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Double Negative
Injured competitive swimmer Reece never wanted to be vice prez of West Hill High. It was her brother Jamie’s idea; just something to do until she could get back into the pool.
She knew that Jamie—who led his campaign with a striptease “election speech”—would be a complete “President Dumbass”. But Reece didn’t foresee that she’d fall hard for Jamie’s student council rival, Zain. Zain is hot and intense, plus an amputee and a basketball star. Between Zain’s disability and Reece’s surgery, they have their challenges, but that deepens their connection—until he drops a bombshell about his accident. Suddenly, everything important to Reece starts to implode.
Struggling with issues of family loyalty, secrets, and scars, Reece must decide if real relationships are worth the heartache.
She knew that Jamie—who led his campaign with a striptease “election speech”—would be a complete “President Dumbass”. But Reece didn’t foresee that she’d fall hard for Jamie’s student council rival, Zain. Zain is hot and intense, plus an amputee and a basketball star. Between Zain’s disability and Reece’s surgery, they have their challenges, but that deepens their connection—until he drops a bombshell about his accident. Suddenly, everything important to Reece starts to implode.
Struggling with issues of family loyalty, secrets, and scars, Reece must decide if real relationships are worth the heartache.
- GenresRomance
Audible Audio
Published August 12, 2022
1 person is currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Susan Marshall
2 books41 followersA lover of libraries, Susan obtained a Master’s Degree in Library Science but found that she was too disorganized for the profession. Instead, Susan worked at The Globe and Mail newspaper and then Seneca College. Four kids later, she decided to stay-at-home, spending her quiet moments indulging her love of writing.
The old adage is to "write what you know," and in Double Negative, Susan channels her experience as a parent of a teen amputee and her misguided belief that she was once an athlete.
NemeSIS was inspired by the complicated sister dynamic in Susan's estrogen fuelled household growing up in Hamilton, Ontario.
Susan lives in Toronto with her husband, three sons, a daughter, rescue dog Bean and Indy the cat
The old adage is to "write what you know," and in Double Negative, Susan channels her experience as a parent of a teen amputee and her misguided belief that she was once an athlete.
NemeSIS was inspired by the complicated sister dynamic in Susan's estrogen fuelled household growing up in Hamilton, Ontario.
Susan lives in Toronto with her husband, three sons, a daughter, rescue dog Bean and Indy the cat
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 17, 2022
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Double Negative is a story many teenagers will relate to. Narrated by 17 year old Reece who is an elite swimming star attending the Elite Sports school. However after a shoulder injury she is transferred to the local high school, that her brother attends, until she recovers.
Reece's brother Jamie is in grade 12 and is running for school President and asks Reece to support him as Vice President
Not being American I don't really understand the US school system. High schools in Australia do not have Presidents. However I do understand campaigning and elections and Susan Marshall clearly explained the system, including campaign promises, obligations, constitutions, guidelines and rules, in a way that would appeal to a teenage audience.
There is lots of angst and drama throughout the novel as Reece loses her place in the elite training squad, loses her boyfriend, crushes on her brother's nemesis and needs to adjust to a new school.
Another strong theme is the pressure of elite sport and the mental health of athletes. The addition of an amputee basketball player brings in the extra theme of how athletes cope with and work through a permanent disability.
Double Negative has an interesting plot and realistic characters. There was a little too much angst and too many meltdowns for me. I had the patience of an adult whilst reading.
Teens will love it and relate wholeheartedly!
Recommended: 16+
*I received my copy through Netgalley
Double Negative is a story many teenagers will relate to. Narrated by 17 year old Reece who is an elite swimming star attending the Elite Sports school. However after a shoulder injury she is transferred to the local high school, that her brother attends, until she recovers.
Reece's brother Jamie is in grade 12 and is running for school President and asks Reece to support him as Vice President
Not being American I don't really understand the US school system. High schools in Australia do not have Presidents. However I do understand campaigning and elections and Susan Marshall clearly explained the system, including campaign promises, obligations, constitutions, guidelines and rules, in a way that would appeal to a teenage audience.
There is lots of angst and drama throughout the novel as Reece loses her place in the elite training squad, loses her boyfriend, crushes on her brother's nemesis and needs to adjust to a new school.
Another strong theme is the pressure of elite sport and the mental health of athletes. The addition of an amputee basketball player brings in the extra theme of how athletes cope with and work through a permanent disability.
Double Negative has an interesting plot and realistic characters. There was a little too much angst and too many meltdowns for me. I had the patience of an adult whilst reading.
Teens will love it and relate wholeheartedly!
Recommended: 16+
*I received my copy through Netgalley
November 9, 2021
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
“I had always loved strong, healthy bodies. But now I understood vulnerability. I respected tenacity. I knew that strength was not always physical.” (Quote from ARC)
“Double Negative”, by Susan Marshall (Evernight Teen), is a very entertaining story with teen people who are realistic, relatable characters, showing a mix of innocence, maturity and smartness that can be irresistible. The love story is very sweet and I really liked how it was developed.
I found the heroine very well written. I loved her passion for swimming and competing, how it is so ingrained in who she is and what she does. Her honesty is compelling, too.
Zain, the young hero, is very attractive: a bit tortured, living and adapting to a new reality in a very pragmatic way. "Hot and intense", as Reece says...
I thought all characters were interesting and well developed; even the annoying ones. The interactions and dialogue are vivid and seemed appropriate for the characters’ ages. I particularly liked Reece and Jamie’s relationship.
“I had always loved strong, healthy bodies. But now I understood vulnerability. I respected tenacity. I knew that strength was not always physical.” (Quote from ARC)
“Double Negative”, by Susan Marshall (Evernight Teen), is a very entertaining story with teen people who are realistic, relatable characters, showing a mix of innocence, maturity and smartness that can be irresistible. The love story is very sweet and I really liked how it was developed.
I found the heroine very well written. I loved her passion for swimming and competing, how it is so ingrained in who she is and what she does. Her honesty is compelling, too.
Zain, the young hero, is very attractive: a bit tortured, living and adapting to a new reality in a very pragmatic way. "Hot and intense", as Reece says...
I thought all characters were interesting and well developed; even the annoying ones. The interactions and dialogue are vivid and seemed appropriate for the characters’ ages. I particularly liked Reece and Jamie’s relationship.
January 2, 2022
I found the characters and their plots relatable and interesting…and I’m well past my high school days. It seemed to bring it all back somehow. This book is so well written and such a wonderfully told story that I could not put it down until done. Literally. Well done Susan on your second book. Truly an excellent read.
January 19, 2022
I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of this book! And I was surprised how much I liked this book.
Everything was well written, The development of the story was great. All the characters I loved! Resse and Zains love story was cute (: I loved how everything played out !!
Near the end I couldn’t put the book down!
I truly enjoyed this read.
Everything was well written, The development of the story was great. All the characters I loved! Resse and Zains love story was cute (: I loved how everything played out !!
Near the end I couldn’t put the book down!
I truly enjoyed this read.
February 9, 2022
This book was incredible!! The minute I started reading I found myself sucked into the world of Reece and Zain. I would definitely classify as a must-read!
February 8, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
I quite enjoyed Susan Marshalls novel Double Negative as a YA Novel, Double Negative follows Reece, an injured swimmer who runs for student council vice president to help her brother. As Reece begins her work in the student council, she unexpectedly finds herself attracted to her rival, Zain. As the two get closer, secrets start to come to the surface, and Reece finds herself at the centre of several difficult situations.
This book was well written and covered so many important topics and had such amazing representation. Keep in mind when going into reading this book that it is a YA book and as someone who doesn’t read a large amount of YA it felt very young and youthful which is perfect for young readers.
Overall, I believe that this was a lovely novel that touched on some very important subjects centred around life and the teenage experience. If you enjoy YA novels, this one is definitely for you so go check it out!!!
I quite enjoyed Susan Marshalls novel Double Negative as a YA Novel, Double Negative follows Reece, an injured swimmer who runs for student council vice president to help her brother. As Reece begins her work in the student council, she unexpectedly finds herself attracted to her rival, Zain. As the two get closer, secrets start to come to the surface, and Reece finds herself at the centre of several difficult situations.
This book was well written and covered so many important topics and had such amazing representation. Keep in mind when going into reading this book that it is a YA book and as someone who doesn’t read a large amount of YA it felt very young and youthful which is perfect for young readers.
Overall, I believe that this was a lovely novel that touched on some very important subjects centred around life and the teenage experience. If you enjoy YA novels, this one is definitely for you so go check it out!!!
August 25, 2022
In Double Negative we have the main character Reece, who has an injury which means her competitive swimming has halted until it is better. Her brother Jamie runs for student council president, wins and pulls in Reece to be vice president but it seems she is doing all the organising and work, why was Jamie not taking it seriously?
We also have Zain a basketball player, an amputee, who wants to be scouted, and he and Reece’s love story blows hot and cold. Can they get over their differences on the school council and away from it too?
I enjoyed Double Negative, it has the right amount of teenager angst which I am sure every teen has suffered in some form or another. I enjoyed the school council president/VP storyline as we don’t have that in the UK so it is all new to me and very interesting.
Zain was a great character, I felt all the emotions for him, angry, sad, sympathy etc. and I got where he was coming from even though I have not been through what he has.
Jamie was that annoying big brother who speaks before thinking and Reece was a great character, she was very mature for her age, but still a teen and there was a lot of pressure on her from all sides.
Overall, this was a great book, well written and fast-paced. Susan Marshall is a new to me author but I will definitely be looking out for more from her.
We also have Zain a basketball player, an amputee, who wants to be scouted, and he and Reece’s love story blows hot and cold. Can they get over their differences on the school council and away from it too?
I enjoyed Double Negative, it has the right amount of teenager angst which I am sure every teen has suffered in some form or another. I enjoyed the school council president/VP storyline as we don’t have that in the UK so it is all new to me and very interesting.
Zain was a great character, I felt all the emotions for him, angry, sad, sympathy etc. and I got where he was coming from even though I have not been through what he has.
Jamie was that annoying big brother who speaks before thinking and Reece was a great character, she was very mature for her age, but still a teen and there was a lot of pressure on her from all sides.
Overall, this was a great book, well written and fast-paced. Susan Marshall is a new to me author but I will definitely be looking out for more from her.
January 25, 2022
While hitting high school emotions and familiar issues teens can face, this is a quick-paced, easy read with something always going on.
Thanks to an injury, Reece has to sit out from swimming for more than a few months and is placed, temporarily, into the same high school where her brother is a senior. He's running for class president to make his college application shine, but thanks to the rules, his running mate is disqualified and Reece steps up to fill the spot...but not happily. Her brother refuses to take anything seriously, and she's caught pulling in the extra slack, especially since Zain, president of the athletic student board group, is breathing down her neck. But while she wishes Zain would lay off, she finds herself drawn to him and soon, she's caught in an odd spot.
This book is high school drama pure with a very large dose of sports, and that works great. Reece comes across very believable as every fiber in her wants to get back to swimming, and she tries her best to cope with the situation until she heals enough to return. She's in an awkward place of waiting, and yet, is supposed to deal with things as if she wasn't for the sake of her brother. Her frustration, occasional lack of enthusiasm, and uncertainty is completely understandable as she deals with all sorts of expectations from various directions...most of which won't have the same impact in her short term future even, but are still meaningful to those around her. So, the author hits her well.
There are a lot of themes in this book from sport injuries to family issues to disabilities to drugs to alcohol to relationship problems and on and on. While the author does spend the beginning chapters with sometime in Reece's head, letting the reader get to know her pretty well, the tale shifts into very heavy dialogue by the end. This is a character driven read through and through, which doesn't bog down with much world building or thoughts. So, it is quick paced on that end.
The relationships are interestingly woven, especially on the family end. And I did find the sports connections and attitudes very well done. The romance works all right. I didn't get some of the lack of understanding from others toward Reece's ex problems. Her romance with Zain grows and holds more of a friendship direction, which I appreciate, but misses a bit of pizzazz. The longer the tale went on, the more the issues grew until there were all sorts of things hitting from all directions. The dialogue keeps it well paced, but I still noticed that I was skipping over more and more paragraphs the further I went into the read. Still, I was curious enough to know what happens to keep reading until the end, and I did find the characters well done.
Fans of high school drama, sports and romance are sure to enjoy this one quite a bit. I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the read
Thanks to an injury, Reece has to sit out from swimming for more than a few months and is placed, temporarily, into the same high school where her brother is a senior. He's running for class president to make his college application shine, but thanks to the rules, his running mate is disqualified and Reece steps up to fill the spot...but not happily. Her brother refuses to take anything seriously, and she's caught pulling in the extra slack, especially since Zain, president of the athletic student board group, is breathing down her neck. But while she wishes Zain would lay off, she finds herself drawn to him and soon, she's caught in an odd spot.
This book is high school drama pure with a very large dose of sports, and that works great. Reece comes across very believable as every fiber in her wants to get back to swimming, and she tries her best to cope with the situation until she heals enough to return. She's in an awkward place of waiting, and yet, is supposed to deal with things as if she wasn't for the sake of her brother. Her frustration, occasional lack of enthusiasm, and uncertainty is completely understandable as she deals with all sorts of expectations from various directions...most of which won't have the same impact in her short term future even, but are still meaningful to those around her. So, the author hits her well.
There are a lot of themes in this book from sport injuries to family issues to disabilities to drugs to alcohol to relationship problems and on and on. While the author does spend the beginning chapters with sometime in Reece's head, letting the reader get to know her pretty well, the tale shifts into very heavy dialogue by the end. This is a character driven read through and through, which doesn't bog down with much world building or thoughts. So, it is quick paced on that end.
The relationships are interestingly woven, especially on the family end. And I did find the sports connections and attitudes very well done. The romance works all right. I didn't get some of the lack of understanding from others toward Reece's ex problems. Her romance with Zain grows and holds more of a friendship direction, which I appreciate, but misses a bit of pizzazz. The longer the tale went on, the more the issues grew until there were all sorts of things hitting from all directions. The dialogue keeps it well paced, but I still noticed that I was skipping over more and more paragraphs the further I went into the read. Still, I was curious enough to know what happens to keep reading until the end, and I did find the characters well done.
Fans of high school drama, sports and romance are sure to enjoy this one quite a bit. I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the read
December 19, 2021
Oh, how I loved this story! One of those that upon reading the final page, I immediately thought, “There has to be a sequel!” The characters are so realistic and engaging.
The story follows the trials and challenges of students in the final years of high school with a wide range of relatable characters - an injured elite athlete grappling with finding a new identity after a life time of focus and pressure on one thing, the student council drama, the fringe students, the uncertainties of life after high school, the pressuring parents with high expectations, the highs and lows of new and old relationships and friends are all here. It has some mature bits but all in all is a trefoil story of real life high school. Loved it!
The story follows the trials and challenges of students in the final years of high school with a wide range of relatable characters - an injured elite athlete grappling with finding a new identity after a life time of focus and pressure on one thing, the student council drama, the fringe students, the uncertainties of life after high school, the pressuring parents with high expectations, the highs and lows of new and old relationships and friends are all here. It has some mature bits but all in all is a trefoil story of real life high school. Loved it!
February 12, 2022
Susan Marshall takes readers through navigating Junior year in high school through Reece's point of view. Reece is learning how to adjust to a public high school while she recovers from a surgery. While navigating a new school, the reader is taken through situations that most high schoolers face as she tries to figure out who she is. I appreciated the real look at the struggles and obstacles high schoolers face from college admissions to scholarships and daily friendships. I enjoyed the authentic relationship between she and Zain and Jae and Jamie. This book took me right back to high school and made me feel nostalgic. Thank you Susan Marshall and Kate Rock Book Tours for a gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
February 9, 2022
This book was captivating and I felt drawn to the character. recommend!!
February 14, 2022
DOUBLE NEGATIVE is a fast paced YA that kept me turning pages. There was always something happening. This story brought me back to high school and all the decisions adolescents must make. All the characters were well developed and I enjoyed the banter between Reece and her brother Jamie.
The connection between Reece and Rain was well written. The story handles sports injuries, family relationships, alcohol and drug use, disabilities and relationships.
The connection between Reece and Rain was well written. The story handles sports injuries, family relationships, alcohol and drug use, disabilities and relationships.
November 20, 2021
This is very well portrayed and well paced. The characters reflect their age group. The trials faced by the MCs make for a gripping read.
Reece is a star swimmer whose unfortunate injury has set her back. She now finds herself in a new environment which is alien to her in many ways. Her brother, Jamie talks her into becoming Vice President to his Presidency. Here is where the story becomes interesting.
Zain is a star athlete too. He is an amputee who doesn't allow his disability to get in his way. He is also the President on the athletic side, and Jamie's biggest rival. The anomisity between them is palpable and Reece is stuck in the middle. When things go south, she finds herself working with Zain on a constitution. This brings them closer and an attraction develops. Everything appears to be going well until Zain drops a bomb that negates all the positives. In view of the gravity of these news, will things ever go back to normal?
Reece is committed to everything that she takes on. Zain is hurting, but puts on a brave face. He is very clever and in the end gets his poetic justice. It doesn't make up for everything that he has lost, but he gets some personal satisfaction. Jamie's interactions with Reece are interesting. Annoying and funny at the same time. There are a few lessons to be learnt from this story. Acceptance, forgiveness, perseverance and amendment. After all the family drama, it ends on a beautiful note. A gripping and satisfying read.
I received an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.
Reece is a star swimmer whose unfortunate injury has set her back. She now finds herself in a new environment which is alien to her in many ways. Her brother, Jamie talks her into becoming Vice President to his Presidency. Here is where the story becomes interesting.
Zain is a star athlete too. He is an amputee who doesn't allow his disability to get in his way. He is also the President on the athletic side, and Jamie's biggest rival. The anomisity between them is palpable and Reece is stuck in the middle. When things go south, she finds herself working with Zain on a constitution. This brings them closer and an attraction develops. Everything appears to be going well until Zain drops a bomb that negates all the positives. In view of the gravity of these news, will things ever go back to normal?
Reece is committed to everything that she takes on. Zain is hurting, but puts on a brave face. He is very clever and in the end gets his poetic justice. It doesn't make up for everything that he has lost, but he gets some personal satisfaction. Jamie's interactions with Reece are interesting. Annoying and funny at the same time. There are a few lessons to be learnt from this story. Acceptance, forgiveness, perseverance and amendment. After all the family drama, it ends on a beautiful note. A gripping and satisfying read.
I received an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.
February 13, 2022
I was HOOKED!
Double Negative was such a FUN and UNIQUE read. I could not get enough. I enjoyed these characters so very much. They felt so real. I felt invested.
Susan Marshall gives a truly engaging and enjoyable read. I really loved this incredible story!
I hope this author writes more books, because I will definitely be reading them! I recommend you do too.
Double Negative was such a FUN and UNIQUE read. I could not get enough. I enjoyed these characters so very much. They felt so real. I felt invested.
Susan Marshall gives a truly engaging and enjoyable read. I really loved this incredible story!
I hope this author writes more books, because I will definitely be reading them! I recommend you do too.
November 3, 2021
The characters are believable, as are their dilemmas. Reece is on a journey of healing, both physically and emotionally, and the story gives her the opportunity to experience setbacks, avoiding the too-easy solution. Our main character sometimes doesn’t want to do the right thing, so we can enjoy all the more the rewards she gets when she talks herself into taking the high road. As some of her decisions may surprise us, we can feel that she is surprising herself as well. Even foils and semi-villains have some dimension. The romance story offers some real chemistry, and a love interest who ticks some different boxes than we might expect. Overall, a true-to-life young adult novel that favours nuance over the broad brush, taking the time it needs to unfold a complex story.
February 10, 2022
I really enjoyed the book. It has high school drama with some sports worked in. Reece was a very likable character. An injury has her sidelined and needed something to preoccupy her time, I found this made for a cute YA story.
February 9, 2022
I simply loved this book, every single detail was extremely engaging to the point where found it hard to stop reading. I found Reece to be a compelling character and I enjoyed reading about her point of view and experience, reading about her running for student council and helping her brother was always the highlight of my day.
I STRONGLY recommend it!
I STRONGLY recommend it!
January 17, 2022
I found Susan Marshall’s Double Negative to be fun, insightful and thoroughly entertaining - a really great read from start to finish. Once again, Marshall’s characters are very well developed, sensitively (and sometimes hilariously) written and extremely relatable - the book instantly transported me back to being a young adult and all the angst and excitement of first time experiences, big life decisions, friendships and diving head first into the mysterious waters of love and romance.
I just loved Reece and her often funny musings and, ultimately, the intelligent and mature way she navigated some of the tougher situations she faced, all the while being a typical teen in many ways. She and her friends, peers and family were all so vividly drawn and so believable.
The pace was great for all ages and the story just got better and better. I could not put it down and stayed up late to read it - it was so much fun!!!
I continue to think about the characters and wonder what they are up to now - a sequel perhaps? Would highly recommend to any YA reader and anyone looking for a truly wonderful story!
I just loved Reece and her often funny musings and, ultimately, the intelligent and mature way she navigated some of the tougher situations she faced, all the while being a typical teen in many ways. She and her friends, peers and family were all so vividly drawn and so believable.
The pace was great for all ages and the story just got better and better. I could not put it down and stayed up late to read it - it was so much fun!!!
I continue to think about the characters and wonder what they are up to now - a sequel perhaps? Would highly recommend to any YA reader and anyone looking for a truly wonderful story!
November 26, 2021
This was my first ever arc which was very exciting!
I’ll start off by saying it took me a while to read this, but that’s not a fault of the book - I had a very intense reading month in October and clearly was feeling the effects throughout the month. Despite my slow reading pace, I rather enjoyed Double Negative - it’s a darker sort of high school romance which shows in the psychological effects on both parties. It’s not quite an angle I’ve seen before and it was interesting to see.
Reece is a very likeable protagonist and from the start she makes it clear how bad it’s affecting her to be unable to swim, everything reminds her of being in water from tapping noises reminding her of the sound of droplets to her spending as much time in the shower as possible to replicate the feeling of being in the pool. If you’ve ever seen the anime series Free! then you’ll know where I’m coming from, her descriptions of how it feels to swim reminded me of it.
I will say that I didn’t really care for too many other characters, especially Zain who is, in my opinion, virtually unlikable. I’m unsure if the author intended that or not, but he’s sly and extremely negative. I understand that he’s a young amputee and I can only imagine the psychological effects that would have on a teenager, but that doesn’t automatically make me sympathise with him. This is one of the few times I was honestly rooting for the potential couple NOT to get together. I did like Jamie as well, Paisley seemed nice but honestly I just didn’t care for most of the other characters.
My biggest gripe really is the inconsistency regarding swear words; the author regularly types ‘OMG’ instead of ‘oh my god’ and ‘WTF’ instead of ‘what the fu-‘ well, you get the idea. It seemed quite juvenile and lazy, is it really that hard to just type out the actual words? To make it even more confusing, towards the end the ‘F word’ gets used without any kind of censorship - why would you at first abbreviate it and then later on just put it anyway? It doesn’t make any logical sense, I could understand it being written during a text conversation - of which there are quite a few - but no, it’s written in both speech and thought. It honestly doesn’t make a lick of sense.
Despite the baffling use of swear words and a mostly unlikable love interest, I did actually really enjoy Double Negative. It was really easy to read and presented a different sort of love story that I found unique and refreshing. It’s no five star, but it’s worth a look if it’s your sort of book.
I’ll start off by saying it took me a while to read this, but that’s not a fault of the book - I had a very intense reading month in October and clearly was feeling the effects throughout the month. Despite my slow reading pace, I rather enjoyed Double Negative - it’s a darker sort of high school romance which shows in the psychological effects on both parties. It’s not quite an angle I’ve seen before and it was interesting to see.
Reece is a very likeable protagonist and from the start she makes it clear how bad it’s affecting her to be unable to swim, everything reminds her of being in water from tapping noises reminding her of the sound of droplets to her spending as much time in the shower as possible to replicate the feeling of being in the pool. If you’ve ever seen the anime series Free! then you’ll know where I’m coming from, her descriptions of how it feels to swim reminded me of it.
I will say that I didn’t really care for too many other characters, especially Zain who is, in my opinion, virtually unlikable. I’m unsure if the author intended that or not, but he’s sly and extremely negative. I understand that he’s a young amputee and I can only imagine the psychological effects that would have on a teenager, but that doesn’t automatically make me sympathise with him. This is one of the few times I was honestly rooting for the potential couple NOT to get together. I did like Jamie as well, Paisley seemed nice but honestly I just didn’t care for most of the other characters.
My biggest gripe really is the inconsistency regarding swear words; the author regularly types ‘OMG’ instead of ‘oh my god’ and ‘WTF’ instead of ‘what the fu-‘ well, you get the idea. It seemed quite juvenile and lazy, is it really that hard to just type out the actual words? To make it even more confusing, towards the end the ‘F word’ gets used without any kind of censorship - why would you at first abbreviate it and then later on just put it anyway? It doesn’t make any logical sense, I could understand it being written during a text conversation - of which there are quite a few - but no, it’s written in both speech and thought. It honestly doesn’t make a lick of sense.
Despite the baffling use of swear words and a mostly unlikable love interest, I did actually really enjoy Double Negative. It was really easy to read and presented a different sort of love story that I found unique and refreshing. It’s no five star, but it’s worth a look if it’s your sort of book.
January 8, 2022
You can find this review and all my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 3.5
When competitive swimmer Reece finds herself with a shoulder injury, she ends up being transferred to West Hill high school for the interim while she heals and goes through rehab. It was just a blip on the radar of her life, and she never intended to get more involved in the school than she had to. But when her brother's campaign for student council president is put in jeopardy, Reece steps up to the plate to help him out and runs alongside him for Vice President. It was meant to be a smooth ride and an extra thing that Reece could put on her application for Cornell, but it turns out being a lot more than what she bargained for when her brother turns out to be president dumbass who doesn't want to put in any of the hard yards. Things get doubly dicey when Reece finds herself falling for her brother's rival, Zain, not only is he on the student council, he's also the president of the athletics club, and an amputee trying for a basketball scholarship. Understanding brings the pair closer together until Zain drops a bomb about his accident which causes Reece's entire world to implode. Navigating new relationships, injury rehab, and family loyalty, Reece begins to wonder whether relationships are really worth it. This is way more than what she signed up for, but will she be able to navigate these new challenges and come out the other side a better person than what she was going in?
This is not a normal genre for me to pick up, contemporary can be a hard path for me to navigate because there's so many different types of stories in the genre. But this one stuck out. I was part of a book blitz for this particular book and afterwards the author approached me asking if I would like to review the story. For some reason this synopsis just stuck in my head and I had actually been thinking about the book for a while. So I jumped at the opportunity for a chance to read and review.
The story is pretty straight forward. Reece is injured during swimming practice which is a huge deal because swimming is her life, and it's the only thing she really knows or is involved in. Everything centers around swimming. The high school that she attends is for athletes, and even the schooling curriculum is centered around the various sports that the students are a part of. It's a school for people with exceptional skills at their sport and for those who want to take it to the next level. So when Reece is forced to attend a regular high school while she's rehabbing her busted arm, she doesn't really want to get involved in anything because her focus is on getting back into the water. I really loved that this story showed how someone's world could collapse when they can't do that one thing that they believe is their destiny. To be taken out of the very one thing that you know you're good at, and that you're planning your whole life around, would be devastating and so hard to navigate, so I love that this story really showed that.
The characters were well written and I loved Zain's character especially. His whole life was basketball, until he was in an accident that ended up with him losing part of one of his legs. While still pushing for basketball, we also see that he has another love in the form of politics. I feel like his character really helped Reece because he was essentially showing her that her sport is not all she is. There can be other things. I didn't like Jae's character, but I really loved that she was included. The representation in the story was real and all the characters played a pivotal role in showing the different struggles that people face - Jae's in the form of . Reece's brother was incredibly annoying, but I still found myself sympathising with him, he was trying so hard to forge his own path by pushing for what he was passionate about, and not just wanting to follow in the family footsteps because it was a sure thing. I really hated that he kept shirking his responsibilities and Reece was seemingly forced to constantly pick up the pieces while Jamie never even realised how much time and effort she was putting in just to help him.
This story I think really highlights how much pressure is put on high school students to succeed, to know what they want to do in life, to push for the things that their families are passionate about while trying to find what they themselves are passionate about. Being a teenager is already so hard, and so much pressure is put on teenagers, way more than is needed. In Australia, in year 12 (the final year of high school) you're told that you need to study harder than you've ever studied before, that you need to succeed in everything because this will dictate the rest of your life, you need to get a great ATAR score so that you can go to the university you want. What they don't tell you is that after twelve months, your ATAR score is worthless. That you can apply to university as a mature aged student once that twelve months is up and still get in to do what you want to do. I didn't know what I wanted to do until I was 24. So this story really highlights the struggles that students face and how the smallest most insignificant thing, that an adult might see as trivial, could be the center of that teenagers life at that point in time. That their world could feel like it was crashing down around them, yet no one seems to care, because they just don't get it, or they've forgotten what it's like to be a teenager.
The relationship between Reece and Zain was a cute addition, but I feel like it sort of burnt out with no real importance placed upon it. It offered another chance for Reece to grow as a person, but it just seemed really over and done with quickly and I think was a little too superficial in the way it was written so I just didn't really care about it. This story dealt with some brilliant subjects, but I feel like they could have been explored a bit deeper to really hit home more and make me feel a lot stronger about certain things that happened. I do love the growth that Reece's character went through and the realisations that she had about herself and her athletic peers, I thought that was brilliant.
All in all this was an enjoyable book that touched on some very important subjects centered around life and the teenage experience. I feel like if the book had have been a bit longer, some subjects could have been delved into a little deeper to make me feel a bit more emotion towards it. But that's neither here nor there, it's still a great story with strong characters that are well written and real. If you love a contemporary young adult story that focuses on some heavy issues and growing up give this one a go, it might be your next favourite!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 3.5
When competitive swimmer Reece finds herself with a shoulder injury, she ends up being transferred to West Hill high school for the interim while she heals and goes through rehab. It was just a blip on the radar of her life, and she never intended to get more involved in the school than she had to. But when her brother's campaign for student council president is put in jeopardy, Reece steps up to the plate to help him out and runs alongside him for Vice President. It was meant to be a smooth ride and an extra thing that Reece could put on her application for Cornell, but it turns out being a lot more than what she bargained for when her brother turns out to be president dumbass who doesn't want to put in any of the hard yards. Things get doubly dicey when Reece finds herself falling for her brother's rival, Zain, not only is he on the student council, he's also the president of the athletics club, and an amputee trying for a basketball scholarship. Understanding brings the pair closer together until Zain drops a bomb about his accident which causes Reece's entire world to implode. Navigating new relationships, injury rehab, and family loyalty, Reece begins to wonder whether relationships are really worth it. This is way more than what she signed up for, but will she be able to navigate these new challenges and come out the other side a better person than what she was going in?
This is not a normal genre for me to pick up, contemporary can be a hard path for me to navigate because there's so many different types of stories in the genre. But this one stuck out. I was part of a book blitz for this particular book and afterwards the author approached me asking if I would like to review the story. For some reason this synopsis just stuck in my head and I had actually been thinking about the book for a while. So I jumped at the opportunity for a chance to read and review.
The story is pretty straight forward. Reece is injured during swimming practice which is a huge deal because swimming is her life, and it's the only thing she really knows or is involved in. Everything centers around swimming. The high school that she attends is for athletes, and even the schooling curriculum is centered around the various sports that the students are a part of. It's a school for people with exceptional skills at their sport and for those who want to take it to the next level. So when Reece is forced to attend a regular high school while she's rehabbing her busted arm, she doesn't really want to get involved in anything because her focus is on getting back into the water. I really loved that this story showed how someone's world could collapse when they can't do that one thing that they believe is their destiny. To be taken out of the very one thing that you know you're good at, and that you're planning your whole life around, would be devastating and so hard to navigate, so I love that this story really showed that.
The characters were well written and I loved Zain's character especially. His whole life was basketball, until he was in an accident that ended up with him losing part of one of his legs. While still pushing for basketball, we also see that he has another love in the form of politics. I feel like his character really helped Reece because he was essentially showing her that her sport is not all she is. There can be other things. I didn't like Jae's character, but I really loved that she was included. The representation in the story was real and all the characters played a pivotal role in showing the different struggles that people face - Jae's in the form of . Reece's brother was incredibly annoying, but I still found myself sympathising with him, he was trying so hard to forge his own path by pushing for what he was passionate about, and not just wanting to follow in the family footsteps because it was a sure thing. I really hated that he kept shirking his responsibilities and Reece was seemingly forced to constantly pick up the pieces while Jamie never even realised how much time and effort she was putting in just to help him.
This story I think really highlights how much pressure is put on high school students to succeed, to know what they want to do in life, to push for the things that their families are passionate about while trying to find what they themselves are passionate about. Being a teenager is already so hard, and so much pressure is put on teenagers, way more than is needed. In Australia, in year 12 (the final year of high school) you're told that you need to study harder than you've ever studied before, that you need to succeed in everything because this will dictate the rest of your life, you need to get a great ATAR score so that you can go to the university you want. What they don't tell you is that after twelve months, your ATAR score is worthless. That you can apply to university as a mature aged student once that twelve months is up and still get in to do what you want to do. I didn't know what I wanted to do until I was 24. So this story really highlights the struggles that students face and how the smallest most insignificant thing, that an adult might see as trivial, could be the center of that teenagers life at that point in time. That their world could feel like it was crashing down around them, yet no one seems to care, because they just don't get it, or they've forgotten what it's like to be a teenager.
The relationship between Reece and Zain was a cute addition, but I feel like it sort of burnt out with no real importance placed upon it. It offered another chance for Reece to grow as a person, but it just seemed really over and done with quickly and I think was a little too superficial in the way it was written so I just didn't really care about it. This story dealt with some brilliant subjects, but I feel like they could have been explored a bit deeper to really hit home more and make me feel a lot stronger about certain things that happened. I do love the growth that Reece's character went through and the realisations that she had about herself and her athletic peers, I thought that was brilliant.
All in all this was an enjoyable book that touched on some very important subjects centered around life and the teenage experience. I feel like if the book had have been a bit longer, some subjects could have been delved into a little deeper to make me feel a bit more emotion towards it. But that's neither here nor there, it's still a great story with strong characters that are well written and real. If you love a contemporary young adult story that focuses on some heavy issues and growing up give this one a go, it might be your next favourite!
December 9, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Evernight teen for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book! It was so intriguing and realistic, and the fact that the book could relate to many other individuals or struggling teens was also so precious and heartwarming. The character relationships and development through the story was spot on. It spoke about how others might feel pain or hold on to pain or a grudge for a while and the ending! This book was such an emotional rollercoaster! Susan Marshall really does know how to make me cry. The characters development as well as their relationship development was so cute to read about and I absolutely loved the chemistry and similarities as well as how some characters faced their problems. In the end, life is like this, and many relate to this story which is what makes me like this book even more!
March 16, 2022
DOUBLE NEGATIVE by Susan Marshall is a YA Contemporary novel that follows Reece after a recent shoulder injury that has upended her world. Not only does she have to take a break from her swimming team, where she was excelling, but she also has to switch high schools. Her fancy sports school, Elite, doesn’t keep spots open for bench warmers. Going to a more traditional school isn’t all bad though. From one side, Reece has more time to socialize and explore other interests, but from the other, she has to deal with her brother’s antics and the hot-and-cold basketball player whose secret could upend her world, again.
Overall, what this book does well is showcase the American teenager’s plight of getting accepted to college. Many of us cannot afford to pay for further education unless we get scholarships. Zain, in this book, is counting on his basketball scholarship, but there are many obstacles in his way, including a bad car accident that resulted in his leg being amputated. Reece is also looking for a sports scholarship. Though her family has more money, she still needs her athletic abilities to open doors for her. Her brother, on the other hand, is unsure he’ll be able to pursue what he actually wants to do at a school he actually wants to go to, so he jumps through hoops to get other extracurricular activities on his resume. It’s tough, and anyone going through or preparing for the college application process will be able to relate to these characters.
That being said, I had a hard time being fully invested in the story. For instance, it doesn’t make sense to me why Elite would displace its student-athletes to another high school for a short period of time when the students could stay there and rehab. It seems like a complete disruption of everything, and it was hard for me to buy that the Board of Education in the area would allow that. Perhaps this does happen in real life, but the brief explanation we get for it isn’t until very late in the book, and I would’ve liked that earlier on to help understand the full situation. I also found the constant on-again, off-again relationship with Zain prevented me from caring about it ultimately, and his vendetta against Jamie was almost too much.
Athletes, both current and past, especially those with injuries, will be fans of DOUBLE NEGATIVE. It peels back the curtain on what it takes to be competitive and what it means to be all in on something. It also gives readers a little nudge to remind us that we’re allowed to change our minds on what we want for our futures.
Review originally published on YA Books Central: https://www.yabookscentral.com/double...
Overall, what this book does well is showcase the American teenager’s plight of getting accepted to college. Many of us cannot afford to pay for further education unless we get scholarships. Zain, in this book, is counting on his basketball scholarship, but there are many obstacles in his way, including a bad car accident that resulted in his leg being amputated. Reece is also looking for a sports scholarship. Though her family has more money, she still needs her athletic abilities to open doors for her. Her brother, on the other hand, is unsure he’ll be able to pursue what he actually wants to do at a school he actually wants to go to, so he jumps through hoops to get other extracurricular activities on his resume. It’s tough, and anyone going through or preparing for the college application process will be able to relate to these characters.
That being said, I had a hard time being fully invested in the story. For instance, it doesn’t make sense to me why Elite would displace its student-athletes to another high school for a short period of time when the students could stay there and rehab. It seems like a complete disruption of everything, and it was hard for me to buy that the Board of Education in the area would allow that. Perhaps this does happen in real life, but the brief explanation we get for it isn’t until very late in the book, and I would’ve liked that earlier on to help understand the full situation. I also found the constant on-again, off-again relationship with Zain prevented me from caring about it ultimately, and his vendetta against Jamie was almost too much.
Athletes, both current and past, especially those with injuries, will be fans of DOUBLE NEGATIVE. It peels back the curtain on what it takes to be competitive and what it means to be all in on something. It also gives readers a little nudge to remind us that we’re allowed to change our minds on what we want for our futures.
Review originally published on YA Books Central: https://www.yabookscentral.com/double...
November 13, 2021
Evernight Teen,
Thank You for this eARC!
I devoured this exciting, action packed story which has a promising, intriguing, tempting premise.
Our characters are relatable and believable with their issues and drama.
Reece, I was pulled right into her world.
Zain was another great character who i really enjoyed getting a glimpse inside his world.
This has some romance which I thought added that much more to the story.
This was one well written young adult novel.
The book’s pace was fast, whirlwind, heart throbbing and conclusion was well wrapped up as it was expected.
Thank You for this eARC!
I devoured this exciting, action packed story which has a promising, intriguing, tempting premise.
Our characters are relatable and believable with their issues and drama.
Reece, I was pulled right into her world.
Zain was another great character who i really enjoyed getting a glimpse inside his world.
This has some romance which I thought added that much more to the story.
This was one well written young adult novel.
The book’s pace was fast, whirlwind, heart throbbing and conclusion was well wrapped up as it was expected.
March 7, 2022
I really enjoyed Double Negative by Susan Marshall. As an avid reader of YA novels, I find that the author often struggles to find the voice of a pre-teen/teen. That isn't the case in this book. Susan Marshall very ably portrays her characters - you love them, you hate them, and you even feel ambivalent towards some them. The story moves at a good clip, and at the end, you want more! I highly recommend you go out and buy this book, and urge Susan Marshall to write a sequel. I would love to see how these characters develop...
February 27, 2022
Very teen drama, but with a kind of condescending tone. It was almost written down to the teen reader.
Reece deals with family drama, social issues, young love and how to follow your dreams. The most compelling plot point was her relationship with her dad. Realizing your parents are human isn’t easy.
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours for my free copy. These opinions are my own.
Reece deals with family drama, social issues, young love and how to follow your dreams. The most compelling plot point was her relationship with her dad. Realizing your parents are human isn’t easy.
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours for my free copy. These opinions are my own.
February 23, 2022
It’s great to see more and more YA books tackling some really difficult topics. While this book deals with disability and the threat of a skill being taken from you, it’s also sweet, and reminds you of what it was like to be young and to deal with student councils and societies.
The book was well written and edited which I do appreciate. In addition, I really liked how the author complicated the way our main, Reece, felt about her family; the way her charismatic brother didn’t support her and her fathers line of work, and of course, her ex best friends actions!
I will say that I think this may be better for younger readers; it’s YA for sure in that sense. I’d give this to my younger cousin!
Thank you Kate Rock Book Tours for the chance to read and review this!
The book was well written and edited which I do appreciate. In addition, I really liked how the author complicated the way our main, Reece, felt about her family; the way her charismatic brother didn’t support her and her fathers line of work, and of course, her ex best friends actions!
I will say that I think this may be better for younger readers; it’s YA for sure in that sense. I’d give this to my younger cousin!
Thank you Kate Rock Book Tours for the chance to read and review this!
March 26, 2022
I loved this book! The characters are well-developed and credible. The high school romances are so true to life, reminding me of my own experiences during those years. The story kept my interest throughout and the fast-paced drama amongst the characters made it difficult for me to put the book down.
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