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Y.A #1
Young Annabelle
What do I see when I look in the mirror?
I see a girl who just wants to be loved by her family, her best friend and…a guy she thought she’d never go for.
Someone should have told me sooner…that falling for a guy like that…was not a good idea.
At all.
Just past the halfway mark on her summer from hell weightloss journey, seventeen year old Annabelle Simms has lost a grand total of nine pounds. Which should have been great, but not where her mother was concerned. According to her, nine pounds wasn’t good enough and ridiculously slow considering she counted every calorie Annabelle ate and burned.
Already a star on the Royal Heights High School Baseball team, James Lawson wasn’t your average transfer student. Even with his ‘new guy’ status, he quickly becomes one of the ‘Kings of the Hallway’ and that alone should have been the red flag Annabelle needed to stay away from him. He’s arrogant, intense, rude and worst of all he seems like the kind of guy that usually gets what he wants. But the more time they spend together, it becomes difficult to stray away from those beautiful green eyes, especially with all the stress her mother is causing her.
Will Annabelle wake up and see James for what her ‘common sense’ declares him to be or will she ignore everything and open her heart, allowing James to capture her…care for her…..body, mind and soul?
Warning Contains Mature Scenes
Recommend for ages 17+
This is not a standalone novel. Book 1 in Y.A Series
I see a girl who just wants to be loved by her family, her best friend and…a guy she thought she’d never go for.
Someone should have told me sooner…that falling for a guy like that…was not a good idea.
At all.
Just past the halfway mark on her summer from hell weightloss journey, seventeen year old Annabelle Simms has lost a grand total of nine pounds. Which should have been great, but not where her mother was concerned. According to her, nine pounds wasn’t good enough and ridiculously slow considering she counted every calorie Annabelle ate and burned.
Already a star on the Royal Heights High School Baseball team, James Lawson wasn’t your average transfer student. Even with his ‘new guy’ status, he quickly becomes one of the ‘Kings of the Hallway’ and that alone should have been the red flag Annabelle needed to stay away from him. He’s arrogant, intense, rude and worst of all he seems like the kind of guy that usually gets what he wants. But the more time they spend together, it becomes difficult to stray away from those beautiful green eyes, especially with all the stress her mother is causing her.
Will Annabelle wake up and see James for what her ‘common sense’ declares him to be or will she ignore everything and open her heart, allowing James to capture her…care for her…..body, mind and soul?
Warning Contains Mature Scenes
Recommend for ages 17+
This is not a standalone novel. Book 1 in Y.A Series
227 pages, ebook
First published April 30, 2013
89 people are currently reading
786 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Tork
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
November 10, 2014
No plot, annoying heroine, terrible writing, and just overall horrible. So glad this was a free ebook. I'm not sure how anyone would find anything enjoyable about this one as it doesn't make much sense. Really disappointed in the response to this one.
May 16, 2013
I don't often write reviews, but I feel obligated to when I come upon books that I absolutely love. This is one of those books. If you're unsure whether to purchase it or not, buy it!!!! This is a high-quality, inexpensive ebook that has a great story line, an inspirational message, and an alpha male!
The relationship between Annabelle and James was compelling, realistic, and fully absorbing. The author did a great job making the reader empathize with Annabelle, especially with the tough family situation (and diet-possessed mother) she faces daily. Annabelle leads James on a merry chase after her heart, having him prove his desire for her, which he had no qualms doing. As a YA, I definitely saw his emerging alpha male character, determined not to allow her to run from him. His fierceness and protection of Annabelle while the relationship is just beginning to bloom was truly great to read. It was also a delight viewing Annabelle's character growing strong enough to find her voice and stand up for herself. Overall, I loved the book and can't wait for the sequel!
The relationship between Annabelle and James was compelling, realistic, and fully absorbing. The author did a great job making the reader empathize with Annabelle, especially with the tough family situation (and diet-possessed mother) she faces daily. Annabelle leads James on a merry chase after her heart, having him prove his desire for her, which he had no qualms doing. As a YA, I definitely saw his emerging alpha male character, determined not to allow her to run from him. His fierceness and protection of Annabelle while the relationship is just beginning to bloom was truly great to read. It was also a delight viewing Annabelle's character growing strong enough to find her voice and stand up for herself. Overall, I loved the book and can't wait for the sequel!
May 3, 2015
The beginning had me hooked and that cliffhanger definitely made me get the second book. I mean why not? They're both free! Anyway, the problems I had with this book were the fact that the main character, Annabelle, was a little too immature and cheesy. I get that she's a senior in high school but I'm pretty sure seniors are a tad more mature than this. At least in my opinion. There were a lot of repeated sentences and it proved to be a little irritating. Some of the things that happen are confusing, so I hope the second book clears some of that off. Anyway, I give this 2.5 stars. If you're in the mood for a quick and easy read then this is a perfect read for you!
dnf
November 8, 2016DNF at 20%
This just ended up not being enjoyable for me. I liked some of the elements, but I had literally no motivation to keep going. Oh well, I'm not that disappointed. Maybe in the future I'll pick it back up again, but that's pretty unlikely.
This just ended up not being enjoyable for me. I liked some of the elements, but I had literally no motivation to keep going. Oh well, I'm not that disappointed. Maybe in the future I'll pick it back up again, but that's pretty unlikely.
May 14, 2013
*I received this book from the author, via Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review*
OMG! There's SO much I want to say about this book!
First off, this is a well-written book. I think the author's portrayal of the MC, Annabelle, as an intensely insecure teenager was very accurate.
I HATE Annabelle's family. I wanted to kill her mother on so many occasions, in so many ways! These characters are very well written, and sadly, accurate. So many mothers obsess over their teen daughters' weight and clothing sizes, that if the girl didn't have an eating disorder, they will surely develop one.
Annabelle is a normal, healthy size and weight. But her mother thinks she's fat, and tells her so. And encourages the other children to tell her so. NOT a healthy mother/daughter relationship. Doing this only fosters Annabelle's unhealthy binges of junk food. And her self esteem suffers. This is a love triangle between Annabelle, food, and a boy...
I HATE James. He is a self-centered, egotistical jerk. Again, very well-written, and painfully accurate. He's just a jerk, because he strings Annabelle along, for weeks! This also effects her self esteem, and only pushes her to her other love, food. He comes and goes, and expects Annabelle to just accept his excuses.
And lastly, I hate Annabelle. I know she is written this way, so that she can develop and grow into a strong, independent character later on in the series (? Hopefully, we get a series :) ) but I just wanted to grab that girl, and SHAKE her! And ask her, WTF?! I wanted her to get a bad-ass persona early on, and decide her family was so not worth her time or effort. She gets some of those moments throughout the book, but ultimately her insecurities about her body win out, brought on by mommy's "I just want to help you be healthy" communist diet rules.
I WANT to see more of Jenna, as she is the only sane one of the bunch, and Annabelle's rock. She hopefully teaches Annabelle that she can and will be alright, no matter what her weight is.
I really liked this book, and was SOOO upset when I got to the last page, and didn't realize it was the last page. I hope the next book comes along soon, because I gotta know what happens!
Thank so much to the author for allowing me to R&R.
OMG! There's SO much I want to say about this book!
First off, this is a well-written book. I think the author's portrayal of the MC, Annabelle, as an intensely insecure teenager was very accurate.
I HATE Annabelle's family. I wanted to kill her mother on so many occasions, in so many ways! These characters are very well written, and sadly, accurate. So many mothers obsess over their teen daughters' weight and clothing sizes, that if the girl didn't have an eating disorder, they will surely develop one.
Annabelle is a normal, healthy size and weight. But her mother thinks she's fat, and tells her so. And encourages the other children to tell her so. NOT a healthy mother/daughter relationship. Doing this only fosters Annabelle's unhealthy binges of junk food. And her self esteem suffers. This is a love triangle between Annabelle, food, and a boy...
I HATE James. He is a self-centered, egotistical jerk. Again, very well-written, and painfully accurate. He's just a jerk, because he strings Annabelle along, for weeks! This also effects her self esteem, and only pushes her to her other love, food. He comes and goes, and expects Annabelle to just accept his excuses.
And lastly, I hate Annabelle. I know she is written this way, so that she can develop and grow into a strong, independent character later on in the series (? Hopefully, we get a series :) ) but I just wanted to grab that girl, and SHAKE her! And ask her, WTF?! I wanted her to get a bad-ass persona early on, and decide her family was so not worth her time or effort. She gets some of those moments throughout the book, but ultimately her insecurities about her body win out, brought on by mommy's "I just want to help you be healthy" communist diet rules.
I WANT to see more of Jenna, as she is the only sane one of the bunch, and Annabelle's rock. She hopefully teaches Annabelle that she can and will be alright, no matter what her weight is.
I really liked this book, and was SOOO upset when I got to the last page, and didn't realize it was the last page. I hope the next book comes along soon, because I gotta know what happens!
Thank so much to the author for allowing me to R&R.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2013
Ok. I liked this book, I did.
It just annoyed me half the time. Her mother? Jesus Christ, I wanted to punch that lady in the face. Half the time all I thought was STFU already.. And James.. I just. I don't know. Thennn the ending..? I can't even put my thoughts together to make this review.
Needless to say, I will read the next book because I need to know what happens at that dang party.
It just annoyed me half the time. Her mother? Jesus Christ, I wanted to punch that lady in the face. Half the time all I thought was STFU already.. And James.. I just. I don't know. Thennn the ending..? I can't even put my thoughts together to make this review.
Needless to say, I will read the next book because I need to know what happens at that dang party.
June 1, 2014
More like 1.5 stars
It was short so I just kept going, but nothing much happened. The plot was really thin, the characters were flat, and the writing needs a lot of work.
It was short so I just kept going, but nothing much happened. The plot was really thin, the characters were flat, and the writing needs a lot of work.
May 20, 2013
First of all I have to say I enjoyed this book even though it's not one I would usually read. Mostly because I think it's more relatable to teens because of the main character's perspective. However, I could also see some adults reading it to better understand their teens at home as you really get an understanding of how Annabelle is feeling and why she acts certain ways to things.
Annabelle's character is a realistic teenager with normal problems and in my opinion very relatable. Poor Annabelle is pressured by her parents to lose weight after they put down her spirits time and time again by telling her how fat she is. The worse part is how they get her siblings to say the same and think it's okay to treat people the way they do. Even though they seem to think their intentions are good, all the good they really end up doing in the end is kicking her while she's down. Needless to say the strict diet plan her mother happily carries out doesn't help anyone.
So with Annabelle's life being complicated and unhappy she of course has a great best friend, Jenna, who is always there for her. I kind of wished Jenna was around more in the book as she lifted up the depression at times, but I understand why she wasn't. You wouldn't be able to truly know how Annabelle is feeling if Jenna kept popping up to fix everything.
Then of course enters a boy, James...aka "Tiger." I love the nicknames by the way. They add a touch of playfullness and are used mostly in tender moments. I thought this character was perfect! At first I felt what Annabelle did about him, he was such a jerk! But then as I kept reading I realized, he's just a teenage boy and is acting like one. He wasn't really a jerk, deep inside he was very sweet which showed at certain moments and I started to think maybe the jerk side was only coming out at times when Annabelle would react badly to something he said and it was his way of acting defensive. Basically, his sometimes bad attitude was a result of a normal teenage relationship and many misunderstandings. Another part of it is that Annabelle seems to be caught so deeply into her parents perspective of her that she starts believing it herself and doesn't think James really likes her because she's not likable. If only she knew...maybe she'll find out in the next book just how beautiful and special she is!
Okay, so they reason this book got 4/5 stars and not 5 is for one reason that kind of drove me a little crazy. The jumps in time were killing me! I understand that every good story has flash backs and jumps between past and present times at some point in the book, but it was a little much for me. First of all we were jumping days, weeks and months at times and it was confusing. It usually took me a few pages into each chapter to realize where the current chapter fit into the overall timeline. And that's saying something as I tend to have great attention to detail and am very good and keeping the storyline straight in my head. The author did put dates at the appropriate times to let you know where you were in the story, but let's be honest, I don't know about everyone else but I don't often remember dates at the beginning of chapters very well when they appear as often as journal entries.
Other than my one issue, I really liked this book. Not only do I think this will be a beneficial novel to many teens and adults but I was also able to relate to it which made it all the more better. You don't have to have a weight problem to read this kind of book, it's more about the overall cause and effect of the teen/parent relationship and how things are handled. And of course accepting people for who they are. I related because I grew up in a strict household with high expectations that were not always the ones I wanted for myself and my parents didn't care about that, it was all about what they wanted for me. With the good intentions but poor communication and many misunderstandings, I ended up feeling a lot like Annabelle did at times and reading this book brought back those feelings and memories. So I would encourage anyone and everyone to read this book. I think there will be something for everyone to take and learn from Annabelle's story.
Annabelle's character is a realistic teenager with normal problems and in my opinion very relatable. Poor Annabelle is pressured by her parents to lose weight after they put down her spirits time and time again by telling her how fat she is. The worse part is how they get her siblings to say the same and think it's okay to treat people the way they do. Even though they seem to think their intentions are good, all the good they really end up doing in the end is kicking her while she's down. Needless to say the strict diet plan her mother happily carries out doesn't help anyone.
So with Annabelle's life being complicated and unhappy she of course has a great best friend, Jenna, who is always there for her. I kind of wished Jenna was around more in the book as she lifted up the depression at times, but I understand why she wasn't. You wouldn't be able to truly know how Annabelle is feeling if Jenna kept popping up to fix everything.
Then of course enters a boy, James...aka "Tiger." I love the nicknames by the way. They add a touch of playfullness and are used mostly in tender moments. I thought this character was perfect! At first I felt what Annabelle did about him, he was such a jerk! But then as I kept reading I realized, he's just a teenage boy and is acting like one. He wasn't really a jerk, deep inside he was very sweet which showed at certain moments and I started to think maybe the jerk side was only coming out at times when Annabelle would react badly to something he said and it was his way of acting defensive. Basically, his sometimes bad attitude was a result of a normal teenage relationship and many misunderstandings. Another part of it is that Annabelle seems to be caught so deeply into her parents perspective of her that she starts believing it herself and doesn't think James really likes her because she's not likable. If only she knew...maybe she'll find out in the next book just how beautiful and special she is!
Okay, so they reason this book got 4/5 stars and not 5 is for one reason that kind of drove me a little crazy. The jumps in time were killing me! I understand that every good story has flash backs and jumps between past and present times at some point in the book, but it was a little much for me. First of all we were jumping days, weeks and months at times and it was confusing. It usually took me a few pages into each chapter to realize where the current chapter fit into the overall timeline. And that's saying something as I tend to have great attention to detail and am very good and keeping the storyline straight in my head. The author did put dates at the appropriate times to let you know where you were in the story, but let's be honest, I don't know about everyone else but I don't often remember dates at the beginning of chapters very well when they appear as often as journal entries.
Other than my one issue, I really liked this book. Not only do I think this will be a beneficial novel to many teens and adults but I was also able to relate to it which made it all the more better. You don't have to have a weight problem to read this kind of book, it's more about the overall cause and effect of the teen/parent relationship and how things are handled. And of course accepting people for who they are. I related because I grew up in a strict household with high expectations that were not always the ones I wanted for myself and my parents didn't care about that, it was all about what they wanted for me. With the good intentions but poor communication and many misunderstandings, I ended up feeling a lot like Annabelle did at times and reading this book brought back those feelings and memories. So I would encourage anyone and everyone to read this book. I think there will be something for everyone to take and learn from Annabelle's story.
August 14, 2014
Uhm... Are we talking about the same book?
I'm seeing tons of reviews that are falling over themselves about this book, but I have to say, I'm in disagreement with most of them.
Really? A portrayal of real life? James is THE bad boy? No. No. No.
I agree that there are thousands, or even millions of people that struggle with weight, but I have news for you, there is absolutely NOTHING fat about 165. Sorry to disappoint but that's a pretty healthy weight depending on the height especially for 5'7". (Also, I'd like to point out that regular cola is way more healthy for you than diet. Anyone whose visited a nutritionist as much as that devil woman would know that)
Second, I've seen nothing even remotely "bad boy" about James. Sure, he's a cocky bastard, and maybe he's playing Annabelle a little bit, but we really get no indication of that except for Annabella's indecisive rambling. We actually don't know very much about him at all, or any character for that matter.
Next to nothing is said about her family, except that they're all insensitive douche canoes and that she's tired of them! The father has maybe a couple of lines in the whole book--we barely see him, the little brother and the little sister. The mother is just a devil woman that everyone is supposed to hate because the main character apparently does. However, we don't know WHY the mother is obsessed about dieting, or what sparked the behavior in the first place. We also don't know how she acted before the "summer from hell" when she suddenly was forcing a meal plan and exercise upon her daughter.
The organization of the plot was a little weird, I wasn't too sure exactly what was going on or when. Obviously, I noticed the dates, but the writing didn't indicate changes or anything. Also, I'm a little unsure of the prologue of this story. When exactly was this supposed to happen, because there was nothing about it in the "present day" section. The only purpose I got from it was that James was apparently an asshole (which could be gathered from the first freaking chapter when Annabella states it about eight times). Was this supposed to be after the second book? If so the WHY was it in the first?
Also, there wasn't much that happened in the book, I felt like I was reading a REALLY long prologue and the real shit is supposed to happen next. And if that was the case, the way wasn't this labeled as a novella at least?
Finally, Annabella was irritating. She was whiny and indecisive, touchy and overreacted to almost every situation, but couldn't seem to find her backbone when she could have actually used it(i.e. With her mother). She might have a similar thought process to a lot of teenaged girls, but there's a way to effectively portray that without it coming off as annoying, and in my opinion the novel didn't achieve that.
Overall, it was a quick easy read, not a lot of side tracking. I do like the fact that ms. Tork decided to make Annabelle on the curvy side. Most women are not actually model thin, and I'm glad that there are several authors out there that choose to represent that in their work.
2.5 stars, for all that was stated above. We'll see how the next book goes!
I'm seeing tons of reviews that are falling over themselves about this book, but I have to say, I'm in disagreement with most of them.
Really? A portrayal of real life? James is THE bad boy? No. No. No.
I agree that there are thousands, or even millions of people that struggle with weight, but I have news for you, there is absolutely NOTHING fat about 165. Sorry to disappoint but that's a pretty healthy weight depending on the height especially for 5'7". (Also, I'd like to point out that regular cola is way more healthy for you than diet. Anyone whose visited a nutritionist as much as that devil woman would know that)
Second, I've seen nothing even remotely "bad boy" about James. Sure, he's a cocky bastard, and maybe he's playing Annabelle a little bit, but we really get no indication of that except for Annabella's indecisive rambling. We actually don't know very much about him at all, or any character for that matter.
Next to nothing is said about her family, except that they're all insensitive douche canoes and that she's tired of them! The father has maybe a couple of lines in the whole book--we barely see him, the little brother and the little sister. The mother is just a devil woman that everyone is supposed to hate because the main character apparently does. However, we don't know WHY the mother is obsessed about dieting, or what sparked the behavior in the first place. We also don't know how she acted before the "summer from hell" when she suddenly was forcing a meal plan and exercise upon her daughter.
The organization of the plot was a little weird, I wasn't too sure exactly what was going on or when. Obviously, I noticed the dates, but the writing didn't indicate changes or anything. Also, I'm a little unsure of the prologue of this story. When exactly was this supposed to happen, because there was nothing about it in the "present day" section. The only purpose I got from it was that James was apparently an asshole (which could be gathered from the first freaking chapter when Annabella states it about eight times). Was this supposed to be after the second book? If so the WHY was it in the first?
Also, there wasn't much that happened in the book, I felt like I was reading a REALLY long prologue and the real shit is supposed to happen next. And if that was the case, the way wasn't this labeled as a novella at least?
Finally, Annabella was irritating. She was whiny and indecisive, touchy and overreacted to almost every situation, but couldn't seem to find her backbone when she could have actually used it(i.e. With her mother). She might have a similar thought process to a lot of teenaged girls, but there's a way to effectively portray that without it coming off as annoying, and in my opinion the novel didn't achieve that.
Overall, it was a quick easy read, not a lot of side tracking. I do like the fact that ms. Tork decided to make Annabelle on the curvy side. Most women are not actually model thin, and I'm glad that there are several authors out there that choose to represent that in their work.
2.5 stars, for all that was stated above. We'll see how the next book goes!
May 20, 2013
I am a member of a YA group on Goodreads. I came across a posting asking to review this book for the author. It sounded interesting so I said yes. I'm glad I did. This was a great book and I enjoyed it very much.
I did kind of force myself to start reading this book, because to be honest, the cover for the book is pretty in its own way, but it didn't draw me into wanting to read the story. I did make a promise to read it though for a review so I read it for part of a read-a-thon.
This is a story about Annabelle who's entire family is considering her fat and is watching ever calorie she eats as well as loses. She is in a living nightmare at her house and hates being there. She has to even wear a watch that says how many calories she loses and is required to lose so many a day to appease her mother. This part of the book was hard for me to read. Sarah does a great job of making you hate Annabelle's family.
As Annabelle is dealing with all her family issues she ends up getting a new co-worker for a day by the name of James. James is tall, fit, cute, handsome, hot...the whole works...did I forget to mention a stuck up conceited jerk? Well, James confuses Annabelle throughout the book. You still learn to love him anyway, because he still is a lot better to be around than her family is.
I loved reading this book. I read it very fast and was sad when it ended. I definitely can't wait for the next book to come out. I will be waiting for it. She ended it with "The end of Part 1". If that doesn't scream there is more to come, I don't know what does.
Annabelle is a loveable character and you can't help but cheer her on throughout her summer and beginning of school. She has so much happen to her in her life you definitely have sympathy for her. This is a book that you sadly have to say that you know this truly does happen to real teens throughout their life. Weightloss and obesity has became a big issue for many people in their lives.
Annabelle has such a sweet and caring heart on her, but her family turns her into a monster sometimes because even when people try to compliment her, she is haunted by the words of her parents. She feels worthless and not pretty at all so she lashes out at those that she thinks are actually making fun of her. This is a classic book of proving that even with a little weight on your body, you can still be beautiful inside and out.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read subjects on people with hard lifestyles as well as someone just wanting a good soul searching book.
I did kind of force myself to start reading this book, because to be honest, the cover for the book is pretty in its own way, but it didn't draw me into wanting to read the story. I did make a promise to read it though for a review so I read it for part of a read-a-thon.
This is a story about Annabelle who's entire family is considering her fat and is watching ever calorie she eats as well as loses. She is in a living nightmare at her house and hates being there. She has to even wear a watch that says how many calories she loses and is required to lose so many a day to appease her mother. This part of the book was hard for me to read. Sarah does a great job of making you hate Annabelle's family.
As Annabelle is dealing with all her family issues she ends up getting a new co-worker for a day by the name of James. James is tall, fit, cute, handsome, hot...the whole works...did I forget to mention a stuck up conceited jerk? Well, James confuses Annabelle throughout the book. You still learn to love him anyway, because he still is a lot better to be around than her family is.
I loved reading this book. I read it very fast and was sad when it ended. I definitely can't wait for the next book to come out. I will be waiting for it. She ended it with "The end of Part 1". If that doesn't scream there is more to come, I don't know what does.
Annabelle is a loveable character and you can't help but cheer her on throughout her summer and beginning of school. She has so much happen to her in her life you definitely have sympathy for her. This is a book that you sadly have to say that you know this truly does happen to real teens throughout their life. Weightloss and obesity has became a big issue for many people in their lives.
Annabelle has such a sweet and caring heart on her, but her family turns her into a monster sometimes because even when people try to compliment her, she is haunted by the words of her parents. She feels worthless and not pretty at all so she lashes out at those that she thinks are actually making fun of her. This is a classic book of proving that even with a little weight on your body, you can still be beautiful inside and out.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read subjects on people with hard lifestyles as well as someone just wanting a good soul searching book.
June 2, 2013
Annabelle isn't having a very good summer. Her mother - and by extension, her whole family - is obsessed with Annabelle's weight. Every calorie eaten and every calorie burned is tallied, her wardrobe is criticized, and she's hungry all the time. Her summer job at the country club isn't that great either. But all that seems to change when she meets James at the country club, and when they're not bickering they hit it off pretty well. But will this possible romance last the summer, let alone survive senior year of high school?
Sarah Tork's novel vividly portrays Annabelle's world and state of mind. At times it's painful to read of her hunger pains and the it's-for-your-own-good harassment by her family over her (perfectly normal) weight. She's full of self-doubt and insecurity, constantly second-guessing her relationship with James. She's self-centered, but no more so than most teens, and you really want to see things work out for her.
Whether they ultimately do remains to be seen as the novel ends on a cliffhanger. But I'm definitely intrigued and will be reading the next installment to find out what happens with Annabelle.
My one criticism of the book is that it's too short - I'd like a little more background on Annabelle's family and her best friend. And I'd like to know more about Annabelle herself, especially as she gets into senior year - what does she want from life, aside from getting away from her awful family? I hope we'll see more of this in the next book.
Sarah Tork's novel vividly portrays Annabelle's world and state of mind. At times it's painful to read of her hunger pains and the it's-for-your-own-good harassment by her family over her (perfectly normal) weight. She's full of self-doubt and insecurity, constantly second-guessing her relationship with James. She's self-centered, but no more so than most teens, and you really want to see things work out for her.
Whether they ultimately do remains to be seen as the novel ends on a cliffhanger. But I'm definitely intrigued and will be reading the next installment to find out what happens with Annabelle.
My one criticism of the book is that it's too short - I'd like a little more background on Annabelle's family and her best friend. And I'd like to know more about Annabelle herself, especially as she gets into senior year - what does she want from life, aside from getting away from her awful family? I hope we'll see more of this in the next book.
December 1, 2015
Can't do it. Life is too short, and this is too horrendously bad. And will probably promote eating disorders and body dysmorphia.
March 21, 2017
If you're looking for a fun, fast paced and light hearted romance than this is the book for you! There's no drama or angst so it was a nice change from my usual read.
A friend suggested it to me saying she loved it and was sure that I would enjoy it too. What she failed to tell me was that this is a self published book so it never got proofread. The mistakes weren't that many but enough to make me not want to give it 5 stars.
Annabelle was a very relatable character as I too struggle with being a little overweigh so I could connect with her and her problems. The only thing that didn't work out for was her immaturity. I think being 17 shouldn't be an excuse for some of the things she did.
Overall i enjoyed it. It has a few laugh out loud moments so beware if you read it in public like I did cause you'll receive some strange looks. Trust me. Don't say I didn't warn you.
P.S. There's a cliffhanger so you'll find yourself buying the second book as soon as you're finished with this one.
A friend suggested it to me saying she loved it and was sure that I would enjoy it too. What she failed to tell me was that this is a self published book so it never got proofread. The mistakes weren't that many but enough to make me not want to give it 5 stars.
Annabelle was a very relatable character as I too struggle with being a little overweigh so I could connect with her and her problems. The only thing that didn't work out for was her immaturity. I think being 17 shouldn't be an excuse for some of the things she did.
Overall i enjoyed it. It has a few laugh out loud moments so beware if you read it in public like I did cause you'll receive some strange looks. Trust me. Don't say I didn't warn you.
P.S. There's a cliffhanger so you'll find yourself buying the second book as soon as you're finished with this one.
March 29, 2018
There wasn't much to this story. The romance, if you can call it that, was interesting in the first chapter. But after that it went downhill fast. Annabelle is constantly being picked on, by her own family, about her weight. She 5'7" and weighs 167 lbs, that's not heavy enough to warrant that kind of behavior. I didn't like Annabelle's mom, in fact I found her quite mean, but then we don't know why she's this persistent about overseeing everything Annabelle eats and making sure she exercises. Maybe the next books reveal the reason, if there's one, but I don't know if I care enough to read them. This book just stops, not really a cliffhanger more like it's missing a couple chapters. Not a book I'd recommend.
January 31, 2018
The book is great for what it is a cheesy teen romance. The side characters like Annabella's best friend Jenna Sabini truly make the Book worthwhile.
Only downside is the book can feel a bit annoying at times with Annabelle's demeanour however the author ensures that each character has a crazy backstory it's just unfortunate that Annabella's is the one taking centre stage when she's the least interesting character with little back bone or ideas of self worth.
Only downside is the book can feel a bit annoying at times with Annabelle's demeanour however the author ensures that each character has a crazy backstory it's just unfortunate that Annabella's is the one taking centre stage when she's the least interesting character with little back bone or ideas of self worth.
November 21, 2015
SPOILER-FREE
Review originally posted on Aoibh Reads
Annabelle is over 160 pounds and her mother doesn't let her forget it. Controlling her meals and watching the amount of calories she burns, Annabelle can't escape the constant reminder of not being good enough by being judged by her weight.
Then she meets James; he sees nothing wrong with how she looks and doesn't try to hide how he feels for her.
But no matter what he does, Annabelle can't let him in and constantly chooses to see him as a typical popular player. Can she possibly win him for good, as she battles every day with her body and her family to try and win the prize of being loved?
Annabelle: I often find it hard now to read stories with characters a few years younger than me, as I can often find them being immature as I subconsciously compare them to me currently. But even trying to think back to when I was 17, and how my friends acted, I really think she was quite childish still. She did put up with a lot from her control freak mother and horrible family, so I understand her want to lash out. But she needed a kick up the ass to just stand up for herself. She had no problem with being rude to James all the time, so I fail to see why this attitude wasn't integral to her persona and it infiltrate all of her relationships.
James: Meh. I liked the banter between the two, but he was annoying. He lead Annabelle on completely and really was up his own. I don't think we got enough insight into his character to be able to see why Annabelle fell for him, so it felt like it was all just her wanting to be accepted more than down to James himself. He didn't make an effort with Annabelle but just spontaneously appeared as it suited him and expected her to be chill with it all ~ he didn't speak to her for 2 weeks as his phone broke... but yet he knew where she lived and it was supposedly close by. If he really cared he would've dropped by to tell her.
Story: I really was disappointed with the content in this. From reading the blurb of the book, I expected the majority of the story to take place when Annabelle had actually returned to high school, but in fact out of 6 weeks, only one day was set in the new school year. I liked the idea behind it all though, but am put off that the first book actually had so little in the story. I was expecting a lot more and had it read in well under 3 hours and it felt like I'd just read a few chapters. But oh well.
Theme: I'm a huge fan of how influential authors can be and them recognising this fact and not abusing this power. Writing a story involving self-image issues and weight needs to be executed in a careful manner as it's an issue nearly every young-adult/teen experiences growing up. Annabelle wasn't at an outrageous weight that required a diet or such drastic reaction to by her parents. She was described as having a round belly and love handles etc, (pretty normal) but it was clear she was self conscious about this part of her body, regardless of the number on the scales. THIS IS WHAT SHOULD'VE BEEN THE FOCUS! Instead of fighting against her mother about what she ate, there should have been more discussion over her self image issues- what she was conscious about, ~ like pulling her cardigan down so she could breathe out and keep her tummy hidden ~ the little things she did to battle her insecurities that the reader could relate to and James/Jenna whoever reassuring her (the reader too maybe) that there was nothing wrong with her body. Of course, keep the horrible mother character as the bully and the catalyst for feeling so awful, but there needed to be a balance as I felt there were things that weren't addressed that should've been in this theme. There was no element of self love, and I don't mean it should be promoting being unhealthy and taking the attitude of "I love myself so I don't care" but rather not having to be a certain number on the scales or not have an ounce of "wobble" to be considered healthy. I'm not overweight or fat etc, whatever word you want to use, and I am healthy, but it took me years to be able to focus on being healthy rather than being a certain size and this needed to be really incorporated into the story to really hit home the theme in this... *deep breath*
Overall:
Okaayyyyyy. So, after all that, I do recommend this! It's a light read and definitely suitable for YA's out there. The writing is good and there's a good pace to everything as the story does move along quite well. I'm reading the second book straight after this so maybe certain issues are addressed in that, however I do believe it would've been better if this first book had more substance to it.
See more of my reviews here
April 3, 2025
A cute and quick read.
It reminded me of all of the insecurities that I went through regarding boys and my body. Not necessary in high-school (as I was a late bloomer) but just in general as I was navigating my early adulthood.
It reminded me of all of the insecurities that I went through regarding boys and my body. Not necessary in high-school (as I was a late bloomer) but just in general as I was navigating my early adulthood.
April 4, 2020
Read it while I was in high school because it was a free ebook and I loved the book and characters a lot when I was 15/16
September 21, 2021
1.5 stars for the writing. But it was a quick and easy read- good if you need something light for a change.
February 19, 2022
The mc was a tad unlikable, but then again I am not a YA reader so this book itself was not the best choice for me.
April 2, 2025
Truly not good but the tea
November 30, 2013
I have to admit that I really liked this book.
The story follows Annabelle, a slightly (very slightly in my opinion) overweight young girl whose self-image is under constant attack by her mother's obsession over thinning her down for her senior year. Wearing only a size ten, her mother buys her clothes that are too small for her as incentive for her to lose weight, makes her wear a calorie tracking wristwatch, and makes her eat horribly unsatisfying foods in tiny quantities. Besides that, Annabelle's younger siblings are often brought in by their mother to gang up on Annabelle over her weight, making them disrespect their older sister and making Annabelle feel alone in a family who views her as less than worthy of their love and acceptance.
Already downtrodden, Annabelle finds herself in a thankless job selling lemonade at a country club. But that's when things get interesting. She meets a rather rude, but very hot boy named James who turns her life upside down. Her insecurities make her doubt everything he says, especially when he tells her she's beautiful, and she comes off pretty harsh at times. On the other hand, he's pretty self-absorbed and single minded, often coming off as a jerk.
Still, throughout the whole thing, I found myself rooting for Annabelle and James. His compliments and kinder moments seem to draw Annabelle out from the dark cloud her family has cast over her. As for Annabelle, she's a complex girl, and I totally get why she has so much trouble believing that James really likes her. I can't help but cringe when she lashes out at him, sometimes deserved, but not always.
Overall, I found Annabelle to be a relatable, insecure girl. Her rollercoaster of feelings, her struggle to please her parents, and her first encounters with a handsome boy who happens to like her are realistically portrayed if, at times, hard to take. I empathized with her and rooted for her, and even rooted for James, who had some good things going for him, too.
The story is well-layed out and well-written, though I did notice some errors sprinkled throughout, mostly words that sound like the right ones, but as spelled, don't mean what the author likely intended. The opening of the story starts at the end, not the end of this book, as I had expected, but likely the end of the series, or maybe even some way into the next book. The end leaves off at a cliffhanger kind of suddenly, and while it sets the stage for the next book, I would have liked some more resolution in this one.
Overall, I really liked Young Annabelle and would recommend it to fans of realistic, contemporary YA who enjoy reading about first loves, crazy parents, and troubled teens struggling to find themselves.
Although the author requested a review for this book earlier in the year, I found my copy on Smashwords during a free promotion.
The story follows Annabelle, a slightly (very slightly in my opinion) overweight young girl whose self-image is under constant attack by her mother's obsession over thinning her down for her senior year. Wearing only a size ten, her mother buys her clothes that are too small for her as incentive for her to lose weight, makes her wear a calorie tracking wristwatch, and makes her eat horribly unsatisfying foods in tiny quantities. Besides that, Annabelle's younger siblings are often brought in by their mother to gang up on Annabelle over her weight, making them disrespect their older sister and making Annabelle feel alone in a family who views her as less than worthy of their love and acceptance.
Already downtrodden, Annabelle finds herself in a thankless job selling lemonade at a country club. But that's when things get interesting. She meets a rather rude, but very hot boy named James who turns her life upside down. Her insecurities make her doubt everything he says, especially when he tells her she's beautiful, and she comes off pretty harsh at times. On the other hand, he's pretty self-absorbed and single minded, often coming off as a jerk.
Still, throughout the whole thing, I found myself rooting for Annabelle and James. His compliments and kinder moments seem to draw Annabelle out from the dark cloud her family has cast over her. As for Annabelle, she's a complex girl, and I totally get why she has so much trouble believing that James really likes her. I can't help but cringe when she lashes out at him, sometimes deserved, but not always.
Overall, I found Annabelle to be a relatable, insecure girl. Her rollercoaster of feelings, her struggle to please her parents, and her first encounters with a handsome boy who happens to like her are realistically portrayed if, at times, hard to take. I empathized with her and rooted for her, and even rooted for James, who had some good things going for him, too.
The story is well-layed out and well-written, though I did notice some errors sprinkled throughout, mostly words that sound like the right ones, but as spelled, don't mean what the author likely intended. The opening of the story starts at the end, not the end of this book, as I had expected, but likely the end of the series, or maybe even some way into the next book. The end leaves off at a cliffhanger kind of suddenly, and while it sets the stage for the next book, I would have liked some more resolution in this one.
Overall, I really liked Young Annabelle and would recommend it to fans of realistic, contemporary YA who enjoy reading about first loves, crazy parents, and troubled teens struggling to find themselves.
Although the author requested a review for this book earlier in the year, I found my copy on Smashwords during a free promotion.
December 21, 2013
As December arrived, I realized that I was so close and yet so far to completing my A-Z Title Challenge on Goodreads. So I decided it was time to buckle down and complete it. I was having a hard time getting into my chosen book for Y, so when someone mentioned that Young Annabelle was free, I decided to give it a shot. It sounded like it could be funny, it was free, and it was short!
It ended up not being nearly as funny as I expected, but it wasn’t bad. I was a little confused, though, because it starts after Elisa’s first day of school, and she’s apparently had a bad day. The next day seems a little better, and then it rewinds to six weeks earlier. That’s where it stays for most of the book. It actually talks about how she meets James and the events over the summer.
James was a complicated character. Sometimes he seemed like an arrogant jerk, and other times he seemed really sweet and honest. It was hard to figure out my feelings for him. Annabelle was a little bit annoying, but her personality made sense. She lives in Orlando, Florida, and is a little bit overweight, so she doesn’t really get attention from guys. Her parents force her into a diet and really beat up on her about her weight, and her younger siblings join in. So, when James starts to show an interest in her, though she finds him attractive, she is very hesitant and doubts his motives.
There was nothing really about the story that grabbed me, other than my wanting to kill Annabelle’s mother almost any time she happened to be in the scene. Both Annabelle and James were up and down with their relationship and interactions with each other.
As I approached the ending of the book, I got a little confused, as it didn’t really feel like it fit with the opening chapter, but it was also left on a fairly large cliffhanger, so I will probably read the next book when it comes out. I really want to know the truth about James!
This review is also posted on my blog: http://mommysreadingbreak.wordpress.c...
It ended up not being nearly as funny as I expected, but it wasn’t bad. I was a little confused, though, because it starts after Elisa’s first day of school, and she’s apparently had a bad day. The next day seems a little better, and then it rewinds to six weeks earlier. That’s where it stays for most of the book. It actually talks about how she meets James and the events over the summer.
James was a complicated character. Sometimes he seemed like an arrogant jerk, and other times he seemed really sweet and honest. It was hard to figure out my feelings for him. Annabelle was a little bit annoying, but her personality made sense. She lives in Orlando, Florida, and is a little bit overweight, so she doesn’t really get attention from guys. Her parents force her into a diet and really beat up on her about her weight, and her younger siblings join in. So, when James starts to show an interest in her, though she finds him attractive, she is very hesitant and doubts his motives.
There was nothing really about the story that grabbed me, other than my wanting to kill Annabelle’s mother almost any time she happened to be in the scene. Both Annabelle and James were up and down with their relationship and interactions with each other.
As I approached the ending of the book, I got a little confused, as it didn’t really feel like it fit with the opening chapter, but it was also left on a fairly large cliffhanger, so I will probably read the next book when it comes out. I really want to know the truth about James!
This review is also posted on my blog: http://mommysreadingbreak.wordpress.c...
September 21, 2014
A Must Read for Young Adults
I never want to relive my high school years and I am sure neither does Annabelle if she makes it through her senior year in one piece!
Young Annabelle is an excellent coming of age story that tells about Annabelle's struggles at home and work and with boys and her classmates. At the heart of Annabelle's issues are her lack of confidence, pride, and self love that her family (especially her mother) has stripped away from her as they hound her about not being super skinny. Annabelle doesn't see herself as "worthy" of being noticed by boys (especially James) and she doesn't make the effort to leave her bedroom often to socialize with her classmates outside of her best friend Jenna.
Annabelle has a whole world waiting for her and people who love and accept her just as she is. If she can find the strength and confidence, she can hopefully find her happiness and worth outside of her family's taunts and demeaning treatment. Maybe once Annabelle accepts herself she can accept James's attention, too. Only time will tell in this series!
I enjoyed this first book and can't wait to read the rest. The characters are relatable and feel real. The storyline is one that many young adults struggle with and it is told honestly through a seventeen year old's perception. The writing had some grammatical errors, but overall it was easy to follow and understand with a smooth flow and continuity. I think this is an excellent series for teens to read who are having weight issues and/or are trying to assert their inner confidence. I also think it is a great series for parents of teens to see how much their words and actions impact their kids.
I never want to relive my high school years and I am sure neither does Annabelle if she makes it through her senior year in one piece!
Young Annabelle is an excellent coming of age story that tells about Annabelle's struggles at home and work and with boys and her classmates. At the heart of Annabelle's issues are her lack of confidence, pride, and self love that her family (especially her mother) has stripped away from her as they hound her about not being super skinny. Annabelle doesn't see herself as "worthy" of being noticed by boys (especially James) and she doesn't make the effort to leave her bedroom often to socialize with her classmates outside of her best friend Jenna.
Annabelle has a whole world waiting for her and people who love and accept her just as she is. If she can find the strength and confidence, she can hopefully find her happiness and worth outside of her family's taunts and demeaning treatment. Maybe once Annabelle accepts herself she can accept James's attention, too. Only time will tell in this series!
I enjoyed this first book and can't wait to read the rest. The characters are relatable and feel real. The storyline is one that many young adults struggle with and it is told honestly through a seventeen year old's perception. The writing had some grammatical errors, but overall it was easy to follow and understand with a smooth flow and continuity. I think this is an excellent series for teens to read who are having weight issues and/or are trying to assert their inner confidence. I also think it is a great series for parents of teens to see how much their words and actions impact their kids.
September 30, 2014
The main problem I had with this book was the lack of character development.
Annabelle, our main character, was pretty realistic in my opinion. She dealt with problems the way I would have dealt with them. However, she had no character development whatsoever. She also could get very irritating and always jumped to conclusions. Although she was relatable in the way that she was unsatisfied with her physical appearance, she wasn't very likable.
I also had a huge problem with her family. I felt like you were supposed to hate them, but also understand the way they were treating Annabelle. I, however, thought the parents were a bit emotionally and verbally abusive. I know that they had good intentions and just wanted their daughter to be the best she could, but the things they said and did were so upsetting. I'm not sure if the author wanted us to hate them as much as I did, or sympathize with them, but I could not stand them at all.
There were minor typos and grammar issues in the story. It wasn't too bad though, just got a bit annoying sometimes. Also, I didn't like how the author used ableist language.. I'm sure she didn't use the words to offend anyone, but it kinda came off that way..
All in all, this was enjoyable for the most part, and I flew through it. I do plan on picking up the next ones so I can see what happens with James and Annabelle (which I kind of thought had no depth).
Annabelle, our main character, was pretty realistic in my opinion. She dealt with problems the way I would have dealt with them. However, she had no character development whatsoever. She also could get very irritating and always jumped to conclusions. Although she was relatable in the way that she was unsatisfied with her physical appearance, she wasn't very likable.
I also had a huge problem with her family. I felt like you were supposed to hate them, but also understand the way they were treating Annabelle. I, however, thought the parents were a bit emotionally and verbally abusive. I know that they had good intentions and just wanted their daughter to be the best she could, but the things they said and did were so upsetting. I'm not sure if the author wanted us to hate them as much as I did, or sympathize with them, but I could not stand them at all.
There were minor typos and grammar issues in the story. It wasn't too bad though, just got a bit annoying sometimes. Also, I didn't like how the author used ableist language.. I'm sure she didn't use the words to offend anyone, but it kinda came off that way..
All in all, this was enjoyable for the most part, and I flew through it. I do plan on picking up the next ones so I can see what happens with James and Annabelle (which I kind of thought had no depth).
August 1, 2013
Okay wow! When Sarah Tork DM'd me asking if I wanted to read her book I quickly agreed! As a bookaholic I'm always looking for my next good read!
I read the synopsis right away and was definitely looking forward to it!
I was not disappointed one little bit with the book, in fact I loved it! But holy crap Sarah! How am I supposed to function with that kinda cliffhanger!! Sheesh! ;0)
Annabelle is a great character extremely relatable in so many ways! And she captures the crazy emotion and confusion of first love. The war a girl goes through trying to decide how far is too far. When she has butterflies making her sensibilities turn to mush.
Now onto her mom and home life. That truly sucks beyond belief! I would have lost my mind that summer! But then again the tenseness in the home is relatable too.
Of course I can't decide with this book if James is really an A-hole or not. I'm sure book 2 is going to shed light on the situation!
All I know for sure is I NEED YES NEED BOOK TWO ASAP!
There will be no spoilers in this review. You have to read all the drama, laughs and steamy goodness for yourself.
I recommend this book a million times over! Great job Sarah Tork!!!
I read the synopsis right away and was definitely looking forward to it!
I was not disappointed one little bit with the book, in fact I loved it! But holy crap Sarah! How am I supposed to function with that kinda cliffhanger!! Sheesh! ;0)
Annabelle is a great character extremely relatable in so many ways! And she captures the crazy emotion and confusion of first love. The war a girl goes through trying to decide how far is too far. When she has butterflies making her sensibilities turn to mush.
Now onto her mom and home life. That truly sucks beyond belief! I would have lost my mind that summer! But then again the tenseness in the home is relatable too.
Of course I can't decide with this book if James is really an A-hole or not. I'm sure book 2 is going to shed light on the situation!
All I know for sure is I NEED YES NEED BOOK TWO ASAP!
There will be no spoilers in this review. You have to read all the drama, laughs and steamy goodness for yourself.
I recommend this book a million times over! Great job Sarah Tork!!!
January 3, 2014
Damn it Sarah.....you did it again (lol). I need to start reading the blurb or reviews of the books before I start reading. You sucked me into Anna's life only to leave me feeling like WTF just happened....I need more now (I'm wait cliffhangers and waiting for the next book to come out).
Ok seriously though, the characters in this book were very realistic and I totally empathized with how Anna felt about her weight throughout the entire book, because most girls/women go through the same insecurities about their weight at least some point in their lives. But I can't imagine having a mother let alone an entire family that's so over-critical of her weight issues. I literally wanted to slap her mother. Then enters James and at this point I really don't know how I feel about him. I think he likes her, but desperately needs to fit in with the popular crowd that he's ashamed to be seen in public with her...which in my book is a no no. Maybe I'll get more of a feel who James is in the next book. I enjoyed the first book, but I would recommend reading this book after all the books in the series have been published otherwise you will be pissed off like me.
Ok seriously though, the characters in this book were very realistic and I totally empathized with how Anna felt about her weight throughout the entire book, because most girls/women go through the same insecurities about their weight at least some point in their lives. But I can't imagine having a mother let alone an entire family that's so over-critical of her weight issues. I literally wanted to slap her mother. Then enters James and at this point I really don't know how I feel about him. I think he likes her, but desperately needs to fit in with the popular crowd that he's ashamed to be seen in public with her...which in my book is a no no. Maybe I'll get more of a feel who James is in the next book. I enjoyed the first book, but I would recommend reading this book after all the books in the series have been published otherwise you will be pissed off like me.
April 20, 2015
I know it may sound wired but you can't help but feel that I am a part of the story ,all the issues relates to everyday life in one way or another dealing with Boys, Weight, family and School.
I love Annabel she’s Feisty and not afraid to speak her mind she has issues with her weight and has a very emotional struggle when it comes to it her family don’t help either especially her nagging Mother.
She meets James a cutie with an Ego the size of Texas he like her and she likes Him but things start to get wired and confusing ,you will feel a little frustrated at times you may even start shouting at the book ( but keep reading it gets better)
Annabel does not know what’s happening one minute James is all over her and the next its like she does not even exists. What is James doing to this poor girl is he playing her or does he really like here or is there more to the story.
The author is awesome I love her writing style, all her books are a great read the quirkyness in the writting.Can't wait to read Truth about James need to know what happening.ps if you loved Annabelle you will Adore ALWAYS WANTED
I love Annabel she’s Feisty and not afraid to speak her mind she has issues with her weight and has a very emotional struggle when it comes to it her family don’t help either especially her nagging Mother.
She meets James a cutie with an Ego the size of Texas he like her and she likes Him but things start to get wired and confusing ,you will feel a little frustrated at times you may even start shouting at the book ( but keep reading it gets better)
Annabel does not know what’s happening one minute James is all over her and the next its like she does not even exists. What is James doing to this poor girl is he playing her or does he really like here or is there more to the story.
The author is awesome I love her writing style, all her books are a great read the quirkyness in the writting.Can't wait to read Truth about James need to know what happening.ps if you loved Annabelle you will Adore ALWAYS WANTED
November 5, 2016
This was an ebook that has a great storyline, an inspirational message, and an alpha male!
The nature of Annabelle and James' relationship was compelling, absorbing and realistic at times. Annabelle leads James on to prove his desire for her, in which he does not hesitate to. Through this chase, James' alpha male character emerges as his fierceness and protection of Annabelle begins to bloom.
It was easy to empathise with Annabelle through the tough family situation; her diet-possessed mother, puppet-like father and brainwashed siblings that she faced on a daily basis.
Throughout the novel, it is good to visualise the strength that Annabelle musters to find her voice and stand up for herself.
“I shook my head, watching Shelby as she trotted away just like a horse would have after taking a nice, long poo.
Ewe! Yuck!….mental image.”
“I didn’t smell you!”
“Did so, Fireball,” he replied smugly. “You got all quiet and the only thing I heard was the sound of your nostrils sniffing my sweet scent!”
“The purple lunch box!”
“Stupid bank account – the one skinny thing in my life!”
“Am I the one who’s ‘stupid’?
No way. Five times five equals twenty-five!”
The nature of Annabelle and James' relationship was compelling, absorbing and realistic at times. Annabelle leads James on to prove his desire for her, in which he does not hesitate to. Through this chase, James' alpha male character emerges as his fierceness and protection of Annabelle begins to bloom.
It was easy to empathise with Annabelle through the tough family situation; her diet-possessed mother, puppet-like father and brainwashed siblings that she faced on a daily basis.
Throughout the novel, it is good to visualise the strength that Annabelle musters to find her voice and stand up for herself.
“I shook my head, watching Shelby as she trotted away just like a horse would have after taking a nice, long poo.
Ewe! Yuck!….mental image.”
“I didn’t smell you!”
“Did so, Fireball,” he replied smugly. “You got all quiet and the only thing I heard was the sound of your nostrils sniffing my sweet scent!”
“The purple lunch box!”
“Stupid bank account – the one skinny thing in my life!”
“Am I the one who’s ‘stupid’?
No way. Five times five equals twenty-five!”
January 9, 2017
4.25 stars
Prior to reading this book and just after reading the blurb, my excitement level was so freaking high. I don't know, it's kind of a 'good feeling' or something is telling me that this series will not disappoint. When I found out that Young Annabelle is free in Apple Store, I purchased it immediately together with the other two books in the series. Now, after finishing the first book, I have to say that it's a great start.
James and Annabelle have that instant chemistry. Probably because James is such a cocky/sweet/cute guy while Annabelle is a fireball/fierce and there is always something about that combination. I was hooked from the beginning.
Although I expected that there will be a cliffhanger, I didn't expect that particular kind of ending. I didn't like it one bit. I wish the author ended it in a different scene where there will be more impact.
I can't wait to finish this series and find out what will happen to James and Annabelle. I hope I won't regret purchasing these books.
Prior to reading this book and just after reading the blurb, my excitement level was so freaking high. I don't know, it's kind of a 'good feeling' or something is telling me that this series will not disappoint. When I found out that Young Annabelle is free in Apple Store, I purchased it immediately together with the other two books in the series. Now, after finishing the first book, I have to say that it's a great start.
James and Annabelle have that instant chemistry. Probably because James is such a cocky/sweet/cute guy while Annabelle is a fireball/fierce and there is always something about that combination. I was hooked from the beginning.
Although I expected that there will be a cliffhanger, I didn't expect that particular kind of ending. I didn't like it one bit. I wish the author ended it in a different scene where there will be more impact.
I can't wait to finish this series and find out what will happen to James and Annabelle. I hope I won't regret purchasing these books.
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