What do you think?
Rate this book
Juniper #2
Juniper Limits
Celia has spent her life waiting for the next crisis. When the tension at home begins to ease, she wonders if she'll finally be able to relax. Her father has stopped drinking, her cousin Fay has moved back to Juniper, and it seems like Paul might really care about her. But trust is an uphill battle for Celia, fighting against doubt the whole way.
Paul has been drawn to Celia for as long as he can remember, and she is finally giving him a chance to show her how he feels. But when Celia can't stop worrying everything will fall apart, and when things in Paul's own life take a turn for the worse, can they learn to rely on each other?
Juniper Limits is the Second book in The Juniper Series, a collection of contemporary YA romances that will make your heart race!
Paul has been drawn to Celia for as long as he can remember, and she is finally giving him a chance to show her how he feels. But when Celia can't stop worrying everything will fall apart, and when things in Paul's own life take a turn for the worse, can they learn to rely on each other?
Juniper Limits is the Second book in The Juniper Series, a collection of contemporary YA romances that will make your heart race!
306 pages, Paperback
Published July 10, 2017
43 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Lora Richardson
14 books131 followersHi, I'm Lora. Thanks for taking a peek in here. I live a quiet life in Indiana with my family. I spend my days reading, writing, and hanging out with my people.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 12, 2017
4.5 STARS
This time last year I was gushing about book:The Edge of Juniper, a gem of a novel that was everything I want in YA contemporary. I'm thrilled to share that author Lora Richardson has returned to the small town of Juniper, Indiana with a story that delves deeper and packs an emotional punch.
Celia is a girl who is always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because in her experience, it always does. Her home life is spent walking on eggshells - either escaping her father's drunken rages or anxiously wondering when the next one is coming. Even his recent bout of sobriety has her uneasy and unable to enjoy the new feeling of peace at home. When longtime friend Paul starts pursuing her, she doesn't trust that what he seems to feel for her will last. Nothing good ever does, right?
Paul was a breath of fresh air. No swaggering bad boys here, just a funny, optimistic guy who was utterly irrepressible. Finally acting on his feelings for Celia, Paul was dogged in his determination to earn her trust - and her heart. Despite his buoyant personality, Paul's life wasn't without strife. His own home life was just as unpredictable as Celia's.
What struck me about Juniper Limits is how absolutely realistic it felt. The dialogue always rang true and I loved the easy banter and humor shared between Celia and Paul. When it came to how Celia dealt with the stress at home, her reactions felt so believable. Between the sadly true to life situations Celia and Paul were dealing with, Celia's reluctance to trust not only Paul but anyone, and Paul's conflicted feelings about his mother, there was a feeling of authenticity that ran throughout the book. Richardson perfectly captured Celia's tough outer shell, her constant worry, her fear to hope for better, and the shred of hope she allowed herself to feel anyway.
It's hard to rein myself in and not just gush about how much I enjoyed Juniper Limits. As with the first book, there is a certain sweetness about these characters and the setting that never feels overly precious. Richardson created a small town environment that that wasn't a cliché, but a place where I felt right at home. I was completely invested in Celia and Paul's story and wanted so much for these young people who were dealing with situations that that were far bigger than they could handle on their own. I loved watching as they learned to trust each other - and to rely on others, as well.
What else can I say to convince you to give this special story a try? If you love contemporary YA, if you love small town settings, if you love authentic storytelling, if you love a sweet guy who isn't afraid to tell a girl who he feels... get a copy of Juniper Limits and get ready to enjoy all of that and more.
Note: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
This time last year I was gushing about book:The Edge of Juniper, a gem of a novel that was everything I want in YA contemporary. I'm thrilled to share that author Lora Richardson has returned to the small town of Juniper, Indiana with a story that delves deeper and packs an emotional punch.
"It's the good times that scare me."
Paul was beginning to understand.
"Because you can't trust the good stuff to stay."
Celia is a girl who is always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because in her experience, it always does. Her home life is spent walking on eggshells - either escaping her father's drunken rages or anxiously wondering when the next one is coming. Even his recent bout of sobriety has her uneasy and unable to enjoy the new feeling of peace at home. When longtime friend Paul starts pursuing her, she doesn't trust that what he seems to feel for her will last. Nothing good ever does, right?
"Don't pretend you don't know. It has been thoroughly
revealed by this point that I'm sweet on you,
and I'm not scared to admit it."
Paul was a breath of fresh air. No swaggering bad boys here, just a funny, optimistic guy who was utterly irrepressible. Finally acting on his feelings for Celia, Paul was dogged in his determination to earn her trust - and her heart. Despite his buoyant personality, Paul's life wasn't without strife. His own home life was just as unpredictable as Celia's.
"It's hard when things that are my problem
aren't within my control."
"Too much of life falls into that category."
What struck me about Juniper Limits is how absolutely realistic it felt. The dialogue always rang true and I loved the easy banter and humor shared between Celia and Paul. When it came to how Celia dealt with the stress at home, her reactions felt so believable. Between the sadly true to life situations Celia and Paul were dealing with, Celia's reluctance to trust not only Paul but anyone, and Paul's conflicted feelings about his mother, there was a feeling of authenticity that ran throughout the book. Richardson perfectly captured Celia's tough outer shell, her constant worry, her fear to hope for better, and the shred of hope she allowed herself to feel anyway.
"How are you always so sure of things?"
"The only thing I'm sure of is that expecting the worst
doesn't change anything, so I'd rather hope for the best."
It's hard to rein myself in and not just gush about how much I enjoyed Juniper Limits. As with the first book, there is a certain sweetness about these characters and the setting that never feels overly precious. Richardson created a small town environment that that wasn't a cliché, but a place where I felt right at home. I was completely invested in Celia and Paul's story and wanted so much for these young people who were dealing with situations that that were far bigger than they could handle on their own. I loved watching as they learned to trust each other - and to rely on others, as well.
What else can I say to convince you to give this special story a try? If you love contemporary YA, if you love small town settings, if you love authentic storytelling, if you love a sweet guy who isn't afraid to tell a girl who he feels... get a copy of Juniper Limits and get ready to enjoy all of that and more.
Note: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
July 28, 2017
I got the first book in this series last year by the author and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. So when Lora contacted me recently and asked if I was interested in the sequel, I jumped at the chance to get back into the small town of Juniper with these characters that are so easy to love.
This book, just like the first book, deals with quite difficult themes. Some of these I am really able to relate to as it’s something my family – in particular my mother – has lived through.
My mother married a man who was an alcoholic. My father. Even though she made sure he never drank around me and my siblings, it was still something she had to live with for the ten years they were married. The reason she stayed with him for so long was because she had three young children and she didn’t have the funds to be able to raise us by herself. So even though I never experienced the violence that can arise from being an alcoholic, it was still in my house. After my mother left my father, she met someone new, and he became an alcoholic too. However; this story ended happily because my stepfather was given the choice: my mother, or the drink. He chose wisely, and has stopped drinking, and they are very happy together. But, in a way, because of this, I feel I know more than ever just how strong my mother is. She’s already the strongest woman I know; my role model. And I understand what she’s lived through – twice. And this book has made me realise that there are other families with members that struggle with alcoholism or any type of dangerous addiction, and all they do is make excuses for them, because they love them, and not realise that they are living in a dangerous situation that they need to get out, but can’t because they are unable to afford to move out.
Celia lives a life never expecting good things to stay. She’s never experienced good things in the long term. She lives in a constant state of anxiety, trying to protect her mother and brother from her father’s drunken rages or waiting for the next one to happen. So when it looks like something good – aka Paul – wants to stay with her in the long term, Celia doesn’t trust it. She expects him to run, and when he doesn’t, she runs instead.
I loved how realistic the author wrote these characters too. How Celia dealt with her situation at home and her feelings toward hope and trust were completely authentic. Even the way she felt toward her parents rang true. She hated her father, but also loved him. And I completely understand that as I felt the exact same about my father. It’s something completely confusing to feel, especially when you’re only sixteen years old. Celia is also growing up in a household where feelings aren’t acknowledged; they aren’t talked about, there’s no hugging – they just pretend the bad things aren’t happening and they make excuses for them. So she regards feelings as something to be ignored and to push them away.
“We didn’t talk freely about the way things were at our house. We danced around it. We spoke in code. We made declarations about our behavior and hatched plans that we thought might help. But we never talked about how it made us feel.”
She thinks she’ll go through life expecting the worst, and attempts to pick fights by being snappy and rude because it’s what she’s used to in her family. My heart broke for her. I knew this was happening in the first book too, but reading it in Celia’s point of view is much harder and I feel for her much more deeply than I did in the first book. These themes are incredibly serious and very delicate to handle but I think the author handled them in a fantastic way.
Paul – the long term best friend turned romantic interest – was the best possible person for Celia and he helped her break out of her shell and start looking for the good in life instead of the bad. He understood her situation as he had an unorthodox one with his own mother, who struggled with depression and addiction problems. Between the two of them, they slowly began to trust each other and learn to rely on others as well – that it’s okay to ask for help, sometimes.
If you enjoy contemporary books, small town settings, realistic (if too serious) themes and situations, then you’ll love this. But I would recommend reading The Edge of Juniper, the first in this duology, before this one.
Note: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
This book, just like the first book, deals with quite difficult themes. Some of these I am really able to relate to as it’s something my family – in particular my mother – has lived through.
My mother married a man who was an alcoholic. My father. Even though she made sure he never drank around me and my siblings, it was still something she had to live with for the ten years they were married. The reason she stayed with him for so long was because she had three young children and she didn’t have the funds to be able to raise us by herself. So even though I never experienced the violence that can arise from being an alcoholic, it was still in my house. After my mother left my father, she met someone new, and he became an alcoholic too. However; this story ended happily because my stepfather was given the choice: my mother, or the drink. He chose wisely, and has stopped drinking, and they are very happy together. But, in a way, because of this, I feel I know more than ever just how strong my mother is. She’s already the strongest woman I know; my role model. And I understand what she’s lived through – twice. And this book has made me realise that there are other families with members that struggle with alcoholism or any type of dangerous addiction, and all they do is make excuses for them, because they love them, and not realise that they are living in a dangerous situation that they need to get out, but can’t because they are unable to afford to move out.
Celia lives a life never expecting good things to stay. She’s never experienced good things in the long term. She lives in a constant state of anxiety, trying to protect her mother and brother from her father’s drunken rages or waiting for the next one to happen. So when it looks like something good – aka Paul – wants to stay with her in the long term, Celia doesn’t trust it. She expects him to run, and when he doesn’t, she runs instead.
I loved how realistic the author wrote these characters too. How Celia dealt with her situation at home and her feelings toward hope and trust were completely authentic. Even the way she felt toward her parents rang true. She hated her father, but also loved him. And I completely understand that as I felt the exact same about my father. It’s something completely confusing to feel, especially when you’re only sixteen years old. Celia is also growing up in a household where feelings aren’t acknowledged; they aren’t talked about, there’s no hugging – they just pretend the bad things aren’t happening and they make excuses for them. So she regards feelings as something to be ignored and to push them away.
“We didn’t talk freely about the way things were at our house. We danced around it. We spoke in code. We made declarations about our behavior and hatched plans that we thought might help. But we never talked about how it made us feel.”
She thinks she’ll go through life expecting the worst, and attempts to pick fights by being snappy and rude because it’s what she’s used to in her family. My heart broke for her. I knew this was happening in the first book too, but reading it in Celia’s point of view is much harder and I feel for her much more deeply than I did in the first book. These themes are incredibly serious and very delicate to handle but I think the author handled them in a fantastic way.
Paul – the long term best friend turned romantic interest – was the best possible person for Celia and he helped her break out of her shell and start looking for the good in life instead of the bad. He understood her situation as he had an unorthodox one with his own mother, who struggled with depression and addiction problems. Between the two of them, they slowly began to trust each other and learn to rely on others as well – that it’s okay to ask for help, sometimes.
If you enjoy contemporary books, small town settings, realistic (if too serious) themes and situations, then you’ll love this. But I would recommend reading The Edge of Juniper, the first in this duology, before this one.
Note: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
March 12, 2021
*3.5⭐️
August 28, 2017
https://functioninginsanity.blogspot....
I was excited to hear about this book and eager when I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5 Stars
When we left off Fay was returning to live in Juniper with her mom and things had started to get better with Celia’s dad having had a confrontation. Fay and Malcom are in love and inseparable and totally in love. Celia is happy to have her cousin back and to see things on an upswing with her dad, and the blooming of something real with Paul but she isn’t one to accept things easily. She is always prepared for the next crisis unable to trust in anything good. Paul is also happy to have Fay back in town to make his best friend Malcom stop mopping around but he knows Celia is happy to have her back. He’s been interested in her for a long time but this is the first time she’s ever given him any type of chance to really show her. Even as his own family life isn’t the best he tries to break through her walls and constant trepidation and see if they can have something real or will her inability to trust in anything good keep them apart.
Where to start off. Celia was interesting for me in the first book, a bit aloof and rough around the edges for sure. Sometimes she came off as disinterested in everything and uncaring and self-destructive. While you did grow to understand some of her actions and her attitude within the book through Fay seeing things from her POV made her come to life in a whole new way. I not only understood her but I related to her much more than I did in the past. Seeing not only how things felt for her in the present but in the past as well, how things circle back. As close as she and Fay were she didn’t let her in on everything. Also being dual POV with Paul I got to know so much about him from the optimistic and happy go lucky best friend. He has so much more going on for him, there is much more to him than the happy attitude. I loved seeing that depth. His take and outlook on life seriously inspired me. He, like his best friend is serious book boyfriend material.
The chemistry between Celia and Paul is there from the start. They are both dealing with a boat load of stuff that someone in high school shouldn’t have to. Neither want everyone to know the depth of the problems but they have went about things differently. I loved the dynamic in the story. This book focused on some serious and hard hitting issues and I think it gave them justice. It felt very real in having to deal with the issues with the ups and downs showing the pain and damage they can cause to not only the person dealing with the struggle but everyone close to them and to them. It's a domino effect that continues to radiate out.
This book is all about the emotions and connections between people. I loved seeing so many relationships. Both the romantic, which yes was my favorite because come on again Paul is a dream boat but the others as well. We focused on relationships between friends. Between family both good and strained. Relationships in all stages both healthy and negative. Juniper Limits really managed to capture so many moments of such emotion that it really pulls you in. I really enjoyed this story and seeing more that Juniper had to offer. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good story focused on characters with a healthy dose of sweetness.
I was excited to hear about this book and eager when I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5 Stars
When we left off Fay was returning to live in Juniper with her mom and things had started to get better with Celia’s dad having had a confrontation. Fay and Malcom are in love and inseparable and totally in love. Celia is happy to have her cousin back and to see things on an upswing with her dad, and the blooming of something real with Paul but she isn’t one to accept things easily. She is always prepared for the next crisis unable to trust in anything good. Paul is also happy to have Fay back in town to make his best friend Malcom stop mopping around but he knows Celia is happy to have her back. He’s been interested in her for a long time but this is the first time she’s ever given him any type of chance to really show her. Even as his own family life isn’t the best he tries to break through her walls and constant trepidation and see if they can have something real or will her inability to trust in anything good keep them apart.
Where to start off. Celia was interesting for me in the first book, a bit aloof and rough around the edges for sure. Sometimes she came off as disinterested in everything and uncaring and self-destructive. While you did grow to understand some of her actions and her attitude within the book through Fay seeing things from her POV made her come to life in a whole new way. I not only understood her but I related to her much more than I did in the past. Seeing not only how things felt for her in the present but in the past as well, how things circle back. As close as she and Fay were she didn’t let her in on everything. Also being dual POV with Paul I got to know so much about him from the optimistic and happy go lucky best friend. He has so much more going on for him, there is much more to him than the happy attitude. I loved seeing that depth. His take and outlook on life seriously inspired me. He, like his best friend is serious book boyfriend material.
The chemistry between Celia and Paul is there from the start. They are both dealing with a boat load of stuff that someone in high school shouldn’t have to. Neither want everyone to know the depth of the problems but they have went about things differently. I loved the dynamic in the story. This book focused on some serious and hard hitting issues and I think it gave them justice. It felt very real in having to deal with the issues with the ups and downs showing the pain and damage they can cause to not only the person dealing with the struggle but everyone close to them and to them. It's a domino effect that continues to radiate out.
This book is all about the emotions and connections between people. I loved seeing so many relationships. Both the romantic, which yes was my favorite because come on again Paul is a dream boat but the others as well. We focused on relationships between friends. Between family both good and strained. Relationships in all stages both healthy and negative. Juniper Limits really managed to capture so many moments of such emotion that it really pulls you in. I really enjoyed this story and seeing more that Juniper had to offer. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good story focused on characters with a healthy dose of sweetness.
May 25, 2022
Juniper Limits presents the topics of domestic abuse, violence, and addiction in an honest yet thoughtful, through the lens of a couple of teenagers (let's keep in mind this is a YA). I had been intrigued by Cecilia's character from Fay's story, and thus knew what her family dealt with on a daily basis, but I was definitely looking forward to watching how her relationship with Paul would play out since we had seen the possible beginnings of it in The Edge of Juniper. Still, I was dragging my feet with starting this one since out of the two cousins, Cecilia was the one more sexually experienced, and I'm not into books for that kind of content. And thus, while her first make-out session in this book has her starting to go down that route, I'm very glad about how Paul dealt with that situation. Neither of them is perfect, but they're certainly perfect for each other, and I really enjoyed how they were able to help each other through each other situations throughout the book. I definitely enjoyed getting to know more of Abe's character as well, and am kinda looking forward to his story.
The narrator was good with both female and male voices, and I liked the ones for Paul, Abe, and Cecilia. Of course, with her being the same for the whole series, it was great catching up with past characters like Malcolm and Fay. Her performance was well done, and she really brought to life all the different emotions and teenage angst going on.
Overall, a good sequel to the Juniper series that definitely deals with some heavy issues in an honest way yet respectful way, coupled with a Sweet Romance YA story. ~ 4 stars
Content:
Sex: none on-screen, but it may or may not have been alluded to towards the end. There are passionate kisses and (at least one, tops two) making out scenes. In one of these, she grabs his hand and places it on her breast, thinking that's where he wants things to go/happen, but he stops her and they talk about it instead.
Violence: yes, since it deals with the topics of alcoholism and domestic abuse (father punches his son in the mouth, breaks some glass vases, etc). Also, a mother deals with addiction and there's a scene that shows her being high and the effects of it.
Language: yes, though I think less than the first one. Some sh*ts, d*mns.
The narrator was good with both female and male voices, and I liked the ones for Paul, Abe, and Cecilia. Of course, with her being the same for the whole series, it was great catching up with past characters like Malcolm and Fay. Her performance was well done, and she really brought to life all the different emotions and teenage angst going on.
Overall, a good sequel to the Juniper series that definitely deals with some heavy issues in an honest way yet respectful way, coupled with a Sweet Romance YA story. ~ 4 stars
Content:
Sex: none on-screen, but it may or may not have been alluded to towards the end. There are passionate kisses and (at least one, tops two) making out scenes. In one of these, she grabs his hand and places it on her breast, thinking that's where he wants things to go/happen, but he stops her and they talk about it instead.
Violence: yes, since it deals with the topics of alcoholism and domestic abuse (father punches his son in the mouth, breaks some glass vases, etc). Also, a mother deals with addiction and there's a scene that shows her being high and the effects of it.
Language: yes, though I think less than the first one. Some sh*ts, d*mns.
July 23, 2017
I got this book (and The Edge of Juniper) expecting a quick, light read as a break from the history book I'd been plowing through. It did not disappoint on that account but I was also pleasantly surprised to find more depth in the character's family situations. The emotions that come from parents getting divorced, the destructive consuming world that often swirls around alcoholism, and the burdens of a child with a single parent that struggles with substance abuse. My heart breaks for children and families caught in similar situations around the world. I'm thankful to have been able to step out of my own issues for a few hours and given a glimpse into challenges and realities that many others face each day.
January 2, 2018
Thank you to the author who provided me with a copy in exchange for an honest opinion!
Wow this book is so good. It's really emotional and not always easy to read but its incredible. I'm in awe at how well Lora Richardson handles these hard topics. Juniper Limits deals with addiction, abuse, and other tough topics. The author does a great job of making you fall in love with the characters so your heart breaks with them. I love getting to know more about Celia and Paul. Celia was tough but only on the outside. She needs someone to love her and breakdown her walls. Paul was the perfect person for her. He was patient, kind and good. I also loved that we got to see Fay and Malcolm.
Wow this book is so good. It's really emotional and not always easy to read but its incredible. I'm in awe at how well Lora Richardson handles these hard topics. Juniper Limits deals with addiction, abuse, and other tough topics. The author does a great job of making you fall in love with the characters so your heart breaks with them. I love getting to know more about Celia and Paul. Celia was tough but only on the outside. She needs someone to love her and breakdown her walls. Paul was the perfect person for her. He was patient, kind and good. I also loved that we got to see Fay and Malcolm.
October 3, 2017
This book will crack your heart in two.
This book will crack your heart in two. I had some technical issues, sometimes not able to keep up with who was narrating, but worth the struggle to get this story in my head. The character development was unexpected and well done, the author has a real grasp of the grittiness of life and learning to share it. Loved it!
This book will crack your heart in two. I had some technical issues, sometimes not able to keep up with who was narrating, but worth the struggle to get this story in my head. The character development was unexpected and well done, the author has a real grasp of the grittiness of life and learning to share it. Loved it!
April 3, 2020
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I began reading Juniper Series. But I fell in love! Great read!
December 7, 2020
I was thrilled to get a story from Celia's perspective! Watching her deal with everything that happened during The Edge of Juniper was so sad and frustrating. I was so happy to see her ditch her ex and give Paul a chance. Paul is a way better choice and I enjoyed reading chapters from both of their perspectives. I listened to this one on audiobook while following along on my Kindle. I highly recommend the audiobook!
September 7, 2017
This book was centered around Celia and Paul...Celia has always worried about screwing up and everything around her falling apart. Her home life is rough as she tries to save her and her brother from an alcoholic father. Paul is infatuated with her, and now Celia is giving him a bit of a chance. Now, these two must learn how to move forward together and fight the battles that weigh them down.
I really liked this book. Both Celia and Paul are troubled and have troubling home lives and together they work to move forward, leaning on each other along the way. This is the second Juniper book I have read and they each are deep and full of pain and triumph. They are full of characters that pull at your heart and are relatable.
The writing is good and the story is easy to love.
This book was a great story of love, pain, fear, and hope for a better future. Definitely a great book.
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
I really liked this book. Both Celia and Paul are troubled and have troubling home lives and together they work to move forward, leaning on each other along the way. This is the second Juniper book I have read and they each are deep and full of pain and triumph. They are full of characters that pull at your heart and are relatable.
The writing is good and the story is easy to love.
This book was a great story of love, pain, fear, and hope for a better future. Definitely a great book.
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
January 19, 2021
This is the season of comforting re-reads for me. This author has a way with words that makes it easy to forget the craziness of the outside world, at least for a time. The depth of the characters, especially ones so young is refreshing. Their growth is inspiring. The subject matter isn't all giggles and stolen kisses, although those are perfectly written. It has a depth that draws you in, holds you there. Even having read it before, I found myself lost, turning pages until I was sad once again for it to be over.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews