Sidelined

by Kendra C. Highley

Genna Pierce’s life is finally falling into place. Perfect grades? Check. Her choice of scholarship now that basketball recruiters are sniffing around? Check. The hot guy she’s crushed on since freshman year finally noticing her? Looks like it’ll be a check any day now.

But when a freak accident sidelines Genna, her perfect life starts breaking apart into a million less-than-perfect pieces. No more scholarships. Spiraling grades. And she’s sure Jake Butler, her forever crush, will have zero interest in someone as broken as she is.

Except Jake does want to stick around. He may have started falling for the girl Genna used to be, but he’ll wait for the girl she could become—if she can find enough left in her to pick up the pieces and start again.

Genres: Young Adult, Sports, Romance, Sports Romance, Contemporary, High School, Ebooks

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 13, 2013

About the author

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to four self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most important job. She believes in everyday magic, extraordinary love stories, and the restorative powers of dark chocolate

Reviews

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a rollercoaster ride this amazing story is! Just imagine you’re eighteen, doing great with your academic work, you’re a star basket ball player, likely to get a full scholarship through your talent, your team is heading for the finals with a good chance of winning, the boy you’ve crushed on for years asks you out and then everything in your life totally disintegrates… You get severely injured in a match, putting an end to your basketball dreams, your life is filled with pain, all scholarship offers are rescinded and that’s just the start of things going wrong for you . . .

This is no sweet romance, it is filled with pain, heartbreak and turmoil. It explores in an emotive manner the problems associated with parental break ups, addiction to pain meds, first love, the loss of self worth and what happens when your dreams and aspirations get totally derailed. Nothing is sugar coated, it is raw and poignant. It helps explore so many issues in a meaningful manner with great characters that it could almost be compulsory reading for older teens, demonstrating so dramatically the impact of broken dreams, how easy addiction can happen to anyone and how hard it is to get out of the downward spiral.

Having said all that, it is also a story of growth, showing even after dreams have been shattered a different but still very positive future is possible, especially with the support of true friends and a loving parent. Whatever the future looks like at the moment you don’t know what is round the next corner and need to keep on going, keep positive and striving to achieve your own HEA. This isn’t just a story for teens, it is an emotive story I recommend to everyone - teen, adult, parents and grandparents, anyone - a superb exploration of dark times and inspirational for the future.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sidelined!!! First things first: I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
The book is already out, so you can go and check it out. (Warning for drug abuse)
 
This is my second book by Kendra C. Highley. Finding Perfect was one of my favorite books last year.
 
BUT WOW. This book, though. That wasn't what I expected, it was so much better and just overall all kinds of awesome.
 
Let me start with the characters, cause I love these characters to pieces.
 
Genna. Genna is the main girl. She's a basketball star in her highschool with a bright future ahead of her in the sport she loves. And she's starting to date the guy she has a crush on for a long time. And then during a game an accident happens that changes her life completely. We follow her journey through all this, her struggles through the recovery after the accident and especially the journey to finding herself and figuring out who she is and what she wants in her life, now that playing basketball isn't in her cards anymore.
 
We also have Jake, Genna's long time crush and now current boyfriend. Who tries his best to stick around while Genna is changing. I'm glad that in the story he wasn't Genna's savior, who's pure existens just healed her and made her better and saved the day.
 
And then we have Rowan, who is my absolut favorite side character in the book. Her friendship with Genna is just one of the most important things for me. She had her own problems but still always stuck with Genna. It's beautiful and just so important.
 
That brings me to the relationships in this book. Apart from that friendship. I really loved Genna's relationship with her father and how he helped her and just everything about it. I also loved the blooming friendship towards the end between Genna and Ethan. And also that Genna's relationship with her mother seemed to be getting better.
 
Like I said before. That book wasn't what I expected. I didn't see the painkiller storyline coming and that was something that made the book so outstanding for me. The author did an amazing job writing it. I loved Genna's journey through all of this. Thinking it isn't a problem, to hitting rock bottom and to finally getting better at dealing with everything and getting clean. As I mentioned above I'm glad that Jake didn't take part in her healing. It could have been a story about the boyfriend as the 'magical problem solver' and I hate that so much. Cause that's now how these things work.
 
Overall I think it's an amazing story with wonderful characters and a lot of serious issues that are written in a beautiful and great way.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genna's dream is about to come true. She will have the chance to go to college on a basketball scholarship. Her grades are perfect, she's a fantastic player and she finally has the chance to go out with Jake. She fancied him from the first time she saw him and now it seems he's also interested in her. She feels like everything is the way it should be. Only then an accident changes Genna's life forever. She can no longer be the girl she used to be. Her grades are suffering, she can't play basketball and she loses her scholarship offers. She's a broken girl and she thinks Jake shouldn't be with her. Her heart has been shattered and she has no idea how to mend it. Slowly things are spiraling out of control and Genna doesn't know how to stop it.

Sidelined is a serious story. When I picked it up I didn't expect a book with such an important and difficult topic. It was a really good surprise. The story has a lot of depth and I couldn't put it away. I had tears in my eyes when I read Genna's story. It was heartbreaking to see what she was going through. Kendra C. Highley writes about her problems with a lot of empathy and that's exactly what it needs. Genna's story is sad, but fortunately there's also a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. The ending is really good, it's both realistic and fitting.

Kendra C. Highley writes in an honest way. She doesn't sugarcoat things and the feelings she writes about are raw and beautiful. Sidelined is an easy read about a sensitive topic. I like that combination, because it enables you to totally lose yourself in the emotions. Love, friendship and family are important in Genna's life and as she has to deal with many problems at the same time she needs people who care, who can help her heal and who are making sure she knows she isn't on her own. Reading about those important connections is what I loved the most about this book. Sidelined is a strong story about a broken girl who needs to find the strength to get up again after a serious knockdown in life.

[Kendra]

The book releases October 1, 2013. Yay!

[Emilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So here's the thing about Kendra C. Highley's Sidelined, I knew next to nothing about the book when I first started reading it. To be honest, all I really knew was that it was a contemporary story, the main character played basketball and I had guessed from the title that something happens to her and she can no longer play. I was going in blind. But I'm glad I did because it meant I was able to enjoy the story in a way I don't think I would have otherwise.

Genna always knew what her future would hold: she would graduate high school with an athletic scholarship to play basketball in college. And that reality was with her reach. Until one fateful moment on the court changed her life completely. A double leg fracture puts an end to her basketball career and now Genna has to rebuild her life from scratch. But it's not just her basketball career that falls apart, it's Genna's whole life. And before long, Genna is spiralling downs dark whole where the only thing capable of easing her pain is the one thing that is bringing her down.

I went in completely blind with Sidelined. I had briefly read over the summary and that had apparently been enough to convince me I wanted to read this book. And as much as I am sometimes weary of reading books when I know nothing about them going in blind can have some distinct advantages. I didn't have any preconceived ideas about the book. Sure after a couple chapters I had a vague idea of where the story might be going, but even then, Sidelined didn't end up going quite where I thought it would. I didn't really think it would go beyond exploring how Genna dealt with giving up basketball. And in a way, the story definitely did this but it also went deeper. All of a sudden I was reading a story about addiction and there wasn't much sugarcoating. I could see how much Genna struggled with being addicted to her pain meds. I could see how it was affecting not just her, but the people around her. And I appreciated the fact that I saw that inner struggle in Genna. It meant that I was able to see the progression, see her downward spiral to addiction and then her fight to get better. In a way, it made Genna feel a lot more real.

So that brings me to Genna. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say that I didn't really think much of her when I first started reading the story. Even once she got injured and had to deal with the implications of that injury, I still just saw her as someone telling a story. But once she started getting addicted to her pain meds, I started finding her a lot more interesting as a character. Having the story told from Genna's perspective definitely helped with that. With the story told this way, I could see her inner turmoil, how the drug was starting to control her. And the I saw her inner fight against it. It all made her more interesting. And as much se there were other characters in the story that were both supporting her and were there for conflict purposes, the story was very much about Genna and her conflict with herself. And for me, that made for a really interesting and engaging story.

Kendra C. Highley's Sidelined wasn't what I thought it would be. Not knowing what to expect made for a more interesting reading experience. If you're looking for a story that's deeper an deals with a harder subject matter than I would definitely recommend Sidelined.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

YES!
+Genna's longtime crush admits that he's liked her too, but wanted to drop his bad reputation before asking her out.
+Jake has seen Genna at her worst and wants her anyway.
+After mangling her leg, Genna has surgery, her basketball career is over, her grades are suffering, but she finds solace in making out with Jake and popping Vicodin like candy. Drug addiction doesn't have to be hard, street drugs. Prescription medications are just as easily abused, which I think is an important topic.
+This book goes real deep into prescription drug abuse. Not just Genna's physical and mental addiction, followed the withdrawal and rehab. But the social and legal ramifications of her actions. This girl is faced with jail because she visited so many doctors to get refills.

NO!
-Uhhh...I dunno? This book basically confirmed every nightmare I've ever had about painkillers.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this review and more on my blog...

"The thing I've worked hardest for is gone. My life, my reason for existing at all.. over."

Things are going well in Genna Pierce's life. She's a star basketball player who is about to lead her team to the state championships. College scouts are making offers. She's started dating the guy she's had a crush on since 9th grade. Life is great. That is, until things go wrong in a split second on the basketball court and she suffers a career-ending injury. Now, instead of facing the exciting prospects of her future, like selecting a college and getting out of her small town, she's undergoing multiple surgeries, taking physical therapy to learn to walk again and numbing the pain - physical and mental - with Vicodin.

"I let my dream fall to the floor. I watch as it crashes and breaks, and grief rolls over me in tsunami-sized waves, threatening to pull me to the bottom of the sea."

I really liked Genna and my heart broke for her when she realized the extent of her injury and what it meant she was giving up. I can't imagine what it must be like to see your future go down in flames so spectacularly through no real fault of your own. It was gut-wrenching. Basketball was who she was. It's what her mother drilled into her from an early age. She's not only lost her future, she's lost her identity. As the physical and mental pain get to be more than she can bear, she depends more and more on Vicodin – going to some crazy lengths to acquire it. She pushes away the people closest to her – Jake and Rowan – as she loses herself in the addiction. Deep down she knows she has a problem, but she's in over her head.

"I don't want to see Jake. It's not because I'm pouting – I'm embarrassed. He saw me at the worst moment of my life, and now any mystique I had is gone. I'm no longer the badass basketball player who isn't scared of anything. What if the new, lesser me isn't enough for him? And why would I be?"

Genna and Jake had a great thing starting before her injury. They had been friends for years, but she had been crushing on him hardcore. He's a star football player and has a quite the reputation with girls. They've only gone out a couple of times, but their feelings for each other are strong. I think the uncertainty with the newness of the relationship played a lot into her feelings of inadequacy when it came to him. She really likes him. She can't bear the thought of losing something else right now, but she pushes him away.

"You just can't help yourself, can you? You're determined to be catnip to girls."

"So you're saying that because of your drug problem, you're not good enough for me? The same guy who did two girls at the prom last year because the opportunity presented itself? The same guy who could've hooked up with a third, except she changed her mind? You're not good enough for that guy?"

I'm not even going to lie – I loved Jake. He was swoon-worthy. I felt terrible for the way Genna was pushing him away. While I understood why she was doing it, it was obvious all he wanted was to be there for her, to help her. Comments at the beginning of the book alluded to Jake's past with regards to girls and it was hard to imagine that giving how attentive he was to Genna and how he genuinely seemed to care for her. He changed for her and can't understand why she won't let him be there for her. I thought Genna and Jake made a wonderful couple. They both had issues. Despite the newness of their relationship, it was obvious they both cared for each other deeply. They weren't perfect, but they were perfect together. I desperately wanted them to work through their issues.

"I hurt. The pills help."
Dad understands what I mean. "Then we need to find something else that helps more."

I had a love-hate relationship with Genna's parents in this novel. I don't like her mother. She's overbearing and pushy. She's forcing her dream on Genna – which I guess was mostly ok because it was Genna's dream as well. What wasn't ok was how she dealt with the injury and the resulting end of that dream. She was despicable. I understand it had to be difficult to watch your child go through something like that – especially since it was a dream they shared – but she was a poor parent. Genna's dad needed to grow a backbone a little sooner in the story. But, he was the only parent who was there for Genna. He was supportive and wonderful, what a parent should be.

"I spent months trying to be good enough for you. This... problem isn't taking us down."

Those novel handled a lot of difficult issues in a graceful way. It had a positive, hopeful message without being cliché. I had hopes for how things would turn out in the end, but I didn't know for sure what was going to happen until it did. Despite the depth of the issues it dealt with, this was an easy book to read. I breezed through it in a couple hours. I wanted to see Genna piece herself back together, fight her addiction and move on with her life, regardless of how impossible doing so seemed in the days and weeks immediately following her injury. There's no cliffhanger here and the storyline wrapped up nicely at the end. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys contemporary young adult lit with depth.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Dani (Dani Reviews Things) · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.

I received this book for free from Entangled in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

How do I even begin to review this? I cried so many times, but I'm going to be upfront and say that it might not hit other people as hard. I don't know...maybe it will. It's just that this book touched on some own personal issues that I've been going through the past year and a bit, and it was so damn hard. This book was a lot heavier than I thought it would be when I picked it up, dealing with drug abuse, attempted suicide and divorce. You've been warned.

Genna is a senior in high school, on her way to a college scholarship for playing basketball. Her whole life is basketball. She loves it; she lives it. And then, just after the guy she's been crushing on since freshman year admits that her strength and ability on the court are super attractive... she has an accident. One that permanently destroys her ability to play. And if that wasn't bad enough, her family starts falling apart.

From the beginning, I could tell how important basketball was to Genna. Highley included little details of how Genna prepares for games, how she plays, etc. which added an extra touch of believability to the story. I could completely get behind her spiral out of control after losing it.

What's more, I could also understand and relate to her feelings around her parents. Her reactions, like believing straight away what was happening, might seem far-fetched to other people, and if I hadn't had the exact same reactions myself, I would have probably thought they were weird or extreme. But no, believe me, they weren't. The one thing I did struggle with was towards the end, but I won't say too much. All I'll tell you is that it's been just over a year since I went through her predicament, and it's still seriously f***ing hard, which is probably why I kept bawling at intervals while reading.

A note on the romance... Oh my sweet baby jock. Jake was amazing. He was so supportive and caring and also clearly a gorgeous specimen of a man. He was attracted to Genna for her strength and athleticism, a nice change from jocks going for cutesy little girls with no athletic ability. He stuck by her though, even after her accident, and that won him sooooo many points. I hated reading about him hurting, wanting to shake Genna over and over when she did particularly hurtful things.

Overall, it took me a few days to read, and it caused me a lot of heartache, but I enjoyed reading it. Thank you so much to Entangled for offering it up for review again. I honestly think it deserves more love and attention from all of you wonderful readers!

[Queenielyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Copy was provided by the publisher for review**

Thank you to Rockstar Book Tours and Entangled Teen/Entangled Publishing for providing the review copy and this is such a great opportunity for me to have received and read an early copy of Sidelined! I am very grateful. Thank you once again!

Surpassed her mom's skill in basketball, Genna is all ready and prep up - entitled to win the state with her team. She is an all-confident, aspiring basketball player. She set her future devoted to the sport she's always love her whole life. Unfortunately, the accident made her unable to continue pursuing her dream. It completely shattered her. One is already enough, however, the obstacles keep coming her way, one after the other. Her parents' divorce, that is. Destroyed by the addiction that has become her, where she turned all her problems to. She lost the ability to see beyond the challenges and its main purpose. Frustration. Her heart filled with loss. No purpose to exist at all. Though life is unfair, she learned to accept it.

Every character has their flaws they carry with them. Giving each of them the unique and believable authentic characters they are, neatly been thought-out.

In my opinion, primarily, what she has to go through were blessing in disguise. In which of those two conflicts she faced, she was hidden from the light at first. Slowly, revealing it's meaningful and beautifully woven story. The opportunity of hope came abundantly afterwards. I love that it doesn't focuses too much on romance but the family and self-control issues. The courage and determination she continued on despite everything, did not went to waste in the end. She has let the opportunity in and fully appreciate who she is and how had her life had turned out to be. This time, it didn't slip through her fingers. She's embracing every bit of it.

Genna has her supportive dad who has been all along with her through the tough times she's had. I believe that's what keeps her going. She's not about to give up. She looks up to her dad. She sees he never gave on her, even after all of chaos in their family. She does the same to continue fighting for what is worth. Her dad is all she's got.

I found it hard at first to review this book as it is thought-provoking. I ponder on a lot of things. I learned that you should broaden and be open minded on the varieties in choosing what you do in life. It will always not be align to how everything we want them to be. Have a better grasp of your goals. Back up plans. Be well-prepared for the cautions along the path you take.

Sidelined speaks to the soul to those who have this book in their hands.

(Actual) Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Rockstars Blog Tours and Entangled publishing.)
For 18-year-old Imogen (Genna), basketball is everything. She’s destined for a scholarship to college to play basketball, and things are even looking up with Jake, a boy who she has had a major crush on forever.

When Genna is injured during a basketball game, all her plans are dust when she is told that she will never be able to play professional basketball again.

With Vicodin the only thing keeping her going, and her mother more and more absent from her life, Genna feels like her life is on a downward spiral.
Can Genna learn to cope without the Vicodin? Should she still be with Jake? What is her mother up to? And what will happen to Genna now she can’t play basketball?


This was a good YA contemporary story, and I liked how normal Genna was.

Genna was a great character. She was just so normal! Totally the sort of person that you would be friends with and go to school with, and what happened to her just sucked. I really felt for her when she realised that her career was over, and the way that she became hooked on Vicodin, without even realising it showed how dangerously addictive narcotics are, even to your average everyday person.

I liked the storyline in this book, and I liked how well the book flowed. I felt really sorry for what Genna was going through, and at the same time understood her addiction and how she ended up where she was. I did see some parts of the storyline coming, but this didn’t really spoil the story at all.
I thought the drug addiction part of the story was done really well, especially as Genna felt like a normal person, and didn’t come across the way you would expect an addict to come across. I also liked how the legal problems of Genna’s addiction were also dealt with.

I liked the romance between Genna and Jake, although that wasn’t really the main focus of the story. I thought that there could possibly have been a bit more romance, but the story was fine as it was really. If you’re looking for a romance novel, this isn’t really it though, this focuses more on Genna’s problem with drugs.

I liked the ending of the book, and I liked how things worked out okay for Genna in the end, and we got as much of a happy ending as we could in the situation!
Overall; a good YA contemporary story dealing with addiction.
8 out of 10.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book really enjoyable. The story, as read in a description, is about a girl who's dream has been crushed because of a freak accidents. Her life has ended...everything she ever wanted, especially to get a sport scholarship and have a basketball career, she can't have it. She is broken. She doesn't know how to deal with this, she doesn't know how to numb the pain, so she turns to Vicodin to do it for her. Before the accident everything was almost perfect, she had friend, a great team, and a popular hot boyfriend. Now she doesn't know if she can make it without basketball. The game was her life. It was her ticket out, and away from her parents. Now the game is over...or so she thinks.

"I let my dreams fall to the floor. I watch as it crashes and breaks, and grief rolls over me in tsunami-sized waves, threatening to pull me to the bottom of the sea."

I really liked Genna because of how real she was written, I think Kendra C. Highley did an amazing job of portraying Genna and her struggle and everything she went through. I didn't expected to like this book as much as I did. One of the reasons was that Sidelined didn't focus as much on a romantic relationship of the story like most books do. This was more as seeing how teens struggle nowadays and this is really is going on in real life and people just don't see it but it is happening a lot. Sidelined really shows how addiction can break you and make you dependable on a drug.

The romantic relationship part of the story was not as great as I would want it to be. There were a lot of cliches and really predictable. But it didn't make a story less more interesting. I just didn't care much for the "couple" in the book, as much as on just Genna.

The relationship between Genna and her parents really give more spice to the story. I feel like if it was any other book, I would be annoyed with the way her relationship with her parents was, but I felt like it worked.

I would definitely recommend to check this book out and give it a shot!

[Alessandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

E-galley received from the publisher for review.

Imogen (Genna) Pierce has trained her whole life to play basketball in college. It's her mother's dream as well as her own. Now she's a senior in high school, the team captain, and has a chance of winning the state tourney. University scouts are inviting her to visit colleges, and she's now dating the football quaterback on whom she's had a crush for years. However, during an important match, she has a bad accident and can no longer play.

Genna is broken and defeated; she doesn't know who she is anymore, if she can't play basketball. Her parents keep fighting, and her mother buries herself into work. Genna also can't understand why Jake would still want to be with her. Frantic to make the pain stop, she turns to Vicodin.

I read Sidelined in one sitting. It sucked me in and I had to know how it ended. It also broke my heart. It's the story of a girl who gets addicted to medicinals and does whatever she can to get her next dose. At first she's doing it unconsciously; the pills help her relax and forget about her dailyu troubles. Then she can't control it any longer. It's a vicious addiction , even more so because Genna denies, at first, that she has a problem. Her boyfriend tries to help, but she pushes him away.

Genna's relationship to her parents is not ideal. Her bond with her mother seems to depend on basketball; her mother was a player herself when she was younger and has always coached Genna. When the girl can no longer play, she feels her mother grow distant, more focused on work than ever. then she learns that her mother has been having an affair. With Genna's dad, things go better; he's always been the more accomodating parent. But when he's the only one left to take care of Genna, things get strained.

The romance subplot is also present. I loved Jake; he was a sweet, supporting boyfriend. The love story was nice to read.

[Soma Rostam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first time I heard of the author but the concept looked really good. It was definitely the first time I read about such a flawed main character and liked it that much!
Basketball was Imogen's whole life. She was happy, even though her mum wasn't always around. She had a great father, a great best friend, and the cute guy she has liked forever, Jake was interested in her.Up until a fatal injury later, her life is changed forever. No more basketball, her family is falling apart, and she doesn't wanna see anymore. She turns to the only rescue from the pain, Vicodin.
Drug addiction is a sensitive and very important topic nowadays. So, I was really glad that the author approached this subject. Our main character, Genna is a girl who has centered her whole life around basketball. So when that's gone, her life feels empty. She was the most realistic character I have ever read. She had flaws, and she wasn't just the perfect girl like in every YA novel. No, she knew that her addiction was somehow wrong but she wanted a way away from the pain, and she got that from the Vicodin.
The romance in this book is absolutely amazing! I LOVED Jake. Every girl wants a guy who will change for her. He is a total player, but for Genna, he changes into this absolutely wonderful gem of a guy! Even when she pushes him away and turns to the Vicodin, he still loves her and won't let her go. That was beautiful.
The plot is a little slow-moving at times, which is why this book got a four star and not a five star from me. This book is realistic. It doesn't cover anything up for the sake of the reader, or hide truths in plain sight. No. It's straight-forward and it's amazingly crafted to represent the teenage years. It felt real in every aspect, and i LOVE that about contemporary books. This book is a book about redemption, and the power of love. It's one book that'll stay with you for a long, long time.

[Angelique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where did I get the book: I received the book for free from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest and fair review.
My Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
My Review:
Genna comes across as the sporty girl that has her life in order. This is not the case. Her mother pushes her to hard, she is too shy to even talk to the boy she has been crushing on for years. Add on to that the fact that said boy practically slept his way through all the girls in school then its pretty clear life really isn’t all that great. Until Jake finally comes to his senses, asks her out. Things start looking up. The basketball team is going to state, she finally has her man and maybe her mom will let up a bit. Sounds too good to be true right? Right. Suddenly her entire worlds starts crashing down around her again. Is Jake really such a good guy? Will her mom ever look at her with some pride again? Will the pain ever go away – without the use of painkillers?
You will have to read the book to see :P
I loved this book for how refreshingly real it was. I don’t think that we focus enough on how tough things are for teens in school these days. A lot of pressure is put on them to perform and a lot of disapproval is thrown their way if they don’t. And we all know drugs play a huge part in high schools.
Genna turned to the Vicodin thinking she had no one else to help her out. If only she could open her eyes and see what she had – her dad and best friend. They had great relationships and gave me warm fuzzies by how supportive and understanding they were of everything that Genna was going through.
My only problem was that there were a few things that felt a little obvious. Genna and her mom’s relationship, the fact that Jake was such a player to start off with. Genna’s crush paying her attention after all this time because he felt he had to ‘clean up his act to be good enough’. Other than that this was a good read.
This wasn’t quite what I expected but better for it.

[Jessie Harrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hooked me from the beginning. Genna's voice is realistic and engaging. I loved her drive and what a kick-butt girl she was in a very real way (no kicking monster butt, but she could tear it up on the basketball court). She's got an amazing best friend who isn't the so-bubbly-you-want-to-scream variety and her new boy friend is pretty much a typical guy. In short, the characters are so real you could touch them and entirely three dimensional.

As you can tell from the blurb, reading this book is like watching a train wreck happen in really slow motion. Genna starts with the Vicodin to drown out the emotional pain more than the physical pain from breaking her leg: the loss of basketball, her mother's betrayal, the embarrassment and feelings of inadequacy. At first, it doesn't seem like her prescription use is all that bad, which is exactly what Genna is thinking. But the more Genna starts to react like an addict, the more we can see what a hold it has on her life.

I'm not going to say that this was a feel-good read. It did end well, but there were painful moments along the way. I think an errant tear even escaped my eye toward the end. As an "issue" book, however, I'd say it's first rate. I think it's important for teens dealing with addiction to see that things are not hopeless and it will get better. But it will take hard work and you've got to accept the support of the people trying to help.

If you or a teen you know could benefit from this book, it's definitely worth a read. The writing to top-notch and the characters compelling. You'll even get to meet some LGBT characters in this one too. Bonus "issue" points!

Thanks to Entangled Teen for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review. This did not have any effect on my opinions.

[Rashika (is tired)]

I DNFed this because there were too many fucking cliches in this book and too many other messed up things. I won't be writing a rant but here is a brief overview.

The girl has a pushy mom that is pressurising her to follow HER dream. Of course the girl actually loves the sport so it isn't that big of a deal to her but still. Also she used to train with her mother but when she became better than her mother, her mother suddenly didn't have time for her. Also the mother is so strict. This is like a slap in my face because I absolutely HATE it when there are terrible parents in YA. Plus I am close to my mom so if you try to shove such a horrible mother down my throat that will almost definitely backfire (there are exceptions but that is not the point).

How about the pushover father? Who doesn't even do anything to stop the mental/emotional abuse the mother is putting the daughter through? He just stands in the background like a little lapdog.

So bad parents = point 1

Insta love=point 2.

They are hitting second base on their second date for crying out loud! Which was at her house when her parents were away at a party so it wasn't even really a date. Oh and did I mention that the dude is a quarter back and the captain of the football team and also a player? Who went cold feet on his dating around /sleeping around so that he would have a shot at this girl who doesn't think she is pretty and cannot understand why he would want to date her?

So if this sounds like something you would enjoy have fun, who am I to judge? and if this doesn't sound like something you'd like, pack your bags make a fucking run for it, save your lives, it's definitely not worth it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is at it’s best for Genna Pierce.

Genna Pierce has her eye on the ball……literally. This high school basketball star is leading her team to the state tournament. Scouts from colleges all around are taking notice. The prospects of having a basketball scholarship are on the horizon. All of her plans for the future seem to be falling into place.

Another plus….Jake Butler - the school hottie - has asked her out. Genna has secretly had a crush on him since the 9th grade. It seems Jake has admired Genna from afar, as well. He has spent time cleaning up his act - trying to put his unsavory ways aside, so he can prove to Genna he has changed. The two begin to explore the beginnings of their relationship.

Then - in the blink of an eye, Genna’s entire future changes.

During the tournament, Genna receives an injury that ends all hopes of playing basketball again. The scholarship offers are withdrawn, and Genna is left unsure of who she is without the game. Add to that her parents constant fighting, and unrelenting pain. Feeling unworthy of anyone’s affection or adoration, Genna finds herself relying heavily on her medication.

Rapidly, her life begins to spiral out of control. Genna doesn’t realize how far she has fallen until her addiction overtakes her. Will Genna find the ‘fighter’ within all of the turmoil? Can the people she loves help her find her way back from the darkness?

This was a great story about dreams, finding your purpose, love, and hope. Kendra Highley created a modern day novel that is very realistic and powerful.

*Thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing me with an ARC for my honest review*

[Nayab · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first requested this on Netgalley I was expecting a, I guess, glamourised view of addiction & how to get over it… You know the one… girl gets addicted drugs, somebody gets her help and she overcomes it with the help of family & friends.


Boy was I wrong! This book is as far from glamourised as you can get. It’s gritty, it’s raw & it’s not afraid to get dark. Something I was expecting of a book that has a high school character as its lead.


I wasn’t bothered by Genna either way in the I first few chapters, as in I didn’t like or dislike her she was just… There. But that all changed after she had her accident. Post-accident Genna gave me all the feels. I completely empathised with her & even when she was at her lowest I found myself rooting for her, which is a first for me.



The only element that I felt didn’t belong in the book is the romance and that’s coming from me, a self-confessed romance novel addict. The relationship between Jake & Genna seemed rushed. We didn’t see any build up towards the relationship, the start of it was just explained instead of being shown to us. I feel as if had the relationship started after the addiction was realised it would have been more believable… Maybe because we would have had time to see it develop from the start (if that makes sense?).


I’ve had almost a day to get over my emotions for this book but I can’t. I want to recommend this book to everyone I come across, it’s that type of book.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a short review to express my thoughts.

This book was pretty awesome. I didn't always like the main character, while I understood why she acted like she did, I felt like she shouldn't think so negative of herself, of her future and everything. Everyone was trying to help her and she mostly pushed them away, some even worse than others. I can imagine, her whole future is shattered and she has to find a new future, but she doesn't take anyone's hand, she tries to everything herself, and you can see where that led her, into drug use/using pills. And that again led her into problems with the police/judges.

It was a really sad thing, but I felt like the author did it realistically. How one gradually goes from just using the pills for pain, to using them because you think you need them and doing everything to get them. And also shows how fast that can happen.

I really liked the ending though, how hard she is fighting to get everything back on track, but also knowing that she will be stuck with an addiction problem, how she knows that no matter what, she can always revert back to that state.

I really hope the MC will find happiness and finds a wonderful new future for herself. :)

[Becca Andre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kendra Highley’s Matt Archer series, so when I heard about Sidelined, I couldn’t wait to read it. I wasn’t disappointed. I won’t summarize the plot since other reviewers have already done that. Instead, I’ll talk about the reasons I found this book such an enjoyable read.

As with all of Kendra’s books, the prose feels effortless. It disappears into the background, letting the story shine through. The plot rolls along at a nice pace. I was never bored or tempted to skim. All the characters are well developed with both strengths and weaknesses. They seem like real people and by novel’s end, I felt like I knew them personally.

It was clear that story was well researched from the details of playing women’s basketball to the legal ramifications of acquiring multiple narcotics prescriptions from different doctors. I actually learned a few things reading this novel.

Overall, this book was an intense read dealing with the tough topics of divorce and drug addiction. The story never wandered into melodrama, but it did make me feel. Yes, I teared up from time to time, but the ending is a happy one. I highly recommend Sidelined. You won’t be disappointed.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out really well for me, the story was engaging and I was all in. It kind of started falling apart once "the main event" happens.

I could see the entire scenario playing itself out and yet, even at the height of the "problem" the author never portrays her main character as being that much in turmoil - as a matter of fact, nobody around her really seems to be all that surprised or mad or anything really at the end result. Sure, the Highley throws in a "desperate act" - but to me, the whole thing felt too forced to be all that intriguing.

I do like the author's writing style though and I would have gladly read this story without all the "detours" that were not necessary. This story would have made excellent reading without all the forced drama.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at http://chiquitablogger.wordpress.com

So, this book was a lot deeper than your average YA novel. The issues it deals with are ones that I would normally see in NA or even mainstream Fiction. The author handles Genna's issues beautifully p, never making the reader feel like the story is being rushed or dragging. I was swept up in the book from the very beginning, and while it did have an epilogue, I would've liked one a little further in the future. Overall, a VERY good book and definitely recommended for anyone over the age of 17. The issues are a little serious for the younger set.

*Received an ARC for honest review.*

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sidelined drew me in from the very first chapter, I loved how the story unraveled before your eyes - we're introduced to Genna before the freak accident ends her sporting career, before her scholarship plans go out the window, and more importantly, before she became addicted to pain medication.

I think that made the storyline that much more intriguing because you can see just how much Genna loves Basketball, and how the loss of her future affects her emotionally and physically.

It's a heartwrenching novel focusing on drug addiction with divorce and teenage romance rolled in. You won't be disappointed!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sidelined is a contemporary YA novel about a basketball star, Genna, who suffers a serious injury. She loses basketball and struggles to piece her life back together as she also battles an addiction to painkillers. I thought the book was a solid contemporary YA book. Genna is a flawed character, but realistic character. At times, I thought Jake seemed a little too good to be true, but I suppose his backstory made up for it. I think this book could really help other teens or young adults who face a similar situation where they need to rethink their future.

[Meegz Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review>

This was a quick read. Great characters and the main issue being dealt with in the storyline is a serious issue and one that really can create problems for people in the real world.
I enjoyed reading this book and how the characters overcame difficulties and how those difficulties affected them in the first place. Fun and serious and would recommend.

[Julie (Bookish.Intoxication) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved this novel from NetGalley.

This novel was far from what I expected it to be, it is moving, elating, tear jerking and empowering. I love the protagonist, she is honest, true to life, relateable and human.

This novel shows a different side to sports and injury, it shows the side we all too often forget is real.

A wonderful novel touching on a contreversial subject. A great read.

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books}]

***ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***

[Shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book. Some deep stuff, but a good read.

First off, it’s ENTIRELY different than the description. The description would lead you to believe this book is young adult romance novel. While there is a romance intertwined, it is not the main concept of the story.

That being said, I liked the unexpected. The story was much different than I thought, but it was very captivating.

I enjoyed most of the characters. I thought they were very real and Highley portrayed their emotions realistically. Somethings about the characters:
•While I was mad at Genna for how she handled some things, especially with Jake, I can see where she was coming from. I love that the author dove into the deep reasons why she did what she did.
•I really disliked Genna’s mom for leaving her family at such a difficult time. She was completely selfish when Genna needed her. I did like how she was honest towards the end about why she was so tough on her daughter.
•Genna’s dad was great. So many young adult novels have absent fathers. I loved how he was there for her 24/7, with everything she needed. It was great seeing him grow a backbone and stick up for himself.
•In regards to Jake, his desire to date Genna seemed kind of sudden. Like he said, they did not have that much time left in the school year, so I found it odd that he would want to start a relationship with such little time left.
•I loved Ethan. Even from the beginning there was something about him that clearly showed he needed someone to help him, to push him and break down his walls. I wish we got to see more of him.

There were a few things that bothered me:
The timing. If Genna was really going to go to college on an athletic scholarship, she would have signed a letter of intent in the fall, she wouldn’t be undecided as to where to go that late into senior year. Also, college seniors generally have to commit to a school by May 1st so the fact that she didn’t know where she was going well into May seemed a bit unrealistic.
Likewise, the fact that Genna had homework in April and May of her senior year seemed a quite unlikely. Like the college advisor said, second semester senior grades are essentially useless.
I also feel that Genna’s injury improved very quickly, but I’m not a doctor so what do I know.

In regards to the pain pills, I found it a bit odd that they would allow a high school senior who (essentially) had her world ripped out from under her manage such pills. I think they would have monitored her more and/or her father would have been in charge of dosage, especially after she went to her doctor to ask for a refill.

Overall, a great story. Very unexpected while enjoyable.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relatable, well written and full of emotions. Genna is a snarky and fun teenager who gets thrown one heck of a curveball her senior year of high school. The story is based around that curveball and how she handles all the ensuing events. This is a YA novel and has some hot topics such as opioid abuse, divorce, and college admission/financial aid stress.

This is my first book that I have read from KH and I enjoyed it. Well paced and entertaining. I enjoyed the detailed perspective that was shown from Genna in terms of her thoughts about the events, talking to her Dad, friend and therapist. I found the details in the nurses, PT, therapy, DA etc. very realistic and helpful to creating a detailed environment for this story. I would recommend this story to others and will look into other books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to review this book and share my opinions.

[Culture-Vulture · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the interesting plot, which laid out the path to and from addiction in a convincing way. It's also refreshing how the plot deals with both guilt and forgiveness, without falling into excessive drama.

However, I wasn't sold on the love Jake felt for Genna (Imogen). We don't hear anything detailed about what made him fall for Genna in the first place. Also, where does he go to for his University?! He's supposed to go to Texas, so does he?! And what does that mean for their relationship, since Genna will stay in Oklahoma? Genna's relationship, and arc of emotions, with Ethan made more sense than the one between her and Jake!!! I almost felt like a sequel would have Jake playing professional football and back to his player ways, and Genna finding love with Ethan down the line. For a supposed YA romance novel, it's odd that the plot was really strong even though the romance didn't sell it for me.