what the summary offers, or even what you expect at first glance. I love the twists Veronica added to the story. How real the characters feel. Because the "so perfect sister" has some problems to deal with and makes mistakes like everyone else, and Andi isn't so much of a mess as she thinks.
This book really can represent both sides of the sibilings even when the book is written from Andi's point of view. It will call to you weather you are the older (as me, and it will make you feel a bit guilty) or the younger one (as Diana, and it will make you feel a bit guilty too)
The Love is story...
I don't really know how to go around this without giving something away. The love interest of the girls are a bit all over the place.
Andi's crush is no other than Laina's best friend, Jarod. Problem? He's in love with Laina.
Laina's crush is Shane. Laina's ex best friend's boyfriend.
And then we have Dave.
In other words...
Dave likes Andi. Andi likes Jarod. Jarod likes Laina. Laina likes Shane.
Lucky for Laina, Shane does like her... he's not very good at showing it though.
All three boys can be supper sweet or incredible dense. We want to kiss them, we want to punch them. Basically, you can totally see why Andi and Laina are so confused.
While you may think this is too messy to understand, the relationship between all the characters are so well developed that you alays know were you stand what who likes who.
Veronica's characters are real people that come out of this pages. She'll keep you alert at every turn, twist and second though of each character to see who will get their happy ending. And all the time thinking about how will the sisters get over this little rivaliry they have and accept themself as they are.
April 4, 2014
This review (and others) can be found on
My Full Bookshelf
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was fantastic! I had been wanting to read a nice contemporary romance for a while now, but I've sadly only read ones that were average or, well, bad. I don't have that much luck with contemporaries, it seems. Twelve Steps remedied that. This one definitely satisfied me!
I loved the vivid characters that the author wrote about. Andi is a wonderfully flawed MC, who at the beginning of the book comes off as rather selfish, but I thought she changed through the better throughout the book. Laina starts off as the perfect older sister, but as I read I realized that didn't even begin to describe her. She was as real and flawed as Andi, and I really loved how the author wrote her.
The guys in this book are also really well written. Jared, Dave, Shane...okay, I'll admit I liked Dave best but I loved reading about all of them! They aren't exactly the flawless, wonderful boyfriend material that a lot of love interests are in YA books. In fact, Jared didn't even come close to that description. But they were tremendously well written.
That is probably what is done best in the book; no matter how important--or unimportant--the characters were, Veronica Bartles made certain that they acted like actual human beings. It makes a story so much better when characters act like human beings.
The writing was really good. I really felt like I knew Andi, the author channeled her personality very well. Her emotions were really brought out through the writing.
Also, this isn't a light and fluffy contemporary. I thought it had some awesome lessons. Many people can relate to being considered second best, or living in someone's shadow, whether it be your sister, your best friend, a teammate on a sports team, or someone else. This book shows that doesn't define you.
Would I recommend this? Of course! I loved Twelve Steps. It was both funny and relatable, and it had a great ending, that I obviously won't reveal, but it was perfect. This book is perfect for fans of contemporary, romance, and just really good books in general!
My Full Bookshelf
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was fantastic! I had been wanting to read a nice contemporary romance for a while now, but I've sadly only read ones that were average or, well, bad. I don't have that much luck with contemporaries, it seems. Twelve Steps remedied that. This one definitely satisfied me!
I loved the vivid characters that the author wrote about. Andi is a wonderfully flawed MC, who at the beginning of the book comes off as rather selfish, but I thought she changed through the better throughout the book. Laina starts off as the perfect older sister, but as I read I realized that didn't even begin to describe her. She was as real and flawed as Andi, and I really loved how the author wrote her.
The guys in this book are also really well written. Jared, Dave, Shane...okay, I'll admit I liked Dave best but I loved reading about all of them! They aren't exactly the flawless, wonderful boyfriend material that a lot of love interests are in YA books. In fact, Jared didn't even come close to that description. But they were tremendously well written.
That is probably what is done best in the book; no matter how important--or unimportant--the characters were, Veronica Bartles made certain that they acted like actual human beings. It makes a story so much better when characters act like human beings.
The writing was really good. I really felt like I knew Andi, the author channeled her personality very well. Her emotions were really brought out through the writing.
Also, this isn't a light and fluffy contemporary. I thought it had some awesome lessons. Many people can relate to being considered second best, or living in someone's shadow, whether it be your sister, your best friend, a teammate on a sports team, or someone else. This book shows that doesn't define you.
Would I recommend this? Of course! I loved Twelve Steps. It was both funny and relatable, and it had a great ending, that I obviously won't reveal, but it was perfect. This book is perfect for fans of contemporary, romance, and just really good books in general!
November 14, 2020
If there's one thing Andi knows, it's that she will always be eclipsed by her sister. The boys who flirt with her change their tunes as soon as Laina, the living Barbie doll, enters the scene, and for all her scheming, it seems there's nothing Andi can do to change that. And it's a thousand times worse when she has to watch her forever crush pining away for the one girl she can't outshine.
Remember that girl in high school that was so unbelievably perfect, so nice and talented and beautiful that every other girl faded into the background when she was around? That's Andi's sister, the beautiful but somewhat naive Laina. I'm pretty sure I would have dropped out of school if I'd been in Andi's shoes. But Andi's much cooler than that.
Crushing on Jarod, Andi's high school life is exactly what you would expect from a teenage girl. Full of gossiping, scheming, silliness, and overanalyzing every single word and deed from guys. And Jarod's not making it easy. Trailing after Laina like a lost puppy, his sometimes flirting and occasional kisses with Andi leave her head spinning. After all, he makes it perfectly clear that he's in love with her sister. And why normally a guy like this would just piss me off, in this book, he was absolutely right. After all, high school boys are seldom the fonts of wisdom and decisiveness that so many young adult books would have us believe.
And Andi? Well, she's just spectacular. She's at times bold, often silly, and always planning her next move in the great "Get Jarod to Love Me" caper. Since she loves and gets along with her sister, as devious as her plotting may be, she's not the least bit malicious or mal-intentioned. And that right there is what makes the book.
Twelve Steps is a cute, fun, lighthearted read filled with confusing boys, loving sisters, all the hallmarks of high school life, and those awesomely awkward moments that are the curse and the magic of high school. It's almost impossible to describe without using the word "cute," but that's exactly what it is without being ridiculous fluff, and anyone who's ever crushed on a boy in school, gone out with the second choice, or compared herself to that unfairly perfect girl that every school has will absolutely feel right at home in Andi's mind.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Remember that girl in high school that was so unbelievably perfect, so nice and talented and beautiful that every other girl faded into the background when she was around? That's Andi's sister, the beautiful but somewhat naive Laina. I'm pretty sure I would have dropped out of school if I'd been in Andi's shoes. But Andi's much cooler than that.
Crushing on Jarod, Andi's high school life is exactly what you would expect from a teenage girl. Full of gossiping, scheming, silliness, and overanalyzing every single word and deed from guys. And Jarod's not making it easy. Trailing after Laina like a lost puppy, his sometimes flirting and occasional kisses with Andi leave her head spinning. After all, he makes it perfectly clear that he's in love with her sister. And why normally a guy like this would just piss me off, in this book, he was absolutely right. After all, high school boys are seldom the fonts of wisdom and decisiveness that so many young adult books would have us believe.
And Andi? Well, she's just spectacular. She's at times bold, often silly, and always planning her next move in the great "Get Jarod to Love Me" caper. Since she loves and gets along with her sister, as devious as her plotting may be, she's not the least bit malicious or mal-intentioned. And that right there is what makes the book.
Twelve Steps is a cute, fun, lighthearted read filled with confusing boys, loving sisters, all the hallmarks of high school life, and those awesomely awkward moments that are the curse and the magic of high school. It's almost impossible to describe without using the word "cute," but that's exactly what it is without being ridiculous fluff, and anyone who's ever crushed on a boy in school, gone out with the second choice, or compared herself to that unfairly perfect girl that every school has will absolutely feel right at home in Andi's mind.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2014
Review first published on my blog, Pieces of Whimsy
I adored this book! From the second I started reading, I was hooked and I both longed and dreaded to reach the end. The writing style was so easy that I fell straight into the story and immediately connected with the characters which is something I haven't been feeling with the books I've read recently; this book saved me from a reading slump - thank you Veronica Bartles!
The idea/plot of the story was simple, Andi wants to get out from under the shadow of her oh-too-perfect sister, win the boy of her dreams and live happily ever after. Life, of course, is not as easy as all that and I loved how real and down-to-earth this story was. There wasn't one second of this story that I did not find believable, and every scene had me absolutely captivated.
Andi had such a fantastic voice and from the first line I loved her character. She was a completely real character too and the character growth as the book wore on was great! All the characters were wonderful, I'm just singling out Andi because it's her voice, her eyes, with which we see the story. Veronica Bartles has done a most amazing job at creating real, relatable people that capture you with their wonderfully, well-written brilliance! Every part of this book worked!
Twelve Steps is more than just a cute romance story, this book is really relatable, no matter how old, young, or sibling-less you may be. I could not put this book down and my only problem with the book was that it ended it too soon. It should've had at least another 100 chapters or so. ;) I seriously wish I had a time-machine so I could travel into the future, where the author has written countless novels, and read more books with a fantastic story, dialogue, and characters!
I adored this book! From the second I started reading, I was hooked and I both longed and dreaded to reach the end. The writing style was so easy that I fell straight into the story and immediately connected with the characters which is something I haven't been feeling with the books I've read recently; this book saved me from a reading slump - thank you Veronica Bartles!
The idea/plot of the story was simple, Andi wants to get out from under the shadow of her oh-too-perfect sister, win the boy of her dreams and live happily ever after. Life, of course, is not as easy as all that and I loved how real and down-to-earth this story was. There wasn't one second of this story that I did not find believable, and every scene had me absolutely captivated.
Andi had such a fantastic voice and from the first line I loved her character. She was a completely real character too and the character growth as the book wore on was great! All the characters were wonderful, I'm just singling out Andi because it's her voice, her eyes, with which we see the story. Veronica Bartles has done a most amazing job at creating real, relatable people that capture you with their wonderfully, well-written brilliance! Every part of this book worked!
Twelve Steps is more than just a cute romance story, this book is really relatable, no matter how old, young, or sibling-less you may be. I could not put this book down and my only problem with the book was that it ended it too soon. It should've had at least another 100 chapters or so. ;) I seriously wish I had a time-machine so I could travel into the future, where the author has written countless novels, and read more books with a fantastic story, dialogue, and characters!
April 3, 2014
The word that comes to mind when I think of this book is: adorable. So much of this book, in my opinion, was adorable. If you are looking for a read like that then I definitely suggest that you pick this up.
On to characters. I really enjoyed both Andi and Laina as characters. Andi's fearless exterior seems very relatable to me. I enjoyed seeing her more vulnerable side as well. She was also just a really fun character to read. Honestly, I also liked Laina. I feel as though many people would probably feel the same annoyance toard her as Andi did. But you know what? If I'm comapring myself to both of the characters, I actually have more in common with Laina. By no means do I look perfect all the time or was a straight A student. But forthe most part I did very well in school and was very concious of it. Plus, I kept (and still keep) an avid journal just like Laina does in the book. So I could relate to her, as well. The other thing that I liked about Laina was that she was naive and disorganized. It was good to see that even she had 'flaws'. Jared, of course, was a great character as well. I enjoyed reading about him. I especially enjoyed reading about him when he and Andi were in the same scene.
The story was vey good as well. I like the idea of Andi coming up with a twelve step program. To me, this is part of the "adorable-ness" of the book. Seeing Andi adapt was great, too. And some of my favorite moments remain seeing Andi and Laina have that sisterly bond. That was really beautiful. Even when Laina drove Andi crazy, she still felt that love towards her and even an innate need to protect her.
I would certainly recommend this book. Especially to anyone who enjoys YA contemporary. 4 stars!
See the whole blog tour post on: http://www.girlwithapenandadream.blog...
On to characters. I really enjoyed both Andi and Laina as characters. Andi's fearless exterior seems very relatable to me. I enjoyed seeing her more vulnerable side as well. She was also just a really fun character to read. Honestly, I also liked Laina. I feel as though many people would probably feel the same annoyance toard her as Andi did. But you know what? If I'm comapring myself to both of the characters, I actually have more in common with Laina. By no means do I look perfect all the time or was a straight A student. But forthe most part I did very well in school and was very concious of it. Plus, I kept (and still keep) an avid journal just like Laina does in the book. So I could relate to her, as well. The other thing that I liked about Laina was that she was naive and disorganized. It was good to see that even she had 'flaws'. Jared, of course, was a great character as well. I enjoyed reading about him. I especially enjoyed reading about him when he and Andi were in the same scene.
The story was vey good as well. I like the idea of Andi coming up with a twelve step program. To me, this is part of the "adorable-ness" of the book. Seeing Andi adapt was great, too. And some of my favorite moments remain seeing Andi and Laina have that sisterly bond. That was really beautiful. Even when Laina drove Andi crazy, she still felt that love towards her and even an innate need to protect her.
I would certainly recommend this book. Especially to anyone who enjoys YA contemporary. 4 stars!
See the whole blog tour post on: http://www.girlwithapenandadream.blog...
March 25, 2014
Having a sister myself, I was immediately drawn to the blurb for Twelve Steps. Sibling rivalry is a powerful motivator, throw in guys and all heck can break lose.
When I dived into this the fear existed that Andi would be the kind of main character that is focused entirely on other people. That all she would think about would be the evilness of her sister and the hotness of the guy. That Andi would be a cliché.
Nothing could have been further from the truth. The relationship between the sisters is rich and complex and full of more love than hate! Andi really has her own life and strong friends; she’s not a tag-along to her perfect sister.
Andi may manipulate and spy (even peeking at sis’s diary) but she does it in a good-hearted way, without a spiteful attitude. She cares about her sister and not in buried, deep-down way.
And sister Laina is not exactly a model of perfection. Like Andi, she’s a very real person too, not a cardboard cutout. Behind the good looks, Laina battles esteem issues which face so many girls.
The progression of the plot as Andi comes to realize her own value and her sister’s humanity is also very well handled. It’s done in a gradual and natural way, allowed to evolve at its own pace and with setbacks along the way.
The romance is sweet without being full of sickening syrup. Guys swirl around Andi, but she sorts through the confusion inside herself to find the one suited for her. And even gives Liana the needed push to settle her own love life.
Plus you gotta love a girl who eats like Andi! Oreos with milk and tons of chili cheese fries. TWELVE STEPS is a fun read!
When I dived into this the fear existed that Andi would be the kind of main character that is focused entirely on other people. That all she would think about would be the evilness of her sister and the hotness of the guy. That Andi would be a cliché.
Nothing could have been further from the truth. The relationship between the sisters is rich and complex and full of more love than hate! Andi really has her own life and strong friends; she’s not a tag-along to her perfect sister.
Andi may manipulate and spy (even peeking at sis’s diary) but she does it in a good-hearted way, without a spiteful attitude. She cares about her sister and not in buried, deep-down way.
And sister Laina is not exactly a model of perfection. Like Andi, she’s a very real person too, not a cardboard cutout. Behind the good looks, Laina battles esteem issues which face so many girls.
The progression of the plot as Andi comes to realize her own value and her sister’s humanity is also very well handled. It’s done in a gradual and natural way, allowed to evolve at its own pace and with setbacks along the way.
The romance is sweet without being full of sickening syrup. Guys swirl around Andi, but she sorts through the confusion inside herself to find the one suited for her. And even gives Liana the needed push to settle her own love life.
Plus you gotta love a girl who eats like Andi! Oreos with milk and tons of chili cheese fries. TWELVE STEPS is a fun read!
April 3, 2014
Twelve Steps is as much a story about sisters as it is about young love. The relationship between Andi and Laina felt so real to me—the insecurities about being the lesser sister, the rivalry for a boy’s attention, the camaraderie despite it all. I’m always fascinated by siblings and how they can be so similar and so different at the same time. Andi and Laina are no exception.
The playfulness between them when they went on a “crime” spree was delightful and did so much to make Laina feel more real instead of the perfect, carefully put together—and completely unattainable—image Andi usually had of her for most of the book. The bond between these two was so strong that Andi couldn’t go after the boy she wanted for fear of hurting her sister, and Laina couldn’t tell Andi about the dark secret she’d been keeping for fear of losing her sister’s respect (not possible by the way!)
The romance was sweet—and in a few places oh so swoony. I liked Jared, but from Dave’s first tiny scene, I wanted more of him. And when he kept popping up, all I wanted was for Andi to realize she was pining for the wrong boy. And every time Jared made a move toward her, I wanted to beg Andi to run in the other direction because with Jared stupidly in love with Laina, the only place he could take Andi was major heartache.
The end was a little rushed, and felt like it just ended in the middle of this great story so that all the loose ends would be tied up nicely. And I wanted more—especially with Andi and Dave—but maybe that’s just a testament to Veronica’s story-telling ability. She had me hooked from page one and I didn’t want the story to end.
The playfulness between them when they went on a “crime” spree was delightful and did so much to make Laina feel more real instead of the perfect, carefully put together—and completely unattainable—image Andi usually had of her for most of the book. The bond between these two was so strong that Andi couldn’t go after the boy she wanted for fear of hurting her sister, and Laina couldn’t tell Andi about the dark secret she’d been keeping for fear of losing her sister’s respect (not possible by the way!)
The romance was sweet—and in a few places oh so swoony. I liked Jared, but from Dave’s first tiny scene, I wanted more of him. And when he kept popping up, all I wanted was for Andi to realize she was pining for the wrong boy. And every time Jared made a move toward her, I wanted to beg Andi to run in the other direction because with Jared stupidly in love with Laina, the only place he could take Andi was major heartache.
The end was a little rushed, and felt like it just ended in the middle of this great story so that all the loose ends would be tied up nicely. And I wanted more—especially with Andi and Dave—but maybe that’s just a testament to Veronica’s story-telling ability. She had me hooked from page one and I didn’t want the story to end.
February 21, 2017
Coming-of-age stories are usually full of character growth, and some youthful drama. This book certainly has both of those, centering around a young, somewhat naive sixteen year-old girl, who feels as though she's trapped in the shadow of her older sister.
I found this book to be full of ironies - many that are very realistic, and probably happen more than we realize. I don't want to give away spoilers, so I won't mention the ironies specifically, but I will say they made me laugh, and really showed the growth of several characters involved with this 12-step drama.
This book was very well written, and the characters were all very easy to connect with. They seemed completely realistic, and I clearly pictured the scenario laid out in this book. It probably happened in my high school, as well as most other schools. I enjoyed the ending, the setting, and the personal dynamics between all the teenagers finding their way through life and love.
For fans of realistic fiction and coming-of-age stories, this is a good one. I would recommend it, and will probably end up reading it again.
*I was given an eCopy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.
See my blog post for this book! For a limited time, includes a giveaway!! Check it out here!
March 10, 2014
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Twelve Steps tells the story of Andi and Laina, sisters who attend the same high school. Laina’s best friend, Jarod, has had a crush on Laina for about as long as Andi has had a crush on Jarod. And so the sibling rivalry ensues.
This is the sort of story that, if it hadn’t been handled deftly and with humour, could have gone horribly wrong. Both girls are gorgeous and popular, but neither of them fully appreciates how lucky they are. Both, it becomes apparent fairly quickly, view the other sister as the more popular one. And Andi, our leading lady, can be quite sly and manipulative to get what she wants. Only one person sees through her act, and that’s Dave.
Fortunately, Andi has a good heart and instead of turning into the wicked sister she could have become, she (mostly) uses her powers for good rather than evil — especially once she realises there’s more going on than the usual teenage drama. She genuinely wants what’s best for Laina, which completely redeems her and the story.
Also, she has a great sense of humour (once of her defence mechanisms when she’s upset), which I appreciated. :)
Twelve Steps is a great story of sibling rivalry, unrequited love and growing to be comfortable with who you are.
Twelve Steps tells the story of Andi and Laina, sisters who attend the same high school. Laina’s best friend, Jarod, has had a crush on Laina for about as long as Andi has had a crush on Jarod. And so the sibling rivalry ensues.
This is the sort of story that, if it hadn’t been handled deftly and with humour, could have gone horribly wrong. Both girls are gorgeous and popular, but neither of them fully appreciates how lucky they are. Both, it becomes apparent fairly quickly, view the other sister as the more popular one. And Andi, our leading lady, can be quite sly and manipulative to get what she wants. Only one person sees through her act, and that’s Dave.
Fortunately, Andi has a good heart and instead of turning into the wicked sister she could have become, she (mostly) uses her powers for good rather than evil — especially once she realises there’s more going on than the usual teenage drama. She genuinely wants what’s best for Laina, which completely redeems her and the story.
Also, she has a great sense of humour (once of her defence mechanisms when she’s upset), which I appreciated. :)
Twelve Steps is a great story of sibling rivalry, unrequited love and growing to be comfortable with who you are.
October 20, 2014
So… after promising myself (and Veronica) I’d read this, At last I did. Here’s the thing. Sometimes in life, when you hear great things about a restaurant, or a movie, or a book, you kind of avoid it, in fear of being disappointed.
It’s even worse when you've got to know the restaurant owner, or in this case the author (via Twitter). So I was playing the avoidance game. Damn I'm an idiot!
For anyone who’s had a sibling, or a cousin that acted like a sibling, or a best friend / best friends that were like a sibling to you, this will resonate… very clearly.
Though I don’t have a sister, the bit about Andi sneaking a look into her sister’s diary made me chuckle… I swear someone quizzed my (younger) brothers for this bit, though I've a feeling my brother’s had other interests! Lol
There really is something for everyone here. If you've ever felt second place, or second best, if you ever felt as though things just don’t seem to fall into place for you or if you've ever struggled with who and what you are, within a family and the greater world, it’s here.
Highly recommended.
It’s even worse when you've got to know the restaurant owner, or in this case the author (via Twitter). So I was playing the avoidance game. Damn I'm an idiot!
For anyone who’s had a sibling, or a cousin that acted like a sibling, or a best friend / best friends that were like a sibling to you, this will resonate… very clearly.
Though I don’t have a sister, the bit about Andi sneaking a look into her sister’s diary made me chuckle… I swear someone quizzed my (younger) brothers for this bit, though I've a feeling my brother’s had other interests! Lol
There really is something for everyone here. If you've ever felt second place, or second best, if you ever felt as though things just don’t seem to fall into place for you or if you've ever struggled with who and what you are, within a family and the greater world, it’s here.
Highly recommended.
March 25, 2014
First off I have to say that this book was written by a friend so my review might be skewed her direction. However, I was very worried to read it because I was scared I wouldn't like it. How do you tell a friend you don't like their book? Good thing that I DID like it!
It's a fun story. Great for the teenage audience and I'm really excited to share it with my 14 year old daughter. I really think she'll enjoy it. This fun romance passed my butterfly test. In other words, I got nervous for her and wondered just how it was all going to work out. Personally, I'd have KILLED to be as popular with boys in high school as either of these sisters!
Andi is very self absorbed, but what teenager isn't? I like how as the book progresses, she starts to realize that most of the jealousy she has isn't based in any reality. I tell my daughters all the time that their perceptions are rarely the other person's intentions. Kuddos to Veronica! I'd like to read other things she's written.
It's a fun story. Great for the teenage audience and I'm really excited to share it with my 14 year old daughter. I really think she'll enjoy it. This fun romance passed my butterfly test. In other words, I got nervous for her and wondered just how it was all going to work out. Personally, I'd have KILLED to be as popular with boys in high school as either of these sisters!
Andi is very self absorbed, but what teenager isn't? I like how as the book progresses, she starts to realize that most of the jealousy she has isn't based in any reality. I tell my daughters all the time that their perceptions are rarely the other person's intentions. Kuddos to Veronica! I'd like to read other things she's written.
April 2, 2014
What a refreshing book. I love the sister relationship and focus of this book so much. I'm a sucker for lists, I admit it, so the fact that book is based on a twelve step list, and then another list later on, was one of my favorite things.
The writing is strong and the reading is so enjoyable, I finished this book in two days. I loved the characters and Veronica has such a lovely voice that shows through in her writing. I loved seeing Andi's journey and the realization that the world through her eyes isn't necessarily the way the world really is. It was so easy to relate.
But hands down my favorite thing is the sisters working together. I'm trying to keep this review spoiler free, but that relationship is what kept me in this book and it's been a long time since a YA book held me with a non-romantic relationship.
Again - the words that comes to mind is refreshing. I give TWELVE STEPS four stars and definitely recommend it!!
The writing is strong and the reading is so enjoyable, I finished this book in two days. I loved the characters and Veronica has such a lovely voice that shows through in her writing. I loved seeing Andi's journey and the realization that the world through her eyes isn't necessarily the way the world really is. It was so easy to relate.
But hands down my favorite thing is the sisters working together. I'm trying to keep this review spoiler free, but that relationship is what kept me in this book and it's been a long time since a YA book held me with a non-romantic relationship.
Again - the words that comes to mind is refreshing. I give TWELVE STEPS four stars and definitely recommend it!!
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April 8, 20253.5
Living in the shadow of your older sibling can be hard, especially when they are practically perfect.
Andi just wants everyone to see her for who she is, not Laina’s little sister. She is impulsive, and out there. She goes out of her way to be the exact opposite of Laina. Both Andi and Laina have so much to learn. They spend so much time wanting to be different that they don’t see how great they are.
I love how much Andi and Laina grow throughout this book. They don’t realize how much they need each other. But I love when they spend time together. I was giggling so much. Their girl’s night toward the beginning was so much fun. I think Andi tortures herself when it comes to her crush. She tries to make there be something when she should just leave it alone.
Twelve steps is a fun story about sisters, bonding, boys, and how to be comfortable with yourself.
Living in the shadow of your older sibling can be hard, especially when they are practically perfect.
Andi just wants everyone to see her for who she is, not Laina’s little sister. She is impulsive, and out there. She goes out of her way to be the exact opposite of Laina. Both Andi and Laina have so much to learn. They spend so much time wanting to be different that they don’t see how great they are.
I love how much Andi and Laina grow throughout this book. They don’t realize how much they need each other. But I love when they spend time together. I was giggling so much. Their girl’s night toward the beginning was so much fun. I think Andi tortures herself when it comes to her crush. She tries to make there be something when she should just leave it alone.
Twelve steps is a fun story about sisters, bonding, boys, and how to be comfortable with yourself.
July 1, 2015
When I first saw this book I decided that I liked the synopsis of the story and went in with no expectations. I haven't heard any reviews on it so I was excited to read it. Now as I finished the story I can safely say with was not disappointed. I connected with the story so much. As the youngest child in my family we always feel we are being compared to our older siblings such as how andi feels towards her older sister laina. However what we don't realize is our older siblings can also feel the same way.
This story truly was wonderful so I gave it 4.5 stars. I recommend others read it as well.
This story truly was wonderful so I gave it 4.5 stars. I recommend others read it as well.
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