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Handcuffs
PARKER PRESCOTT IS an ice princess. Cold, aloof, a snob. At least, that’s what everyone says on Marion Hennessey’s blog. And everyone reads Marion Hennessey’s blog.
Parker Prescott is a middle child. She’s the good one, the dependable one, the one her parents trust. Well . . . she used to be.
Parker Prescott’s parents want her to break up with her boyfriend. But she already did, two weeks ago. And then she realized it was a mistake. He came over. He had the handcuffs in his pocket. Everything went downhill from there. Sort of.
Parker Prescott’s world is changing and she no longer knows who she is. Does anyone?
Parker Prescott is a middle child. She’s the good one, the dependable one, the one her parents trust. Well . . . she used to be.
Parker Prescott’s parents want her to break up with her boyfriend. But she already did, two weeks ago. And then she realized it was a mistake. He came over. He had the handcuffs in his pocket. Everything went downhill from there. Sort of.
Parker Prescott’s world is changing and she no longer knows who she is. Does anyone?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published December 9, 2008
6 people are currently reading
948 people want to read
About the author
Bethany Griffin
9 books957 followersBethany Griffin teaches high school English and creative writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
April 29, 2013
Another selection for the I READ IT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO shelf.
Honestly, I'm not sure this book is worth the time it's gonna take me to review it. So I'm keeping this brief. This is not a book about handcuffs. If ever there was an asinine title, this is it. Handcuffs? Really, publishers? I read the blurb and the suggestion is that Parker's boyfriend bringing handcuffs over is the catalyst to some crazy story. I thought he came over and kidnapped her or something. I was all ready for a thrill. No, this book is a paltry coming-of-age teen romance/family drama - if you can even call it that.
Writing Technique: ★★★ Griffin made me laugh a couple of times. So it's not that she's not good with words. I think she could be, but her storytelling is...boring.
Plot/Story Development: ★★1/2 The major plot arcs are
1. Will Parker's obsession with her ex-boyfriend mean she finally gives in and has sex with him even though he doesn't love her? And will he love her if she does it?
2. Will Parker's parents get their ish together or will they lose their house and have to move and ruin Parker's life forever?
3. Will Parker's sister Paige prove herself to be a human being or just stay a mean, heartless slut?
Answers: 1.
2.
3.
Character Development: ★★ Oh Parker. The Ice Princess thing was stupid. Let's get that straight. A title with the word "princess" implies something different from a shy tongue-tied 16-year-old who is considered the good girl. This book could more accurately be called Obsession. And in the end, she apparently changed or something, but particularly when it comes to her boyfriend, I didn't really see her change. So I don't buy it. *shrug*
Message/Theme: ★★1/2 love/lust/infatuation/obsession/sex, family, friendship, abuse...
Rating: PG-13 for language and sexual content.
Overall: ★★ This was a waste of time. Plain and simple. I've definitely read worse. But this was a waste of time.
Honestly, I'm not sure this book is worth the time it's gonna take me to review it. So I'm keeping this brief. This is not a book about handcuffs. If ever there was an asinine title, this is it. Handcuffs? Really, publishers? I read the blurb and the suggestion is that Parker's boyfriend bringing handcuffs over is the catalyst to some crazy story. I thought he came over and kidnapped her or something. I was all ready for a thrill. No, this book is a paltry coming-of-age teen romance/family drama - if you can even call it that.
Writing Technique: ★★★ Griffin made me laugh a couple of times. So it's not that she's not good with words. I think she could be, but her storytelling is...boring.
Plot/Story Development: ★★1/2 The major plot arcs are
1. Will Parker's obsession with her ex-boyfriend mean she finally gives in and has sex with him even though he doesn't love her? And will he love her if she does it?
2. Will Parker's parents get their ish together or will they lose their house and have to move and ruin Parker's life forever?
3. Will Parker's sister Paige prove herself to be a human being or just stay a mean, heartless slut?
Answers: 1.
2.
3.
Character Development: ★★ Oh Parker. The Ice Princess thing was stupid. Let's get that straight. A title with the word "princess" implies something different from a shy tongue-tied 16-year-old who is considered the good girl. This book could more accurately be called Obsession. And in the end, she apparently changed or something, but particularly when it comes to her boyfriend, I didn't really see her change. So I don't buy it. *shrug*
Message/Theme: ★★1/2 love/lust/infatuation/obsession/sex, family, friendship, abuse...
Rating: PG-13 for language and sexual content.
Overall: ★★ This was a waste of time. Plain and simple. I've definitely read worse. But this was a waste of time.
October 26, 2008
This wickedly-humorous novel will have you rooting for its heroine, ice princess Parker Prescott. Make sure to settle into a comfortable chair because once you pick up this book, you won't want to set it down. Griffin is a fresh new voice in the world of young adult literature!
February 19, 2009
Considering this got a lot of local press because the author is local, I was sort of excited to read it. Alas, I found it mediocre and some of the writing just down right silly. The plot meandered and I'm not really all that sure what the central idea was for the story. So, oh well...
February 18, 2011
This was an excellent book. All the better for being, a rare thing in teenage fiction, subtle. I'm not a huge sexual chemistry fan (or a romance fan), but I felt it here. That being said, I was amazingly glad that the love interest ended the way it did. That was realistic and mature, because it just was never going to happen. The intricate relationships Parker had with her parents and especially older sister Paige were AMAZINGLY written: the family was definitely my favourite thing in the entire book. It felt sad and real. I just adored little brother Prescott and the relationship Parker had with him was heart-melting without being unrealistic. I loved Kyle and Marian too, even though I know Parker cast Marian in the role of a bitch all the time. I would have liked to see more of them and the way Griffin created realistic three-dimensional characters from apparent stereotypes is just perfect. One thing that bugged me? Their love for Radiohead. I don't personally like Radiohead, but I can get past that. The problem I had with it is that it didn't feel like a very Parker thing to appreciate, and I could tell that Griffin herself was a Radiohead fan. It was just an unnecessary self-insertion, but it wasn't continued or anything so I could forgive it. Also, Parker and her love interest annoyed me at times, and not just in a "they're teenagers" way, but no biggie. Still, a great book that deals with romance in such a mature way. I want to have a few stern words with whoever compared Bethany Griffin to Sarah Dessen on the front cover. Griffin is no Dessen - Dessen could never be this realistic, honest, careful and subtle and deep.
October 24, 2008
When I first put my hands on a copy of Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin I thought it was a typical teen novel with a racy spin. I didn’t think I would enjoy it. I’m too old to fall into the world of teenage romance, but I found myself drawn into the Prescott’s family drama seeing snippets of my own feelings and emotions on the page. I could not put the book down and I read it in two nights. This book takes a unique situation that draws the reader into a dysfunctional American drama. By watching this family, I learned how personal growth can influence all members of a family after a seemingly disastrous situation.
September 11, 2010
Parker Prescott is in love. The only problem is, she just broke up with the boy in question and now she’s realised that she made a huge mistake. She’s pretty sure he’d still take her back, but what about the reason they broke up in the first place? He was getting way too pushy about the whole sex thing and Parker wanted to wait till he told her that he loved her before doing the deed. But now she wants him back so badly that she thinks she’s willing to go all the way, and not just for him either; Parker craves his body, his lips and his hands.
One day he shows up at her house when her family is out, and the hanky panky starts. Parker allows him to handcuff her to a chair in her father’s office, and as he’s unbuttoning her shirt and loosening her bra, Parker’s mother and father get home early, busting them in the act. Parker is grounded indefinitely, and so starts the beginning of all her problems.
Marion Hennessy – Parker’s arch nemesis – is out to get Parker, and writes a whole bunch of nasty, untrue stuff about Parker and her man on her blog. Everyone reads it and suddenly Parker’s relationship is the centre of speculation and gossip. To make things worse, Parker realises that she has some very hot competition. Kandace – Marion’s friend – has it bad for Parker’s man and is doing everything in her power to steal his affections. This launches Parker into a world of self-doubt and unrest. Will Parker sleep with her boyfriend to keep him, or will wait until she gets what she wants from him first?
Being inside Parker’s head was a real pleasure, for very odd reasons. Parker is an ordinary girl. She’s smart, but she’s average looking. She’s a bit of a wallflower and certainly not part of the popular crowd, but her boyfriend is. I really love that the girl-next-door, the girl that no one thought would snag the most desirable and sought after boy in school, does. However, what I like about Parker Prescott the most, is that she could be me, or you, or the girl sitting next to you. This gives hope to all ordinary girls everywhere that they can do, and have, what they want too. Parker makes ordinary look extraordinary.
Parker’s character surreptitiously highlights some important issues for teen girls everywhere. Because everyone else wants to date her boyfriend, Parker is constantly questioning his motives. The gossip often gets the better of her and every now and then she finds herself believing the gossip articles about her that appear on Marion’s blog. Is there really a bet out on her virginity; is that the real reason why he wants to sleep with her. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t said he loves her yet. Is he sleeping with Kandace behind her back, as Marion wants her to believe? Parker lacks self-confidence, which is a big problem that a lot of teens face today. If Parker were more sure of herself she’d be able to have more faith in her allure, more faith in her man. Like so many girls, Parker can’t see her own assets because she is blinded by everyone else’s best characteristics. Handcuffs highlights the complexities of navigating your way through the day-to-day problems associated with attending high school; I don’t know a single person on the entire planet that can’t relate to that in some way or another.
Readers never learn what Parker’s boyfriend’s name actually is. Parker never says it, nor do any of the other characters in the novel. I really like this technique, as it allowed me to shape my own version of him. Because he is nameless, because there are very few physical descriptions given, readers can construct him in their own desirable terms. I found myself questioning his movtives, as Parker did, but just like Parker, I was unable to hate him. Ultimately, I wanted him as much as she does. As the novel comes to a close, readers are exposed to the truth; I was biting my nails all the way till the end.
Handcuffs is Bethany Griffin’s first novel and she captures the essence of adolescence superbly. Her characters are believable, raw, honest and absolutely engaging. Teenage girls everywhere will be able to relate to Parker’s pain and angst, her self-doubt and her hormonal desires. yaReads offers a huge round of applause to Bethany Griffin for an awesome debut novel. We look forward to more work from her in the future.
One day he shows up at her house when her family is out, and the hanky panky starts. Parker allows him to handcuff her to a chair in her father’s office, and as he’s unbuttoning her shirt and loosening her bra, Parker’s mother and father get home early, busting them in the act. Parker is grounded indefinitely, and so starts the beginning of all her problems.
Marion Hennessy – Parker’s arch nemesis – is out to get Parker, and writes a whole bunch of nasty, untrue stuff about Parker and her man on her blog. Everyone reads it and suddenly Parker’s relationship is the centre of speculation and gossip. To make things worse, Parker realises that she has some very hot competition. Kandace – Marion’s friend – has it bad for Parker’s man and is doing everything in her power to steal his affections. This launches Parker into a world of self-doubt and unrest. Will Parker sleep with her boyfriend to keep him, or will wait until she gets what she wants from him first?
Being inside Parker’s head was a real pleasure, for very odd reasons. Parker is an ordinary girl. She’s smart, but she’s average looking. She’s a bit of a wallflower and certainly not part of the popular crowd, but her boyfriend is. I really love that the girl-next-door, the girl that no one thought would snag the most desirable and sought after boy in school, does. However, what I like about Parker Prescott the most, is that she could be me, or you, or the girl sitting next to you. This gives hope to all ordinary girls everywhere that they can do, and have, what they want too. Parker makes ordinary look extraordinary.
Parker’s character surreptitiously highlights some important issues for teen girls everywhere. Because everyone else wants to date her boyfriend, Parker is constantly questioning his motives. The gossip often gets the better of her and every now and then she finds herself believing the gossip articles about her that appear on Marion’s blog. Is there really a bet out on her virginity; is that the real reason why he wants to sleep with her. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t said he loves her yet. Is he sleeping with Kandace behind her back, as Marion wants her to believe? Parker lacks self-confidence, which is a big problem that a lot of teens face today. If Parker were more sure of herself she’d be able to have more faith in her allure, more faith in her man. Like so many girls, Parker can’t see her own assets because she is blinded by everyone else’s best characteristics. Handcuffs highlights the complexities of navigating your way through the day-to-day problems associated with attending high school; I don’t know a single person on the entire planet that can’t relate to that in some way or another.
Readers never learn what Parker’s boyfriend’s name actually is. Parker never says it, nor do any of the other characters in the novel. I really like this technique, as it allowed me to shape my own version of him. Because he is nameless, because there are very few physical descriptions given, readers can construct him in their own desirable terms. I found myself questioning his movtives, as Parker did, but just like Parker, I was unable to hate him. Ultimately, I wanted him as much as she does. As the novel comes to a close, readers are exposed to the truth; I was biting my nails all the way till the end.
Handcuffs is Bethany Griffin’s first novel and she captures the essence of adolescence superbly. Her characters are believable, raw, honest and absolutely engaging. Teenage girls everywhere will be able to relate to Parker’s pain and angst, her self-doubt and her hormonal desires. yaReads offers a huge round of applause to Bethany Griffin for an awesome debut novel. We look forward to more work from her in the future.
July 17, 2010
Parker has such a perfect teenage voice that I felt like I was visiting my own past teen self.
The tension in this book! I was completely sucked in - especially with the escalating high school warfare and Parker and her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend (supreme hotness) who's relationship is complicated and sexy in the best of ways.
Griffin writes with a subtlety that captures those teen feelings of identity and belonging and high school hardships and... lust :)
I especially loved the intricate ways Parker related to her mum and her older sister (I also adored her little brother. ADHD little bro's FTW!) And, confession, I am a middle child. So, Parker and I are likethis.
I expected to like this book - I didn't quite expect it to have as much depth as it did. Especially in various charcters sub-plots, like her sister and her neighbours. Whoah - impressed me :)
Basically - I really really liked this book.
I recommend this to: people who love contemporary YA with well-drawn characters, hot steamy moments and page-flipping high school tension.
Random stuff:
You never find out the name of Parker's boyfriend/ex-boyfriend. OooOooh - I liked that...
The ending! Argh! I don't know what to say, but it kinda broke my heart but also felt good. Cryptic, I know.
Get comfy before you read this. Because you won't want to put it down.
I kept imagining if my parents walked in on me and my boyfriend while we were... and I was in handcuffs. My poor lovely dad would die... My mum? I would be sooo dead. Me? Thank God I only had to live through it vicariously :)
The tension in this book! I was completely sucked in - especially with the escalating high school warfare and Parker and her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend (supreme hotness) who's relationship is complicated and sexy in the best of ways.
Griffin writes with a subtlety that captures those teen feelings of identity and belonging and high school hardships and... lust :)
I especially loved the intricate ways Parker related to her mum and her older sister (I also adored her little brother. ADHD little bro's FTW!) And, confession, I am a middle child. So, Parker and I are likethis.
I expected to like this book - I didn't quite expect it to have as much depth as it did. Especially in various charcters sub-plots, like her sister and her neighbours. Whoah - impressed me :)
Basically - I really really liked this book.
I recommend this to: people who love contemporary YA with well-drawn characters, hot steamy moments and page-flipping high school tension.
Random stuff:
You never find out the name of Parker's boyfriend/ex-boyfriend. OooOooh - I liked that...
The ending! Argh! I don't know what to say, but it kinda broke my heart but also felt good. Cryptic, I know.
Get comfy before you read this. Because you won't want to put it down.
I kept imagining if my parents walked in on me and my boyfriend while we were... and I was in handcuffs. My poor lovely dad would die... My mum? I would be sooo dead. Me? Thank God I only had to live through it vicariously :)
February 23, 2009
Handcuffs is a thoroughly entertaining read for teens and adults alike. It has enough spice to entice and enough substance to enthrall. A fantastic debut from a promising author--I certainly hope to see more from Bethany Griffin in the future!
March 7, 2009
Wow, this book is very poorly written. And where was the editor? She couldn't even decide what the age difference was between Paige and Parker, once even contradicting herself in the space of two pages! I was consistently rewriting passages in my head as I read - either to make things better or simply make it make sense.
Now the whole build up in this book is the sex. And then she doesn't show it at all. Which I guess would be okay if she then had Parker talk about it a bit. In the vein of "it hurt" or "it was uncomfortable" or "it felt good" but you don't even get that level of discussion. Why write an entire book about sex and then ignore the sex when it happens?
One thing this book made me think about is today's teen culture of cell phone cameras, blogs, and social networking sites. Sure people spread rumors when I was a teen, but now they can reach dozens of people instantly and with pictures! Middle school and high school must now be an extra-special hell.
Poorly written YA book. Don't bother.
Now the whole build up in this book is the sex. And then she doesn't show it at all. Which I guess would be okay if she then had Parker talk about it a bit. In the vein of "it hurt" or "it was uncomfortable" or "it felt good" but you don't even get that level of discussion. Why write an entire book about sex and then ignore the sex when it happens?
One thing this book made me think about is today's teen culture of cell phone cameras, blogs, and social networking sites. Sure people spread rumors when I was a teen, but now they can reach dozens of people instantly and with pictures! Middle school and high school must now be an extra-special hell.
Poorly written YA book. Don't bother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2009
If Parker Prescott went to my school, I would hate her. She's gorgeous, gets perfect grades, and has the hottest guy in the school after her. On top of that, her older sister has paved the popularity path for her already.
I can't hate her in Handcuffs though. Beneath the surface, there's a lot more going on with Parker than anyone realizes. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that Parker Prescott knows how to use her brain for a lot more than just getting good grades. Of course it nearly lands her in jail, but the ride there is a fascinating journey of discovery--along the way, Parker realizes that those around her may have secret lives of their own.
I read this in a day and a half (fell asleep with it at 2am). Don't expect action every five seconds, but do expect characters who will stay with you and plot twists you never saw coming.
I can't hate her in Handcuffs though. Beneath the surface, there's a lot more going on with Parker than anyone realizes. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that Parker Prescott knows how to use her brain for a lot more than just getting good grades. Of course it nearly lands her in jail, but the ride there is a fascinating journey of discovery--along the way, Parker realizes that those around her may have secret lives of their own.
I read this in a day and a half (fell asleep with it at 2am). Don't expect action every five seconds, but do expect characters who will stay with you and plot twists you never saw coming.
December 27, 2008
So this book gets a 4.5 (rounded to a 5) because, to be honest, it was great. Outstanding. It's nearly 4 AM and I've stayed up all night to finish this book. I admit, my expectations weren't too high. The premise was fantastic, but I was expecting a shallow novel with shallow characters and shallow writing. I was wrong. Surprisingly well-written and subtly suspenseful, this is a great story by a great author. Different types of obsessions are portrayed, and different types of stereotypes are shattered. The relationships were one of the best things about the novel. I'm definitely looking forward to Bethany Griffin's next novel. :]
February 16, 2009
Loved it! I usually don't enjoy "realistic" teen novels. I lean toward supernatural twists but Parker was a great character. This book shows what teens are feeling and how they handle their emotions. I can't wait for the next Bethany Griffin.
October 9, 2008
The author's writing shows promise but the plot contained the complete grocery list of YA problems...
Read
March 15, 2012.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2015
Co-starring: the good stalker, and the victim who sort of led him on!
Yeah.
Yeah.
March 12, 2011
PARKER PRESCOTT IS an ice princess. Cold, aloof, a snob. At least, that’s what everyone says on Marion Hennessey’s blog. And everyone reads Marion Hennessey’s blog.Parker Prescott is a middle child. She’s the good one, the dependable one, the one her parents trust. Well . . . she used to be.
Parker Prescott’s parents want her to break up with her boyfriend. But she already did, two weeks ago. And then she realized it was a mistake. He came over. He had the handcuffs in his pocket. Everything went downhill from there. Sort of.
I found this book at my public library. At first I was reluctant to read it because I am a fantasy fanatic and our library generally does not have good taste in books. But my friend decided that if I didn't read it that she would take it so I grabbed it. (We have a little competition to see who can read more books going on right now.) Honestly the only thing that caught my attention was the handcuffs part. Because of course my little prick of a teenage brain starts flying towards all the possibilities that could have. I can honestly say I wasn't too disappointing.
The Style
I love the style of this book. It's as if the author is right there telling you it (isn't first person amazing.) She conveyed the main characters emotions really well and to my relief didn't do all the switching from italic to times new roman for the thoughts. I'm such a critic about that stuff :) The whole book flowed pretty-well there were some spots that were a little rough but overall very nice.
The Plotline
The plot could've been better. It didn't seem that thrilling to me. Maybe it's just because I'm used to reading about pirates and robots fighting on robot pirate island (wait is that spongebob) but this seemed like a minor plot, and was it just me or was there no real climax? That bothered me a lot. The events were so ordinary and only partially thrilling that I never could tell were the climax exactly was. I guess it could've been when she was taken downtown but I don't know. The plot overall was okay at best.
The Characters
This is where Griffin excelled. She managed to have each character make a impression on me, Paige in my mind seemed to be the supporting character that Griffin really focused on, using her personality and actions to shape the other characters, When I read the inside of the book I expected Parker to be this helpless girl picked on for looks or crap like that. Instead to my delight I found a girl who can suck it up and who actually questions her thoughts. I think this is the first character, okay second that questions her dirty and overall random thoughts. I can't remember the love-interests name sadly. Even though I just finished it last night :( still technically it's not my fault because well saying "he" as reference to him does make my spine tingle it fails to help me remember his name. Really Griffin it really goes too far when I of all eople can't remember the smexy boys name.
I loved this book even though it wasn't my usual fantasy. I hope to read some more of Griffin's books .
I recommend this book for book clubs, teens, and adults who wanna know what high school is like these days (even though some of it is a little dramatic) . For an ice princess Parker really knows how to warm a heart.
My Rating: Three stars
Parker Prescott’s parents want her to break up with her boyfriend. But she already did, two weeks ago. And then she realized it was a mistake. He came over. He had the handcuffs in his pocket. Everything went downhill from there. Sort of.
I found this book at my public library. At first I was reluctant to read it because I am a fantasy fanatic and our library generally does not have good taste in books. But my friend decided that if I didn't read it that she would take it so I grabbed it. (We have a little competition to see who can read more books going on right now.) Honestly the only thing that caught my attention was the handcuffs part. Because of course my little prick of a teenage brain starts flying towards all the possibilities that could have. I can honestly say I wasn't too disappointing.
The Style
I love the style of this book. It's as if the author is right there telling you it (isn't first person amazing.) She conveyed the main characters emotions really well and to my relief didn't do all the switching from italic to times new roman for the thoughts. I'm such a critic about that stuff :) The whole book flowed pretty-well there were some spots that were a little rough but overall very nice.
The Plotline
The plot could've been better. It didn't seem that thrilling to me. Maybe it's just because I'm used to reading about pirates and robots fighting on robot pirate island (wait is that spongebob) but this seemed like a minor plot, and was it just me or was there no real climax? That bothered me a lot. The events were so ordinary and only partially thrilling that I never could tell were the climax exactly was. I guess it could've been when she was taken downtown but I don't know. The plot overall was okay at best.
The Characters
This is where Griffin excelled. She managed to have each character make a impression on me, Paige in my mind seemed to be the supporting character that Griffin really focused on, using her personality and actions to shape the other characters, When I read the inside of the book I expected Parker to be this helpless girl picked on for looks or crap like that. Instead to my delight I found a girl who can suck it up and who actually questions her thoughts. I think this is the first character, okay second that questions her dirty and overall random thoughts. I can't remember the love-interests name sadly. Even though I just finished it last night :( still technically it's not my fault because well saying "he" as reference to him does make my spine tingle it fails to help me remember his name. Really Griffin it really goes too far when I of all eople can't remember the smexy boys name.
I loved this book even though it wasn't my usual fantasy. I hope to read some more of Griffin's books .
I recommend this book for book clubs, teens, and adults who wanna know what high school is like these days (even though some of it is a little dramatic) . For an ice princess Parker really knows how to warm a heart.
My Rating: Three stars
to-read-i-own-it
November 11, 2012Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
I have to put a disclaimer at the beginning of this review. I went into reading the book expecting something totally different. I believe if I either a) didn't know what the book was about or b) had a better understanding of the synopsis prior to starting it, I would have appreciated the story far more. From the first blurb I caught of the story, I actually expected it to be more of a hostage storyline. I was way off base.
Parker Prescott is the middle child. Her older sister is the perfect, popular Paige. Her younger brother, Preston, is the hyperactive one. Parker has always been the quiet, responsible one. That is until the day her parents find her and her ex-boyfriend in a compromising position.
But Parker's problems started before that day. Her father has lost his job and now the family is struggling financially. The for-sale sign in the front of the house troubles Parker. And on Christmas, when she gets a key in her stocking, she's angry at her parents because it's not a car for her, just the use of her father's Jeep. Her sister Paige was given a car, a huge "Sweet 16" party, an elaborate wedding - things they no longer have money for.
Parker has broken up with her boyfriend (and for the life of me, I can't find a single mention of his name in the book!) but goes running to his place after the key incident on Christmas. Parker had broken up with him for her own reasons. He wasn't cheating on her; he defends her when others would pick on her, what's not to love about him?
When he comes over one day after Christmas with the handcuffs, Parker gives in. He handcuffs her to her father's desk chair and slowly starts to remove her shirt. Of course this is when her parents come home early and catch them. They kick the ex-boyfriend out and ground Parker.
The story goes back and forth with Parker and her ex-boyfriend. Parker struggles with what she wants as she deals with the issues going on at home. As the money problems get progressively worse, Parker comes up with a way to help pay for the mortgage, at least. She keeps it hidden from her family but it all comes to a head when the cops show up and remove her computer.
There's so much going on with HANDCUFFS that it's more than just Parker and a compromising situation. Her sister is having marital problems. Her parents are trying to keep their head above water. Her sister's stalker's restraining order is due to expire. Her best friend, Raye, is pining over an ex-boyfriend. And always, there's Parker and her mixed-up emotions over her ex-boyfriend.
As you can see, this is so much more involved than what I originally expected the story to be when I first picked it up. It's a very intense and deep look at a two-month period in the life of Parker Prescott and her family. The story unravels at a nice pace, allowing the reader to discover all the different layers of Parker's life. Though the premise is risqué sounding, the actual story is not overtly sexy. It's the normal struggle of a young girl coming to terms with her own sexuality, among other life lessons.
I have to put a disclaimer at the beginning of this review. I went into reading the book expecting something totally different. I believe if I either a) didn't know what the book was about or b) had a better understanding of the synopsis prior to starting it, I would have appreciated the story far more. From the first blurb I caught of the story, I actually expected it to be more of a hostage storyline. I was way off base.
Parker Prescott is the middle child. Her older sister is the perfect, popular Paige. Her younger brother, Preston, is the hyperactive one. Parker has always been the quiet, responsible one. That is until the day her parents find her and her ex-boyfriend in a compromising position.
But Parker's problems started before that day. Her father has lost his job and now the family is struggling financially. The for-sale sign in the front of the house troubles Parker. And on Christmas, when she gets a key in her stocking, she's angry at her parents because it's not a car for her, just the use of her father's Jeep. Her sister Paige was given a car, a huge "Sweet 16" party, an elaborate wedding - things they no longer have money for.
Parker has broken up with her boyfriend (and for the life of me, I can't find a single mention of his name in the book!) but goes running to his place after the key incident on Christmas. Parker had broken up with him for her own reasons. He wasn't cheating on her; he defends her when others would pick on her, what's not to love about him?
When he comes over one day after Christmas with the handcuffs, Parker gives in. He handcuffs her to her father's desk chair and slowly starts to remove her shirt. Of course this is when her parents come home early and catch them. They kick the ex-boyfriend out and ground Parker.
The story goes back and forth with Parker and her ex-boyfriend. Parker struggles with what she wants as she deals with the issues going on at home. As the money problems get progressively worse, Parker comes up with a way to help pay for the mortgage, at least. She keeps it hidden from her family but it all comes to a head when the cops show up and remove her computer.
There's so much going on with HANDCUFFS that it's more than just Parker and a compromising situation. Her sister is having marital problems. Her parents are trying to keep their head above water. Her sister's stalker's restraining order is due to expire. Her best friend, Raye, is pining over an ex-boyfriend. And always, there's Parker and her mixed-up emotions over her ex-boyfriend.
As you can see, this is so much more involved than what I originally expected the story to be when I first picked it up. It's a very intense and deep look at a two-month period in the life of Parker Prescott and her family. The story unravels at a nice pace, allowing the reader to discover all the different layers of Parker's life. Though the premise is risqué sounding, the actual story is not overtly sexy. It's the normal struggle of a young girl coming to terms with her own sexuality, among other life lessons.
November 6, 2011
Do not let the title of this book deter you from reading, because it's about so much more than a pair of Handcuffs.
I immediately identified with MC Parker Prescott, or Ice Princess as she's called at school. She walks the halls with her eyes focused straight ahead trying to blend in and go unnoticed. But she's sick of being shy so to her being called the ice princess is better, it says she's made a choice to be a snob and reserved rather than shy. Being shy isn't a choice you make, you just are. She's walked in her older sister's shadow since birth and her baby brother's miracle entrance into the world sealed her place as the dreaded "middle child". Parker's family is falling apart due to her dad's unemployment and everything stable in her life is slipping away. Not only that, she finds herself and her ex boyfriend being the main focus of her former neighbor/friend's blog and not in a good way.
Handcuffs is filled with family turmoil, high school drama, and the confusion of teen romance as Parker tries to get her life back to a place she's comfortable in and decide if getting back together with her ex is a good or bad thing. Honestly the "ex" (his name is never mentioned so I have no idea what to call him) fell short for me. I'm still not sure if I liked him or not and just when he'd do something to redeem himself, he'd just as quickly lower himself in my eyes again. But the other story lines made up for it and I still enjoyed reading it.
I really liked Bethany Griffin's writing style and look forward to future works by her.
I immediately identified with MC Parker Prescott, or Ice Princess as she's called at school. She walks the halls with her eyes focused straight ahead trying to blend in and go unnoticed. But she's sick of being shy so to her being called the ice princess is better, it says she's made a choice to be a snob and reserved rather than shy. Being shy isn't a choice you make, you just are. She's walked in her older sister's shadow since birth and her baby brother's miracle entrance into the world sealed her place as the dreaded "middle child". Parker's family is falling apart due to her dad's unemployment and everything stable in her life is slipping away. Not only that, she finds herself and her ex boyfriend being the main focus of her former neighbor/friend's blog and not in a good way.
Handcuffs is filled with family turmoil, high school drama, and the confusion of teen romance as Parker tries to get her life back to a place she's comfortable in and decide if getting back together with her ex is a good or bad thing. Honestly the "ex" (his name is never mentioned so I have no idea what to call him) fell short for me. I'm still not sure if I liked him or not and just when he'd do something to redeem himself, he'd just as quickly lower himself in my eyes again. But the other story lines made up for it and I still enjoyed reading it.
I really liked Bethany Griffin's writing style and look forward to future works by her.
March 9, 2009
This book gives insight into the current pressures of teen life.
There are problems relating to internet blogs, family financial problems, and probably most important to future life, coping with sexual peer pressure.
Although parents may not agree with all the decisions made by the main character, this is a good book to read togather with your teen to open discussions.
No parent truly understands or knows all the problems their teens face in highschool. But looking thru the eyes of the "Ice Princess" can help open a parents eyes as well as showing teenages, they are not alone in their confusion about all the decisions they are forced to make on a regular basis.
There are problems relating to internet blogs, family financial problems, and probably most important to future life, coping with sexual peer pressure.
Although parents may not agree with all the decisions made by the main character, this is a good book to read togather with your teen to open discussions.
No parent truly understands or knows all the problems their teens face in highschool. But looking thru the eyes of the "Ice Princess" can help open a parents eyes as well as showing teenages, they are not alone in their confusion about all the decisions they are forced to make on a regular basis.
October 19, 2010
I enjoyed this book. The characters are well written and because of that are very interesting. This is a well written coming of age story where the good girl gets caught by her parents in a very bad situation. This book kept me turning the pages right to the end and kept me thinking about it long after the last page.
February 22, 2009
Umm...Honestly? What was the point of this book? Looks to me like Parker has some kind of severe whoring complex. I read it, I pondered it, and I decided I hated it. I like books that aren't waste of paper. If your going to waste trees, write the book on a [used:]napkin.
October 20, 2008
Read for professional review.
July 31, 2009
so far, this is one of the best books that I have read. Parker(the main character) is extreemly reaistic, and I feel like i can easily relate to her. I definatly advise reading it!
September 20, 2009
I loved this book. It was well written, edgy, funny, and so true to the obsession and infatuation that often comes with high school relationships.
October 20, 2008
A funny, memorable voice, and a wickedly accurate portrayal of high school life--I love this book!
October 19, 2009
Beautiful writing.
February 12, 2021
with this title and summary i was expecting a sexy book but was kind of disappointed. it took me a while to get through this because i just couldn't get into it but knew this book wasnt so bad i could dnf if.
February 12, 2017
Parker’s life is kind of a mess. Her dad has lost his job, and their house is about to go into foreclosure. Her older, perfect, self-absorbed sister, Paige, won’t stop pointing out all the areas in which Parker is lacking. Marion Henessy, who’s hated the Prescotts ever since Paige filed for a restraining order against Marion’s brother, is spreading nasty rumors about Parker on her blog. And no matter how hard Parker tries, she just can’t get over her ex-boyfriend, who is as irresistible as he is infuriating.
Each of these conflicts is an interesting part of the book in its own right, but it’s the last one, Parker’s relationship with her ex, that kept me reaching for Handcuffs in every spare minute I had. Griffin does an amazing job depicting Parker’s struggles with her family and classmates, but even if she didn’t I still would have stayed with the book just to see how things would play out with Parker’s romance. The relationship Parker and the ex have isn’t necessarily healthy, but it’s certainly steamy. Parker can’t get enough of the guy (even though she technically broke up with him), and it’s not hard to see why.
The ex-boyfriend oozes sex appeal. Part of what makes him so alluring is the air of unapproachability and mystery that surrounds him. You never know exactly what he’s thinking or feeling, and he’s difficult to figure out. Griffin heightens the sense of mystery by withholding details from the reader, such as the ex’s name, which isn’t mentioned once in the course of the novel, and specifics about what he looks like. Rather than sharing information about build, hair color, etc., Griffin simply conveys how hot the ex is by showing how the girls at Parker’s school react to him. For example:
"All the girls were panting over him. I was hot for him too, but I didn’t know how to break out of the cool quiet calm façade that I had built around myself, so I just observed while every creature with breasts threw herself at his feet."
It gets the point across, huh?
I normally like getting detailed descriptions of a character’s appearance, but in the case of Handcuffs Griffin’s avoidance of specifics works. By withholding information from the readers, she fans the flames of our curiosity. The less you know, the more you want to know. It will drive you wild.
The interactions between Parker and her ex are fascinatingly complicated. The ex can be a total ass at times, pressuring Parker to sleep with him, acting as if he couldn’t care less about spending time with her, and flaunting his exploits with other girls. And yet, at other moments, he can be incredibly sweet. He stands up for Parker when she’s being picked on in class, admires her intelligence and spunk, and seems to feel true tenderness for her at times.
Much of what kept me reading was the desire to discover whether the ex and Parker were meant to be together and just needed to work things out or if their on-again, off-again romance was toxic through and through. It’s a question that Parker wants answered, too, and I enjoyed watching her mature and grow while trying to navigate her relationship with the ex as well as her relationships with others.
This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
Each of these conflicts is an interesting part of the book in its own right, but it’s the last one, Parker’s relationship with her ex, that kept me reaching for Handcuffs in every spare minute I had. Griffin does an amazing job depicting Parker’s struggles with her family and classmates, but even if she didn’t I still would have stayed with the book just to see how things would play out with Parker’s romance. The relationship Parker and the ex have isn’t necessarily healthy, but it’s certainly steamy. Parker can’t get enough of the guy (even though she technically broke up with him), and it’s not hard to see why.
The ex-boyfriend oozes sex appeal. Part of what makes him so alluring is the air of unapproachability and mystery that surrounds him. You never know exactly what he’s thinking or feeling, and he’s difficult to figure out. Griffin heightens the sense of mystery by withholding details from the reader, such as the ex’s name, which isn’t mentioned once in the course of the novel, and specifics about what he looks like. Rather than sharing information about build, hair color, etc., Griffin simply conveys how hot the ex is by showing how the girls at Parker’s school react to him. For example:
"All the girls were panting over him. I was hot for him too, but I didn’t know how to break out of the cool quiet calm façade that I had built around myself, so I just observed while every creature with breasts threw herself at his feet."
It gets the point across, huh?
I normally like getting detailed descriptions of a character’s appearance, but in the case of Handcuffs Griffin’s avoidance of specifics works. By withholding information from the readers, she fans the flames of our curiosity. The less you know, the more you want to know. It will drive you wild.
The interactions between Parker and her ex are fascinatingly complicated. The ex can be a total ass at times, pressuring Parker to sleep with him, acting as if he couldn’t care less about spending time with her, and flaunting his exploits with other girls. And yet, at other moments, he can be incredibly sweet. He stands up for Parker when she’s being picked on in class, admires her intelligence and spunk, and seems to feel true tenderness for her at times.
Much of what kept me reading was the desire to discover whether the ex and Parker were meant to be together and just needed to work things out or if their on-again, off-again romance was toxic through and through. It’s a question that Parker wants answered, too, and I enjoyed watching her mature and grow while trying to navigate her relationship with the ex as well as her relationships with others.
This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
January 2, 2010
Parker Prescott has always been the dependable middle child. The one her parents love. 'Has been' being the key words. Two weeks ago she actually broke up with the boyfriend they all wanted her to break up with.
But then came the afternoon with the handcuffs when everything changed. Now she's no longer Perfect Parker.
That's really as much summary as I can give--and as much as really anyone else gives--but there's much, much more to the story than what that all makes it sound like. I came into the story expecting it to be about a goody-goody girl who had some torrid afternoon (of some sort or another) and then everything went boom. But really, everything was much more complex than that (and I can understand why the summaries are what they are; there's not really any other way to say things).
What isn't in my summary though is that Parker has a reputation-that she does quite a bit of living up to-of being an ice princess. A reputation that's fostered, cultivated and nurtured by Marion Hennessey's blog. Marion who used to be her neighbor; Marion who runs her own TMZ and hates Parker now.
And that's an example of why this book was enjoyable. There were several things (the blog, Parker's brother's ADD, etc) that helped the characters work. It wasn't just that Parker had a brother--her brother was a character--and so was her sister--and best friend--and so on.
I thought that the wayt he different characters and subplots ultimately worked themselves out (or not) in a way that brought everything to a conclusion was a nice way of doing things. It wasn't an A, B, C setup, conflict, resolution but seemed to work out more like life would.
The few things that I didn't like about the book: at the end of some chapters there were little bits that didnt' really seem necessary. It almost seemed as if someone wanted them included in the story but they didn't quite fit anywhere? (Or maybe I just missed how they contributed?) The other thing was that ages were mentioned quite a bit, but-to me at least-it was more distracting sometimes because it didn't always seem like they worked out (ex: one chapter was Parker's sister's birthday party-at the start Parker was 13, at the end she was 12; then they were 4 years apart and 2 grades apart...it just detracted from my reading a bit).
I hope Bethany Griffin writes more YA books because I enjoy her perspective and the storyline she thought up here :) (And, by the way, reviewing books written by teachers makes me nervous--and causes me to make more mistakes, too.)
Super thank you to Bethany Griffin for the book :-D
But then came the afternoon with the handcuffs when everything changed. Now she's no longer Perfect Parker.
That's really as much summary as I can give--and as much as really anyone else gives--but there's much, much more to the story than what that all makes it sound like. I came into the story expecting it to be about a goody-goody girl who had some torrid afternoon (of some sort or another) and then everything went boom. But really, everything was much more complex than that (and I can understand why the summaries are what they are; there's not really any other way to say things).
What isn't in my summary though is that Parker has a reputation-that she does quite a bit of living up to-of being an ice princess. A reputation that's fostered, cultivated and nurtured by Marion Hennessey's blog. Marion who used to be her neighbor; Marion who runs her own TMZ and hates Parker now.
And that's an example of why this book was enjoyable. There were several things (the blog, Parker's brother's ADD, etc) that helped the characters work. It wasn't just that Parker had a brother--her brother was a character--and so was her sister--and best friend--and so on.
I thought that the wayt he different characters and subplots ultimately worked themselves out (or not) in a way that brought everything to a conclusion was a nice way of doing things. It wasn't an A, B, C setup, conflict, resolution but seemed to work out more like life would.
The few things that I didn't like about the book: at the end of some chapters there were little bits that didnt' really seem necessary. It almost seemed as if someone wanted them included in the story but they didn't quite fit anywhere? (Or maybe I just missed how they contributed?) The other thing was that ages were mentioned quite a bit, but-to me at least-it was more distracting sometimes because it didn't always seem like they worked out (ex: one chapter was Parker's sister's birthday party-at the start Parker was 13, at the end she was 12; then they were 4 years apart and 2 grades apart...it just detracted from my reading a bit).
I hope Bethany Griffin writes more YA books because I enjoy her perspective and the storyline she thought up here :) (And, by the way, reviewing books written by teachers makes me nervous--and causes me to make more mistakes, too.)
Super thank you to Bethany Griffin for the book :-D
April 11, 2011
Parker Prescott has a fabulously alliterative name, but she's in trouble. See, she's the middle daughter, the "good" daughter. But her parents caught her in a really compromising situation with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend is a total bad boy techno geek that she's way in love with, mainly because she can't believe he's with her at all. So when he shows up on her door step after she's dumped him and wants to get frisky, she's cautious but titilated so she goes for it. Until her parents show up way earlier than they were supposed to and catch her topless and hand cuffed to her dad's office chair while the boyfriend is about to--well you get the idea.
This book captured the catty pettiness of what it is to be a teenager so well I spent a good part of the book cringing in secondhand embarassment. The author encorporates the blogosphere (Parker's exfriend has a gossip blog about their high school and Parker's her favorite target), and never once ventures into the preachy place that annoys me so much. Every bit of Parker's remorse rings true, the lengths that she goes to to save her family completely make sense and the things that happen to the other characters completely make sense. I felt genuinely bad for Parker's big sister (even though I wanted to smack her) I got that Parker's mom positively didn't get her and consequently said things that were much harsher than Parker needed to hear, I believed the nemesis' rationale for why she did what she did. My one complaint was that everything wrapped up too neat at the end. See, some of the things that were done to victimize Parker weren't just creepy, they were criminal, and nothing happened. Parker herself commits a couple of crimes and magically nothing happens to her. I mean, she gets grounded, but that's not what I mean.
Handcuffs deals with very real social situations and family problems and handles them well. It was a good read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys young adult fiction. This is Bethany Griffin's first novel and while it was very good, I can't wait to see what her next novel brings. I think it'll be much stronger.
This book captured the catty pettiness of what it is to be a teenager so well I spent a good part of the book cringing in secondhand embarassment. The author encorporates the blogosphere (Parker's exfriend has a gossip blog about their high school and Parker's her favorite target), and never once ventures into the preachy place that annoys me so much. Every bit of Parker's remorse rings true, the lengths that she goes to to save her family completely make sense and the things that happen to the other characters completely make sense. I felt genuinely bad for Parker's big sister (even though I wanted to smack her) I got that Parker's mom positively didn't get her and consequently said things that were much harsher than Parker needed to hear, I believed the nemesis' rationale for why she did what she did. My one complaint was that everything wrapped up too neat at the end. See, some of the things that were done to victimize Parker weren't just creepy, they were criminal, and nothing happened. Parker herself commits a couple of crimes and magically nothing happens to her. I mean, she gets grounded, but that's not what I mean.
Handcuffs deals with very real social situations and family problems and handles them well. It was a good read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys young adult fiction. This is Bethany Griffin's first novel and while it was very good, I can't wait to see what her next novel brings. I think it'll be much stronger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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