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Incense and Peppermints
Peace demonstrations, sit-ins, and burning the U.S. flag following the escalation of the Vietnam War are leading to a catalyst known to the world as the Sixties. A musical revolution, hippies, marijuana, and drugs are carrying the generations—young and old—into a new decade. All the while sixteen-year-old Mary Monroe is caught between being an innocent good girl and an autumn of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.
When her brother offers a solution to her dilemma in the form of a little pill, Mary ignores the rumba in her brain and takes a walk on the wild side. Plunged into popularity and a life she’s only imagined, she meets Michael Covington, the hot newcomer, and she’s instantly drawn in by his less than flawless exterior and bad boy sex appeal. Caught up in the danger and excitement as they drift from party to party, into underground fight clubs, and through a series of drug and alcohol fueled adventures. Mary follows her new crush into a world where young girls are never truly safe from predators lurking in the shadows and where young men are hiding from the harsh reality of war.
Feeling buzzed and as if her life is spinning out of control, Mary is assaulted by an unknown man at a party, and she’s left questioning if the enigmatic Michael is truly her hero or if he is the face behind the terrible attack. With every piece of information Mary learns about Michael, her doubts grow deeper, but with every minute she spends in his presence, so does her love.
With the war and her fear threatening to separate Mary and Michael forever, only the death of a friend, a crushing confession, and her own sensibilities can carry her over the threshold between adolescence and adulthood.
When her brother offers a solution to her dilemma in the form of a little pill, Mary ignores the rumba in her brain and takes a walk on the wild side. Plunged into popularity and a life she’s only imagined, she meets Michael Covington, the hot newcomer, and she’s instantly drawn in by his less than flawless exterior and bad boy sex appeal. Caught up in the danger and excitement as they drift from party to party, into underground fight clubs, and through a series of drug and alcohol fueled adventures. Mary follows her new crush into a world where young girls are never truly safe from predators lurking in the shadows and where young men are hiding from the harsh reality of war.
Feeling buzzed and as if her life is spinning out of control, Mary is assaulted by an unknown man at a party, and she’s left questioning if the enigmatic Michael is truly her hero or if he is the face behind the terrible attack. With every piece of information Mary learns about Michael, her doubts grow deeper, but with every minute she spends in his presence, so does her love.
With the war and her fear threatening to separate Mary and Michael forever, only the death of a friend, a crushing confession, and her own sensibilities can carry her over the threshold between adolescence and adulthood.
- GenresYoung Adult
Unknown Binding
Published March 10, 2017
22 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Cathrina Constantine
23 books375 followersI am blessed with a loving family and forever friends. My world revolves around them.
I grew up in the small village of Lancaster, NY, where I married my sweetheart. I'm devoted to raising 5 cherished children, and now my grandchildren.
I love to immerse myself in great books of every kind of genre, which helps me to write purely for entertainment, and hopefully to inspire readers. When not stationed at my computer you can find me in the woods taking long walks with my dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 13, 2017
Perfect
I honestly didn't know what to expect when I started this book but I was pleasantly surprised to find it was a hard to put down book. I wanted to read more. This coming of age in the 60's story really does tell a great story, with a nice little sad but tucked in there too.
I honestly didn't know what to expect when I started this book but I was pleasantly surprised to find it was a hard to put down book. I wanted to read more. This coming of age in the 60's story really does tell a great story, with a nice little sad but tucked in there too.
June 29, 2017
Incense and Peppermints by Cathrina Constantine
Loved, loved, loved this book. I felt like I was transported to the 1960's. Even though I wasn't born until 1965 this story brings back memories of my teenage years exploring sex, drugs and rock n roll. which was my motto!
This Author has a way of reminding us that life is a fragile thing and we should embrace the bad as well as the good.
Michael Covington, what can I say... been there, done that. What a feeling!
Marilyn (Mary) Monroe, respect is what comes to mind. Loved her. Mary's brother Steve was a great character and I envy their brother, sister relationship.
My favorite part of the story is when Mary and Michael took off on his motorcycle. I enjoyed the fun they had together.
I would love to read more from this Auhor.
I give Incense and Peppermints 5 stars for its 60's feel good vibe.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
Loved, loved, loved this book. I felt like I was transported to the 1960's. Even though I wasn't born until 1965 this story brings back memories of my teenage years exploring sex, drugs and rock n roll. which was my motto!
This Author has a way of reminding us that life is a fragile thing and we should embrace the bad as well as the good.
Michael Covington, what can I say... been there, done that. What a feeling!
Marilyn (Mary) Monroe, respect is what comes to mind. Loved her. Mary's brother Steve was a great character and I envy their brother, sister relationship.
My favorite part of the story is when Mary and Michael took off on his motorcycle. I enjoyed the fun they had together.
I would love to read more from this Auhor.
I give Incense and Peppermints 5 stars for its 60's feel good vibe.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
April 27, 2017
Sixteen-year-old Mary Monroe is an innocent girl in the years of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. She has new friends in her older brother's girlfriend and her group. They take Mary out of her reserved shell where she meets a handsome new student, Michael Covington. He's got bad boy appeal, but there's something more to him. Mary is assaulted at a wild party, and Michael rescues her. At least, she's pretty certain he did. Or was he the one who attacked her? What's even more, the more she gets to know him, the more she's falling for him.
This YA read takes place in the late 1960s, but the story is easily mirrored in life nowadays. It's colorful and light, and intense and emotional. The crazy days of trying to figure out who you are when you're a teenager. Mary is immediately likable. She's a good student, a little geeky, and takes care of her family even when they aren't the best. Yet she tumbles into hanging out with the popular party girls and doesn't want to admit it's more than she can handle. Plus the hot Michael is at all the parties, and she wants to follow where he goes. It pulls at your heartstrings a lot.
This YA read takes place in the late 1960s, but the story is easily mirrored in life nowadays. It's colorful and light, and intense and emotional. The crazy days of trying to figure out who you are when you're a teenager. Mary is immediately likable. She's a good student, a little geeky, and takes care of her family even when they aren't the best. Yet she tumbles into hanging out with the popular party girls and doesn't want to admit it's more than she can handle. Plus the hot Michael is at all the parties, and she wants to follow where he goes. It pulls at your heartstrings a lot.
April 21, 2017
Incense and Peppermints is a warm and wonderful coming of age novel set in 1969, when "Drugs, sex and rock-n-roll" was the motto of the day.
Mary is a mixture of naivete and strength, a product of her turbulent home life, yet with an inner strength and sweetness that draw people to her like moths to flame. Michael is a young man who has been both hurt and strengthened by his own rough family life and is immediately drawn to Mary.
I won this book in a contest and I read it in one sitting, as I was simply riveted to the pages.
Highly recommended!
Mary is a mixture of naivete and strength, a product of her turbulent home life, yet with an inner strength and sweetness that draw people to her like moths to flame. Michael is a young man who has been both hurt and strengthened by his own rough family life and is immediately drawn to Mary.
I won this book in a contest and I read it in one sitting, as I was simply riveted to the pages.
Highly recommended!
March 10, 2017
This book was excellent. It really brought back memories for me from my high school days and how much fun they were, yet the temptations and peer pressure were very emotional. I absolutely loved the characters and the relationships between them. You will love this book, but especially if you were born in the 50s. Cathrina is a very talented author. I've read all her books thus far and hope she writes a lot more.
November 2, 2017
Una novela intensa, realista y muy conmovedora sobre la juventud de la década de 60. Me encantó cómo la autora logra transportar al lector hacia aquellos años de tantos descubrimientos, cambios y revoluciones. Los personajes están muy bien desarrollados, la protagonista Mary Monroe tiene sus fallos pero son justamente sus fallos que le hacen creíble, humana, cercana al lector. Tenemos a su grupo de amigos, muchachos intentando soportar la realidad dura de ver sus conocidos luchar en una guerra sin sentido (la Guerra del Vietnan en 1969), intentando descubrir por si mismos lo bueno y lo malo de la nueva libertad que su generación experimenta. El romance está extremadamente bien planteado, la pareja principal tiene una historia que de a poco enternece al lector. Sin embargo lo que más me ha gustado en esta novela, aparte de su ambientación, han sido las relaciones de amistad, entre las chicas y los chicos. Porque no son amigos perfectos, tienen sus diferencias, sus peleas, incluso rivalidades entre ellos, sin embargo, otra vez más repito, es justamente en esos pequeños fallos que el lector logra identificarse y sentirlos como personas humanas, reales.
La novela se lee en un plis plás y aunque tuve dificultad con algunos de los términos utilizados por la autora en un contexto general es una novela sencilla que se entiende bien para quienes que como yo poseen un inglés básico. Recomendado.
La novela se lee en un plis plás y aunque tuve dificultad con algunos de los términos utilizados por la autora en un contexto general es una novela sencilla que se entiende bien para quienes que como yo poseen un inglés básico. Recomendado.
April 26, 2017
Peace demonstrations, sit-ins, and burning the U.S. flag following the escalation of the Vietnam War are leading to a catalyst known to the world as the Sixties. A musical revolution, flower power, hippies, marijuana, and drugs are carrying the generations—young and old—into a new decade. All the while sixteen-year-old Mary Monroe is caught between being an innocent good girl and an autumn of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.
When her brother offers a solution to her dilemma in the form of a little pill, Mary ignores the rumba in her brain and takes a walk on the wild side. Plunged into popularity and a life she’s only imagined, she meets Michael Covington, the hot newcomer, and she’s instantly drawn in by his less than flawless exterior and bad boy sex appeal. Caught up in the danger and excitement as they drift from party to party, into underground fight clubs, and through a series of drug and alcohol fueled adventures. Mary follows her new crush into a world where young girls are never truly safe from the predators lurking in the shadows and where young men are hiding from the harsh reality of war.
Feeling buzzed and as if her life is spinning out of control, Mary is assaulted by an unknown man at a party, and she’s left questioning if the enigmatic Michael is truly her hero or if he is the face behind the terrible attack. With every piece of information Mary learns about Michael, her doubts grow deeper, but with every minute she spends in his presence, so does her love.
With the war and her fear threatening to separate Mary and Michael forever, only the death of a friend, a crushing confession, and her own sensibilities can carry her over the threshold between adolescence and adulthood.
Rating: 4/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: entertaining, fun historical; awesome "coming of age" premise; mature topics handled with sensitivity and tact; endearing, realistic characters; just a smidge bit of "insta-love," but I'll forgive it; a wild glimpse into the past
HUGE thanks to Cathrina Constantine and Xpresso Book Tours for sending me a free digital galley of this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
"Bloome will find out we came in together. It's not going to look good." Not that I minded the ride or the hottest boy in school walking me into the building. "Really, why are you pretending?"
"Just causing a little anarchy." He nudged me closer. "And who says I'm pretending?"
This was such a fun and entertaining glimpse into the past for me! Of course, there are some more mature subjects--and they are handled with sensitivity and tact. The characters were endearing and realistic, wholly relatable for me as the reader--and super easy for me to form connections with/become emotional over.
The growth and "coming of age" journey Mary embarks on throughout this novel reminded me, in part, of my own youth. Of course, I wasn't the party type--I didn't touch alcohol, save a few tiny sips, until my 21st birthday. But the journey she takes with HERSELF--to find and become comfortable with who she is--reminded me of my own journey to find the same. In fact, I've recently discovered myself on that same path, and watching Mary unfold from herself and find a foot to stand on really inspired and awed me. I also really appreciated the many relationships we look into in this read--friendships, family, the dark secrets that lurk beneath all our skins. It was a poignant, beautifully written expose of human nature and reality, I felt.
He glided a fingertip from my temple to outline my mouth. "Mary, don't make me care," he said in a stronger tone as if convincing himself. In an unclear murmur like a submissive groan, Michael crushed my lips, demanding and firm. One arm wrapped my back, lifting me off my feet and pressing me against his leather jacket. His hand cradled my head, embracing me.
The only thing that really irked me was the Michael/Mary relationship. There was quite a bit of insta-love happening; in fact, I didn't feel as if Michael or Mary really got to KNOW each other. Of course, this is quite realistic I think--I had my own sort of "insta-love" moment in high school...and that relationship carried on for something like seven years, without me really knowing much about the boy. I mean, I KNEW him...but only the pieces he wanted me to, and those pieces were constantly shifting. However, I felt as if Michael and Mary were a bit more swept up in the emotional tsunami than I'd have liked--I didn't feel like they really breached the walls of each other's minds. Mary, even, seems to just accept Michael at surface level. He's the hottest boy in school and all the girls want him, so she does too. It felt pretty shallow to me, honestly. But I'm forgiving it, because as I said, I experienced something similar in my past...and Michael is exactly the shady, dark, mysterious guy I go for in book boyfriends.
Overall, this was an entertaining and poignant look into a world I've never really known. The characters are realistic, the romance is...a bit shallow, but not wholly unbelievable. I really enjoyed the look into relationships that happens throughout, and Mary's "coming of age" journey was turbulent but relateable for me. I'd recommend this to lovers of historical fiction, characters along for a wild ride, and vibrantly colored worlds. Settle back and relax, penguins; let the ride begin!
July 6, 2017
I received this book as a gift in exchange for an honest review. This book will take you back to the swiftly changing times of peace, love, sex, drugs, and rock n roll. If you're too young to remember those times, the author gives a peek of what it was like through sixteen year old Mary's eyes as she tags along with her older brother and gets deeply involved in it. It's a wild but fun ride and interesting coming of age read. It is definitely about incense and peppermints which by the way is a song from that time but it could also be added innocence, peppermints, and incense. Check it out- I really enjoyed it!
June 27, 2017
Incense and peppermints…
Who cares what games we choose? Little to win, but nothin' to lose.
This is an accurate look back at the late 1960’s with crazy teens, hippies and peace marches. I was about the age of the heroine of this story during this time frame. The air was filled with normal teenage angst, drugs, booze, sex, and hippies. Add in alcoholic parents, the anti-war sentiment, draft dodgers, friends dying in the front lines and you have this tale. This author does a wonderful job of catching all of it like she was there. From peer pressure to underground clubs, she hits it on the button. This is sort of like the film 'Dazed and Confused', but quite a few years earlier. Technically, the novel is aces. The characters, the emotion, and the dialogue all rings true. Outstanding work.
Who cares what games we choose? Little to win, but nothin' to lose.
This is an accurate look back at the late 1960’s with crazy teens, hippies and peace marches. I was about the age of the heroine of this story during this time frame. The air was filled with normal teenage angst, drugs, booze, sex, and hippies. Add in alcoholic parents, the anti-war sentiment, draft dodgers, friends dying in the front lines and you have this tale. This author does a wonderful job of catching all of it like she was there. From peer pressure to underground clubs, she hits it on the button. This is sort of like the film 'Dazed and Confused', but quite a few years earlier. Technically, the novel is aces. The characters, the emotion, and the dialogue all rings true. Outstanding work.
June 29, 2017
I remember those days quite well. An accurate account of the sixties. The hardships and the joys. A moving story of a young girls growth into adulthood.
April 28, 2017
I don’t read many books in the young adult genre alone. My taste lies more toward young adult slash dystopian slash science fiction slash paranormal creature or two. But after reading the summary for Incense and Peppermints I was drawn in instantly. I loved that it was set during the Vietnam War, flower child and hippie era. I had to know where the heroine Mary Monroe fit in, in this era and how she dealt with it. I have always been interested in this time period as I was born in the sixties, yes I am a baby boomer but I am not old enough to remember any of it.
For a sixteen year old Mary had a good head on her shoulders and was a very smart girl. She was very mature and handles life very well, a lot better than most adults. Her brother introduces her to the life of drugs and alcohol and they go from party to party with his friends and her new friends.
A new guy Michael Covington comes to town and all the girls want him including Mary. Michael is always looking out for Mary and taking care of her. One night at a party Mary is in a room alone when suddenly she is plunged into dark and his attacked but luckily Michael comes to her rescue but the guy takes off before they have the chance to find out who it was. Mary spends her days wondering who attached her and hoping she never runs into him again.
Michael and Mary like each other a lot but Michael has a lot of baggage in his life that he is not ready to share with anyone yet. His past may just put a damper on his and Mary relationship. But Michael is not the only one that is hiding things in their life; Mary and a lot of other people probably have a lot of skeletons in their closets they would like to keep hidden as well.
I would recommend Incense and Peppermint to anyone who likes young adult coming of age kind of book. But of course you might want to keep the Kleenex close by just in case they are needed and make sure you set plenty of time aside because you are not going to want to put this one down for any reason.
For a sixteen year old Mary had a good head on her shoulders and was a very smart girl. She was very mature and handles life very well, a lot better than most adults. Her brother introduces her to the life of drugs and alcohol and they go from party to party with his friends and her new friends.
A new guy Michael Covington comes to town and all the girls want him including Mary. Michael is always looking out for Mary and taking care of her. One night at a party Mary is in a room alone when suddenly she is plunged into dark and his attacked but luckily Michael comes to her rescue but the guy takes off before they have the chance to find out who it was. Mary spends her days wondering who attached her and hoping she never runs into him again.
Michael and Mary like each other a lot but Michael has a lot of baggage in his life that he is not ready to share with anyone yet. His past may just put a damper on his and Mary relationship. But Michael is not the only one that is hiding things in their life; Mary and a lot of other people probably have a lot of skeletons in their closets they would like to keep hidden as well.
I would recommend Incense and Peppermint to anyone who likes young adult coming of age kind of book. But of course you might want to keep the Kleenex close by just in case they are needed and make sure you set plenty of time aside because you are not going to want to put this one down for any reason.
May 15, 2017
By pure coincidence, I started reading this book about a month after I had started watching reruns of "The Wonder Years" on Netflix, and the two reminded me of each other due to the crossover of real life events from the time period. Only in this book, we don't have the perfect family or the innocent children like on TV. It's more like what you would expect the Arnold family to be like AFTER the cameras were turned off, if that makes any sense. There is a bit of domestic upheaval, hippiness, drug use, and assault, all while Mary is trying to fit in with the popular kids and trying NOT to fall in love with a guy who may or may not have assaulted her.
My only beef with the book was the minor editing errors that seemed to pop up on occasion. At first it was a missing or additional apostrophe here or there, but closer to the end of the book, things like missing words, misspellings, and other missing or incorrect punctuation came into play as well. It was quite a distraction, and it made me a bit sad that a book with such a gripping plot and story had such simple errors in it. But in the end, I couldn't bear to give it less than five stars because I just liked it so much and couldn't put it down.
My only beef with the book was the minor editing errors that seemed to pop up on occasion. At first it was a missing or additional apostrophe here or there, but closer to the end of the book, things like missing words, misspellings, and other missing or incorrect punctuation came into play as well. It was quite a distraction, and it made me a bit sad that a book with such a gripping plot and story had such simple errors in it. But in the end, I couldn't bear to give it less than five stars because I just liked it so much and couldn't put it down.
April 27, 2017
I really enjoyed this story, it takes you on a trip back to the 60's filled with peace, war, drugs and a coming of age story of some amazing characters
I immediately feel in love with Michael and Mary, wishing them together, but the talented author Catherina Constantine keeps you on roller coaster ride of emotions in this coming of age story that has everything from young love, jealousy and even taking you into the dark side of the drugs of that era.
Add in the characters of their friends and family and the ups and downs of being a teenager in that time and you have a book you will not want to put down, and wish the sorry would keep going!
This book is so true to the time of the 60's, it brings back the memories of the war and the draft, peaceful demonstrations and also all the pain that came with that time.
I absolutely recommend this beautifully written story for everyone to enjoy reading and the memories of the amazing music is a huge enjoyment bonus!
This is my first book that I have read by this talented author but will definitely not be my last as this is one of my all time favorite books, one I will read many times, and enjoy every time I do!
I immediately feel in love with Michael and Mary, wishing them together, but the talented author Catherina Constantine keeps you on roller coaster ride of emotions in this coming of age story that has everything from young love, jealousy and even taking you into the dark side of the drugs of that era.
Add in the characters of their friends and family and the ups and downs of being a teenager in that time and you have a book you will not want to put down, and wish the sorry would keep going!
This book is so true to the time of the 60's, it brings back the memories of the war and the draft, peaceful demonstrations and also all the pain that came with that time.
I absolutely recommend this beautifully written story for everyone to enjoy reading and the memories of the amazing music is a huge enjoyment bonus!
This is my first book that I have read by this talented author but will definitely not be my last as this is one of my all time favorite books, one I will read many times, and enjoy every time I do!
April 4, 2017
Read my full review at http://blackwords-whitepages1977.blog...
This was an incredible psychedelic journey into alcohol, drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll. I could dream and was fascinated by this story and all that happened within its magical pages. This author brought together a time that truly existed but that can from her imagination. I could just live within its pages, soaking up every moment as if it was on a wide screen TV. Everything was so vivid in my mind of each and every event that played out. The feelers really came out in this story. So much pain, heartache, love, and hate just flowed out of the pages of this book. The characters were easy to fall in love with and I felt as if I could actually relate with them. The story-line was solid and fast paced and had quite the lesson behind it. I highly recommend this read.
JGBS Review Library provided me with a digital ARC copy of the book for review purposes only. No remuneration was exchanged.
This was an incredible psychedelic journey into alcohol, drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll. I could dream and was fascinated by this story and all that happened within its magical pages. This author brought together a time that truly existed but that can from her imagination. I could just live within its pages, soaking up every moment as if it was on a wide screen TV. Everything was so vivid in my mind of each and every event that played out. The feelers really came out in this story. So much pain, heartache, love, and hate just flowed out of the pages of this book. The characters were easy to fall in love with and I felt as if I could actually relate with them. The story-line was solid and fast paced and had quite the lesson behind it. I highly recommend this read.
JGBS Review Library provided me with a digital ARC copy of the book for review purposes only. No remuneration was exchanged.
April 12, 2017
Incense and Peppermints by Cathrina Constantine
Set in 1969 it is the story of young Mary, her brother and Mary's friends. She is turned on to drugs by her older brother, lives in a dysfunctional family, and grows up a bit too fast. At a party she is assaulted and has to live with the day to day struggle of this horrific occurrence.
The story moves at a fast pace, with dialog from that era. Mary is very likable, and watching her handle her day to day life, was a roller coaster of emotions. Overall I enjoyed Incense and Peppermints and feel young adult as well as adult reader will enjoy it as well.
Set in 1969 it is the story of young Mary, her brother and Mary's friends. She is turned on to drugs by her older brother, lives in a dysfunctional family, and grows up a bit too fast. At a party she is assaulted and has to live with the day to day struggle of this horrific occurrence.
The story moves at a fast pace, with dialog from that era. Mary is very likable, and watching her handle her day to day life, was a roller coaster of emotions. Overall I enjoyed Incense and Peppermints and feel young adult as well as adult reader will enjoy it as well.
March 27, 2017
I never got to experience the 60s, but I'm old enough to remember bell bottoms! In Incense and Peppermints, we get to relive those times through the eyes of Mary Monroe (named for Marilyn, of course!), a high schooler dealing with some serious peer pressure. The gritty realism of the many struggles she deals with makes this book so compelling. Plus, just when you think you might be reading a romance, the author takes a completely surprising turn. This book is more of a coming-of-age story that keeps you guessing until the end!
March 15, 2017
Incense and Peppermints
A book from my generation. It was a quick read capturing youth in the 60's. First love with Viet Nam threatening the teen agers in the story. It brought back high school, free wheeling hippies and families dealing with a new decade. I would recommend this for the baby boomer generation.
A book from my generation. It was a quick read capturing youth in the 60's. First love with Viet Nam threatening the teen agers in the story. It brought back high school, free wheeling hippies and families dealing with a new decade. I would recommend this for the baby boomer generation.
June 25, 2018
I give the book 4.5 /5 peppermints.
To be honest, I am not really a fan of the '60s. The decade of rock and roll, marijuana, drugs, war, and other things. It's probably the reason why I haven't read a lot about this period or there weren't a lot of books that I've come across that interested me enough. Or maybe, I just don't care about it or have understood little about it. Well, this book is different. It somehow opened my mind about that period and to the fact that teenagers, no matter what decade they are from, in some ways are the same. And speaking of drugs, it wasn't just popular in that decade, somehow every generation has its own share and taste of it. The the name and type of poison may vary or may have changed and evolved from generation to generation but nevertheless, it's one of the common things that become part of a teenagers right of passage through life. Personally, I haven't try one. So, I can't totally relate to that part.
I think I signed up for this book because the blurb was interesting enough, though I had my doubts because of the era it was set. Much to my surprise, the story was very relatable and not so dated. I guess, part of it being YA has bridged that gap, if ever there was that generation gap. I was actually absorbed in the story and just had to finish it. One of the reviewers had the same reaction.
As I have said, even if you were not born in the 60s, you will definitely end up liking this book. It mentions a lot of truths which are still applicable or are happening to teenagers today. As you read through the story, you'll feel like you're Mary, the main character. Caught up in a world of crushes, drugs, late nights, and all other adventures teenagers find themselves in. She even had her own share of abuse and what's worse, she didn't know who the guilty party was until some tragedy struck. Finding out the truth was very devastating yet it was also liberating for her. She ended up not hating the person but rather felt sorry for him because that person was going through a lot. Which actually speaks much about Mary's character and maturity.
This is actually a really good story about the 60s with a lot of lessons. Like I said, I was so surprised that I was actually drawn into the story. All the doubts I had, had disappeared and it made reading it all the more fun. I guess, it has to do with the characters. The characters were very relatable and could as well be the same way teenagers behave nowadays or from the other books that I have read. Somehow I have an impression that I might not like the book because it's in the 60s and it's a very unfamiliar era to me and somehow things might get lost in translation or something. But that was never the case. Nothing was lost in translation or in the haze at all. For that, I think I owe it the author's ability to bridge that gap. That in spite of the decades of distance from the readers generation, she somehow had made it like the story is timeless. The events in the story and the characters could well be millennials and you'll see that'll exactly be going through the same things that happened int this story. That is a very great feat to accomplish. Congratz Miss Constantine!
And with that, I give the book 4.5 /5 peppermints. So, being a teenager, no matter from which generation you are from, you will experience the same things a teenager has to go through in order to pass through to adulthood. The same confusion, doubts, and sense of anything can happen or the feeling of invincibility will be there. The same issues and fears that plague the kids in the 60s are still the same issues that bombarded the youth of all generation. And that somehow, connects every reader to this story set in the 60s. A really fun and touching coming of age story of Mary who could well be just you and me.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.
- Catharina Constantine, Incense and Peppermints -
Thank you again Xpressobooktours and Catharina Constantine for the copy.
To be honest, I am not really a fan of the '60s. The decade of rock and roll, marijuana, drugs, war, and other things. It's probably the reason why I haven't read a lot about this period or there weren't a lot of books that I've come across that interested me enough. Or maybe, I just don't care about it or have understood little about it. Well, this book is different. It somehow opened my mind about that period and to the fact that teenagers, no matter what decade they are from, in some ways are the same. And speaking of drugs, it wasn't just popular in that decade, somehow every generation has its own share and taste of it. The the name and type of poison may vary or may have changed and evolved from generation to generation but nevertheless, it's one of the common things that become part of a teenagers right of passage through life. Personally, I haven't try one. So, I can't totally relate to that part.
I think I signed up for this book because the blurb was interesting enough, though I had my doubts because of the era it was set. Much to my surprise, the story was very relatable and not so dated. I guess, part of it being YA has bridged that gap, if ever there was that generation gap. I was actually absorbed in the story and just had to finish it. One of the reviewers had the same reaction.
As I have said, even if you were not born in the 60s, you will definitely end up liking this book. It mentions a lot of truths which are still applicable or are happening to teenagers today. As you read through the story, you'll feel like you're Mary, the main character. Caught up in a world of crushes, drugs, late nights, and all other adventures teenagers find themselves in. She even had her own share of abuse and what's worse, she didn't know who the guilty party was until some tragedy struck. Finding out the truth was very devastating yet it was also liberating for her. She ended up not hating the person but rather felt sorry for him because that person was going through a lot. Which actually speaks much about Mary's character and maturity.
This is actually a really good story about the 60s with a lot of lessons. Like I said, I was so surprised that I was actually drawn into the story. All the doubts I had, had disappeared and it made reading it all the more fun. I guess, it has to do with the characters. The characters were very relatable and could as well be the same way teenagers behave nowadays or from the other books that I have read. Somehow I have an impression that I might not like the book because it's in the 60s and it's a very unfamiliar era to me and somehow things might get lost in translation or something. But that was never the case. Nothing was lost in translation or in the haze at all. For that, I think I owe it the author's ability to bridge that gap. That in spite of the decades of distance from the readers generation, she somehow had made it like the story is timeless. The events in the story and the characters could well be millennials and you'll see that'll exactly be going through the same things that happened int this story. That is a very great feat to accomplish. Congratz Miss Constantine!
And with that, I give the book 4.5 /5 peppermints. So, being a teenager, no matter from which generation you are from, you will experience the same things a teenager has to go through in order to pass through to adulthood. The same confusion, doubts, and sense of anything can happen or the feeling of invincibility will be there. The same issues and fears that plague the kids in the 60s are still the same issues that bombarded the youth of all generation. And that somehow, connects every reader to this story set in the 60s. A really fun and touching coming of age story of Mary who could well be just you and me.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.
- Catharina Constantine, Incense and Peppermints -
Thank you again Xpressobooktours and Catharina Constantine for the copy.
January 17, 2018
This tale lures into the free-spirit during the late 1960's, glancing over the war and protests, while hitting much closer to home as it sinks in.
Mary, the good-girl and nerd of her family, is about to sixteen but is drawn into her brother's world thanks to his constant persistence and a little pill. Pulled into the circle of popularity, parties, beer and drugs, the freedom spirals out of her control. Finding herself in a bad situation, she's rescued by the hottest guy at school, but that introduces a whole new level of chaos.
This is the first piece of fiction I've read about this era, and although I wasn't sure what to expect, I was immediately drawn in and enjoyed the ride. Mary Monroe is in an awkward place like many girls of that age are. Her desire to have fun and get away from family troubles (and her family has their share) is understandable. That she doesn't make the best decisions is believable and totally understandable. She has a lot to learn and tries her best to balance her conscious with her desire to have fun—not an easy task.
The book hits hard on the partying end, letting Mary sink into the free life of that time with all of its joy and pain. While telling of Mary's experience through this period, this book also shows glimpses into the other characters' lives and lets them grab hold with their own tales. In some ways, it's a coming of age and the story of how Mary finds herself.
There is romance, and while it does carry a bit of instant love, there's enough build up and uncertainties to make it sit. The hero is all a hero should be but not without his own demons, and fits the setting nicely.
Summed up, it's a nice dive into this time period and opens up some questions not only from that time, but ones that also relate to today. It's an intriguing read, and the characters stay long after that last page is read.
I received a complimentary copy and was so engaged in these pages that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
Mary, the good-girl and nerd of her family, is about to sixteen but is drawn into her brother's world thanks to his constant persistence and a little pill. Pulled into the circle of popularity, parties, beer and drugs, the freedom spirals out of her control. Finding herself in a bad situation, she's rescued by the hottest guy at school, but that introduces a whole new level of chaos.
This is the first piece of fiction I've read about this era, and although I wasn't sure what to expect, I was immediately drawn in and enjoyed the ride. Mary Monroe is in an awkward place like many girls of that age are. Her desire to have fun and get away from family troubles (and her family has their share) is understandable. That she doesn't make the best decisions is believable and totally understandable. She has a lot to learn and tries her best to balance her conscious with her desire to have fun—not an easy task.
The book hits hard on the partying end, letting Mary sink into the free life of that time with all of its joy and pain. While telling of Mary's experience through this period, this book also shows glimpses into the other characters' lives and lets them grab hold with their own tales. In some ways, it's a coming of age and the story of how Mary finds herself.
There is romance, and while it does carry a bit of instant love, there's enough build up and uncertainties to make it sit. The hero is all a hero should be but not without his own demons, and fits the setting nicely.
Summed up, it's a nice dive into this time period and opens up some questions not only from that time, but ones that also relate to today. It's an intriguing read, and the characters stay long after that last page is read.
I received a complimentary copy and was so engaged in these pages that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
May 6, 2017
I didn't know what to expect going into this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. The story is a timeless teen romance that could have been set during any decade. So much of it felt contemporary but with a throwback to the days before cellphones and the internet. Sixteen-year-old Mary has it bad for new hottie, Michael, but so does a girl from her social circle who also happens to be the queen bee. To complicate matters, one of her brother's best friends has a massive crush on Mary, but her feelings are purely platonic. This creates enough angsty drama even without the backdrop of the Vietnam War. But that simmering tension serves the plot well, and again, there is something very current and relatable about it.
As Mary and Michael dance around their mutual attraction, Mary balances her social status by keeping him at arm's' length. Underlying it all is a fear for her brother who is willing to risk the draft by not going to college at a time when too many boys are coming home in boxes. I adored the story and the characters, but the writing was a little strange. There was odd phrasing and the misuse of so many words throughout, it was impossible to overlook. I think a pass by a decent editor could make this a 5-star book for me.
Plot
The plotting was fantastic. The author does an amazing job of foreshadowing everything. Nothing happens without reason and while it's not a thriller or even a suspense novel, the story still moves at a clipped pace. It centers primarily around the relationship between Mary and Michael, but it also involves subplots regarding Mary's relationship with her dysfunctional family, her former nerd friends, and the higher social circle she now travels in, thanks to her brother's relationship with one of the "it" girls at school.
Characters
Michael and Mary are extremely well developed. The rest of the characters are there to support them, but they're developed enough to be more than just fluff. However, this is Mary's story, and she's fantastic. The author handles her homelife in such a realistic fashion, I never doubted for a minute that Mary is who she is in large part because of this.
World Building
Everything from the music to the fashion, to the lack of current technology felt so true to the time. The events took place before my time, but growing up the 80s wasn't all that much different. We had cars with keys instead of remotes, we didn't have our own phones, and we certainly didn't have social media. And even with all of these details painting a picture of go-go boots and harvest gold appliances, there was something very modern about the story that made it easy to identify with.
What I Enjoyed About INCENSE AND PEPPERMINTS
1. Mary. She was so sublimely naive in a way that made her endearing instead of annoying.
2. Michael. He's far more complex than we'll ever know, but the glimpses we see of him from Mary's eyes is enough to tell us he's got a lot going on under the hood.
3. World Building. The story both brought me deep into another time and still managed to feel current.
4. Angsty Romance. My favorite kind, done sixties style!
5. The Music. So much of the music of the time served as an undercurrent to the story, including the title of the book.
Bottom Line
I absolutely loved this story and with tighter editing, it could be magical!
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
As Mary and Michael dance around their mutual attraction, Mary balances her social status by keeping him at arm's' length. Underlying it all is a fear for her brother who is willing to risk the draft by not going to college at a time when too many boys are coming home in boxes. I adored the story and the characters, but the writing was a little strange. There was odd phrasing and the misuse of so many words throughout, it was impossible to overlook. I think a pass by a decent editor could make this a 5-star book for me.
Plot
The plotting was fantastic. The author does an amazing job of foreshadowing everything. Nothing happens without reason and while it's not a thriller or even a suspense novel, the story still moves at a clipped pace. It centers primarily around the relationship between Mary and Michael, but it also involves subplots regarding Mary's relationship with her dysfunctional family, her former nerd friends, and the higher social circle she now travels in, thanks to her brother's relationship with one of the "it" girls at school.
Characters
Michael and Mary are extremely well developed. The rest of the characters are there to support them, but they're developed enough to be more than just fluff. However, this is Mary's story, and she's fantastic. The author handles her homelife in such a realistic fashion, I never doubted for a minute that Mary is who she is in large part because of this.
World Building
Everything from the music to the fashion, to the lack of current technology felt so true to the time. The events took place before my time, but growing up the 80s wasn't all that much different. We had cars with keys instead of remotes, we didn't have our own phones, and we certainly didn't have social media. And even with all of these details painting a picture of go-go boots and harvest gold appliances, there was something very modern about the story that made it easy to identify with.
What I Enjoyed About INCENSE AND PEPPERMINTS
1. Mary. She was so sublimely naive in a way that made her endearing instead of annoying.
2. Michael. He's far more complex than we'll ever know, but the glimpses we see of him from Mary's eyes is enough to tell us he's got a lot going on under the hood.
3. World Building. The story both brought me deep into another time and still managed to feel current.
4. Angsty Romance. My favorite kind, done sixties style!
5. The Music. So much of the music of the time served as an undercurrent to the story, including the title of the book.
Bottom Line
I absolutely loved this story and with tighter editing, it could be magical!
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2018
5 Cranky Stars
Marilyn ‘Mary’ Monroe is growing up in the age of where there is sex, drugs, and rock and roll. She is the middle child, caught in between being a good girl and wanting to do what’s best for her. Her brother Steve tries to guide her, but Mary is determined to march along to her own beat. Mary has a few moments where she is put in horrible situations, and Michael Covington, a boy with a bad reputation saves her. Mary doesn’t know who her attacker is, and she is torn between wanting to trust Michael, and accusing him of hurting her.
This story was beautifully written. The soundtrack was amazing. It was an amazing story, and the characters were easy to relate to. I have so many questions that I need the answer to.
Marilyn ‘Mary’ Monroe is growing up in the age of where there is sex, drugs, and rock and roll. She is the middle child, caught in between being a good girl and wanting to do what’s best for her. Her brother Steve tries to guide her, but Mary is determined to march along to her own beat. Mary has a few moments where she is put in horrible situations, and Michael Covington, a boy with a bad reputation saves her. Mary doesn’t know who her attacker is, and she is torn between wanting to trust Michael, and accusing him of hurting her.
This story was beautifully written. The soundtrack was amazing. It was an amazing story, and the characters were easy to relate to. I have so many questions that I need the answer to.
August 13, 2017
This is a wonderful coming of age novel set in the 60’s
I found it so engaging from the start that it only took me a couple of days to read and to me that is definitely a sign of a good book!
The main character Mary is a likeable character and you follow the ups and downs and serious peer pressure that comes at that time of life! It is a great paced story that has everything you need for a good coming of age story and without spoilers it has a sad reality that Mary must deal with that really tugs on the heart strings
In all I really enjoyed the pace and realism of the story that gave me an insight into life in the 60’s
http://thepursuitofbookiness.co.uk/20...
Disclosure: The Pursuit Of Bookiness received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our won
I found it so engaging from the start that it only took me a couple of days to read and to me that is definitely a sign of a good book!
The main character Mary is a likeable character and you follow the ups and downs and serious peer pressure that comes at that time of life! It is a great paced story that has everything you need for a good coming of age story and without spoilers it has a sad reality that Mary must deal with that really tugs on the heart strings
In all I really enjoyed the pace and realism of the story that gave me an insight into life in the 60’s
http://thepursuitofbookiness.co.uk/20...
Disclosure: The Pursuit Of Bookiness received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our won
June 7, 2022
oh growing up! *SPOILERS*
Such a good coming of age book! I spent the whole book wanting Mary and Michael to get together and they do and the book is over!! My heart swells and my mind is angry lol! Such a great book!
Such a good coming of age book! I spent the whole book wanting Mary and Michael to get together and they do and the book is over!! My heart swells and my mind is angry lol! Such a great book!
October 10, 2017
the 60's in living color
I received a free copy of this book, but I voluntarily reviewed it. I was a child of the 60's so I'm a bit of 60's snob so I will start with things I found off putting. This is a short list 1-the girls wore red lipstick no teen in 1969 would be caught dead in red lipstick more like white or very pale pink.2-In the fight club it was refering to a girl in the bathroom as wearing leggings we didn't wear leggings tights or opaque panty hose leggings were more of a 80's -90s thing. And last I don't think hippies going to peace marches and Woodstock would be caught dead in a fight club no matter what.Ok got that out of the way.This book transported me right back to the sights and sounds of my teen years. I knew everyone of the characters as school mates and friends. It was so easy to get caught up in the drugs and alcohol of the times.The house parties, the dances, the hanging out in parks. Peace marches perfect families on t.v. and off. Phoenix and Raven were so many girls of the times and they made me smile. The ending was perfect. We were all affected by Vietnam in one form or another. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times and I wouldn't have traded it for anything. Thank you
Catherine Constantine for giving us a book that will move anyone who was there. Teach those that weren't there what it was like.I was a Woodstock attendee and you were spot on.I thank you again. Love, peace, and puppy dog kisses
I received a free copy of this book, but I voluntarily reviewed it. I was a child of the 60's so I'm a bit of 60's snob so I will start with things I found off putting. This is a short list 1-the girls wore red lipstick no teen in 1969 would be caught dead in red lipstick more like white or very pale pink.2-In the fight club it was refering to a girl in the bathroom as wearing leggings we didn't wear leggings tights or opaque panty hose leggings were more of a 80's -90s thing. And last I don't think hippies going to peace marches and Woodstock would be caught dead in a fight club no matter what.Ok got that out of the way.This book transported me right back to the sights and sounds of my teen years. I knew everyone of the characters as school mates and friends. It was so easy to get caught up in the drugs and alcohol of the times.The house parties, the dances, the hanging out in parks. Peace marches perfect families on t.v. and off. Phoenix and Raven were so many girls of the times and they made me smile. The ending was perfect. We were all affected by Vietnam in one form or another. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times and I wouldn't have traded it for anything. Thank you
Catherine Constantine for giving us a book that will move anyone who was there. Teach those that weren't there what it was like.I was a Woodstock attendee and you were spot on.I thank you again. Love, peace, and puppy dog kisses
January 11, 2018
FANTASTIC 69!
Wow, I started this book in the afternoon and couldn’t put it down until I was done.
This coming of age story seriously pulls at the heartstring.
Mary Monroe is a shy, geeky sixteen year old, living with her dysfunctional family and trying to figure out the world around her in the late 60’s.
Through her older brother and his girlfriend, she’s befriended by the popular girls in the school and falls into a life that is more than she can handle. And there’s the new senior, the drool-worthy Michael Covington every girl wants, but she doesn’t want to be another of his groupies. When she’s sexually assaulted at a party, Michael rescues her. Attracted as she is too this “bad boy” with baggage and a past, he doesn’t take advantage like most of her brother’s friends would, but protects her.
This was an intense and emotional read from start to finish, with a poignant ending. The author doesn’t hide or gloss over the dark side of drugs, alcohol and partying, but paint a vivid picture of the era, drawing me into a time-period I’ve only ever read or seen a movie about.
Well done, Ms. Constantine, for a beautifully penned story that will stay with me for a long time!
PS. My favorite scene: loved when Michael took Mary on that thrilling motorcycle ride.
Wow, I started this book in the afternoon and couldn’t put it down until I was done.
This coming of age story seriously pulls at the heartstring.
Mary Monroe is a shy, geeky sixteen year old, living with her dysfunctional family and trying to figure out the world around her in the late 60’s.
Through her older brother and his girlfriend, she’s befriended by the popular girls in the school and falls into a life that is more than she can handle. And there’s the new senior, the drool-worthy Michael Covington every girl wants, but she doesn’t want to be another of his groupies. When she’s sexually assaulted at a party, Michael rescues her. Attracted as she is too this “bad boy” with baggage and a past, he doesn’t take advantage like most of her brother’s friends would, but protects her.
This was an intense and emotional read from start to finish, with a poignant ending. The author doesn’t hide or gloss over the dark side of drugs, alcohol and partying, but paint a vivid picture of the era, drawing me into a time-period I’ve only ever read or seen a movie about.
Well done, Ms. Constantine, for a beautifully penned story that will stay with me for a long time!
PS. My favorite scene: loved when Michael took Mary on that thrilling motorcycle ride.
January 13, 2022
This was certainly an above average read. An interesting different story line. Not the usual romance.
October 26, 2021
I loved this book! I listened to the audiobook version and enjoyed the narration as well. You get swept up into the life of a teenage girl growing up in 60s America, with everyone afraid of being drafted into the Vietnam war. I loved its anti-war theme or at least to me it was an anti-war theme. I felt bad for the main character and her brother because she came from a dysfunctional family with a lot of emotional and even physical abuse. I was rooting for both her and her brother.
The author weaves an interesting story together where there's a slight mystery and you're wanting to find out what happened to her and who did what. Who can she trust? I would read more by this author and I wish this was a series because I want to find out what happened in this character's life next. I enjoyed being swept up into a completely different historical era. The characters were real and came to life for me.
Now for the negatives- the book was in need of better editing. The author liked to write in partial phrases instead of complete sentences at all and switched subjects in the middle of sentences; that's a pet peeve of mine. I think this is an independent author and she gave me a free copy so that I could see what I think and give my opinions; however, it did not influence my review and at first I thought this book would have a lot of issues due to some grammatical irregularities but I ended up really liking it!
Also I think its title is strange and doesn't really represent what the book is about. I don't read a lot of YA so maybe it fits the genre but I got the sense that it was a rather sweet and fluffy coming of age story but it's more dark and twisted than that, which I liked. I think the title is from a song the main character liked and it didn't have much connection to the story. I think the marketing/packaging of this book could be better to help sell it so that more people can find this great book. But again that's just my opinion and taste is subjective. I am glad I was given this book and hope to continue reading/listening to this author.
It was such a nice listen that I just lay down in bed with my baby and held him while he slept and kept listening to this book whereas normally I would likely put him down and go do work or something. But I was pretty captivated; it was like a movie or TV show, so, I really recommend it. It really is a perfect listen for snuggling with your baby or cleaning your house and being transported to a different time period. Thank you to the author for this book!
The author weaves an interesting story together where there's a slight mystery and you're wanting to find out what happened to her and who did what. Who can she trust? I would read more by this author and I wish this was a series because I want to find out what happened in this character's life next. I enjoyed being swept up into a completely different historical era. The characters were real and came to life for me.
Now for the negatives- the book was in need of better editing. The author liked to write in partial phrases instead of complete sentences at all and switched subjects in the middle of sentences; that's a pet peeve of mine. I think this is an independent author and she gave me a free copy so that I could see what I think and give my opinions; however, it did not influence my review and at first I thought this book would have a lot of issues due to some grammatical irregularities but I ended up really liking it!
Also I think its title is strange and doesn't really represent what the book is about. I don't read a lot of YA so maybe it fits the genre but I got the sense that it was a rather sweet and fluffy coming of age story but it's more dark and twisted than that, which I liked. I think the title is from a song the main character liked and it didn't have much connection to the story. I think the marketing/packaging of this book could be better to help sell it so that more people can find this great book. But again that's just my opinion and taste is subjective. I am glad I was given this book and hope to continue reading/listening to this author.
It was such a nice listen that I just lay down in bed with my baby and held him while he slept and kept listening to this book whereas normally I would likely put him down and go do work or something. But I was pretty captivated; it was like a movie or TV show, so, I really recommend it. It really is a perfect listen for snuggling with your baby or cleaning your house and being transported to a different time period. Thank you to the author for this book!
June 2, 2022
I came across this book during a TBR Takeover on TikTok. It was one of the books listed to read. I was drawn in by the cover and the fact that it was set in 1969. Before my time, but I love hearing stories from around my parent's time as teens.
I dove in and I was able to read it in a day, I was so attached to the characters Mary and especially Michael. I also really loved the character Steve, Mary's older brother.
This was a story about a young girl trying to find where she belongs and experiencing life in a way she wouldn't normally by going out to parties, hanging with the "popular kids", dabbles in drinking, drugs and falls for Michael, the gorgeous new guy in town.
Michael is hesitant to get close to Mary and his actions keep her confused through the whole story, creating a slow-burn romance. My heart broke for how Mary and what she had to have been feeling. I love a book that pulls at my heart strings and when the end came I frantically pressed the next page button wanting MORE! I didn't want to believe that I was being cast out of their world, but it had to happen.
I recommend this book to any reader who enjoys a slow-burn, sweet romance that has you screaming at the book, "JUST KISS HER ALREADY!"
4 stars because there were a few editing errors, but it in no way took from the story in my opinion. I would much rather read a beautiful story with a few errors than a perfect book that has me yawning.
If there were ever a sequel, I would read it!
I dove in and I was able to read it in a day, I was so attached to the characters Mary and especially Michael. I also really loved the character Steve, Mary's older brother.
This was a story about a young girl trying to find where she belongs and experiencing life in a way she wouldn't normally by going out to parties, hanging with the "popular kids", dabbles in drinking, drugs and falls for Michael, the gorgeous new guy in town.
Michael is hesitant to get close to Mary and his actions keep her confused through the whole story, creating a slow-burn romance. My heart broke for how Mary and what she had to have been feeling. I love a book that pulls at my heart strings and when the end came I frantically pressed the next page button wanting MORE! I didn't want to believe that I was being cast out of their world, but it had to happen.
I recommend this book to any reader who enjoys a slow-burn, sweet romance that has you screaming at the book, "JUST KISS HER ALREADY!"
4 stars because there were a few editing errors, but it in no way took from the story in my opinion. I would much rather read a beautiful story with a few errors than a perfect book that has me yawning.
If there were ever a sequel, I would read it!
June 5, 2017
I liked the book. I just didn’t love it.
I loved the sixties vibe. I loved the songs that were like the soundtrack to the book. I just didn’t feel like the book took me on a journey as a whole. Mary was a typical sixteen year old girl in my point of view. She had a lot of emotions and angst. She was trying to fit in with the crowd but not entirely sure what crowd she fit into. And then there was Michael who was the older guy, the popular guy at school, who was rough around the edges.
The only thing that annoyed me about their relationship (could you call it a relationship?), was that they were so back and forth all the time. I know that teenagers can be fickle creatures but seriously I wanted to scream, MAKE UP YOUR MIND!
The other characters in the book: Mary’s brother, her girl friends, and the other boys, were a mixed bag of egocentric teens, wannabes, druggies, and smarties. I just couldn’t like any of them.
There was also no closure when it came to the end of the story. I expected to go on this journey through the sixties but just felt a little “eh” in the end. It had some good points thrown in but nothing that left a lasting impression.
(more on sipreadlove.com)
I loved the sixties vibe. I loved the songs that were like the soundtrack to the book. I just didn’t feel like the book took me on a journey as a whole. Mary was a typical sixteen year old girl in my point of view. She had a lot of emotions and angst. She was trying to fit in with the crowd but not entirely sure what crowd she fit into. And then there was Michael who was the older guy, the popular guy at school, who was rough around the edges.
The only thing that annoyed me about their relationship (could you call it a relationship?), was that they were so back and forth all the time. I know that teenagers can be fickle creatures but seriously I wanted to scream, MAKE UP YOUR MIND!
The other characters in the book: Mary’s brother, her girl friends, and the other boys, were a mixed bag of egocentric teens, wannabes, druggies, and smarties. I just couldn’t like any of them.
There was also no closure when it came to the end of the story. I expected to go on this journey through the sixties but just felt a little “eh” in the end. It had some good points thrown in but nothing that left a lasting impression.
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July 1, 2017
Kindle Unlimited, Got this book free tho says paid through a writer giveaway via authors xp. Not sure what the title has to do with the story, didn't really seem to be about that much {song/s, etcetera} and there were historical inaccuracies a bit plus really needs to tighen up on editing {have a voice reader and it was stuttering in parts and was not understandable in others, should easily/more easily be able to follow when was turned in to basically an audio book not harder} and overall it was just 'okay' though also not one to care or read about the 90210 teen angst junk and there seemed to be more current attitudes and actions than what kids were doing back when so many were protesting the vietnam war.
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