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Juniper #1
The Edge of Juniper
“You’re off-limits, so why can’t I stop thinking about you?”
Fay Whitaker, sixteen years old and yearning for adventure, is excited to spend the summer with her fearless cousin Celia in small-town Juniper, Indiana.
But Fay soon discovers that her summer home is not what she expected. She is alarmed by her uncle’s temper, and learns of the grudge he holds against the Dearing family. Celia handles the tension at home by escaping with her boyfriend, leaving Fay with time on her hands—time that leads her straight to Malcolm Dearing, off-limits because of his last name. Fay is captivated by Malcolm’s warmth and intensity. She finds that trying to stay away from him only makes her think of him more.
Fay and Celia are launched on a journey, and each must attempt to navigate the thrilling and unpredictable world of love. Everything Fay thinks she knows about love is put to the test, as relationships unfold and reveal themselves in ways she never before dreamed.
Fay Whitaker, sixteen years old and yearning for adventure, is excited to spend the summer with her fearless cousin Celia in small-town Juniper, Indiana.
But Fay soon discovers that her summer home is not what she expected. She is alarmed by her uncle’s temper, and learns of the grudge he holds against the Dearing family. Celia handles the tension at home by escaping with her boyfriend, leaving Fay with time on her hands—time that leads her straight to Malcolm Dearing, off-limits because of his last name. Fay is captivated by Malcolm’s warmth and intensity. She finds that trying to stay away from him only makes her think of him more.
Fay and Celia are launched on a journey, and each must attempt to navigate the thrilling and unpredictable world of love. Everything Fay thinks she knows about love is put to the test, as relationships unfold and reveal themselves in ways she never before dreamed.
276 pages, Paperback
Published June 8, 2016
193 people are currently reading
1233 people want to read
About the author
Lora Richardson
14 books131 followersHi, I'm Lora. Thanks for taking a peek in here. I live a quiet life in Indiana with my family. I spend my days reading, writing, and hanging out with my people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 22, 2016
This contemporary novel is great. Just great. It handles very serious themes that happen in real life and handle them in a mature and very realistic way. The author talks about divorce, domestic violence, long distance relationships, believing in love, falling out of love, alcoholism, trusting yourself. All these themes are so important and what happens in everyday life, too. I thought the author handled them wonderfully.
So what’s the story? Fay is a city girl sent to live with her cousins in the country during the summer while her parents go to help build houses, as well as attempt to figure out something in their marriage. While Fay had always visited her cousins for a week every year, she was always there as a guest. Being there as a member of the family, she’s experiencing new rules that are different to the ones she’s used to, and seeing her aunt and uncle treat each other and their children in a very different way than what she thought was considered “normal.” She starts questioning everything her cousin Celia took for granted – that maybe not all families treat each other the way her parents treat her. Maybe it’s not normal for her father to drink so much beer that her mother has to hide it, that her mother sends them out of the house whenever her father gets angry.
Throughout the eight weeks that Fay stays with her cousins, she slowly starts learning about herself and what she always believed love and family to be. Her view on them is changed, but only for the better. I loved how she grew by the end of the book. While she stops believing in love and “happily ever after” for a while, she soon adjusts her view to finally understand that there are all types of love. They’re all different, but all just as powerful despite their differences.
Then, of course, there’s her relationship with a certain boy called Malcolm. Fay is forbidden to speak to him as his father is her uncle’s boss, but the chemistry and attraction is palpable between them and they slowly fall for each other and it was adorable to read. Malcolm’s loyalty to Fay and to do what she wanted was wonderful and when she stopped believing in love he refused to leave her side, and helped her reaffirm her belief. I just loved it.
Overall, this is a book not to be missed. It’s not too difficult to read, and isn’t too long either. It’s a great new book for Lora Richardson!
So what’s the story? Fay is a city girl sent to live with her cousins in the country during the summer while her parents go to help build houses, as well as attempt to figure out something in their marriage. While Fay had always visited her cousins for a week every year, she was always there as a guest. Being there as a member of the family, she’s experiencing new rules that are different to the ones she’s used to, and seeing her aunt and uncle treat each other and their children in a very different way than what she thought was considered “normal.” She starts questioning everything her cousin Celia took for granted – that maybe not all families treat each other the way her parents treat her. Maybe it’s not normal for her father to drink so much beer that her mother has to hide it, that her mother sends them out of the house whenever her father gets angry.
Throughout the eight weeks that Fay stays with her cousins, she slowly starts learning about herself and what she always believed love and family to be. Her view on them is changed, but only for the better. I loved how she grew by the end of the book. While she stops believing in love and “happily ever after” for a while, she soon adjusts her view to finally understand that there are all types of love. They’re all different, but all just as powerful despite their differences.
Then, of course, there’s her relationship with a certain boy called Malcolm. Fay is forbidden to speak to him as his father is her uncle’s boss, but the chemistry and attraction is palpable between them and they slowly fall for each other and it was adorable to read. Malcolm’s loyalty to Fay and to do what she wanted was wonderful and when she stopped believing in love he refused to leave her side, and helped her reaffirm her belief. I just loved it.
Overall, this is a book not to be missed. It’s not too difficult to read, and isn’t too long either. It’s a great new book for Lora Richardson!
June 18, 2016
really cute and light summer read! review to come
June 15, 2016
4 to 4.5 STARS
Contemporary is my genre of choice. Whether it's young adult, new adult or adult fiction, I'm a contemporary girl. Even so, I'm still cautious about which books I accept for review. I read for myself, I read what I like, and that's that. But as soon as I read the synopsis of The Edge of Juniper I knew I wanted to read more. And I'm so glad I did.
Fay is sent to stay with her aunt and uncle in Indiana while her parents are out of the country for what ends up being a summer of change and growth. Her previous week-long visits have forged a close bond with her cousin so she's excited to have an entire summer together. But her extended stay shows what her earlier visits didn't. Cracks in the seemingly happy family begin to show - her uncle's drinking and volatile temper, the ever-changing set of house rules, and Celia's rendezvous with a boy that seems mainly to serve as a way to escape her home life. With her own parent's marriage foundering, Fay is no longer sure what she can believe in.
In the midst of this, Fay meets Malcolm Dearing - handsome and charming and apparently quite interested in getting to know her better. But due to her uncle's feelings about Malcolm's father, who is also his employer, Malcolm is decidedly off-limits. Fay doesn't count on Malcolm's persistence, though, or her own growing feelings. As the summer progresses and Fay navigates a new relationship, she begins to question the very things she has always counted on to be true.
Let me say straight up that I loved Fay. It's not often that a YA protagonist rings as true as this girl did. I loved that she did not fall into so many of the cookie cutter YA tropes we see over and over. She wasn't shy or insecure, she didn't have body image issues, she didn't lose all sense of self once a boy entered the picture, she wasn't angsty and overly emotional. No, this girl had a good head on her shoulders. Fay was confident (usually), level-headed and not afraid to speak her mind. She didn't play games. She was forthright and it was when she was at her most candid that I found myself reading with a big smile on my face and marveling at this remarkable girl.
As for Malcolm... oh my. Every girl should be so lucky to have a Malcolm in her life. I loved his persistence at trying to get to know Fay. Heck, just trying to get her name in the beginning! :) I loved how he was so genuine, so patient, so funny and kind. His eternal optimism just as Fay was losing faith in happily ever after's was so endearing.
When it comes to secondary characters Malcolm's parents were the true stand-outs for me. Oh how I loved them. Malcolm's friend Paul and Fay's cousin Abe were also favorites. I found myself never quite warming to Celia and more often than not felt that Fay was a much better friend (cousin) to Celia than Celia was to Fay.
If I were being nit-picky, I could say that there were a few instances where the dialogue did not really ring true. At one point I made a note saying, "While I love what he said, what teenage boy really talks like this?" But it's a credit to Richardson's writing and amazing characterization that I was completely willing to overlook those instances and just go with the story.
My mental snapshots from The Edge of Juniper: hot summer days, ice cream from the Dream Cone, kisses, riding on the back of lawn mowers, swimming in ponds, wood shavings, skinny dipping, poems written on napkins, hot and humid nights, Clydesdales.
I so hope this wonderful, heartfelt novel gets the attention it deserves. I'll certainly be doing my part inpushing it on recommending it to everyone. If you're a fan of YA contemporary fiction, The Edge of Juniper is simply not to be missed.
*Note: I was contacted by the author and provided a copy of this book with no expectation beyond an honest review. This does not impact my opinion or the content of this review.
Contemporary is my genre of choice. Whether it's young adult, new adult or adult fiction, I'm a contemporary girl. Even so, I'm still cautious about which books I accept for review. I read for myself, I read what I like, and that's that. But as soon as I read the synopsis of The Edge of Juniper I knew I wanted to read more. And I'm so glad I did.
Fay is sent to stay with her aunt and uncle in Indiana while her parents are out of the country for what ends up being a summer of change and growth. Her previous week-long visits have forged a close bond with her cousin so she's excited to have an entire summer together. But her extended stay shows what her earlier visits didn't. Cracks in the seemingly happy family begin to show - her uncle's drinking and volatile temper, the ever-changing set of house rules, and Celia's rendezvous with a boy that seems mainly to serve as a way to escape her home life. With her own parent's marriage foundering, Fay is no longer sure what she can believe in.
In the midst of this, Fay meets Malcolm Dearing - handsome and charming and apparently quite interested in getting to know her better. But due to her uncle's feelings about Malcolm's father, who is also his employer, Malcolm is decidedly off-limits. Fay doesn't count on Malcolm's persistence, though, or her own growing feelings. As the summer progresses and Fay navigates a new relationship, she begins to question the very things she has always counted on to be true.
Let me say straight up that I loved Fay. It's not often that a YA protagonist rings as true as this girl did. I loved that she did not fall into so many of the cookie cutter YA tropes we see over and over. She wasn't shy or insecure, she didn't have body image issues, she didn't lose all sense of self once a boy entered the picture, she wasn't angsty and overly emotional. No, this girl had a good head on her shoulders. Fay was confident (usually), level-headed and not afraid to speak her mind. She didn't play games. She was forthright and it was when she was at her most candid that I found myself reading with a big smile on my face and marveling at this remarkable girl.
As for Malcolm... oh my. Every girl should be so lucky to have a Malcolm in her life. I loved his persistence at trying to get to know Fay. Heck, just trying to get her name in the beginning! :) I loved how he was so genuine, so patient, so funny and kind. His eternal optimism just as Fay was losing faith in happily ever after's was so endearing.
When it comes to secondary characters Malcolm's parents were the true stand-outs for me. Oh how I loved them. Malcolm's friend Paul and Fay's cousin Abe were also favorites. I found myself never quite warming to Celia and more often than not felt that Fay was a much better friend (cousin) to Celia than Celia was to Fay.
If I were being nit-picky, I could say that there were a few instances where the dialogue did not really ring true. At one point I made a note saying, "While I love what he said, what teenage boy really talks like this?" But it's a credit to Richardson's writing and amazing characterization that I was completely willing to overlook those instances and just go with the story.
My mental snapshots from The Edge of Juniper: hot summer days, ice cream from the Dream Cone, kisses, riding on the back of lawn mowers, swimming in ponds, wood shavings, skinny dipping, poems written on napkins, hot and humid nights, Clydesdales.
I so hope this wonderful, heartfelt novel gets the attention it deserves. I'll certainly be doing my part in
*Note: I was contacted by the author and provided a copy of this book with no expectation beyond an honest review. This does not impact my opinion or the content of this review.
September 18, 2016
I wasn't sure what is was that drew me to this book. Maybe a need to lose myself in young love, maybe a need to see if I could let go and enjoy innocence for a change. Whatever it was, I'm so grateful for it. This book was hot summer nights, sleepovers with best friends, part time jobs and stolen first kisses. It was every memory I ever loved about my younger days, and more. So much more. From the smell of fresh cut grass to the crunch of twigs when you sneak out into the woods, it was evoking and absolutely everything.
It had a lot more depth to it than just a teenage crush. Fay is dealing with her own world crumbling as her parents struggle to make a dying marriage work. Shipped off to spend a summer with her favorite cousin, she gets to see firsthand the differences between silent discontent versus loud anger. Her cousin's family has its own problems, and as she tries to tiptoe around them, she somehow finds a way to sneak off and find herself.
Malcolm is everything I hope my own daughter to find, right down to his respectfully stolen kisses, when he makes sure she's ready. It brought me back to the days when I first met what would be my future husband. Making a love last out of your teenage years is hard, but I know from experience it can be accomplished. This was such an accurate portrayal that it made me ache with loving nostalgia. The frank discussions about not being ready to take it to the next level, the opening of minds with hour long conversation. Even the thrill of simply sleeping next to each other. Those are the days of magic and butterflies.
Everything isn't roses though, and this book handles some very tough topics with a candid honesty. No sugar coating and magical happily-ever-afters for the supporting characters, just a knowledge that they aren't alone. It was heartbreaking, and all too real.
Reading about their goodbyes at summer's end took me back to my own long distance relationship. The pain. The gratitude that I now feel having that same boy become the man sleeping beside me 16 years later, despite the distance we had to overcome. My heart broke for them, and broke all over again for my younger self because it was all so beautifully written I was transported right back there.
As with all really good books, I wanted more. I wanted to crawl into the wonderful small town of Juniper with them and watch as their lives unfolded. It ends in a way I can be content with, but I want more. Maybe that's what keeps young love alive to grow and adapt. Always wanting more of each other. ~ George, 5 stars
It had a lot more depth to it than just a teenage crush. Fay is dealing with her own world crumbling as her parents struggle to make a dying marriage work. Shipped off to spend a summer with her favorite cousin, she gets to see firsthand the differences between silent discontent versus loud anger. Her cousin's family has its own problems, and as she tries to tiptoe around them, she somehow finds a way to sneak off and find herself.
Malcolm is everything I hope my own daughter to find, right down to his respectfully stolen kisses, when he makes sure she's ready. It brought me back to the days when I first met what would be my future husband. Making a love last out of your teenage years is hard, but I know from experience it can be accomplished. This was such an accurate portrayal that it made me ache with loving nostalgia. The frank discussions about not being ready to take it to the next level, the opening of minds with hour long conversation. Even the thrill of simply sleeping next to each other. Those are the days of magic and butterflies.
Everything isn't roses though, and this book handles some very tough topics with a candid honesty. No sugar coating and magical happily-ever-afters for the supporting characters, just a knowledge that they aren't alone. It was heartbreaking, and all too real.
Reading about their goodbyes at summer's end took me back to my own long distance relationship. The pain. The gratitude that I now feel having that same boy become the man sleeping beside me 16 years later, despite the distance we had to overcome. My heart broke for them, and broke all over again for my younger self because it was all so beautifully written I was transported right back there.
As with all really good books, I wanted more. I wanted to crawl into the wonderful small town of Juniper with them and watch as their lives unfolded. It ends in a way I can be content with, but I want more. Maybe that's what keeps young love alive to grow and adapt. Always wanting more of each other. ~ George, 5 stars
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Blurb:
“You’re off-limits, so why can’t I stop thinking about you?”
Fay Whitaker, sixteen years old and yearning for adventure, is excited to spend the summer with her fearless cousin Celia in small-town Juniper, Indiana.
But Fay soon discovers that her summer home is not what she expected. She is alarmed by her uncle’s temper, and learns of the grudge he holds against the Dearing family. Celia handles the tension at home by escaping with her boyfriend, leaving Fay with time on her hands—time that leads her straight to Malcolm Dearing, off-limits because of his last name. Fay is captivated by Malcolm’s warmth and intensity. She finds that trying to stay away from him only makes her think of him more.
Fay and Celia are launched on a journey, and each must attempt to navigate the thrilling and unpredictable world of love. Everything Fay thinks she knows about love is put to the test, as relationships unfold and reveal themselves in ways she never before dreamed.
Blurb:
“You’re off-limits, so why can’t I stop thinking about you?”
Fay Whitaker, sixteen years old and yearning for adventure, is excited to spend the summer with her fearless cousin Celia in small-town Juniper, Indiana.
But Fay soon discovers that her summer home is not what she expected. She is alarmed by her uncle’s temper, and learns of the grudge he holds against the Dearing family. Celia handles the tension at home by escaping with her boyfriend, leaving Fay with time on her hands—time that leads her straight to Malcolm Dearing, off-limits because of his last name. Fay is captivated by Malcolm’s warmth and intensity. She finds that trying to stay away from him only makes her think of him more.
Fay and Celia are launched on a journey, and each must attempt to navigate the thrilling and unpredictable world of love. Everything Fay thinks she knows about love is put to the test, as relationships unfold and reveal themselves in ways she never before dreamed.
April 28, 2017
I seen The Edge of Juniper as a suggested book when I was browsing New Adult books on Amazon. I assumed that this book was NA because all the other books in the suggested page were so I bought a copy. It's actually Young Adult, which is fine, but the second I realized that this book wasn't the genre I was wanting, I was disappointed. That's 100% my fault for assuming but it still hindered my overall reading experience with The Edge of Juniper.
The main character is pretty young, 15 years old if I remember correctly, so I had a hard time relating to her. She was a nice character, I liked her, but she was also a little plain. She was an average YA character and she was kind of boring. There was a few things she did and said that was cringy and weird but it wasn't often so it wasn't that big a deal.
The whole book was actually pretty plain and normal. There was nothing really memorable. I liked the characters, pace, and setting. The writing was good for the most part and I loved the family dynamics.
But overall, The Edge of Juniper was a basic YA read. I liked it but I don't think I"ll remember much about it in a few months. If you're looking for a fun, quick read, this book might be for you. But if you're wanting a book that will blow you away, you'll probably want to skip The Edge of Juniper.
The main character is pretty young, 15 years old if I remember correctly, so I had a hard time relating to her. She was a nice character, I liked her, but she was also a little plain. She was an average YA character and she was kind of boring. There was a few things she did and said that was cringy and weird but it wasn't often so it wasn't that big a deal.
The whole book was actually pretty plain and normal. There was nothing really memorable. I liked the characters, pace, and setting. The writing was good for the most part and I loved the family dynamics.
But overall, The Edge of Juniper was a basic YA read. I liked it but I don't think I"ll remember much about it in a few months. If you're looking for a fun, quick read, this book might be for you. But if you're wanting a book that will blow you away, you'll probably want to skip The Edge of Juniper.
July 5, 2016
The author provided me with this ebook for review, and I sincerely thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. Also, this is no way affects my opinions of the book.
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General Thoughts
Firstly, let's appreciate the cover. I generally tend to dislike covers which have actual human models on them, but somehow the fading of the colours and the font of the title completely works for me. Lovely cover.
As for the book, it was, at best, good. A very simple, mild romance novel about a girl who moves to Juniper to spend the summer with her cousin, The Edge of Juniper is nothing special or extraordinary, but at the same time is a good, rainy-day, quick read.
Pros
1. Pace and Length : When a contemporary novel gets too lengthy, it tends to get on my nerves. Thankfully, this novel was well within the boundaries of a normal-length contemporary novel, and pretty much wrapped up everything within a very short length.
2. Family Dynamics : I love it when YA contemporary includes family dynamics and on general, family relationships as a central theme to the plot. In this aspect, this book works wonders because we get to read about different types of families and their different aspects.
3. Portrayal of abusive relationship : I've read a few books where abusive relationships are mainly expressed through violent sex and (sometimes) physical abuse. Somehow, I never get that emotional aspect to an abusive relationship, which I got in this book. Also, the book focuses on a teenage abusive relationship and that portrayal is very well done. The mental turmoil which foes through the victim, the constant hope that maybe the relationship has true love, the expectation that maybe intimacy would solve all problems and the final realization of the reality are all extremely well portrayed from a teen's point of view.
Cons
1. Bland and boring : For a genre which boasts of masterpieces like I'll Give You the Sun, Since You've Been Gone etc., it's difficult for this book to be noticed, let alone stand out. It was a bland read, and nothing really stood out or created a spark or made any deep impact. It's nothing special, absolutely ordinary and tends to get boring quite a lot. Mainly, it's not a book which could hold my attention.
2. Generic plot : Even though it's not compulsory for an author to create something out-of-the-box or unique, conforming to the generic tropes and storylines should be stopped. High time. The story felt like I had read it a hundred times before,and I already knew how it would end way before it ended. It's a book which, if I ripped out twenty random pages in between and still continued reading, I would still have been able to understand what's going on.
Recommend to?
If you want a quick, simple teenage love story.
A 'good book' or a 'good read'?
A simple read. An ordinary book.
My Rating
2.5/5 stars
-----
General Thoughts
Firstly, let's appreciate the cover. I generally tend to dislike covers which have actual human models on them, but somehow the fading of the colours and the font of the title completely works for me. Lovely cover.
As for the book, it was, at best, good. A very simple, mild romance novel about a girl who moves to Juniper to spend the summer with her cousin, The Edge of Juniper is nothing special or extraordinary, but at the same time is a good, rainy-day, quick read.
Pros
1. Pace and Length : When a contemporary novel gets too lengthy, it tends to get on my nerves. Thankfully, this novel was well within the boundaries of a normal-length contemporary novel, and pretty much wrapped up everything within a very short length.
2. Family Dynamics : I love it when YA contemporary includes family dynamics and on general, family relationships as a central theme to the plot. In this aspect, this book works wonders because we get to read about different types of families and their different aspects.
3. Portrayal of abusive relationship : I've read a few books where abusive relationships are mainly expressed through violent sex and (sometimes) physical abuse. Somehow, I never get that emotional aspect to an abusive relationship, which I got in this book. Also, the book focuses on a teenage abusive relationship and that portrayal is very well done. The mental turmoil which foes through the victim, the constant hope that maybe the relationship has true love, the expectation that maybe intimacy would solve all problems and the final realization of the reality are all extremely well portrayed from a teen's point of view.
Cons
1. Bland and boring : For a genre which boasts of masterpieces like I'll Give You the Sun, Since You've Been Gone etc., it's difficult for this book to be noticed, let alone stand out. It was a bland read, and nothing really stood out or created a spark or made any deep impact. It's nothing special, absolutely ordinary and tends to get boring quite a lot. Mainly, it's not a book which could hold my attention.
2. Generic plot : Even though it's not compulsory for an author to create something out-of-the-box or unique, conforming to the generic tropes and storylines should be stopped. High time. The story felt like I had read it a hundred times before,and I already knew how it would end way before it ended. It's a book which, if I ripped out twenty random pages in between and still continued reading, I would still have been able to understand what's going on.
Recommend to?
If you want a quick, simple teenage love story.
A 'good book' or a 'good read'?
A simple read. An ordinary book.
My Rating
2.5/5 stars
February 13, 2017
I really enjoyed the plot of this book and loved all of the characters. A really interesting and enjoyable read.
July 15, 2017
I love it so much!
It unputdownable.
Page turner, easy read.
I also discuss heavy topic: divorce and domestic violence.
I love how the main chara handle problem maturely. The reasons that made me hate some book is when they have too much drama or when I think the main chara being drama queen/king.
It unputdownable.
Page turner, easy read.
I also discuss heavy topic: divorce and domestic violence.
I love how the main chara handle problem maturely. The reasons that made me hate some book is when they have too much drama or when I think the main chara being drama queen/king.
February 20, 2018
2-1/2***
The overall story was fine. It's when I looked past the story to the characters that the problems were revealed. These characters were supposed to be sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen year old kids, but they were actually middle-aged people disguised as teens. The conversations read like forty-year-old people conversing. And they all must have taken a Dale Carnegie course because they said each other's name in almost every sentence.
About halfway through, I resorted to skimming just to get the story.
The overall story was fine. It's when I looked past the story to the characters that the problems were revealed. These characters were supposed to be sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen year old kids, but they were actually middle-aged people disguised as teens. The conversations read like forty-year-old people conversing. And they all must have taken a Dale Carnegie course because they said each other's name in almost every sentence.
About halfway through, I resorted to skimming just to get the story.
September 4, 2016
This book was like a time machine. It will take you back to a time when Summer was something magical. Full of possibility and lighthearted fun. I want to say a simpler time, but any age has it's complications, and that was also apparent here. It felt so familiar. Spending a Summer with your cousins, family drama, hot sticky days followed by nights cooling off in the lake, and of course a sweet boy to distract you from it all! I loved this story! Richardson's writing was beautiful. This book is chock-full of wisdom and coming of age lessons to life by.
"You were wholesome and you still are, same as anyone else. This is why the whole idea of virginity is stupid. Why all the focus on whether or not a girl has done it? Just because you've had sex, you're not any less precious. You're not less pure, you're not less valuable or wholesome. Being a virgin or not doesn't change that."
Fay was a teenage girl that was wise beyond her years in a lot of ways. But also still very much a child who was growing up and starting to learn that grownups, especially parents, were ultimately just human...and flawed. It can be quite jarring when that happens, and I think Richardson did a fantastic job relaying that here.
"I was trying hard to be helpful and supportive of her, and Dad too, but sometimes I turned into a needy child and just wanted them to do the caretaking. It was hard seeing them both so fragile, so in need of care as well."
Malcolm was equally as enchanting as Fay. He was so sweet! Honestly his whole family was enviable! His mother's interactions with Fay truly brought tears to my eyes a few different times. But as perfect as they could seem at times, I appreciated that Richardson made sure to get the point across that there is no perfect. People are fallible and relationships of any kind are something that you have to consciously work at for them to be and stay strong.
Going into this story I thought it was going to be a Romeo and Juliet type of thing. While there was a forbidden romance going on here, it really took a backseat to the real star of the show, in my opinion, which was an endearing coming of age tale with smart, flawed, beautiful people and moments that I want to keep in my pocket close to my heart!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
"You were wholesome and you still are, same as anyone else. This is why the whole idea of virginity is stupid. Why all the focus on whether or not a girl has done it? Just because you've had sex, you're not any less precious. You're not less pure, you're not less valuable or wholesome. Being a virgin or not doesn't change that."
Fay was a teenage girl that was wise beyond her years in a lot of ways. But also still very much a child who was growing up and starting to learn that grownups, especially parents, were ultimately just human...and flawed. It can be quite jarring when that happens, and I think Richardson did a fantastic job relaying that here.
"I was trying hard to be helpful and supportive of her, and Dad too, but sometimes I turned into a needy child and just wanted them to do the caretaking. It was hard seeing them both so fragile, so in need of care as well."
Malcolm was equally as enchanting as Fay. He was so sweet! Honestly his whole family was enviable! His mother's interactions with Fay truly brought tears to my eyes a few different times. But as perfect as they could seem at times, I appreciated that Richardson made sure to get the point across that there is no perfect. People are fallible and relationships of any kind are something that you have to consciously work at for them to be and stay strong.
Going into this story I thought it was going to be a Romeo and Juliet type of thing. While there was a forbidden romance going on here, it really took a backseat to the real star of the show, in my opinion, which was an endearing coming of age tale with smart, flawed, beautiful people and moments that I want to keep in my pocket close to my heart!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2016
Really worth the read.
I really loved this book. It was a sweet read of falling in love. There are darker issues involved. The story was told in a believable way that added to the angst and made me fall more in love with the story. Also invested in the development and ending.
I really loved this book. It was a sweet read of falling in love. There are darker issues involved. The story was told in a believable way that added to the angst and made me fall more in love with the story. Also invested in the development and ending.
June 19, 2016
You can find my thoughts on my blog here :)
April 18, 2022
The Edge of Juniper was an interesting read. Enough time had passed that I had forgotten what the book was about, so I was learning about everything as the story went. Learning about Fay and her will-they-won't-they-get-a-divorce parents, her having to spend the summer with her aunt's family in Juniper, her learning about the "feud" with Malcolm's family, Malcolm trying (and finally getting) to befriend her, her learning about some things that were going on in her behind the scenes with her uncle (namely alcoholism and domestic abuse/violence). And while there is a sweet romantic story in there, everything's shown through the eyes of a 16-year-old having her first boyfriend and spending the whole summer in a different town. It shows the effects of domestic violence in the family, and the different roles everyone takes (from the mom to the kids, some going with the flow, some trying to be the peacemakers, some shielding others, etc), while also being a YA read, showing all the emotions and feelings going on in their relationships (see Content for details).
The narrator did a great job with Fay and Malcolm's voices, as well as with Celia's (Fay's cousin) since they have a lot of conversations going on and yet it was clear differentiating between these two. She portrayed well the different emotions, be it the uncle's anger/yelling, Faye's melancholy, sadness, or even mischief, Malcolm's encouragement and calming presence, Celia's kinda passive-aggressive attitude, and so on. The only thing I wished for was a way to differentiate Fay's inner voice/monologue from the voice she uses when she's speaking to someone.
All in all, a "sweet" YA novel that were it not for some of the content, I'd give it a higher rating. I know there are a couple more books in this trilogy, so depending on the blurbs I'll see if I give them a chance, but if I do, it'll be some time before I pick up the next one.
Content:
Sex: not between the MCs, though there's a scene where they go swimming and she suggests doing skinny dipping. She ends up untying her top and if they make out after that, it's hinted at but not shown. However, it wouldn't take a lot to imagine it'd happen in their future. Between her cousin (Celia) and her boyfriend, yes. It's not shown either since it happens to a secondary character, but it's talked about before (planning the "surprise", and how to get condoms) and after it happens (how she felt/the emotional aspect of it). The book also begins with Fay and Celia watching a bunch of teenagers get caught by the cops while skinny dipping; and there's also a talk between the two about the value of a girl not being on whether she's a virgin or not. Also, towards the end of the book, Faye's mom buys her a package of condoms just so she can be prepared just in case.
Language: yes. Lots of d*mns, sh*ts, son of a ...
Drinking: yes. There are mentions of beers, but it's more tied with the uncle's drinking problem.
Violence: yes, both as part of the domestic violence as well as the uncle picking a fight at a fair.
The narrator did a great job with Fay and Malcolm's voices, as well as with Celia's (Fay's cousin) since they have a lot of conversations going on and yet it was clear differentiating between these two. She portrayed well the different emotions, be it the uncle's anger/yelling, Faye's melancholy, sadness, or even mischief, Malcolm's encouragement and calming presence, Celia's kinda passive-aggressive attitude, and so on. The only thing I wished for was a way to differentiate Fay's inner voice/monologue from the voice she uses when she's speaking to someone.
All in all, a "sweet" YA novel that were it not for some of the content, I'd give it a higher rating. I know there are a couple more books in this trilogy, so depending on the blurbs I'll see if I give them a chance, but if I do, it'll be some time before I pick up the next one.
Content:
Sex: not between the MCs, though there's a scene where they go swimming and she suggests doing skinny dipping. She ends up untying her top and if they make out after that, it's hinted at but not shown. However, it wouldn't take a lot to imagine it'd happen in their future. Between her cousin (Celia) and her boyfriend, yes. It's not shown either since it happens to a secondary character, but it's talked about before (planning the "surprise", and how to get condoms) and after it happens (how she felt/the emotional aspect of it). The book also begins with Fay and Celia watching a bunch of teenagers get caught by the cops while skinny dipping; and there's also a talk between the two about the value of a girl not being on whether she's a virgin or not. Also, towards the end of the book, Faye's mom buys her a package of condoms just so she can be prepared just in case.
Language: yes. Lots of d*mns, sh*ts, son of a ...
Drinking: yes. There are mentions of beers, but it's more tied with the uncle's drinking problem.
Violence: yes, both as part of the domestic violence as well as the uncle picking a fight at a fair.
December 14, 2017
When I first started this book and even after reading the description to it, I thought this was going to be the typical fluffy contemporary with the happily ever after. There is nothing wrong with that, but at times those books can all seem alike. The Edge of Juniper turned out to be something completely different and I was impressed by the path the author chose while writing this book.
Fay is in Juniper to stay with her Aunt, Uncle and cousins for the summer while her parents are away building a school in Haiti. This is nothing new for Fay, she visits every summer, only this time she is there for a longer period of time. The summer isn't turning out like she expected it though. Her family seems different, she's not sure what to think about her Uncle's temper and her cousin Celia keeps ditching her to spend time with her boyfriend Ronan (who Fay really doesn't like). Then she sees Malcom and is very interested, but Celia insists she should stay clear to keep the peace at their house. Something has happened between her Uncle and Malcom's family, but she isn't sure what. During the summer Fay finds out not everything is always as it seems, that not everything always works out, grown ups can disappoint us as well and sometimes there is no happily ever after.
I really enjoyed this book. At times it was difficult, because of her Uncle's temper and my assumptions to what sometimes happened behind closed doors. It took me awhile to get into this book and not because I wasn't enjoying the story, but that the characters were irritating me. I didn't like how Celia was treating Fay and I wasn't too fond of her Aunt and Uncle. As I read more I understood why everything felt that way and I really hoped Malcolm would save the day in certain aspects. Fay kind of has to grow up more than she would had she stayed home for the summer. The growth of her character and Celia was rather impressive. I will definitely be reading the second book.
More descriptive review to follow on thebookdutchesses.wordpress.com
Fay is in Juniper to stay with her Aunt, Uncle and cousins for the summer while her parents are away building a school in Haiti. This is nothing new for Fay, she visits every summer, only this time she is there for a longer period of time. The summer isn't turning out like she expected it though. Her family seems different, she's not sure what to think about her Uncle's temper and her cousin Celia keeps ditching her to spend time with her boyfriend Ronan (who Fay really doesn't like). Then she sees Malcom and is very interested, but Celia insists she should stay clear to keep the peace at their house. Something has happened between her Uncle and Malcom's family, but she isn't sure what. During the summer Fay finds out not everything is always as it seems, that not everything always works out, grown ups can disappoint us as well and sometimes there is no happily ever after.
I really enjoyed this book. At times it was difficult, because of her Uncle's temper and my assumptions to what sometimes happened behind closed doors. It took me awhile to get into this book and not because I wasn't enjoying the story, but that the characters were irritating me. I didn't like how Celia was treating Fay and I wasn't too fond of her Aunt and Uncle. As I read more I understood why everything felt that way and I really hoped Malcolm would save the day in certain aspects. Fay kind of has to grow up more than she would had she stayed home for the summer. The growth of her character and Celia was rather impressive. I will definitely be reading the second book.
More descriptive review to follow on thebookdutchesses.wordpress.com
October 24, 2016
I have to start off by saying that many of the YA romances that I've read come across as almost fantasy...and by that I mean highly unrealistic. What I loved most about The Edge of Juniper is the realism. Fay, her parents, her aunt and uncle, and her cousins all have real lives and real problems are a part of that too. It's nice to see characters confront and deal with these type of issues. Although I do like to read to get away, it's also nice to see the strength of characters come across on the page. I feel like Lora Richardson does this very well.
That's not to say there isn't any wonderfully cute teenage romance...because there is. There's a little bit of the forbidden romance as far as Fay and Malcolm go. I'm not a fan of the 'bad guy' who changes for love thing so I was happy to read about these two sweet characters. They have enough obstacles to deal with to make their love story interesting from start to finish.
I have to say in the beginning I found some of the characters kind of unlikeable. Fay seemed naïve, her cousin Celia does not seem very friendly, and her Aunt and Uncle...not great. I was concerned I wouldn't like anyone but the more you read the more you learn about these people and realize why they are the way they are. It's satisfying to watch these characters grow and change from chapter to chapter.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a YA contemporary romance that really hits all the right notes.
That's not to say there isn't any wonderfully cute teenage romance...because there is. There's a little bit of the forbidden romance as far as Fay and Malcolm go. I'm not a fan of the 'bad guy' who changes for love thing so I was happy to read about these two sweet characters. They have enough obstacles to deal with to make their love story interesting from start to finish.
I have to say in the beginning I found some of the characters kind of unlikeable. Fay seemed naïve, her cousin Celia does not seem very friendly, and her Aunt and Uncle...not great. I was concerned I wouldn't like anyone but the more you read the more you learn about these people and realize why they are the way they are. It's satisfying to watch these characters grow and change from chapter to chapter.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a YA contemporary romance that really hits all the right notes.
May 4, 2018
No Fluff in this YA Story
This is a great read about teenage first loves, living in a small town and the teens realizing parents are people with flaws like everybody else. I loved Fay's openness and candor. She was not afraid to admit her confusion about many things. She couldn't comprehend how her parents that seemingly got along could get divorced, while her aunt and uncle fought like crazy would stay together. She didn't understand her strong feelings for Malcolm because they're so young and just getting to know each other. At first she couldn't understand Celia wanting to be with Ronan, but after seeing what really happens in that household, Fay realized that it was Celia's way of coping.
I loved Fay and Malcolm. It was nice that they took things slowly and got to really know each other well. It was almost too sweet, but at the same time it was realistic. I loved Malcolm's friend Paul and I'm happy to see the next book is his story. I loved Abe, Celia's younger brother. He seemed to handle his family situation so well.
This is a sweet book of teens still trying to be kids and dealing with dysfunctional family issues. There is kissing, talk of sex, some domestic violence and alcoholism within this book, but nothing too graphic. It's very well written. I really enjoyed it.
This is a great read about teenage first loves, living in a small town and the teens realizing parents are people with flaws like everybody else. I loved Fay's openness and candor. She was not afraid to admit her confusion about many things. She couldn't comprehend how her parents that seemingly got along could get divorced, while her aunt and uncle fought like crazy would stay together. She didn't understand her strong feelings for Malcolm because they're so young and just getting to know each other. At first she couldn't understand Celia wanting to be with Ronan, but after seeing what really happens in that household, Fay realized that it was Celia's way of coping.
I loved Fay and Malcolm. It was nice that they took things slowly and got to really know each other well. It was almost too sweet, but at the same time it was realistic. I loved Malcolm's friend Paul and I'm happy to see the next book is his story. I loved Abe, Celia's younger brother. He seemed to handle his family situation so well.
This is a sweet book of teens still trying to be kids and dealing with dysfunctional family issues. There is kissing, talk of sex, some domestic violence and alcoholism within this book, but nothing too graphic. It's very well written. I really enjoyed it.
March 4, 2019
Make your Own Destiny
When it comes to family issues, Fay is no stranger to the idea of lying low and following the rules. Spending the summer with her cousin, Celia, in the small town of Juniper, life seems scheduled and ordinary. That is until she meets Malcolm, the neighborhood hottie, who is off limits according to her cousin. Everyone knew the rivalry between Celia's father and Malcolm's father who just happens to be his boss, but there's something alluring about Malcolm that made Fay's stomach fill with butterflies. With everyone on edge and her world slowly falling apart and the ever looming countdown when she would return home, was it worth perusing her feelings even if it meant going against her family wishes? Would Malcolm even be there to hold her back as she makes her way towards the Edge of Juniper??
This book is not a bad book at all though it was a little difficult to get into at first. Character development was great and you really do get an understanding of the characters and the reason why they do what they do. The suspense in this book is fantastic as things build up to a boil and suddenly explodes everywhere!! Excited for the next book and hope to return the lovely little town of Juniper.....
When it comes to family issues, Fay is no stranger to the idea of lying low and following the rules. Spending the summer with her cousin, Celia, in the small town of Juniper, life seems scheduled and ordinary. That is until she meets Malcolm, the neighborhood hottie, who is off limits according to her cousin. Everyone knew the rivalry between Celia's father and Malcolm's father who just happens to be his boss, but there's something alluring about Malcolm that made Fay's stomach fill with butterflies. With everyone on edge and her world slowly falling apart and the ever looming countdown when she would return home, was it worth perusing her feelings even if it meant going against her family wishes? Would Malcolm even be there to hold her back as she makes her way towards the Edge of Juniper??
This book is not a bad book at all though it was a little difficult to get into at first. Character development was great and you really do get an understanding of the characters and the reason why they do what they do. The suspense in this book is fantastic as things build up to a boil and suddenly explodes everywhere!! Excited for the next book and hope to return the lovely little town of Juniper.....
July 23, 2017
I got this book (and Juniper Limits) expecting a quick, light read as a break from the history book I'd been plowing through. It did not disappoint on that account but I was also pleasantly surprised to find more depth in the character's family situations. The emotions that come from parents getting divorced, the destructive consuming world that often swirls around alcoholism, and the burdens of a child with a single parent that struggles with substance abuse. My heart breaks for children and families caught in similar situations around the world. I'm thankful to have been able to step out of my own issues for a few hours and given a glimpse into challenges and realities that many others face each day.
October 6, 2017
I found this book very easy to get lost in and enjoyed the world of the young teen romance. I felt it could have done without the references to the teenage drinking, especially at 15, but felt that it handled the teenage pressures of sex and virginity, respectfully. It was one that kept me "turning the page" and staying up late.
It is very realistic format for the life of a present day teenager. From peers, to sex, to even alcohol (unfortunately), to parents seperating, a family dealing with alcoholism, etc.
It appears book 2 is gonna be from Paul's point of view and explore his upcoming relationship. I look forward to reading it.
It is very realistic format for the life of a present day teenager. From peers, to sex, to even alcohol (unfortunately), to parents seperating, a family dealing with alcoholism, etc.
It appears book 2 is gonna be from Paul's point of view and explore his upcoming relationship. I look forward to reading it.
March 11, 2024
Very sweet, nice, clean read.
This is different than many of the books I read. It was a very clean, young book. I don't know how realistic it was in that the teenagers didn't really talk like teenagers.
While I think the depiction of Celia's home like is unfortunately very real, I wish there was a better attempt at a resolution. I don't know if I will read the next two books so it would have been good to see Aunt Donna do something for her kids.
I did like Paul. I think his and Celia's relationship would be very interesting, but the writing style didn't really make me want to read it.
If you are looking for a sweet and clean romance with likable characters, this will be a quick read.
This is different than many of the books I read. It was a very clean, young book. I don't know how realistic it was in that the teenagers didn't really talk like teenagers.
While I think the depiction of Celia's home like is unfortunately very real, I wish there was a better attempt at a resolution. I don't know if I will read the next two books so it would have been good to see Aunt Donna do something for her kids.
I did like Paul. I think his and Celia's relationship would be very interesting, but the writing style didn't really make me want to read it.
If you are looking for a sweet and clean romance with likable characters, this will be a quick read.
July 2, 2017
Not a bad book, with reasonably developed characters, and a realistic plot. I liked Fay's candor, and I liked how Malcolm was often embarrassed by it, but willing to go along. It wasn't all fluff too, with some difficult plot points, especially in regards to her aunt and uncle. It had the interesting side effect of making it seem like living in a town of less than a thousand wouldn't be too bad. But it also didn't grip me. It was interesting while I read it, but I don't know that I'll be coming back to it again.
January 2, 2018
The Edge of Juniper is a heart warming story of family and first loves. It also deals with serious issues such as alcoholism, domestic abuse and divorce. It tackles these subjects with grace and ease. You feel for the characters but don't feel as though the topics are forced. The characters in this story were delightful and realistic. I'm really excited that the next book is about Paul and Celia!
Also thank you to the author who provided me with a copy in exchange for an honest opinion!
Also thank you to the author who provided me with a copy in exchange for an honest opinion!
April 17, 2019
Good Ya romance
Ya romance filled with real life problems. Watch as the main character learns to cope with not only her own families issues but her cousins as well. Enter in Malcolm who becomes her first love and reprieve from her life’s drama. This story will tear at your heartstrings as you watch Fay navigate through her messy life and her new feelings. Have no fear there is an HEA involved.
Ya romance filled with real life problems. Watch as the main character learns to cope with not only her own families issues but her cousins as well. Enter in Malcolm who becomes her first love and reprieve from her life’s drama. This story will tear at your heartstrings as you watch Fay navigate through her messy life and her new feelings. Have no fear there is an HEA involved.
June 20, 2020
Intriguing and Inviting Story
I enjoyed the unique relationships between characters in this novel! The first chapter was actually a bit confusing to me, but I quickly became engaged into the story soon thereafter! I loved the ebb and flow of the situations and the reactions of the characters in the book. I enjoy a novel that is not always predictable.
I enjoyed the unique relationships between characters in this novel! The first chapter was actually a bit confusing to me, but I quickly became engaged into the story soon thereafter! I loved the ebb and flow of the situations and the reactions of the characters in the book. I enjoy a novel that is not always predictable.
October 31, 2017
A cozy story about teenage summer romance, friends, family, and dealing with the challenges life brings. I have a soft spot for small town settings and non-dramatic relationship stories. This one does not disappoint.
May 21, 2019
First love must read
If you are looking for a sweet first love must read with just enough angst to make it worth your wile than this book is for you! The writing was wonderful, the characters whole and complete, gah just 100% amazing!!
If you are looking for a sweet first love must read with just enough angst to make it worth your wile than this book is for you! The writing was wonderful, the characters whole and complete, gah just 100% amazing!!
July 19, 2017
Great ya coming of age love story.
It hits on some real life family matters that all to often are kept in family and effect people.
Definitely recommend this book.
It hits on some real life family matters that all to often are kept in family and effect people.
Definitely recommend this book.
August 24, 2017
3.5 Stars
A really sweet coming of age story!
A really sweet coming of age story!
September 8, 2017
A very sweet read
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