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The Ballad of Emery Brooks #1
The Crush
Never settle for anything less.
A combination hopeless romantic and old soul trapped in a teenager’s body, closet musician Emery Brooks wonders if she’ll ever find a love as timeless as her grandparents’. Fear of judgment and social alienation due to her older brother’s past mistakes render her incapable of writing a love song. Still, Emery holds fast to the ideals her Grandma Adeline instilled in her from a young age, vowing to allow God to handwrite her love story, to never settle for anything less.
That is, until love cynic Sawyer Alston enters her world. Broken by the wrath of his parents’ failed marriage, Sawyer has been uprooted from everything he’s ever known and now sees love as a void of empty promises. When Emery and Sawyer meet due to their mothers' rekindled friendship, Emery soon realizes she’s in over her head.
For, despite her resistance, her first crush, her first glimpse at love, involves a boy who doesn’t believe in love at all.
A combination hopeless romantic and old soul trapped in a teenager’s body, closet musician Emery Brooks wonders if she’ll ever find a love as timeless as her grandparents’. Fear of judgment and social alienation due to her older brother’s past mistakes render her incapable of writing a love song. Still, Emery holds fast to the ideals her Grandma Adeline instilled in her from a young age, vowing to allow God to handwrite her love story, to never settle for anything less.
That is, until love cynic Sawyer Alston enters her world. Broken by the wrath of his parents’ failed marriage, Sawyer has been uprooted from everything he’s ever known and now sees love as a void of empty promises. When Emery and Sawyer meet due to their mothers' rekindled friendship, Emery soon realizes she’s in over her head.
For, despite her resistance, her first crush, her first glimpse at love, involves a boy who doesn’t believe in love at all.
280 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2020
About the author
Allyson Kennedy
7 books130 followersAllyson Kennedy writes contemporary Christian young adult books that honor God without sugarcoating the realities of the world. She is the author of The Ballad of Emery Brooks trilogy and other YA standalones, as well as Writing By Faith, a nonfiction book for Christian authors. She calls eastern North Carolina home and is well-versed in the art of southern sass, which she enjoys weaving into her stories.
Connect with Allyson and learn more about her books at https://authoringarrowheads.com/
Books Available At: https://books2read.com/allysonkennedy
Connect with Allyson and learn more about her books at https://authoringarrowheads.com/
Books Available At: https://books2read.com/allysonkennedy
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February 14, 2026The Crush is available at all eBook retailers for $0.99 and is available in paperback at Amazon and other online retailers!
While The Crush is a clean and Christian young adult romance, it contains several heavy topics that are tackled from a Christian perspective. A complete content guide (spoiler and non-spoiler versions) can be found here: https://authoringarrowheads.com/conte...
Paperbacks and ebooks are now available! Grab your own copy here: https://books2read.com/thecrush-theba... .
A tale of love and loss reminiscent of old-fashioned values with a bit of sass and music mixed in, The Crush is perfect for fans of A Walk to Remember and In 27 Days.
Add Book 2, The Fall to your to-read list here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
While The Crush is a clean and Christian young adult romance, it contains several heavy topics that are tackled from a Christian perspective. A complete content guide (spoiler and non-spoiler versions) can be found here: https://authoringarrowheads.com/conte...
Paperbacks and ebooks are now available! Grab your own copy here: https://books2read.com/thecrush-theba... .
A tale of love and loss reminiscent of old-fashioned values with a bit of sass and music mixed in, The Crush is perfect for fans of A Walk to Remember and In 27 Days.
Add Book 2, The Fall to your to-read list here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
November 9, 2022
How do you review a book that made you cry your eyes out and turned your world upside down? — I don’t know but I’m going to try because this book definitely deserves a review. Honestly, I don’t know how to feel about the ending. As a lover of happy endings, it was hard to face. Just know this book is sad and will make you cry! But it will make you smile too.
From the first few pages (and the cover because I love it so much!), I knew I was going to like this book. Really love it. I connected with Emery in so many ways, it was ironic. A girl with an old soul and old-fashioned values in a world who cares nothing about them, ridicules them even? I could relate to this so hard!
When Emery and her Ryanne start talking Austen language and a dozen other little things that made me happy, I knew I was in for the ride. And I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.
I thought this book would be a cute, typical YA romance book with the all fluff and clichés. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This was real, emotional.
Sawyer comes into the picture, flipping Emery’s world upside down... and mine too. He’s a mystery. He’s broken beyond words but there’s so much about him beneath all of that hurt and brokenness. There’s a boy full of potential and life... but it’s hard to find.
Reading about someone hurting this bad was hard. It’s always hard. I hurt for Emery because it’s hard to see someone you love dealing with depression. I was hurting for Sawyer so bad, just like Emery was.
As their story unwinds, it’s a rollercoaster. It’s a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Moments I was laughing till it hurts and moments when I was sobbing my heart out because... *sobs*
This book literally made me feel more than I’ve felt in a book in a longg time, and that would say a lot. I felt so much through this book. I felt the characters pain and joy so much. I was so invested in this story that I stayed up way into the morning.
There was so many little things in this book I loved. I love Emery’s grandma’s diaries. I love the southernness. I love all the Jane Austen references. I loved the jam sessions. I love the songs they wrote.
I love the Bible studies. I love the hangouts at her grandparents house.
It’s not an all fluff read, like I said before. And I wasn’t expecting that. It deals with hard topics and real life stuff. Because life isn’t perfect.
The ending. I have no idea how to do this without spoiling things.
It wasn’t what I was expecting. And that last line is imprinted in my mind... and makes me want to curl up in a ball and listen to sad music every time I think about it... talk about last lines that will rip your heart out? Allyson should win the award because... my goodness. 😭💓
At first I wasn’t happy with it because I had it all planned out. Everything was going to be perfect. But I later realized, life just isn’t perfect. And we don’t have it all planned out. Sometimes life throws us a curve out of nowhere and ends up nothing like we expected. It’s hard, but it’s true.
But the great promise we have, the ultimate truth of it all is that, even when life throws us off track and it ends up as we’d never expected and stuff just doesn’t turn out perfect... God is there. He is with us. He is holding us. He never leaves, He’s constant.
We don’t know what to expect from life and that’s scary, but God’s there in the unknown.
I read the last chapter twice. I don’t think I could’ve been okay with the ending had it not been for the fact that there will be a book 2! Oh, I’m soo anxiously waiting for it.
So at the end of it all, I took a lot away from this book. Allyson Kennedy wrote a book that made me feel so deeply, something a lot of books can’t always do. Her writing was beautiful. The feeling she puts into her writing is incredible. Not only that. She didn’t shy away from the real facts in life but she also showed the truth and hope we have as Christians even when things seem hopeless.
This book was clean which I always appreciate so much. If you’re looking for a YA contemporary that isn’t your typical YA romance, check this one out. It’s far from shallow or cheesy. It’s real and deep and raw.
Note: Be prepared to cry. I’m not sure I’ve ever cried that much in a book. I full-out sobbed in this book. Something that never, ever happens for me.
Here’s a quote that really struck a chord with me,
“‘There will always be trials where we have to make a choice: we can take these hardships as blows to our lives, holes in the ship that will render us sinking forever, or we can allow God to patch those holes, to lift us out of the beating waves, and help us float again.’”
I know this was a long review but my feels have been all over the place after reading this one. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought about it since the night I read it, which is rare.
This book was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. The ending crushed me. I am definitely a lover of happy endings so this one was tough to face. That being said, I did love this book! If you like books that make you cry and are true to life situations, I think you’ll love this one!
*I would like to thank the kind author for sending me an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. 😊
From the first few pages (and the cover because I love it so much!), I knew I was going to like this book. Really love it. I connected with Emery in so many ways, it was ironic. A girl with an old soul and old-fashioned values in a world who cares nothing about them, ridicules them even? I could relate to this so hard!
When Emery and her Ryanne start talking Austen language and a dozen other little things that made me happy, I knew I was in for the ride. And I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.
I thought this book would be a cute, typical YA romance book with the all fluff and clichés. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This was real, emotional.
Sawyer comes into the picture, flipping Emery’s world upside down... and mine too. He’s a mystery. He’s broken beyond words but there’s so much about him beneath all of that hurt and brokenness. There’s a boy full of potential and life... but it’s hard to find.
Reading about someone hurting this bad was hard. It’s always hard. I hurt for Emery because it’s hard to see someone you love dealing with depression. I was hurting for Sawyer so bad, just like Emery was.
As their story unwinds, it’s a rollercoaster. It’s a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Moments I was laughing till it hurts and moments when I was sobbing my heart out because... *sobs*
This book literally made me feel more than I’ve felt in a book in a longg time, and that would say a lot. I felt so much through this book. I felt the characters pain and joy so much. I was so invested in this story that I stayed up way into the morning.
There was so many little things in this book I loved. I love Emery’s grandma’s diaries. I love the southernness. I love all the Jane Austen references. I loved the jam sessions. I love the songs they wrote.
I love the Bible studies. I love the hangouts at her grandparents house.
It’s not an all fluff read, like I said before. And I wasn’t expecting that. It deals with hard topics and real life stuff. Because life isn’t perfect.
The ending. I have no idea how to do this without spoiling things.
It wasn’t what I was expecting. And that last line is imprinted in my mind... and makes me want to curl up in a ball and listen to sad music every time I think about it... talk about last lines that will rip your heart out? Allyson should win the award because... my goodness. 😭💓
At first I wasn’t happy with it because I had it all planned out. Everything was going to be perfect. But I later realized, life just isn’t perfect. And we don’t have it all planned out. Sometimes life throws us a curve out of nowhere and ends up nothing like we expected. It’s hard, but it’s true.
But the great promise we have, the ultimate truth of it all is that, even when life throws us off track and it ends up as we’d never expected and stuff just doesn’t turn out perfect... God is there. He is with us. He is holding us. He never leaves, He’s constant.
We don’t know what to expect from life and that’s scary, but God’s there in the unknown.
I read the last chapter twice. I don’t think I could’ve been okay with the ending had it not been for the fact that there will be a book 2! Oh, I’m soo anxiously waiting for it.
So at the end of it all, I took a lot away from this book. Allyson Kennedy wrote a book that made me feel so deeply, something a lot of books can’t always do. Her writing was beautiful. The feeling she puts into her writing is incredible. Not only that. She didn’t shy away from the real facts in life but she also showed the truth and hope we have as Christians even when things seem hopeless.
This book was clean which I always appreciate so much. If you’re looking for a YA contemporary that isn’t your typical YA romance, check this one out. It’s far from shallow or cheesy. It’s real and deep and raw.
Note: Be prepared to cry. I’m not sure I’ve ever cried that much in a book. I full-out sobbed in this book. Something that never, ever happens for me.
Here’s a quote that really struck a chord with me,
“‘There will always be trials where we have to make a choice: we can take these hardships as blows to our lives, holes in the ship that will render us sinking forever, or we can allow God to patch those holes, to lift us out of the beating waves, and help us float again.’”
I know this was a long review but my feels have been all over the place after reading this one. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought about it since the night I read it, which is rare.
This book was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. The ending crushed me. I am definitely a lover of happy endings so this one was tough to face. That being said, I did love this book! If you like books that make you cry and are true to life situations, I think you’ll love this one!
*I would like to thank the kind author for sending me an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. 😊
August 28, 2022
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Characters: Emery was a well-developed main character. Her songwriting hobby and her desire for a marriage like her grandparents' added to the story.
Language: One instance of p*ss.
Moral/theme: This novel featured themes of growing up, grief, and love.
Plot: I enjoyed following along with Emery's life and seeing how she grew over the course of the story.
Romance: Clean. Just kissing.
Writing: Allyson Kennedy's clear, flowing writing style worked great for this book.
Overall: The Crush was an entertaining read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian YA novels.
Characters: Emery was a well-developed main character. Her songwriting hobby and her desire for a marriage like her grandparents' added to the story.
Language: One instance of p*ss.
Moral/theme: This novel featured themes of growing up, grief, and love.
Plot: I enjoyed following along with Emery's life and seeing how she grew over the course of the story.
Romance: Clean. Just kissing.
Writing: Allyson Kennedy's clear, flowing writing style worked great for this book.
Overall: The Crush was an entertaining read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian YA novels.
August 10, 2022
I just spent the last ten minutes gathering myself because I'm crying...like my heart was just ripped out and crushed and this book was beautiful, and man, I'm tearing up again...why'd it have to end this way? Let me see of I can hold it together long enough to write a review...
Characters:
Emery was so fun and I related so much to her...really she felt totally real almost a mirror how I view life about 90%.
Sawyer was amazing! So many times I wanted to give that boy a hug! I...yeah he was great!
Auden and Bryan, their little sisters (respectively they each have one little sister) were cute and funny.
Rider (Emery's brother) was another favorite as well as Em's friend Ryanne.
There were other characters but I'm tearing up again so let's say they were all done really well!
Theme:
No life is useless, replaceable, or pointless, we each have a purpose. Also that we should never let what other people say or think about us define us. We are made in the image of God beautiful and worthy in His site.
Language:
I think there were a few side words...nothing horribly bad at all...nothing my brother doesn't say.
Romance:
Honestly, it was beautiful how well the crush and blooming romance were created and I just...yeah can't do it just and I also might start full on sobbing, soo....
Overall:
This book broke my heart in a good way, I think. I am so sad right now guys!!! But I totally enjoyed reading! It was fun, it was beautiful, and most importantly it was real! Like so real! The genuine nature of the story was so beautiful! Top of that it was set in my home state and recognized all the phrases, most the bands, and just most everything mentioned in the book and it's awesome! Except for all the older people calling everyone 'Shrug' that one I don't get so if anyone wants to explain...lol...
The Crush is about so much more than that and the ending will have you sobbing, but it was a beautiful! JUST GORGEOUS story! And I can't wait to read book 2 which hopefully won't kill me...
Characters:
Emery was so fun and I related so much to her...really she felt totally real almost a mirror how I view life about 90%.
Sawyer was amazing! So many times I wanted to give that boy a hug! I...yeah he was great!
Auden and Bryan, their little sisters (respectively they each have one little sister) were cute and funny.
Rider (Emery's brother) was another favorite as well as Em's friend Ryanne.
There were other characters but I'm tearing up again so let's say they were all done really well!
Theme:
No life is useless, replaceable, or pointless, we each have a purpose. Also that we should never let what other people say or think about us define us. We are made in the image of God beautiful and worthy in His site.
Language:
I think there were a few side words...nothing horribly bad at all...nothing my brother doesn't say.
Romance:
Honestly, it was beautiful how well the crush and blooming romance were created and I just...yeah can't do it just and I also might start full on sobbing, soo....
Overall:
This book broke my heart in a good way, I think. I am so sad right now guys!!! But I totally enjoyed reading! It was fun, it was beautiful, and most importantly it was real! Like so real! The genuine nature of the story was so beautiful! Top of that it was set in my home state and recognized all the phrases, most the bands, and just most everything mentioned in the book and it's awesome! Except for all the older people calling everyone 'Shrug' that one I don't get so if anyone wants to explain...lol...
The Crush is about so much more than that and the ending will have you sobbing, but it was a beautiful! JUST GORGEOUS story! And I can't wait to read book 2 which hopefully won't kill me...
September 5, 2022
4.5 stars
Oh my. When I first started this book, I wasn't ready for the rollercoaster of emotions I'd be put through. And by the middle, I'd accepted the drama. But by the end ... wow. Just wow. I don't cry about book almost ever, and I was about to tear up there.
Characters: I loved Emery as the MC and narrator of this story. She didn't seem too young or too old for her age, and I really enjoyed how the book covered several years. (I think two-ish?) I loved watching her grow and work through the various struggles she faced. And she was a musician, too! She was far from perfect, but her goal to have a romance and life like her grandparents' was noble. And Sawyer ... that dude had issues, but he I was always rooting for him. His struggle with depressions/suicide was super dark, but it wasn't overdone and very realistic. I especially appreciated how he wasn't immediately healed of his mental struggles - more realism right there! As for the side characters, Brynn and Auden were great little sisters, and the silly teenagers like Jake and Bridgette were appropriately villainous. (Ugh, they were jerks.) All around, the characters were super true to life and felt like they could be real people.
Setting/Writing Style/Plot: So much beautiful stuff to talk about here! I loved the setting of North Carolina - the small town feel was so sweet, but there were also some not great sides of living in a small town. And the writing style ... wow. It fit this book perfectly with a wonderful balance of comedic comments and heartbreaking lines. Not to mention how well edited this book was! And the plot was just heart-wrenching. I will say the middle seemed a little bit long, and the ending a tiny bit rushed, but this is the first in series, so we shall continue the story soon, Lord willing!
Romance: (We get this section because it is a romance.) The arc of Sawyer's and Emery's romance was so well-done. It felt so real yet so young and hopeful and sweet. The author completely nailed it. And did I mention they were both musicians? So precious! Though Emery and Sawyer definitely had their problems, I couldn't help but hope for everything to turn out well for them. I will say I felt as if they kissed a lot for how old they were (especially Emery), but none of this was detailed. The written romance was super clean.
Language: This is the only reason I took off half a star. There was one word that could be construed as a curse, though it seemed kind of like some sort of saying and was used sort of in its original meaning. However, it seemed unnecessary. There were also a lot of slang words, which didn't bother me, but some readers might want to be aware.
Theme: There were several beautiful themes that ran through this book: waiting for the person God has created for you in marriage, a true servant's heart, and the value and worth of every person. These were all touched on throughout the arc of the story. I loved the verses that were included, and when Sawyer and Emery read the Bible together ... it was wonderful!
Overall, this was a beautiful, heartbreaking YA romance that I truly enjoyed. This story just sucked me in, and I didn't wish to stop reading! I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Oh my. When I first started this book, I wasn't ready for the rollercoaster of emotions I'd be put through. And by the middle, I'd accepted the drama. But by the end ... wow. Just wow. I don't cry about book almost ever, and I was about to tear up there.
Characters: I loved Emery as the MC and narrator of this story. She didn't seem too young or too old for her age, and I really enjoyed how the book covered several years. (I think two-ish?) I loved watching her grow and work through the various struggles she faced. And she was a musician, too! She was far from perfect, but her goal to have a romance and life like her grandparents' was noble. And Sawyer ... that dude had issues, but he I was always rooting for him. His struggle with depressions/suicide was super dark, but it wasn't overdone and very realistic. I especially appreciated how he wasn't immediately healed of his mental struggles - more realism right there! As for the side characters, Brynn and Auden were great little sisters, and the silly teenagers like Jake and Bridgette were appropriately villainous. (Ugh, they were jerks.) All around, the characters were super true to life and felt like they could be real people.
Setting/Writing Style/Plot: So much beautiful stuff to talk about here! I loved the setting of North Carolina - the small town feel was so sweet, but there were also some not great sides of living in a small town. And the writing style ... wow. It fit this book perfectly with a wonderful balance of comedic comments and heartbreaking lines. Not to mention how well edited this book was! And the plot was just heart-wrenching. I will say the middle seemed a little bit long, and the ending a tiny bit rushed, but this is the first in series, so we shall continue the story soon, Lord willing!
Romance: (We get this section because it is a romance.) The arc of Sawyer's and Emery's romance was so well-done. It felt so real yet so young and hopeful and sweet. The author completely nailed it. And did I mention they were both musicians? So precious! Though Emery and Sawyer definitely had their problems, I couldn't help but hope for everything to turn out well for them. I will say I felt as if they kissed a lot for how old they were (especially Emery), but none of this was detailed. The written romance was super clean.
Language: This is the only reason I took off half a star. There was one word that could be construed as a curse, though it seemed kind of like some sort of saying and was used sort of in its original meaning. However, it seemed unnecessary. There were also a lot of slang words, which didn't bother me, but some readers might want to be aware.
Theme: There were several beautiful themes that ran through this book: waiting for the person God has created for you in marriage, a true servant's heart, and the value and worth of every person. These were all touched on throughout the arc of the story. I loved the verses that were included, and when Sawyer and Emery read the Bible together ... it was wonderful!
Overall, this was a beautiful, heartbreaking YA romance that I truly enjoyed. This story just sucked me in, and I didn't wish to stop reading! I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
September 5, 2024
This was such a interesting book… which I did not expect to love but which I couldn’t help really falling for. This book really isn’t on my usual radar, but I picked it up because of positive reviews and because I love the author and all she had to say in her book Writing by Faith, and I’m so glad I did.
There were some major premises of this book that did personally bother me. The church was rather wild according to my personal convictions, the clothing wasn’t something I was comfortable with, and the amount of crushing & guy talk drove me batty. But although this all sounds like the makings of a very shallow book, it was anything but. It was deep, y’all.
School stories have a particular fascination to me, since I was homeschooled and was always curious about the experience. This book made me VERY grateful I wasn’t public schooled, just sayin’, but it was fun to read about. The Southern setting was also fun because it isn’t one I’ve often read but I’ve got a lot of Southern friends, so it gave me the warm fuzzies. <3 The book was so summery, and it just reminded me of another book I love, Dandelion Dust, which was really nice. And I loved how it was contemporary, but an old contemporary (2007-2009), meaning this book was set during the years I was about 7… which is really cool because I get to experience the era of my childhood through the eyes of someone older than me.
The characters were interesting. I related a lot to Emery in her self-dislike, her shyness, her literariness, and her fear, but I also strongly related to Sawyer’s depression, self-hatred, and brokenness. They were so well done and I loved them both. Ryanne was awesome, and so was Rider. The other characters were pretty shallow and either likeable or hateful, but I enjoyed the humour they produced... or the warnings.
The plot was definitely hooking. Frankly, I was a little bothered by how young Sawyer and Emery were… fourteen and sixteen is awful young to fall in love. At the same time, I know there are such things as sweethearts for life, so it didn’t really irk me, although I definitely felt like they acted quite a bit older than they actually were. That aside, their romance was super cute and well-paced, and I loved how interwoven it was with Emery’s grandparents’ romance. The slice of life feel of the book was epic, and I adored the music aspect—the songs were so good and complimented the story so well. I adored all the sarcasm and humour that permeated Kennedy’s writing, but I also loved how she dove right into truth and scattered it so liberally over the pages.
What gives this book 5 stars is the messages. They are phenomenal. Building relationship with God and making Him the centre of a relationship. Overcoming fear and past trauma. Learning your own worth and value in God's eyes. The hypocrisy that can exist in a church, yet the warning to not let it turn you bitter against the Lord and all His people even when you leave a corrupted place and search for a good one. The cost (and reason for) bullying. The importance of guarding your heart for the right person, yet being willing to take down your defences and LOVE people. They were all messages I desperately needed to hear right now, and the Lord definitely spoke to me through these pages.
The ending devastated me and I frankly can’t believe it’s real. I can’t help hoping for a wild and unbelievable miracle in the sequel. I don’t understand why it happened—it makes no sense to me—but hopefully the sequel will explain it… Overall, 4.5 stars, and I’m eager to read The Fall.
Content: Euphemisms (darn, crap, dang, heck, gosh, turd, piss, bull crap). Fleeting mention someone gets pregnant by ex-husband cousin. Several instances of lying, eavesdropping, & disobeying explicit orders from parents. Touching (hands, hair, kissing, hugging) + lots of alone time between dating couple (one side character teasingly asks if they’re “trying anything funny.”) Attempted suicide. Drinking. Dancing. Hinted inappropriate behaviour by some characters very far from the Lord. One MC’s parents divorce because of cheating & the man “moves on with a younger woman” MAJOR SPOILER . END OF MAJOR SPOILER.
A Favourite Quote: “What makes you happy?”
“That ship sailed a long time ago.”
“Ships can always find their way back through the dark. They just need a lighthouse.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “I’m twenty-three. At this point, that’d cramp my style.”
I give his combination of a camouflage T-shirt, navy gym shorts, and holey knee-length socks a onceover. “And you just ooze style.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
There were some major premises of this book that did personally bother me. The church was rather wild according to my personal convictions, the clothing wasn’t something I was comfortable with, and the amount of crushing & guy talk drove me batty. But although this all sounds like the makings of a very shallow book, it was anything but. It was deep, y’all.
School stories have a particular fascination to me, since I was homeschooled and was always curious about the experience. This book made me VERY grateful I wasn’t public schooled, just sayin’, but it was fun to read about. The Southern setting was also fun because it isn’t one I’ve often read but I’ve got a lot of Southern friends, so it gave me the warm fuzzies. <3 The book was so summery, and it just reminded me of another book I love, Dandelion Dust, which was really nice. And I loved how it was contemporary, but an old contemporary (2007-2009), meaning this book was set during the years I was about 7… which is really cool because I get to experience the era of my childhood through the eyes of someone older than me.
The characters were interesting. I related a lot to Emery in her self-dislike, her shyness, her literariness, and her fear, but I also strongly related to Sawyer’s depression, self-hatred, and brokenness. They were so well done and I loved them both. Ryanne was awesome, and so was Rider. The other characters were pretty shallow and either likeable or hateful, but I enjoyed the humour they produced... or the warnings.
The plot was definitely hooking. Frankly, I was a little bothered by how young Sawyer and Emery were… fourteen and sixteen is awful young to fall in love. At the same time, I know there are such things as sweethearts for life, so it didn’t really irk me, although I definitely felt like they acted quite a bit older than they actually were. That aside, their romance was super cute and well-paced, and I loved how interwoven it was with Emery’s grandparents’ romance. The slice of life feel of the book was epic, and I adored the music aspect—the songs were so good and complimented the story so well. I adored all the sarcasm and humour that permeated Kennedy’s writing, but I also loved how she dove right into truth and scattered it so liberally over the pages.
What gives this book 5 stars is the messages. They are phenomenal. Building relationship with God and making Him the centre of a relationship. Overcoming fear and past trauma. Learning your own worth and value in God's eyes. The hypocrisy that can exist in a church, yet the warning to not let it turn you bitter against the Lord and all His people even when you leave a corrupted place and search for a good one. The cost (and reason for) bullying. The importance of guarding your heart for the right person, yet being willing to take down your defences and LOVE people. They were all messages I desperately needed to hear right now, and the Lord definitely spoke to me through these pages.
The ending devastated me and I frankly can’t believe it’s real. I can’t help hoping for a wild and unbelievable miracle in the sequel. I don’t understand why it happened—it makes no sense to me—but hopefully the sequel will explain it… Overall, 4.5 stars, and I’m eager to read The Fall.
Content: Euphemisms (darn, crap, dang, heck, gosh, turd, piss, bull crap). Fleeting mention someone gets pregnant by ex-husband cousin. Several instances of lying, eavesdropping, & disobeying explicit orders from parents. Touching (hands, hair, kissing, hugging) + lots of alone time between dating couple (one side character teasingly asks if they’re “trying anything funny.”) Attempted suicide. Drinking. Dancing. Hinted inappropriate behaviour by some characters very far from the Lord. One MC’s parents divorce because of cheating & the man “moves on with a younger woman” MAJOR SPOILER . END OF MAJOR SPOILER.
A Favourite Quote: “What makes you happy?”
“That ship sailed a long time ago.”
“Ships can always find their way back through the dark. They just need a lighthouse.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “I’m twenty-three. At this point, that’d cramp my style.”
I give his combination of a camouflage T-shirt, navy gym shorts, and holey knee-length socks a onceover. “And you just ooze style.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
September 15, 2020
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
ok um wow...
what an emotional ride! And to be honest I feel mildly betrayed by that ending. One of the craziest curve balls ever thrown at me!
But so anyway... this book was so good. At first I was not liking it that much. It just seemed like another one of those cheesy cliche christian books but once I got into it, man I fell in love with the characters.
What I liked:
Kennendys writing style is so nice. Often nowadays when I read books I'm like "Ugh, why did they write it like that? the wording is so bad." But not once did I feel that way about Kennedys writing.
I also loved the character arcs! they were so good and so convincing which truly reflects a lot of maturity and wisdom on the authors part.
I also absolutely loved the MC. Being a classics lover myself I could really relate to Emery and often I don't relate to MC very much.
OK now this I did not like:
The ending *Cries into pillow* whyyyyyyyyy just whyyyyyyy. why must everything always be so sad? I was so shocked that I had to read it like 5 times being like "wait... did that.... what?" ok but now I'll shut up because I don't want to spoil anything.
and now I think that this is not really something I did not like just the author should have developed a bit more. The WHOLE time through the book I kept forgetting that Emery had a dad. I just forgot about him. and I think that through the whole book he said like only three things which, i don't know if its just my dad or not but he is wayyyyyyy more involved in my life then Emerys dad was.
And yeah! that pretty much concludes my thoughts on The Cush! Wonderfully done Allyson Kennedy!
Oh btw there is just one more thing that I dislike about this book... that is I'm gonna have to wait like 2 years to read book 2!!! So sad! I want to read it now!
ok um wow...
what an emotional ride! And to be honest I feel mildly betrayed by that ending. One of the craziest curve balls ever thrown at me!
But so anyway... this book was so good. At first I was not liking it that much. It just seemed like another one of those cheesy cliche christian books but once I got into it, man I fell in love with the characters.
What I liked:
Kennendys writing style is so nice. Often nowadays when I read books I'm like "Ugh, why did they write it like that? the wording is so bad." But not once did I feel that way about Kennedys writing.
I also loved the character arcs! they were so good and so convincing which truly reflects a lot of maturity and wisdom on the authors part.
I also absolutely loved the MC. Being a classics lover myself I could really relate to Emery and often I don't relate to MC very much.
OK now this I did not like:
The ending *Cries into pillow* whyyyyyyyyy just whyyyyyyy. why must everything always be so sad? I was so shocked that I had to read it like 5 times being like "wait... did that.... what?" ok but now I'll shut up because I don't want to spoil anything.
and now I think that this is not really something I did not like just the author should have developed a bit more. The WHOLE time through the book I kept forgetting that Emery had a dad. I just forgot about him. and I think that through the whole book he said like only three things which, i don't know if its just my dad or not but he is wayyyyyyy more involved in my life then Emerys dad was.
And yeah! that pretty much concludes my thoughts on The Cush! Wonderfully done Allyson Kennedy!
Oh btw there is just one more thing that I dislike about this book... that is I'm gonna have to wait like 2 years to read book 2!!! So sad! I want to read it now!
September 14, 2020
UPDATED: 9/14/20
I’ve read and reviewed Allyson Kennedy’s books before, and while I’ve always, always loved her stories, I was not even ready for The Crush.
YA Christian Contemporary is a much needed genre, but it’s very hard to find books within this genre that are both amazing stories, and amazing at presenting Christianity in a way that isn’t preachy. The Crush is a story that is so amazing that I literally laughed out loud and cried my eyes out in more than one place. It’s so beautiful.
Emery has a heart of gold and I loved watching her grow up and mature into the young lady she is. And Sawyer, oh my goodness, he was so special and brought an entirely new dynamic into the storyline. This couple is so perfectly imperfect. You will find it incredibly easy to root for their success.
One thing that makes this Christian YA stand out from others is how raw and real Allyson is in including how messed up Christian families can be. I think one of the biggest flaws in Christian fiction is illustrating the idea that these once-bad characters accept Jesus and then suddenly they make all the right decisions or take every bad thing that happens to them with a grain of salt and portray that life is suddenly laid out perfectly before them. Sure some bad things still happen, but now they have this perfect wisdom in how to navigate it just because they became Christians. And that is just so not true! The Crush portrays the realism of being Christians and showing that even though Jesus is the king of our lives and we’re doing the best we can, we still make terrible decisions, we still fall apart at night when no one is looking because we don’t know what to do, and we still struggle to move past things that will forever change our worlds. The Crush shows what being a Christian is really like, especially as a teen.
I also liked how there is a show of toxicity in church and how throughout the book, Allyson illustrates through actions of other characters that just because someone goes to church, doesn’t mean they should be looked up to as role models; including adults. I think that is an incredibly important message to share with teens, because in many of these toxic churches, a teen’s faith can be easily squashed by an adult because teens are simply told to “obey” or “respect” the elders without question as to whether the adult is in line with the Word or not. And while respect should always be taught, teens need to know that not all adults (whether they are leaders in the church or not) are always correctly aligned with the Word; which is why personal Bible studies are so important in your teens. But more importantly than just showing how a church can be toxic, I loved how she incorporated that even in leaving one church, it’s still important to find another. Not because you can’t be a Christian if you don’t go to church (so FALSE), but because it’s important to surround yourself with other believers who can help to build you up and walk through life with you.
There is honestly so much about this book that I loved and I could probably go on and on about it. The way it’s written, the SONGS that were included (O.M.G. I just cried, like, so hard), and really just everything about this book. My husband laughed at me because everytime I looked up from reading this book I was crying, either from pure happiness or complete anguish. There was hardly an in between. I give The Crush a solid 5 out of 5 stars and cannot wait until the next book in The Ballad of Emery Brooks comes out!
Trigger warnings: Depression/anxiety. Mentions of attempted suicide and death of family members. Some mentions of partying. There is no cursing and no sexual content (aside from a few kisses).
Though I did have the privilege of editing this novel, all of my opinions are entirely true and would not be different if I had picked this book up on my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
7/30/2020
Review to come soon, but OMG. Just plan on pre-ordering this books folks.
I’ve read and reviewed Allyson Kennedy’s books before, and while I’ve always, always loved her stories, I was not even ready for The Crush.
YA Christian Contemporary is a much needed genre, but it’s very hard to find books within this genre that are both amazing stories, and amazing at presenting Christianity in a way that isn’t preachy. The Crush is a story that is so amazing that I literally laughed out loud and cried my eyes out in more than one place. It’s so beautiful.
Emery has a heart of gold and I loved watching her grow up and mature into the young lady she is. And Sawyer, oh my goodness, he was so special and brought an entirely new dynamic into the storyline. This couple is so perfectly imperfect. You will find it incredibly easy to root for their success.
One thing that makes this Christian YA stand out from others is how raw and real Allyson is in including how messed up Christian families can be. I think one of the biggest flaws in Christian fiction is illustrating the idea that these once-bad characters accept Jesus and then suddenly they make all the right decisions or take every bad thing that happens to them with a grain of salt and portray that life is suddenly laid out perfectly before them. Sure some bad things still happen, but now they have this perfect wisdom in how to navigate it just because they became Christians. And that is just so not true! The Crush portrays the realism of being Christians and showing that even though Jesus is the king of our lives and we’re doing the best we can, we still make terrible decisions, we still fall apart at night when no one is looking because we don’t know what to do, and we still struggle to move past things that will forever change our worlds. The Crush shows what being a Christian is really like, especially as a teen.
I also liked how there is a show of toxicity in church and how throughout the book, Allyson illustrates through actions of other characters that just because someone goes to church, doesn’t mean they should be looked up to as role models; including adults. I think that is an incredibly important message to share with teens, because in many of these toxic churches, a teen’s faith can be easily squashed by an adult because teens are simply told to “obey” or “respect” the elders without question as to whether the adult is in line with the Word or not. And while respect should always be taught, teens need to know that not all adults (whether they are leaders in the church or not) are always correctly aligned with the Word; which is why personal Bible studies are so important in your teens. But more importantly than just showing how a church can be toxic, I loved how she incorporated that even in leaving one church, it’s still important to find another. Not because you can’t be a Christian if you don’t go to church (so FALSE), but because it’s important to surround yourself with other believers who can help to build you up and walk through life with you.
There is honestly so much about this book that I loved and I could probably go on and on about it. The way it’s written, the SONGS that were included (O.M.G. I just cried, like, so hard), and really just everything about this book. My husband laughed at me because everytime I looked up from reading this book I was crying, either from pure happiness or complete anguish. There was hardly an in between. I give The Crush a solid 5 out of 5 stars and cannot wait until the next book in The Ballad of Emery Brooks comes out!
Trigger warnings: Depression/anxiety. Mentions of attempted suicide and death of family members. Some mentions of partying. There is no cursing and no sexual content (aside from a few kisses).
Though I did have the privilege of editing this novel, all of my opinions are entirely true and would not be different if I had picked this book up on my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
7/30/2020
Review to come soon, but OMG. Just plan on pre-ordering this books folks.
October 16, 2020
“I’m ashamed to admit I may be wrong, for now my heart is a puzzle I’m struggling to solve.” - The Crush (The Ballad of Emery Brooks, #1) by Allyson Kennedy
—————————————————
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
The Crush was so good!! It follows Emery Brooks from her last few weeks of middle school to halfway through her junior year of high school as she learns about life, first love, and God’s grace.
The Crush is set in a small NC town, which is so similar to where my mom grew up! In a lot of ways, Grahamwood feels like a place I could drive to, and it reminds me of home. It depicts southern life in an honest and hilarious way, and I’m so excited for y’all to be able to read all about it!
The Crush also deals with some heavier topics, such as depression and grief. Allyson Kennedy dealt with these topics very well.
I really liked The Crush, and I hope y’all do too! It’s currently available for ebook preorder and will release October 24!
—————————————————
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
The Crush was so good!! It follows Emery Brooks from her last few weeks of middle school to halfway through her junior year of high school as she learns about life, first love, and God’s grace.
The Crush is set in a small NC town, which is so similar to where my mom grew up! In a lot of ways, Grahamwood feels like a place I could drive to, and it reminds me of home. It depicts southern life in an honest and hilarious way, and I’m so excited for y’all to be able to read all about it!
The Crush also deals with some heavier topics, such as depression and grief. Allyson Kennedy dealt with these topics very well.
I really liked The Crush, and I hope y’all do too! It’s currently available for ebook preorder and will release October 24!
October 30, 2022
oh my word i- have no words. allison is such a talented author, and i was so blessed to have the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
everything about this book was amazing, from the 00s kid references to the vintage vibes to the comforting writing style. if we're being honest, this book felt so cozy and just....... safe.
emery reminded me so much of myself; we're both hopeless romantics who prefer vintage clothing to modern clothing. sawyer was.... wow. honestly i related to him too (more in his depression than anything else). and should i be ashamed that while will was only seen for a short time, i developed a crush on his character?? like he's definitely my type *facepalm*
while i'm technically not a 00s kid (i'm a 2010s kid), i really liked the 00s references. most of my favorite shows/movies are from the 90s/00s, so that was really refreshing. and i mean- it brought me so much joy to hear them reference boy meets world (my favorite show ever)
the christian themes were........ definitely better done than in other books. some parts of them did feel sorta shallow and cliche though?? and i wasn't thrilled with the whole "pray and all your problems will go away" theme? that being said, i did appreciate the talking about church hurt <3
while i loved this book so much, i would be careful about recommending it to younger girls. the plotline just felt- a bit too mature. i know it was a bit triggering for me 😅
besides that though, this was a fairly clean read. the only "language" said was crap, and there was no sex or anything.
i will say however that i personally felt like the way the characters talked wasn't realistic?? like- no teenager says heck and dang............. and while i appreciate the author's attempts at being clean, i think she could have done without any of that and been perfectly fine.
my only other complaint was that sawyer felt a bit too old for emery?? i was a bit bothered by the age gap 😅
cw: , suicide attempt, grief, depression
i was given a free copy of this book by the author. this did not impact my opinions/review of this book in any way
everything about this book was amazing, from the 00s kid references to the vintage vibes to the comforting writing style. if we're being honest, this book felt so cozy and just....... safe.
emery reminded me so much of myself; we're both hopeless romantics who prefer vintage clothing to modern clothing. sawyer was.... wow. honestly i related to him too (more in his depression than anything else). and should i be ashamed that while will was only seen for a short time, i developed a crush on his character?? like he's definitely my type *facepalm*
while i'm technically not a 00s kid (i'm a 2010s kid), i really liked the 00s references. most of my favorite shows/movies are from the 90s/00s, so that was really refreshing. and i mean- it brought me so much joy to hear them reference boy meets world (my favorite show ever)
the christian themes were........ definitely better done than in other books. some parts of them did feel sorta shallow and cliche though?? and i wasn't thrilled with the whole "pray and all your problems will go away" theme? that being said, i did appreciate the talking about church hurt <3
while i loved this book so much, i would be careful about recommending it to younger girls. the plotline just felt- a bit too mature. i know it was a bit triggering for me 😅
besides that though, this was a fairly clean read. the only "language" said was crap, and there was no sex or anything.
i will say however that i personally felt like the way the characters talked wasn't realistic?? like- no teenager says heck and dang............. and while i appreciate the author's attempts at being clean, i think she could have done without any of that and been perfectly fine.
my only other complaint was that sawyer felt a bit too old for emery?? i was a bit bothered by the age gap 😅
cw: , suicide attempt, grief, depression
i was given a free copy of this book by the author. this did not impact my opinions/review of this book in any way
October 29, 2022
Originally, I was going to give this book 4.5 stars but I changed my mind. I'll explain but first...
This story is amazing. I connected so well with the characters. Emery is basically me. From sibling squabbles, to not fitting in, to her first serious crush... I feel her in every way and I love it. I also feel that we would super easily share clothes because our styles are so similar 😂
Sawyer is such a sweetheart. I could see him so clearly in my head. My heart broke for everything he went through. I wish I could give him a big hug.
The plot was fantastic! I could almost say it was action packed but it wasn't quite. More like... on the move. I couldn't put it down.
One thing that stood out for me was the fact that it was set in the late 2000s. It is the first book I've read that is set their unless it was written then. Another thing was all of the songs scattered throughout the story. I wish I could listen to every one! Especially Amos and Adeline!
Now for the thing that originally made me want to give it 4.5 stars. Sawyer and Emery's relationship. Don't get me wrong, it was very God honouring and appropriate as well as super sweet and heartfelt. But a personal conviction of mine has always been that teens shouldn't date. Now again, this is a personal conviction, and I knew this would be the case when I headed into the book, which is why I decided to give it the full 5 stars in the end. I will say that they were both very mature in the relationship and they waited until they both were ready and their parents approved so that is definitely a plus!
To finish off, I am so glad this is a trilogy and can't wait to join the characters again!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This story is amazing. I connected so well with the characters. Emery is basically me. From sibling squabbles, to not fitting in, to her first serious crush... I feel her in every way and I love it. I also feel that we would super easily share clothes because our styles are so similar 😂
Sawyer is such a sweetheart. I could see him so clearly in my head. My heart broke for everything he went through. I wish I could give him a big hug.
The plot was fantastic! I could almost say it was action packed but it wasn't quite. More like... on the move. I couldn't put it down.
One thing that stood out for me was the fact that it was set in the late 2000s. It is the first book I've read that is set their unless it was written then. Another thing was all of the songs scattered throughout the story. I wish I could listen to every one! Especially Amos and Adeline!
Now for the thing that originally made me want to give it 4.5 stars. Sawyer and Emery's relationship. Don't get me wrong, it was very God honouring and appropriate as well as super sweet and heartfelt. But a personal conviction of mine has always been that teens shouldn't date. Now again, this is a personal conviction, and I knew this would be the case when I headed into the book, which is why I decided to give it the full 5 stars in the end. I will say that they were both very mature in the relationship and they waited until they both were ready and their parents approved so that is definitely a plus!
To finish off, I am so glad this is a trilogy and can't wait to join the characters again!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
October 11, 2022
“The Crush” focuses on 14-year-old Emery, who longs for a love like her Grandma Adeline and Grampa Amos. Her dreams come true when she meets the son of her mother’s friend, Swayer, though she denies it at first. As she continually learns to trust God to write her love story, tragedy strikes, and her love life vanishes instantly. “The Crush” is the perfect novel for Christian young ladies who desire love and marriage but are learning to seek God with what He has in-store. Or for women who adore young romance.
Pacing
This is NOT a slow read! As soon as you read page 1, the story just goes. Despite it being close to 300 pages, there were surprisingly no slow scenes or unnecessary ones. Everything was just perfect.
Characters
Wow, they were very well developed! You could feel their emotions and they all had flaws, quirks, and struggles that differed from one another. And can I mention how wonderfully complex Swayer was, emotionally? 😍 The interactions between characters didn't feel fake either. I will say that the side characters felt a little underdeveloped, but I guess it was okay since they weren’t in many scenes. Jake was such a nuisance that I felt very annoyed with his character and his taunts were somewhat lame until later in the book.
Themes
At times, it was a tad preachy and seemed like she forced in the Christianity in certain scenes. However, the theme of trusting God was beautifully ever so present along with bearing one another burdens and not putting others above God. Emery knew exactly what it meant if she were to enter a relationship with Swayer, but they strived to keep God at the center. Nothing is of Him if He’s not a part of it.
Content
There were a few non-detailed kisses (both on the lips and cheeks), minor “cussing” such as “heck” and “darn” along with a few “shut up’s,” and a car accident that resulted in someone getting killed.
This was such a sweet read! I would totally recommend this to girls 16 and up and read it again myself. I can’t wait to dive into book 2!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts are my own.
Pacing
This is NOT a slow read! As soon as you read page 1, the story just goes. Despite it being close to 300 pages, there were surprisingly no slow scenes or unnecessary ones. Everything was just perfect.
Characters
Wow, they were very well developed! You could feel their emotions and they all had flaws, quirks, and struggles that differed from one another. And can I mention how wonderfully complex Swayer was, emotionally? 😍 The interactions between characters didn't feel fake either. I will say that the side characters felt a little underdeveloped, but I guess it was okay since they weren’t in many scenes. Jake was such a nuisance that I felt very annoyed with his character and his taunts were somewhat lame until later in the book.
Themes
At times, it was a tad preachy and seemed like she forced in the Christianity in certain scenes. However, the theme of trusting God was beautifully ever so present along with bearing one another burdens and not putting others above God. Emery knew exactly what it meant if she were to enter a relationship with Swayer, but they strived to keep God at the center. Nothing is of Him if He’s not a part of it.
Content
There were a few non-detailed kisses (both on the lips and cheeks), minor “cussing” such as “heck” and “darn” along with a few “shut up’s,” and a car accident that resulted in someone getting killed.
This was such a sweet read! I would totally recommend this to girls 16 and up and read it again myself. I can’t wait to dive into book 2!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts are my own.
September 7, 2020
I've read two of Allyson's books before, and I liked them both. But I like this cover most of all, and thought I'd like this story the most, too. I was right.
But at what cost?
This story is everything one would expect from a sweet contemporary coming-of-age tale with a hint of romance.
Except that it's way, way more.
Brooke is such a relatable character, and old soul with a young heart. She longs for romance, but has both feet planted firmly on the ground. She has a loving family and a good friend, but her life is far from perfect. Her brother's mistakes in the past have left her a pariah in her church and her community alike, she's grieving her grandmother, and she's dealing with bullying.
But then she meets Sawyer, a boy struggling with depression, and her life becomes both much better and much worse. Such is the path of love. Of life. Of loss.
I heartily recommend this book to everyone, but bring your tissues, because this story reflects life perfectly in its bitter-sweetness.
I received a complimentary copy from the author, but was not required to write a positive review.
Review published on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...
But at what cost?
This story is everything one would expect from a sweet contemporary coming-of-age tale with a hint of romance.
Except that it's way, way more.
Brooke is such a relatable character, and old soul with a young heart. She longs for romance, but has both feet planted firmly on the ground. She has a loving family and a good friend, but her life is far from perfect. Her brother's mistakes in the past have left her a pariah in her church and her community alike, she's grieving her grandmother, and she's dealing with bullying.
But then she meets Sawyer, a boy struggling with depression, and her life becomes both much better and much worse. Such is the path of love. Of life. Of loss.
I heartily recommend this book to everyone, but bring your tissues, because this story reflects life perfectly in its bitter-sweetness.
I received a complimentary copy from the author, but was not required to write a positive review.
Review published on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...
September 9, 2020
This book definitely took me on a rollercoaster! There were some plot twists I did NOT expect! I enjoyed reading it. I read it in about 2 1/2 hours, in one afternoon. (I do read very fast). I couldn't put it down!
It was a little deeper and darker than I'd originally expected it to be. It's definitely for a little bit more mature audience, but it's pretty clean overall. I actually enjoyed it even more than I thought I would, and I'm considering marking it as one of my favorite novels.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was a little deeper and darker than I'd originally expected it to be. It's definitely for a little bit more mature audience, but it's pretty clean overall. I actually enjoyed it even more than I thought I would, and I'm considering marking it as one of my favorite novels.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 7, 2024
4.5 stars—even more impressive on the reread!
When I first read Allyson Kennedy’s debut novel Can’t Beat the Heart of a Carolina Girl, I realized that I enjoyed the author’s style immensely. But I nonetheless deemed her a fairly generic YA romance writer who writes ‘fluffy’ stories about young people meeting their true loves. (Not that there is anything wrong with that. Fluffy reads can be great, especially when they are saturated with as much charm as Kennedy's books are!) But when I read Kennedy’s second novel, Speak Your Mind, an inspiring coming-of-age story that centers on personal growth and tackling inner demons, I realized that I could hardly have been more wrong about the author. She could certainly write a deep story! Thus, I found myself a tad disappointed to discover that Kennedy’s third novel was going to be titled The Crush—a title that seemed to lend itself more to romance than coming-of-age, the latter of which is where I felt the author most excelled. Yet again, I could not have been wrong; The Crush proved even better than Speak Your Mind. In this third book, Allyson Kennedy blends the genres of romance and coming-of-age to produce by far her most mature and heartfelt work yet!
The main character of The Crush is Emery Brooks, known at school as Grandma Emmy, who makes for something of an old soul in a fifteen-year-old’s body. She dreams of someday encountering the same type of warm and palpable romantic love that her grandparents share. She has endeavored to guard her heart so intently that she has never even had a real crush. So when she finds herself begrudgingly drawn to Sawyer, a jaded and troubled teen who claims not to even believe in love, her primary feeling is annoyance. Why does this cynic have to be her first crush? While this synopsis may admittedly still sound a tad “fluffy,” Kennedy expands upon these threads brilliantly, ultimately producing a thoughtful and heartfelt emotional roller-coaster of a story.
One of the things that I most love about The Crush is the way that Kennedy deconstructs Sawyer’s character. He comes across as so complex, so broken, and so human—although the author does not romanticize Sawyer’s flaws, as so many other YA writers do for their male love interests in romance novels. Through his character, Kennedy merely explores what it is like to be a teen with a good heart but a broken soul—but also how God can work to put a broken soul back together. So good and so edifying! However, I do feel that Sawyer’s history could have been expanded upon in regard to why he chooses to remain a Christian and continually wear his Jesus-fish necklace, despite his cynicism in other regards.
Emery makes for another well-written character. While she may not possess the most dynamic of personalities, the reader grows to understand her and resonate with her so deeply; her old-fashion soul in a teenage body really shines through! Emery’s brother Rider also proves very lovable. We receive a few glimpses of unexpected depth from a mostly antagonist figure in Bridget, which intrigued me. And Emery’s grandmother Adeline is so feisty—I love it. I will acknowledge that not all the characters entirely shined for me—but more than enough of them stand out to carry the story.
Furthermore, Kennedy beautifully and organically imbues Christianity into the narrative—which amounts to an extraordinarily rare feat! Too often, Christian themes in fiction feel gimmicky and contrived. In The Crush, however, the Christian themes never feel forced or overbearing. Kennedy opts not to present an overly-polished, cookie-cutter view of the Christian life, but rather she portrays it in all of its messy and oftentimes gritty complexity. I ate up the way that Kennedy explores Christian hypocrisy through the dysfunction and favoritism taking place at Emery’s home church—while also showing Emery’s family eventually finding another church. The author illustrates that, while individual churches can indeed be broken, the Church as a whole is still vital. Having said all this, I do feel that The Crush could have benefited from one or two characters who do not even claim to believe in the Christian God. It would have been particularly fascinating to me if Kennedy had included a character who has been led to renounce their faith altogether, due largely to the hypocrisy that they have witnessed within Christian communities.
And, lastly … can I just be the 4,797,398th reviewer to praise the ending? I won’t spoil anything, but it takes a deeply unexpected turn that triggers the readers’ emotions profoundly.
Ultimately, The Crush makes for an unforgettable story that beautifully illustrates God’s redeeming power. It follows A Walk to Remember as my second favorite romance novel that I have ever had the pleasure to read!
When I first read Allyson Kennedy’s debut novel Can’t Beat the Heart of a Carolina Girl, I realized that I enjoyed the author’s style immensely. But I nonetheless deemed her a fairly generic YA romance writer who writes ‘fluffy’ stories about young people meeting their true loves. (Not that there is anything wrong with that. Fluffy reads can be great, especially when they are saturated with as much charm as Kennedy's books are!) But when I read Kennedy’s second novel, Speak Your Mind, an inspiring coming-of-age story that centers on personal growth and tackling inner demons, I realized that I could hardly have been more wrong about the author. She could certainly write a deep story! Thus, I found myself a tad disappointed to discover that Kennedy’s third novel was going to be titled The Crush—a title that seemed to lend itself more to romance than coming-of-age, the latter of which is where I felt the author most excelled. Yet again, I could not have been wrong; The Crush proved even better than Speak Your Mind. In this third book, Allyson Kennedy blends the genres of romance and coming-of-age to produce by far her most mature and heartfelt work yet!
The main character of The Crush is Emery Brooks, known at school as Grandma Emmy, who makes for something of an old soul in a fifteen-year-old’s body. She dreams of someday encountering the same type of warm and palpable romantic love that her grandparents share. She has endeavored to guard her heart so intently that she has never even had a real crush. So when she finds herself begrudgingly drawn to Sawyer, a jaded and troubled teen who claims not to even believe in love, her primary feeling is annoyance. Why does this cynic have to be her first crush? While this synopsis may admittedly still sound a tad “fluffy,” Kennedy expands upon these threads brilliantly, ultimately producing a thoughtful and heartfelt emotional roller-coaster of a story.
One of the things that I most love about The Crush is the way that Kennedy deconstructs Sawyer’s character. He comes across as so complex, so broken, and so human—although the author does not romanticize Sawyer’s flaws, as so many other YA writers do for their male love interests in romance novels. Through his character, Kennedy merely explores what it is like to be a teen with a good heart but a broken soul—but also how God can work to put a broken soul back together. So good and so edifying! However, I do feel that Sawyer’s history could have been expanded upon in regard to why he chooses to remain a Christian and continually wear his Jesus-fish necklace, despite his cynicism in other regards.
Emery makes for another well-written character. While she may not possess the most dynamic of personalities, the reader grows to understand her and resonate with her so deeply; her old-fashion soul in a teenage body really shines through! Emery’s brother Rider also proves very lovable. We receive a few glimpses of unexpected depth from a mostly antagonist figure in Bridget, which intrigued me. And Emery’s grandmother Adeline is so feisty—I love it. I will acknowledge that not all the characters entirely shined for me—but more than enough of them stand out to carry the story.
Furthermore, Kennedy beautifully and organically imbues Christianity into the narrative—which amounts to an extraordinarily rare feat! Too often, Christian themes in fiction feel gimmicky and contrived. In The Crush, however, the Christian themes never feel forced or overbearing. Kennedy opts not to present an overly-polished, cookie-cutter view of the Christian life, but rather she portrays it in all of its messy and oftentimes gritty complexity. I ate up the way that Kennedy explores Christian hypocrisy through the dysfunction and favoritism taking place at Emery’s home church—while also showing Emery’s family eventually finding another church. The author illustrates that, while individual churches can indeed be broken, the Church as a whole is still vital. Having said all this, I do feel that The Crush could have benefited from one or two characters who do not even claim to believe in the Christian God. It would have been particularly fascinating to me if Kennedy had included a character who has been led to renounce their faith altogether, due largely to the hypocrisy that they have witnessed within Christian communities.
And, lastly … can I just be the 4,797,398th reviewer to praise the ending? I won’t spoil anything, but it takes a deeply unexpected turn that triggers the readers’ emotions profoundly.
Ultimately, The Crush makes for an unforgettable story that beautifully illustrates God’s redeeming power. It follows A Walk to Remember as my second favorite romance novel that I have ever had the pleasure to read!
August 28, 2020
Looking at the title, you may think that this is a fluffy read, just full of sparkles and glitter. That would be inaccurate. This book was so emotional, thought-provoking, and real.
One of the best parts about this book was the emphasis on friendship. Even though Sawyer and Emery were dating, they focused on keeping a strong friendship instead of a romantic one.
Also, can we get a round of applause for a romance that is not 'insta' anything? I really liked how this book was set over the course of two years and because of that, I felt like I really got to know the characters as they grew and changed.
I'm not going to comment on the ending. *sobs*
Y'all, I can almost guarantee that The Crush will make it onto my favorite reads of 2020.
I would highly recommend this to fans of Joanne Bischof's This Quiet Sky and to anyone looking for an emotional read sure to pull heartstrings.
Rating: 5/5
Language: n/a
Romance: a few kisses (no details at all)
Spiritual: The journey of the character relying on God is the foundation of the story.
Violence: depression, suicide attempt, many deaths
*I received a copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.
One of the best parts about this book was the emphasis on friendship. Even though Sawyer and Emery were dating, they focused on keeping a strong friendship instead of a romantic one.
Also, can we get a round of applause for a romance that is not 'insta' anything? I really liked how this book was set over the course of two years and because of that, I felt like I really got to know the characters as they grew and changed.
I'm not going to comment on the ending. *sobs*
Y'all, I can almost guarantee that The Crush will make it onto my favorite reads of 2020.
I would highly recommend this to fans of Joanne Bischof's This Quiet Sky and to anyone looking for an emotional read sure to pull heartstrings.
Rating: 5/5
Language: n/a
Romance: a few kisses (no details at all)
Spiritual: The journey of the character relying on God is the foundation of the story.
Violence: depression, suicide attempt, many deaths
*I received a copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.
Read
July 20, 2024Initial reaction: Well, that was not the kind of ending I was expecting...honestly not sure what to think about this book now. I enjoyed most of it but I am going to have to think on it for a while before giving a star rating or review.
Update 7/19/24: The short version:
- I loved it, until the ending…
- As I read I found myself wishing I had Emery to read about when I was a teen
- Going to a new church is never that easy…would have liked to see more adjustment and hear about the differences from Emery and her sister’s perspectives, as well as conversations from the adults
- This book covers a lot of time. More than I expected.
- Sawyer is complicated. And then, before I felt like I really had time to grapple with his character and his influence on Emery, he’s gone.
- Still not sure how to rate this. Going to hold out on that until I read more of the series.
Full review, which contains some spoilers, is posted on my blog: Reviews From the Stacks.
Update 7/19/24: The short version:
- I loved it, until the ending…
- As I read I found myself wishing I had Emery to read about when I was a teen
- Going to a new church is never that easy…would have liked to see more adjustment and hear about the differences from Emery and her sister’s perspectives, as well as conversations from the adults
- This book covers a lot of time. More than I expected.
- Sawyer is complicated. And then, before I felt like I really had time to grapple with his character and his influence on Emery, he’s gone.
- Still not sure how to rate this. Going to hold out on that until I read more of the series.
Full review, which contains some spoilers, is posted on my blog: Reviews From the Stacks.
September 17, 2020
I think this book told a really sweet story, but... not for the right age group. I don't think it is healthy for someone so young to be so obsessed with finding the person they're going to spend the rest of their life with... which leads me to the relationship.
When she is fourteen she meets the Sawyer- the guy, the crush- and I don't want to repeat myself, but like I said she has an unhealthy obsession with finding the one (who she decides is Sawyer).
Sawyer is the love interest, and when the book starts out he is a senior in high school. I don't think it is too weird for a fourteen year old girl to have a crush on someone a few years older than her, but (spoiler...) -he-starts to like -her- it freaked me out a little bit. It did end up they were only 2 and 1/2 years apart or so, but it still seemed really hard to be okay with.
So they start dating. But I really felt like they didn't have a healthy relationship, Sawyer wasn't in a good space mentally (which isn't to say you can't date someone then, but.... maybe you shouldn't when you both are so young). I felt like there came a point where Sawyer (didn't say this but I felt like that's what their relationship had come too) would have been like, "If you break up with me, I'll kill myself". And... that's intense... in a very negative way.
But I don't just have negative opinions on this book! I feel like I unloaded a lot of negative stuff, and I don't think that it was really that I didn't like this book- I just felt like the main relationship was unhealthy which... affected the whole book.
I did really like that the book was set in 2008- it was kind of different. Most books, unless they were written then, aren't set then. So it was a nice switch, still contemporary but still not happening right now.
Emery is a song writer, and I loved the songs she wrote! I wish this book had come with a CD so I could listen to all the songs that were written in the book. I think that would have been really cool.
Another thing that I really liked and I feel like you really don't see a lot in books, is the unhealth church they were a part of. Usually (in my experience) when a church is portrayed in fiction it's always portrayed positively.... but that isn't always the case in real life. A church is made up of sinners, so it might be nice to see a church every now and then that isn't super great. (There was a slight disappointment where Emery just decided to go to a different church and that was the end of that. It might have been nice to see her struggling to fit in, or struggle with that decision, or something. But it was still a positive in my opinion).
Okay, and the last thing: even though I felt like Sawyer and Emery's relationship was a big "maybe you should NOT" (in my opinion, and this is directed at the characters, I'm not saying that the author is bad!) I still really enjoyed the book. The songs, the 2008-ness, the friendship, and the small town-ness of it. My love of it combined with the things that concerned me made me decide on giving the book 3 out of 5 stars.
I am very interested in seeing what else Allyson has in store of Emery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When she is fourteen she meets the Sawyer- the guy, the crush- and I don't want to repeat myself, but like I said she has an unhealthy obsession with finding the one (who she decides is Sawyer).
Sawyer is the love interest, and when the book starts out he is a senior in high school. I don't think it is too weird for a fourteen year old girl to have a crush on someone a few years older than her, but (spoiler...) -he-starts to like -her- it freaked me out a little bit. It did end up they were only 2 and 1/2 years apart or so, but it still seemed really hard to be okay with.
So they start dating. But I really felt like they didn't have a healthy relationship, Sawyer wasn't in a good space mentally (which isn't to say you can't date someone then, but.... maybe you shouldn't when you both are so young). I felt like there came a point where Sawyer (didn't say this but I felt like that's what their relationship had come too) would have been like, "If you break up with me, I'll kill myself". And... that's intense... in a very negative way.
But I don't just have negative opinions on this book! I feel like I unloaded a lot of negative stuff, and I don't think that it was really that I didn't like this book- I just felt like the main relationship was unhealthy which... affected the whole book.
I did really like that the book was set in 2008- it was kind of different. Most books, unless they were written then, aren't set then. So it was a nice switch, still contemporary but still not happening right now.
Emery is a song writer, and I loved the songs she wrote! I wish this book had come with a CD so I could listen to all the songs that were written in the book. I think that would have been really cool.
Another thing that I really liked and I feel like you really don't see a lot in books, is the unhealth church they were a part of. Usually (in my experience) when a church is portrayed in fiction it's always portrayed positively.... but that isn't always the case in real life. A church is made up of sinners, so it might be nice to see a church every now and then that isn't super great. (There was a slight disappointment where Emery just decided to go to a different church and that was the end of that. It might have been nice to see her struggling to fit in, or struggle with that decision, or something. But it was still a positive in my opinion).
Okay, and the last thing: even though I felt like Sawyer and Emery's relationship was a big "maybe you should NOT" (in my opinion, and this is directed at the characters, I'm not saying that the author is bad!) I still really enjoyed the book. The songs, the 2008-ness, the friendship, and the small town-ness of it. My love of it combined with the things that concerned me made me decide on giving the book 3 out of 5 stars.
I am very interested in seeing what else Allyson has in store of Emery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 24, 2020
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for this review. ;)
This book is so well-written, and the characters are very in-depth! I love how Emery- the main character- is searching endlessly for her true love, but at the same time making careful decisions about who she lets into her heart!
This book is appropriate for ages 11-18, and is the perfect introduction for young readers to christian romance novels. It assists young readers in understanding God's plan for your future!
What I didn't like was that Emery was semi obsessed. She is only 14, and even thinking about looking for a future husband would be a little inappropriate.
Overall, this is a great book!
I give this book 4 and a half stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is so well-written, and the characters are very in-depth! I love how Emery- the main character- is searching endlessly for her true love, but at the same time making careful decisions about who she lets into her heart!
This book is appropriate for ages 11-18, and is the perfect introduction for young readers to christian romance novels. It assists young readers in understanding God's plan for your future!
What I didn't like was that Emery was semi obsessed. She is only 14, and even thinking about looking for a future husband would be a little inappropriate.
Overall, this is a great book!
I give this book 4 and a half stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 17, 2020
Kennedy's YA novel The Crush gives an honest look at what it means to support someone with depression and stay true to God's plan - and how to make music out of it all. It's a lesson-packed novel that would be excellent for a book club.
I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2020
4/5
(I received a copy of this book to review by the author, but all opinions are my own!)
What I thought was going to be your average fluffy, cute love story turned out to be a thought-provoking and emotional story (while still sweet) with a lot of depth.
I LOVED the writing style! I don't know how to exactly describe it, but it was really enjoyable to read.
Overall, I'm really impressed by Allyson Kennedy right now.
I'd mostly recommend this for younger teens. :)
~(May add more to review later!)~
(I received a copy of this book to review by the author, but all opinions are my own!)
What I thought was going to be your average fluffy, cute love story turned out to be a thought-provoking and emotional story (while still sweet) with a lot of depth.
I LOVED the writing style! I don't know how to exactly describe it, but it was really enjoyable to read.
Overall, I'm really impressed by Allyson Kennedy right now.
I'd mostly recommend this for younger teens. :)
~(May add more to review later!)~
August 4, 2023
Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. It read too young for me in the writing style, and the themes of this book put myself into deep sadness and stress just reading it. There were not that many breaks in the story from the events that occurred. The one thing I did like was that the faith content was there, and showed how even as Christians we struggle through really hard things and we need God to dig us out of it.
*trigger warnings for loss of loved ones, loss of a pet, and depression/suicidal thoughts.
*trigger warnings for loss of loved ones, loss of a pet, and depression/suicidal thoughts.
February 10, 2021
The Crush by Allyson Kennedy is about two people falling in love and believing in God.
Does Emery find her forever man like her grandma Adeline did?
Emery Brooks
We follow Emery Brooks from her last few days as an eighth-grader to going to high school. Emery isn't just a normal fourteen-year-old girl as she idolized her grandparents' love for each other. So much happens for Emery, from when we first start her book to the very end when she's sixteen. Emery is a good character, even if it's a bit weird that she wants to find her soulmate at the tender age of fourteen. She is a musically inclined character that loves to play the guitar. Emery is an old soul that lives in a young body, and it shows especially in the way that she dresses at times. She does have major character growth from being a wimpy kid initially to stand up to people who aren't all that nice, which is great to see.
What I like about Emery is that she knows when to pick her battles. Another thing that I like about her is that when she falls for someone, she falls hard.
Sawyer Alston
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All we know about Sawyer is what we know through Emery's eyes. Sawyer seems like a great kid, but he has lots of emotional baggage that he has to carry. He is going through so much and has the help of Emery and her family to help him through it since his own family doesn't care. Sawyer loves music just as much as Emery does and is a great songwriter. I wish that the author was nice to this poor soul.
Four Stars
The Crush by Allyson Kennedy is a great read that involves lots of talk about God and how high schoolers act, especially when they feel that they aren't being treated the way they want. Sawyer and Emery have a great love story in the making. I won't tell you about the end although it is why I only gave it four stars. I am still recommending it, though, as it was greatly written.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Crush by Allyson Kennedy.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Does Emery find her forever man like her grandma Adeline did?
Emery Brooks
We follow Emery Brooks from her last few days as an eighth-grader to going to high school. Emery isn't just a normal fourteen-year-old girl as she idolized her grandparents' love for each other. So much happens for Emery, from when we first start her book to the very end when she's sixteen. Emery is a good character, even if it's a bit weird that she wants to find her soulmate at the tender age of fourteen. She is a musically inclined character that loves to play the guitar. Emery is an old soul that lives in a young body, and it shows especially in the way that she dresses at times. She does have major character growth from being a wimpy kid initially to stand up to people who aren't all that nice, which is great to see.
What I like about Emery is that she knows when to pick her battles. Another thing that I like about her is that when she falls for someone, she falls hard.
Sawyer Alston
[image error]
All we know about Sawyer is what we know through Emery's eyes. Sawyer seems like a great kid, but he has lots of emotional baggage that he has to carry. He is going through so much and has the help of Emery and her family to help him through it since his own family doesn't care. Sawyer loves music just as much as Emery does and is a great songwriter. I wish that the author was nice to this poor soul.Four Stars
The Crush by Allyson Kennedy is a great read that involves lots of talk about God and how high schoolers act, especially when they feel that they aren't being treated the way they want. Sawyer and Emery have a great love story in the making. I won't tell you about the end although it is why I only gave it four stars. I am still recommending it, though, as it was greatly written.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Crush by Allyson Kennedy.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
September 9, 2020
Book Review:
I received this beautiful ARC called “The Crush: The Ballad of Emmery Brooks, Volume1” from its author Allyson Kennedy @authorallysonkennedy for my honest opinion of her newest novel which will be coming out Saturday October 24th, 2020❤️
The story revolves around a young sassy southern girl named Emmery Brooks whom we initially meet when she is 14 years old and watch her evolve over a 3 year period of time. She is brought up in a family with a strong faith in the church. She has a wonderful support system in her mom and dad as well as a younger sister Auden and older brother Rider. Her Grandma Adeline and Grandpa Amos are her greatest role models. They had a love that spanned over 50 years that was beautiful in the eyes of Emmery beyond words. Her Grandma always reminded her that god would lead her to her true love and until then she need never settle for less.
We watch as Emmery navigates her life through school, church, music, family, friends, and love. Emmery spends free time writing music and playing her guitar. This helps her to express her love of god, family and friends. As a teenager Emmery is very concerned that she has never had a “crush” and her biggest dream stems from the magical love that her grandparents had. She is afraid she will never have that kind of love? Or will things change when a young man named Sawyer Alston moves into the town of Grahamwood, NC.
Ms. Kennedy also tackles the issue of mental health and its profound effects in the lives of teens. Mental illness not only effects the person but all those around them. The author is able to superbly convey its impact to us the reader.
Verdict:
Ms. Kennedy has written a book that will touch you in so many ways and leave you wanting more. This can be looked at as a book for YA but in all honesty I loved reading this book.She touches on issues that we can all relate too in one way or another. For me more than that I could not put this book down and that is always a good sign. I give this book 5/5 stars.
I received this beautiful ARC called “The Crush: The Ballad of Emmery Brooks, Volume1” from its author Allyson Kennedy @authorallysonkennedy for my honest opinion of her newest novel which will be coming out Saturday October 24th, 2020❤️
The story revolves around a young sassy southern girl named Emmery Brooks whom we initially meet when she is 14 years old and watch her evolve over a 3 year period of time. She is brought up in a family with a strong faith in the church. She has a wonderful support system in her mom and dad as well as a younger sister Auden and older brother Rider. Her Grandma Adeline and Grandpa Amos are her greatest role models. They had a love that spanned over 50 years that was beautiful in the eyes of Emmery beyond words. Her Grandma always reminded her that god would lead her to her true love and until then she need never settle for less.
We watch as Emmery navigates her life through school, church, music, family, friends, and love. Emmery spends free time writing music and playing her guitar. This helps her to express her love of god, family and friends. As a teenager Emmery is very concerned that she has never had a “crush” and her biggest dream stems from the magical love that her grandparents had. She is afraid she will never have that kind of love? Or will things change when a young man named Sawyer Alston moves into the town of Grahamwood, NC.
Ms. Kennedy also tackles the issue of mental health and its profound effects in the lives of teens. Mental illness not only effects the person but all those around them. The author is able to superbly convey its impact to us the reader.
Verdict:
Ms. Kennedy has written a book that will touch you in so many ways and leave you wanting more. This can be looked at as a book for YA but in all honesty I loved reading this book.She touches on issues that we can all relate too in one way or another. For me more than that I could not put this book down and that is always a good sign. I give this book 5/5 stars.
September 3, 2020
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I saw the description for this book, and knew I had to read it. I read it in one big rush, and now I have a lot of thoughts. I'm also a little nitpicky sometimes, so some of these things aren't as big of a deal as I make them sound. And, final note: spoilers are abound in this review. Don't read further if you don't want to get spoiled. I hide the major ones, but there's many minor ones.
CONS OF THE CRUSH
The beginning was quite a bit of information to take in at once.
Over time, I began to dislike Emery and Sawyer's dynamic. It went from being her being stubborn and real to more of a kind of wishy-washy character for a couple of scenes closer to the end.
There were a couple typos, but they mostly were just an extra letter or not capitalizing at the start of a sentence, and were so few that they didn’t really matter to me.
I found Brynn and Auden rather annoying at times - which I guess was kind of the point, but was still rather annoying for me as the reader.
PROS OF THE CRUSH
This story had a very distinct voice to it that I enjoyed. (like all the "ya'll"s)
There was some great humour in it.
I enjoyed the music writing and the parts where it showed the lyrics to songs. Those were pretty cool.
I got used to the characters and got pulled into their world pretty quickly, so well done with that.
I enjoyed the dynamic Emery and Sawyer had right off the bat originally.
I also liked how quickly the characters' personalities were established.
Can I just say that
Something I’ve discovered recently is that I love books that have dates at the start of chapters, and this book had that.
For quite a while, I enjoyed the way Emery and Sawyer interacted; it was nice to see how
This book has a good message about waiting for the right person God has for you.
I loved her obsession with coffee when she couldn't have any.
I also loved how much she likes Austen books.
The diary entries her grandma had were awesome.
Her nickname of Granny really grew on me.
I don’t know why, but I liked how she was always having Dr. Pepper. I usually enjoy coffee or tea, but I think that I’d rather drink one of those while reading this book.
Page 170. ‘Nuf said.
They mentioned the Peanuts Great Pumpkin. That’s a total plus in my book.
The thing I think I liked the most about this book is that the story was pretty well balanced. It talked about God without being preachy, but managed to still send a good message about Him.
OVERALL
I had lots of tiny things I kept seeing that I loved about the book - hence the long list of pros. But the cons I have feel pretty weighty.
Two quick things I need to mention:
1) Content in this book:
-Mentions characters leaving each other in marriage and cheating
-Attempted suicide
-Some kids getting drunk
2) Dating:
This book was pretty good overall when it came to dating.
Do I still think 16 is too young to be dating?
Yes.
Am I glad they decided to try to be friends first and grow in their relationship with God?
Yes.
Should they have ever been left alone and unsupervised?
No.
But overall, as far as YA books go, this one was pretty good in that area.
I think I'm still just trying to take the whole thing in for now. The ending threw me for a loop and left me utterly confused, but the majority of the book was really well done.
I saw the description for this book, and knew I had to read it. I read it in one big rush, and now I have a lot of thoughts. I'm also a little nitpicky sometimes, so some of these things aren't as big of a deal as I make them sound. And, final note: spoilers are abound in this review. Don't read further if you don't want to get spoiled. I hide the major ones, but there's many minor ones.
CONS OF THE CRUSH
The beginning was quite a bit of information to take in at once.
Over time, I began to dislike Emery and Sawyer's dynamic. It went from being her being stubborn and real to more of a kind of wishy-washy character for a couple of scenes closer to the end.
There were a couple typos, but they mostly were just an extra letter or not capitalizing at the start of a sentence, and were so few that they didn’t really matter to me.
I found Brynn and Auden rather annoying at times - which I guess was kind of the point, but was still rather annoying for me as the reader.
PROS OF THE CRUSH
This story had a very distinct voice to it that I enjoyed. (like all the "ya'll"s)
There was some great humour in it.
I enjoyed the music writing and the parts where it showed the lyrics to songs. Those were pretty cool.
I got used to the characters and got pulled into their world pretty quickly, so well done with that.
I enjoyed the dynamic Emery and Sawyer had right off the bat originally.
I also liked how quickly the characters' personalities were established.
Can I just say that
Something I’ve discovered recently is that I love books that have dates at the start of chapters, and this book had that.
For quite a while, I enjoyed the way Emery and Sawyer interacted; it was nice to see how
This book has a good message about waiting for the right person God has for you.
I loved her obsession with coffee when she couldn't have any.
I also loved how much she likes Austen books.
The diary entries her grandma had were awesome.
Her nickname of Granny really grew on me.
I don’t know why, but I liked how she was always having Dr. Pepper. I usually enjoy coffee or tea, but I think that I’d rather drink one of those while reading this book.
Page 170. ‘Nuf said.
They mentioned the Peanuts Great Pumpkin. That’s a total plus in my book.
The thing I think I liked the most about this book is that the story was pretty well balanced. It talked about God without being preachy, but managed to still send a good message about Him.
OVERALL
I had lots of tiny things I kept seeing that I loved about the book - hence the long list of pros. But the cons I have feel pretty weighty.
Two quick things I need to mention:
1) Content in this book:
-Mentions characters leaving each other in marriage and cheating
-Attempted suicide
-Some kids getting drunk
2) Dating:
This book was pretty good overall when it came to dating.
Do I still think 16 is too young to be dating?
Yes.
Am I glad they decided to try to be friends first and grow in their relationship with God?
Yes.
Should they have ever been left alone and unsupervised?
No.
But overall, as far as YA books go, this one was pretty good in that area.
I think I'm still just trying to take the whole thing in for now. The ending threw me for a loop and left me utterly confused, but the majority of the book was really well done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2020
The Crush by Allyson Kennedy is a sweet, young-adult story with an old-soul vibe. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters in this story, and I especially loved Emery and Ryanne. They are all so genuine--even the characters you aren’t meant to like. And while the story may have moved a little slow at times, it was full of real-life, heartfelt issues that are so, so relevant today. You will quickly get swept away in Emery’s quest to guard her heart for the love God has for her. You will fall in love with her grandparent’s love story, and you will find yourself settling into being an old-soul like Emery herself.
I also loved the large role faith played in this book. I especially liked the lesson of strengthening your relationship with God to, in turn, strengthen other parts of your life. So many Christian fiction books today have little to no discussion about faith, but The Crush keeps God in the picture throughout the story.
Overall, I enjoyed The Crush’s story, and I feel like anyone who reads YA Christian would enjoy this simple, yet satisfying Southern tale. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and think of years gone by as you follow Emery and her friends through the precious years of young love and life.
I was given a copy of this book by the author with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.
I also loved the large role faith played in this book. I especially liked the lesson of strengthening your relationship with God to, in turn, strengthen other parts of your life. So many Christian fiction books today have little to no discussion about faith, but The Crush keeps God in the picture throughout the story.
Overall, I enjoyed The Crush’s story, and I feel like anyone who reads YA Christian would enjoy this simple, yet satisfying Southern tale. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and think of years gone by as you follow Emery and her friends through the precious years of young love and life.
I was given a copy of this book by the author with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.
December 7, 2020
A sweet book with a southern flair. I must say. I'm a huge fan of books that transport me to another realm. And this did just that. It was so innocent and sweet that I smiled like a goofball at certain scenes. But ugh completely adorable.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 2, 2020
4.5/5 stars (rounded up to 5)
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Emery has a goal in life: she wants to find a love like the love between her grandparents. However, the people in Emery’s small town don’t care for her family too much. It doesn’t help that Emery has an old soul, discouraging most people from being friends with her. Suddenly, the Alston family moves into town. Emery meets Sawyer, a boy who no longer believes in love after the disastrous marriage of his parents. With his disbelief in love, he couldn’t be more opposite from Emery and her dreams of a beautiful romance. Despite her desire to stay away from him, she can’t help but want to get to know him. Emery soon has a crush, but she’s not sure how she could ever have a love like her grandparents with a boy who has given up on love.
This book was enchanting and heart-breaking and beautiful all at once. I fell in love with the setting and the characters pretty quickly. This book is definitely an emotional roller coaster though, rapidly going through highs and lows. The author handles some dark, difficult concepts very well and balances them out with the love and forgiveness of God. I also really liked how we get to see Emery’s romance while getting glimpses of the romance between Adeline and Amos. Also, be prepared to cry. I was expecting fluff, but like I said, there’s a lot of dark and difficult things in this book that will most likely break your heart. The ending was quite unexpected and that’s all I can say without spoiling things. God’s love is interwoven and demonstrated throughout the story as well, which I greatly appreciated. This book is definitely worth a read for anyone looking for an old-fashioned, beautifully-told love story.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Emery has a goal in life: she wants to find a love like the love between her grandparents. However, the people in Emery’s small town don’t care for her family too much. It doesn’t help that Emery has an old soul, discouraging most people from being friends with her. Suddenly, the Alston family moves into town. Emery meets Sawyer, a boy who no longer believes in love after the disastrous marriage of his parents. With his disbelief in love, he couldn’t be more opposite from Emery and her dreams of a beautiful romance. Despite her desire to stay away from him, she can’t help but want to get to know him. Emery soon has a crush, but she’s not sure how she could ever have a love like her grandparents with a boy who has given up on love.
This book was enchanting and heart-breaking and beautiful all at once. I fell in love with the setting and the characters pretty quickly. This book is definitely an emotional roller coaster though, rapidly going through highs and lows. The author handles some dark, difficult concepts very well and balances them out with the love and forgiveness of God. I also really liked how we get to see Emery’s romance while getting glimpses of the romance between Adeline and Amos. Also, be prepared to cry. I was expecting fluff, but like I said, there’s a lot of dark and difficult things in this book that will most likely break your heart. The ending was quite unexpected and that’s all I can say without spoiling things. God’s love is interwoven and demonstrated throughout the story as well, which I greatly appreciated. This book is definitely worth a read for anyone looking for an old-fashioned, beautifully-told love story.
May 29, 2025
Content Rating: 4/5
Content notes: This book deals with a lot of hard topics- suicide, anxiety, depression, toxic churches and family members, death, grief, general bullying- but it deals with them in a beautiful way that is redeeming, focuses on the light of Jesus, and still honors God.
Theme Rating: 5/5
Theme notes: Note all the hard topics listed above- but this book deals with them in a very God-honoring way, focusing on the redemption He offers and His light and healing.<3
Age Rating: 14+
I read pretty much the whole book today. And now I’m sad. This book was amazing and beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. I adored Emery and totally related to her especially on her clothing choices😆 and being just like my grandmother(well a mix of both of them haha) Sawyer I absolutely adored and I felt so bad for all he went through. The themes of the value of human life and God caring were so beautiful. The whole book was and I am so sad about certain things. I almost cried multiple times.
This whole book was absolutely amazing and raw and beautiful and I can certainly highly recommend it!
Content notes: This book deals with a lot of hard topics- suicide, anxiety, depression, toxic churches and family members, death, grief, general bullying- but it deals with them in a beautiful way that is redeeming, focuses on the light of Jesus, and still honors God.
Theme Rating: 5/5
Theme notes: Note all the hard topics listed above- but this book deals with them in a very God-honoring way, focusing on the redemption He offers and His light and healing.<3
Age Rating: 14+
I read pretty much the whole book today. And now I’m sad. This book was amazing and beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. I adored Emery and totally related to her especially on her clothing choices😆 and being just like my grandmother(well a mix of both of them haha) Sawyer I absolutely adored and I felt so bad for all he went through. The themes of the value of human life and God caring were so beautiful. The whole book was and I am so sad about certain things. I almost cried multiple times.
This whole book was absolutely amazing and raw and beautiful and I can certainly highly recommend it!
August 29, 2020
I finished an e-ARC of The Crush by Allyson Kennedy. Thank you for letting me read an e-Arc in exchange for my honest review. It was a rollercaoster of emotions. It was so deep and heart breaking.
The journey of the main character, Emery, in search of love was so painful. She deserved so much better than what she got. I Could feel how beautiful her heart was. Always there for her family, suffering alone in order to spare others from the pain. Well, not everyone can do that. My heart broke for her. She was such a gem person. It was so heart-warming how she admired her grandparents and their love. She listened to her grandma's advice and kept it to her heart till the end. I so so want a friend like Emery. She had such a pure heart that she even forgave those who wounded her in the past and kept hurting her till the end. I admired her the way she managed her pain all alone on her own. I want to be like her.
Auden and Rider were great characters and they really helped Emery in many ways. My heart ached for the pain Rider went through. As for Auden, she made me worried till the end. I was always afraid something bad will happen to her. At some occasions, I was annoyed with her because of the way she behaved with her sister. But since she was just a child, I still liked her.
Ryanne was such a supportive friend and I am glad Emery had someone whom she could trust.
Bryn was a bit irritating but the character that I like the least was her brother, Sawyer. Don't get me wrong here. I totally understand what he was going through and I don't blame him for anything but he certainly had no right to treat Emery the way he did. It was not her fault that life was hard on him. She tried so hard for him. I think she deserved better love than he gave her. Like till the end, he talked about his ex, his first love. That was so unfair. He was really insensitive towards her. He couldn't even let go of his ex.This fact washed away all the good things he did for her.
The story was so close to reality. I was expecting a fairytale but got hit with bitter realities. The good thing about this book was how the author has portrayed the relationship between God and His people. It had a great message that a person should rely on God alone. I learned a lot from this book. It will stay in my heart for a long time. I loved this book although the ending was so unexpected that I wanted to scream and shout. It was so unfair. My heart is still crying for Emery.
The journey of the main character, Emery, in search of love was so painful. She deserved so much better than what she got. I Could feel how beautiful her heart was. Always there for her family, suffering alone in order to spare others from the pain. Well, not everyone can do that. My heart broke for her. She was such a gem person. It was so heart-warming how she admired her grandparents and their love. She listened to her grandma's advice and kept it to her heart till the end. I so so want a friend like Emery. She had such a pure heart that she even forgave those who wounded her in the past and kept hurting her till the end. I admired her the way she managed her pain all alone on her own. I want to be like her.
Auden and Rider were great characters and they really helped Emery in many ways. My heart ached for the pain Rider went through. As for Auden, she made me worried till the end. I was always afraid something bad will happen to her. At some occasions, I was annoyed with her because of the way she behaved with her sister. But since she was just a child, I still liked her.
Ryanne was such a supportive friend and I am glad Emery had someone whom she could trust.
Bryn was a bit irritating but the character that I like the least was her brother, Sawyer. Don't get me wrong here. I totally understand what he was going through and I don't blame him for anything but he certainly had no right to treat Emery the way he did. It was not her fault that life was hard on him. She tried so hard for him. I think she deserved better love than he gave her. Like till the end, he talked about his ex, his first love. That was so unfair. He was really insensitive towards her. He couldn't even let go of his ex.This fact washed away all the good things he did for her.
The story was so close to reality. I was expecting a fairytale but got hit with bitter realities. The good thing about this book was how the author has portrayed the relationship between God and His people. It had a great message that a person should rely on God alone. I learned a lot from this book. It will stay in my heart for a long time. I loved this book although the ending was so unexpected that I wanted to scream and shout. It was so unfair. My heart is still crying for Emery.
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