Sooner or Later

Jessie Walters #1

by Bruce Hart, Carole Hart

Book by Carole Hart

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Childrens, Coming Of Age, Teen

Paperback

First published September 1, 1983

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book in one of my trunks. I have kept it since the first time I read it and fell for Bruce and Carole Hart's writing.
As I turned each page, the flash of me as a teen filled with wonder, excitement, and lost within the pages hit - which had me devouring the book in under an hour.
A great an easy read filled with the high emotions of a 13 year old girl trying to come into her own as she is attracted to a 17 year old boy. I might have read Judy Blume, but the Harts understood me.
Jessie Walters is like every girl was when I was growing up, I even think I was a form of Jessie. She quickly finds herself attracted to Michael Skye and the torment, deception, angst begins.
This is the first of Jessie and Michael's trilogy.
Simple writing, fast read - but 5 stars because for an hour I was a teen again.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first saw the television adaptation of this story, then was delighted and surprised to find the novel in the YA section of my local bookstore. I actually like the book more than the movie. It treats teenage love with the reverence it deserves. I also related so strongly to Jessie's desire for romance, glamor, and excitement at the young age of thirteen. The prospect of leaving my suburban home in NJ with a rock star harkened back to my earliest David Cassidy fantasies. (Yep, I wanted to run away with David Cassidy when I was 5. Call me precocious.)

The two sequels to this book -- Waiting Games and Now or Never are equally strong. I was happy they didn't let me down, as this story has always been dear to my heart.

[Gina Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was a young teenager and loved it. It was one of those books that made me fall in love wth reading. I found it and rebought it at a used book store and it is still sitting on myshelf now that I am 41 yrs old.

[J.J. Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wooo doggy! Talk about judging a book by its cover (and blurb). My friend and I bought this book and its sequel for a quarter each at the paperback exchange when I was 12-ish. I hid them from my mom. I can't say it was transcendent writing, but obvs it was transcendent reading for a 12-13 year old. Stayed with me all these years. Of course I loved Judy Blume as well, but these stuck with me as scandalous AND mind-reading. I remember so much of it ... lines like "if you buy a bra, it's like buying a garage for your car" and then you're sure to get breasts ... unless I'm remembering wrong ... I must re-read these books, pronto. Where can I find them?!? :)

[Steph Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dedicate this review to my 13-year-old self, who read this book a total of 30 times (I kept count). I still find the story very touching and will admit to owning a copy of the film (gone are the days when a career could be made by appearing in the right TV movie at the right time--see Rex Smith).

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was younger and loved the movie adaptation too. A 13 year old girl gets a makeover at the mall and then goes to see a band play (also in the mall of course) and catches the eye of the lead singer (can't remember if he's over or under 18 but he's right around there.) She winds up taking guitar lessons from him and pretending to be older and they start dating but he has no idea how old she is. Everyone I knew read this book in junior high-loved it!

[Zamora · Rating 5 out of 5]

It helped that while reading this book, this beautiful face stayed in my mind. I really loved the movie and the book added even more layers on it. I'm going to read the next in the series.

[Arlene Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, the movie of the same name made a star of Rex Smith. Who? If you grew up in the 70's you would know him...he was also Daredevil in the Incredible Hulk tv series. The book was okay; it was Rex we loved.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooner or Later, Waiting Games, and Now or Never is the best young adult trilogy ever! Sooner or Later helped me realize, at 12, that I didn't have to write in complete sentences--whoa. Love them!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

What girl didn't want to be Jessie?!

[Loraine Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read about becoming a teen and learning about boys and dating.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you were a teenage girl in the 1970s, you've probably heard of the television movie "Sooner or Later" starring Denise Miller and musical heartthrob Rex Smith. I can't begin to count how many times I've seen the movie or listened to its songs, but I've never read the book until now. While some of the writing is a bit cringe and clunky at times, it's still a cute, clean teenage love story appropriate for any reader.

Some of my favorite lines from the book:

"I feel the same way about cluttered closets. Except I never thought about the ones in my head. I suppose they must be a mess."

"You can hear the sound of the tires on the highway and the wind rushing by in the spaces between his sentences."

"Even though Caroline is still at the stage where she dreams more about kisses made of chocolate than kisses made of mouths..."

"...and this time, you can almost see the spiky icicles flying from her eyes."

[Chantal burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when i was about 12 and spent the past year searching for it now I'm 58. It's one of those sweet stories that will stay with you. I really want to see the movie again

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would of received 5 stars from my 12 year old self, but now I have to go with 3. I remember loving this book and movie. It was such a big deal that she was 13 and lied about her age to date a 17 year old. The book was written from the screen play, so it is very choppy. As an adult I want more detail, but when I read it as a child I just loved it.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is nostalgia at it's best...this book will never leave me again! i bought in online a few years ago..while it is written for junior high age girls, i feel like one again when i read it. it's a rock and roll teenage romance.

[Ann Mulholland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book when I was 14 and I loved it now. Such a sweet story of first love, and we have all been thru it. Can't wait to read the sequel.
Just read this again, in one sitting. Can't get enough of Michael & Jessie.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!!

[elissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character in the book lies about her age, so that she can have a relationship with an older guy.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect book for girls to read around age 13. Might be outdated now, but it was very good in my day.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sequel to Waiting Games - I read these stories many times as a young teenager.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

No, you can't borrow it.

[Aaron Blair-McCutchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was like the best book, ever. When I was nine.

[Kimber Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a young teenager and thought it was fabulous. Reading it now takes me back to the days of first loves, the joy, the heartache, and the excitement of that first kiss...

[Tina Denson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book and I want a copy so bad but its almost impossible to find!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this after seeing the movie. I still remember both of them clear as day. I would love to get a copy and reread.

[Kimmie Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My aunt gave me this book to read. She said it was one of her faves when she was a teenager. I really liked it. It's a great quick read.

[Omeda]

I read this when I was a teen. Can you remember passing this around?

[Rebecca Braswell Mattocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of my favorites! It is actually an adaptation of a 1970's tv movie screenplay! Very fun, engaging and well written, I am going to give it to my 12 year old next year to read.

[Kathy Brown]

Y

[Tracy Miller]

A book from my youth.