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All the Right Reasons
The Bachelor meets Gilmore Girls in this laugh-out-loud young adult romance about a girl who joins her mother on a reality dating show for single parents—only to fall for a contestant’s son.
Cara Hawn’s life fell apart after her father cheated on her mother and got remarried to a woman Cara can’t stand. When Cara accidentally posts a rant about her father online, it goes viral—and catches the attention of the TV producers behind a new reality dating show for single parent families.
The next thing Cara and her mother know, they’ve been cast as leads on the show and are whisked away to sunny Key West where they’re asked to narrow a field of suitors and their kids down to one winning pair. All of this is outside of Cara’s comfort zone, from the meddling producers to the camera-hungry contestants, especially as Cara and her mother begin to clash on which suitors are worth keeping around. And then comes Connor.
As the son of a contestant, Connor is decidedly off-limits. Except that he doesn’t fit in with the cutthroat atmosphere in all the same ways as Cara, and she can’t get him out of her head. Now Cara must juggle her growing feelings while dodging the cameras and helping her mom pick a bachelor they both love, or else risk fracturing their family even more for the sake of ratings. Maybe there’s a reason most people don’t date on TV.
Cara Hawn’s life fell apart after her father cheated on her mother and got remarried to a woman Cara can’t stand. When Cara accidentally posts a rant about her father online, it goes viral—and catches the attention of the TV producers behind a new reality dating show for single parent families.
The next thing Cara and her mother know, they’ve been cast as leads on the show and are whisked away to sunny Key West where they’re asked to narrow a field of suitors and their kids down to one winning pair. All of this is outside of Cara’s comfort zone, from the meddling producers to the camera-hungry contestants, especially as Cara and her mother begin to clash on which suitors are worth keeping around. And then comes Connor.
As the son of a contestant, Connor is decidedly off-limits. Except that he doesn’t fit in with the cutthroat atmosphere in all the same ways as Cara, and she can’t get him out of her head. Now Cara must juggle her growing feelings while dodging the cameras and helping her mom pick a bachelor they both love, or else risk fracturing their family even more for the sake of ratings. Maybe there’s a reason most people don’t date on TV.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 2022
40 people are currently reading
5740 people want to read
About the author
Bethany Mangle
4 books143 followersBethany Mangle is the author of the young adult contemporary novels PREPPED and ALL THE RIGHT REASONS. Her third book, CONDITIONS OF A HEART, is forthcoming in February 2024. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spoiling her dog, playing video games, and spending time with her unbearably nerdy husband. She moves too much to put a location in her bio ever again.
Bethany is represented by Jennifer Wills and Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency.
Note:
I don't add readers as friends on Goodreads because of Amazon's policy on reviews. Please follow me instead. I'm also active on Twitter and Instagram @bethanymangle. Thanks for your understanding!
Bethany is represented by Jennifer Wills and Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency.
Note:
I don't add readers as friends on Goodreads because of Amazon's policy on reviews. Please follow me instead. I'm also active on Twitter and Instagram @bethanymangle. Thanks for your understanding!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
April 20, 2022
The first half was really boring but I actually got pretty invested afterwards + the mother-daughter relationship was really sweet!!
Ever since the betrayal of her father, Cara and her mother have been having to deal with so many problems and it's all because of him. On a rant, Cara accidently publishes it online which catches the attention of TV producers who want Cara and her mom as the stars on their show—a reality tv dating show for single parents with children. And so it begins✨
All the Right Reasons was definitely a very unique contemporary from all that I've read so far. Even though it was really boring a lot of the time, I love how this book wasn't about Cara's romance, but rather her mother's. Like has that ever happened before in a YA contemporary??
From the cover and synopsis you'd think it'd be like just any other book being all abt the MC but it wasn't at all. It was 95% focused on her mom and Cara being there for her, letting her mother know that she deserves to be loved, especially after what the bastard of a father did. I just found that so beautiful seeing the relationship between the two grow so much <3
Also of course the rep was amazing. We love seeing disability rep and it not being a character's whole personality. Connor was a sweet guy and Cara
Thank you Harper Collins Canada for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
"I just want something real."
"Well, Julia, it certainly sounds like you're hear for all the right reasons."
Ever since the betrayal of her father, Cara and her mother have been having to deal with so many problems and it's all because of him. On a rant, Cara accidently publishes it online which catches the attention of TV producers who want Cara and her mom as the stars on their show—a reality tv dating show for single parents with children. And so it begins✨
All the Right Reasons was definitely a very unique contemporary from all that I've read so far. Even though it was really boring a lot of the time, I love how this book wasn't about Cara's romance, but rather her mother's. Like has that ever happened before in a YA contemporary??
From the cover and synopsis you'd think it'd be like just any other book being all abt the MC but it wasn't at all. It was 95% focused on her mom and Cara being there for her, letting her mother know that she deserves to be loved, especially after what the bastard of a father did. I just found that so beautiful seeing the relationship between the two grow so much <3
Also of course the rep was amazing. We love seeing disability rep and it not being a character's whole personality. Connor was a sweet guy and Cara
Thank you Harper Collins Canada for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
February 23, 2022
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This absolutely scratched at that hilarious and over-the-top dramatic itch like only a hilariously dramatic reality TV show can do—but obviously like, in book form. All the Right Reasons also absolutely lives up to its The Bachelor comp. Those dramatics kept me turning the pages, but it was the heart of the characters that kept me truly invested (particularly the relationship between Cara and her mother). Bethany Mangle is capable of throwing down emotional gut punches on one page and light-hearted humour that will leave you sappily grinning by the next.
I felt the pacing of Cara and Connor's romance was a liiiiittle too rushed, but I also acknowledge that given their in-text environment there literally was not time for anything but a whirlwind romance. It was cheesy, but in a cute way that still managed to feel genuine. I was also extremely invested in Julia's romantic arc (arguably even more so than Cara's), and I think a large part of that was absolutely that I guessed where things were heading—and was very excited when my guess turned out to be correct!
— — —
i am but a simple soul: i hear there’s disability rep, and i come RUNNING.
"But now that the truth is finally out there, I realize that maybe letting everything fall to pieces is the only way to build something new."
This absolutely scratched at that hilarious and over-the-top dramatic itch like only a hilariously dramatic reality TV show can do—but obviously like, in book form. All the Right Reasons also absolutely lives up to its The Bachelor comp. Those dramatics kept me turning the pages, but it was the heart of the characters that kept me truly invested (particularly the relationship between Cara and her mother). Bethany Mangle is capable of throwing down emotional gut punches on one page and light-hearted humour that will leave you sappily grinning by the next.
I felt the pacing of Cara and Connor's romance was a liiiiittle too rushed, but I also acknowledge that given their in-text environment there literally was not time for anything but a whirlwind romance. It was cheesy, but in a cute way that still managed to feel genuine. I was also extremely invested in Julia's romantic arc (arguably even more so than Cara's), and I think a large part of that was absolutely that I guessed where things were heading—and was very excited when my guess turned out to be correct!
— — —
i am but a simple soul: i hear there’s disability rep, and i come RUNNING.
June 17, 2022
All the Right Reasons is a light read with a fun to follow plot. Though the beginning was somewhat boring, it really picked up later and I was pretty invested in the contest. From the cover you would think this had cute romance but most of the book focuses on the relationship between Cara and her mother. And maybe, on her mother's romance, which is funny. But that's not to say Cara didn't have any romance at all, she and Connor were very cute and of course, the disability rep is well portrayed! Overall a good contemporary about finding and choosing one's happiness.
thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
April 8, 2023
5 stars
Really this was a carbon copy of the last two books in the Selection series but I'm a sucker for those so 5 stars, here we go.... this was so good and so funny!
Really this was a carbon copy of the last two books in the Selection series but I'm a sucker for those so 5 stars, here we go.... this was so good and so funny!
February 2, 2022
read on my blog
rep: biracial (Korean, white) protagonist, love interest with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, adopted Korean-American side character; (adopted Korean-American author)
cw: toxic parent relationship
**I received an ARC from the publisher (thanks, Simon Teen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
As soon as I read the summary of this book, I immediately added it to my TBR list. The premise sounded so chaotic, especially the dating show aspect of it. All the Right Reasons is a fun story that follows a mother-daughter duo on a reality show to find love.
Cara‘s life has been in upheaval ever since her father left her mother for another woman; since then, they fight constantly, still having to interact because of their co-owned gym. When Cara accidentally posts a private rant about her father, she attracts the attention of a TV producer who is casting for a reality show about single parents finding love. Cara and her mom Julia are cast as the main contestants and fly to Florida in a whirlwind. There, they discover that as messy as reality shows seem on TV, they’re even messier to film.
This book was a lot of fun! Cara has a very distinct voice, and I liked following her point-of-view throughout the story. The show itself was pretty interesting; single dads compete for Cara’s mom’s hand, having brought their children along. Cara and her mom go on the show for the money to be able to move away from her dad, so I understood their determination to have the show go well. We also get to see a lot of the behind-the-scenes of a reality show, which fleshed out the surrealist nature of their experience.
A lot of this book focuses on Cara’s relationship with her mom. They’re very close, especially after the divorce, where her dad has alienated her mother from their mutual group of friends and making her out to be an unfit mother. However, while they initially begin the show on good terms, their relationship becomes strained after Cara tries and fails to convince her mom not to pursue one of the contestants who is controlling and whose daughter is petty and mean. Julia likes him and doesn’t see Cara’s argument, leading them to fight constantly. However, obviously Cara still wants what is best for her mom and she embarks on a mission to prove their bad intentions.
When one of the sons of the contestants, Connor, walks in, Cara immediately finds him cute; of course, since this is a reality show, one of the producers picks up on this attraction immediately and he begins to push a narrative of her liking him. She knows that they need to make good television for the show to be success, so she leans into this narrative but genuinely develops a crush on him. Connor’s one of the few people Cara can trust on the show, and I thought their relationship was cute!
I will say that the romance was lighter than I anticipated and wasn’t as developed as I thought it could have been. However, this didn’t occur for no reason; instead, the book focuses far more on Cara and her mother, their relationship and their time on the show. So, the lack of focus on the romance wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Also, I just wanted to mention that Julia is a Korean adoptee, and Cara briefly mentions how she and her mother experience certain microaggressions. This is not central to the story, which I liked because the author clearly wanted to normalize this experience, one that we don’t see often in YA.
All the Right Reasons was a fun, cute story that navigates the complexities of a reality show and a surprising twist. I flew through this book and was invested in the protagonist and her mother. If you’re looking for a family-oriented rom-com with a fun premise, you definitely pick up All the Right Reasons!
original review:
this was a lot of fun and really cute! although I will say the romance was a bit lighter and less developed than I expected because the book focuses slightly more on the show and the protagonist's relationship with her mom
December 13, 2022
i enjoyed this a lot but cara kind of felt like a side character in her own story and i can’t help but wonder why this was not an adult novel with cara’s mom as the lead… i think i would’ve ADORED that!
otherwise, this was a lot of fun but i wanted a little more from it!
otherwise, this was a lot of fun but i wanted a little more from it!
February 16, 2022
Thank you for the ARC. This ARC was provided by the publisher. This affects my review in no way.
Love is always found in the most unexpected places.
The Bachelor meets Gilmore Girls in this laugh-out-loud young adult romance about a girl who joins her mother on a reality dating show for single parents—only to fall for a contestant’s son. Cara Hawn’s life fell apart after her father cheated on her mother and got remarried to a woman Cara can’t stand. When Cara accidentally posts a rant about her father online, it goes viral—and catches the attention of the TV producers behind a new reality dating show for single parent families. The next thing Cara and her mother know, they’ve been cast as leads on the show and are whisked away to sunny Key West where they’re asked to narrow a field of suitors and their kids down to one winning pair. All of this is outside of Cara’s comfort zone, from the meddling producers to the camera-hungry contestants, especially as Cara and her mother begin to clash on which suitors are worth keeping around. And then comes Connor. As the son of a contestant, Connor is decidedly off-limits. Except that he doesn’t fit in with the cutthroat atmosphere in all the same ways as Cara, and she can’t get him out of her head. Now Cara must juggle her growing feelings while dodging the cameras and helping her mom pick a bachelor they both love, or else risk fracturing their family even more for the sake of ratings. Maybe there’s a reason most people don’t date on TV.
I didn’t go into this knowing much if I’m being honest. This really did give off bachelorette and Gilmore girl vibes.
DISABILITY REP ALERT. I really loved how the disability rep was handled. The person with the disability rep wasn’t treated any differently but it did show the difficulties of having a disability. I really thought the author did a good job.
The mother daughter relationship. I loved how it should that a mother and a daughter can have a good relationship with still fighting at times. I really enjoyed how their relationship was shown as healthy and strong and loving.
Cara. The main character. I didn’t mind her, but at the same there was nothing about her that really stood out. I felt like she wasn’t really developed a lot. I did enjoy the inner nerd lol.
I loved the whole show aspect of it. I really liked how it was about finding a person and their child to make a new family. That spin was really sweet.
Overall I think it was a really sweet book. I wish it was a little longer though so we could’ve dived into all the characters a bit more.
Wanting a vacation to somewhere warm,
Tatiana
Love is always found in the most unexpected places.
The Bachelor meets Gilmore Girls in this laugh-out-loud young adult romance about a girl who joins her mother on a reality dating show for single parents—only to fall for a contestant’s son. Cara Hawn’s life fell apart after her father cheated on her mother and got remarried to a woman Cara can’t stand. When Cara accidentally posts a rant about her father online, it goes viral—and catches the attention of the TV producers behind a new reality dating show for single parent families. The next thing Cara and her mother know, they’ve been cast as leads on the show and are whisked away to sunny Key West where they’re asked to narrow a field of suitors and their kids down to one winning pair. All of this is outside of Cara’s comfort zone, from the meddling producers to the camera-hungry contestants, especially as Cara and her mother begin to clash on which suitors are worth keeping around. And then comes Connor. As the son of a contestant, Connor is decidedly off-limits. Except that he doesn’t fit in with the cutthroat atmosphere in all the same ways as Cara, and she can’t get him out of her head. Now Cara must juggle her growing feelings while dodging the cameras and helping her mom pick a bachelor they both love, or else risk fracturing their family even more for the sake of ratings. Maybe there’s a reason most people don’t date on TV.
I didn’t go into this knowing much if I’m being honest. This really did give off bachelorette and Gilmore girl vibes.
DISABILITY REP ALERT. I really loved how the disability rep was handled. The person with the disability rep wasn’t treated any differently but it did show the difficulties of having a disability. I really thought the author did a good job.
The mother daughter relationship. I loved how it should that a mother and a daughter can have a good relationship with still fighting at times. I really enjoyed how their relationship was shown as healthy and strong and loving.
Cara. The main character. I didn’t mind her, but at the same there was nothing about her that really stood out. I felt like she wasn’t really developed a lot. I did enjoy the inner nerd lol.
I loved the whole show aspect of it. I really liked how it was about finding a person and their child to make a new family. That spin was really sweet.
Overall I think it was a really sweet book. I wish it was a little longer though so we could’ve dived into all the characters a bit more.
Wanting a vacation to somewhere warm,
Tatiana
June 16, 2024
this was cute, but, as many people have said before, the cover is a bit misleading, as the main focus of this book is the relationship between cara and julie (mom) and the romance (in all its versions) is a bit of the b-plot.
i personally liked it a lot, as it reminded me a bit of lorelai and rory, and their dynamic was v v fun to read
i personally liked it a lot, as it reminded me a bit of lorelai and rory, and their dynamic was v v fun to read
February 17, 2022
All The Right Reasons is highly entertaining! For those of us who love reality television, this is perfect. Definate Bachelorette vibes which I loved! And the focus on mother/daughter relationships was spot on.
Huge thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for my gifted copy!!
Huge thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for my gifted copy!!
February 24, 2023
To be completely honest I’d give this book 3.5 stars. I was really interested in this book because I read the the love interest has Ehlers Danlos syndrome- which I have. So I was really excited to see a character with it. Other than that I wouldn’t have ever picked up this book. It was mildly entertaining but kind of dull. Overall, glad I read it but wouldn’t read it again.
Read
February 22, 2022An enjoyable and, at times, funny story about biracial Cara and her mother, who go on a reality TV show to choose a new beau for her mother, post-divorce. The secondary characters here are pretty underdeveloped but honestly, this is one you go into for a light read with some thoughts on reality television, on family, and for a fun romance (the romantic interest has Ehlor Danlos, which will mean a lot to many readers).
May 14, 2022
Very light read, while I liked premise I wished it had more romance.
June 4, 2023
How I read this: Free ebook copy received from the author on Netgalley
Omg, what a great book! Haven't read anything this good in a while. Been stuck in a complete rut where I start a book, and it's just not interesting enough to keep reading, although it should be. But not this one! Read it up fast. It's both serious and playful enough to be a great story, and it keeps the drama going, cause it's about a reality show, kind of.
I've read Bethany Mangle's stuff before and I can't wait to read some more if it comes out, cause it's all been great. I've also read Prepped and LOVED it.
I thank the author and publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
Omg, what a great book! Haven't read anything this good in a while. Been stuck in a complete rut where I start a book, and it's just not interesting enough to keep reading, although it should be. But not this one! Read it up fast. It's both serious and playful enough to be a great story, and it keeps the drama going, cause it's about a reality show, kind of.
I've read Bethany Mangle's stuff before and I can't wait to read some more if it comes out, cause it's all been great. I've also read Prepped and LOVED it.
I thank the author and publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
February 4, 2022
What a fun read! I loved the concept, loved the focus on the mother/daughter relationship and found all of the drama so very entertaining. Definitely recommending this.
Full review coming soon on the blog!
Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an e-ARC of this book. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
Full review coming soon on the blog!
Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an e-ARC of this book. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
February 19, 2022
“”Mom.” I latch on to her with both arms, squeezing my hands against her shoulder blades, smelling the sweet florals of her perfume. “You’re not for sale.” The warmth of her tears spreads across my skin. And I hold her. I hold on for us.”
All the Right Reasons was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022 for so many reasons. Between the disability representation, the comparison towards both The Bachelor and Gilmore Girls, I had such excruciatingly high hopes. I’m pleased to say that it didn’t disappoint.
My hopes of walking into reading this book and returning with a new favourite were far from dashed, instead my hopes became a reality.
I absolutely adored Bethany Mangle’s style of writing; the attention to detail, how she somehow had the ability to turn the most mundane of conversations and make them gripping and intriguing. The same can be said of the way that she can take complicated questions and answers; and make them more palatable, easier to digest for the reader.
Not only was Mangle’s writing style wonderful, the way the world in which her characters reside was so perfectly crafted, and the characters themselves were such raw, honest depictions of human beings as they waltz through all aspects of life - the good, the bad, the impossible to get through, the sadness, the joy - that they almost felt real.
I felt as though I wasn’t reading a book, or even getting lost in a TV show or movie where less imagination is required, it felt as though I was the characters. Like I was going through what they were going through firsthand. It had begun to feel like it was my own personal lived through experiences, and not that of characters that don’t exist outside of the universe that the book is in.
Outside of the writing and the characterisation, I also couldn’t get enough of the utterly beautiful relationships that existed too.
Cara and her mum’s relationship was nothing short of magical to read. I, myself, have a really close relationship with my mum and so seeing their love for one another be so deep, unconditional and profound, felt like reading about us.
The love that they have for one another was palpable with every single scene that they were in together. It was so abundantly clear that they had this rock-hard, mountain-high, completely unbreakable bond that would, could and has withstand any (futile) attempts to break them apart.
I quite enjoyed the relationship (or lack thereof) that ensued between Cara and both of her parents. As a child of separated parents, it rang true to me. Cara’s feeling of needing to be the peacemaker, of trying to grow up faster than she should ever have to for the sake of her parents who, when they’re together, revert back to being children - or at the very least, childlike - and are what can only be described as being each other’s blind spots.
Cara’s character was deeply relatable in a myriad of ways. It showed the nuances, the joys and the tribulations of being a teenage girl with parents who are at each other’s throats more often than not, and who is just desperately seeking a form of normalcy that may never be found.
A character and a relationship that really came out of left field for me, in the best possible way, was Sam. He was, most definitely, a standout character for me throughout.
Of course, my favourite character was that of Connor (and subsequently, his relationship with our beloved protagonist). Not only was his character a sweetheart, possessing a heart of gold and an old soul, who had all the characteristics of a himbo, he also served much needed representation as a disabled character.
There are so many reasons why I loved Connor and his portrayal of disability/chronic illness, but the most special aspect of it in All the Right Reasons (for me, at least) was that he wasn’t the main character.
Instead, he was the love interest.
Time and time again, we have seen - in what little representation of disabled people we have garnered over the years - disabled people being the protagonists of a story that wasn’t and never had been curated for them.
For the most part, we seldom ever see a love interest that’s disabled, and that ties into and stems from deeply rooted ableism.
Because of that, the notion that disabled people/characters can’t be the love interest, is formed around disability being an ugly thing; that we, as disabled people, are not worthy of being crushed on by people, only for us to be crushing on others; that we are not deserving of a love story; that we’re less attractive and more effort than we are worth due to our being disabled.
Putting these disabled characters in the spotlight of being a lead character, as opposed to being the love interest, also gives people the chance to take pity and commend the actual love interest for falling for a disabled person, because that is something to be celebrated. How lucky are they, a lowly disabled person, to have had someone like you choose to be with them?
Bethany Mangled buried those ideas deep under ground, the roles were finally reversed; and I couldn’t be happier to see that happen.
All the Right Reasons was nothing short of spectacular; every single part of it. A novel like this circling the world is something that has been needed for such a long time, and I’m so glad that it’s finally arrived.
I just know that this book, and the books that are in the same vain that came before and will come along after, are changing the game for disabled authors like myself.
5/5 stars, I can’t wait to read this again soon. ✨🌟
All the Right Reasons was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022 for so many reasons. Between the disability representation, the comparison towards both The Bachelor and Gilmore Girls, I had such excruciatingly high hopes. I’m pleased to say that it didn’t disappoint.
My hopes of walking into reading this book and returning with a new favourite were far from dashed, instead my hopes became a reality.
I absolutely adored Bethany Mangle’s style of writing; the attention to detail, how she somehow had the ability to turn the most mundane of conversations and make them gripping and intriguing. The same can be said of the way that she can take complicated questions and answers; and make them more palatable, easier to digest for the reader.
Not only was Mangle’s writing style wonderful, the way the world in which her characters reside was so perfectly crafted, and the characters themselves were such raw, honest depictions of human beings as they waltz through all aspects of life - the good, the bad, the impossible to get through, the sadness, the joy - that they almost felt real.
I felt as though I wasn’t reading a book, or even getting lost in a TV show or movie where less imagination is required, it felt as though I was the characters. Like I was going through what they were going through firsthand. It had begun to feel like it was my own personal lived through experiences, and not that of characters that don’t exist outside of the universe that the book is in.
Outside of the writing and the characterisation, I also couldn’t get enough of the utterly beautiful relationships that existed too.
Cara and her mum’s relationship was nothing short of magical to read. I, myself, have a really close relationship with my mum and so seeing their love for one another be so deep, unconditional and profound, felt like reading about us.
The love that they have for one another was palpable with every single scene that they were in together. It was so abundantly clear that they had this rock-hard, mountain-high, completely unbreakable bond that would, could and has withstand any (futile) attempts to break them apart.
I quite enjoyed the relationship (or lack thereof) that ensued between Cara and both of her parents. As a child of separated parents, it rang true to me. Cara’s feeling of needing to be the peacemaker, of trying to grow up faster than she should ever have to for the sake of her parents who, when they’re together, revert back to being children - or at the very least, childlike - and are what can only be described as being each other’s blind spots.
Cara’s character was deeply relatable in a myriad of ways. It showed the nuances, the joys and the tribulations of being a teenage girl with parents who are at each other’s throats more often than not, and who is just desperately seeking a form of normalcy that may never be found.
A character and a relationship that really came out of left field for me, in the best possible way, was Sam. He was, most definitely, a standout character for me throughout.
Of course, my favourite character was that of Connor (and subsequently, his relationship with our beloved protagonist). Not only was his character a sweetheart, possessing a heart of gold and an old soul, who had all the characteristics of a himbo, he also served much needed representation as a disabled character.
There are so many reasons why I loved Connor and his portrayal of disability/chronic illness, but the most special aspect of it in All the Right Reasons (for me, at least) was that he wasn’t the main character.
Instead, he was the love interest.
Time and time again, we have seen - in what little representation of disabled people we have garnered over the years - disabled people being the protagonists of a story that wasn’t and never had been curated for them.
For the most part, we seldom ever see a love interest that’s disabled, and that ties into and stems from deeply rooted ableism.
Because of that, the notion that disabled people/characters can’t be the love interest, is formed around disability being an ugly thing; that we, as disabled people, are not worthy of being crushed on by people, only for us to be crushing on others; that we are not deserving of a love story; that we’re less attractive and more effort than we are worth due to our being disabled.
Putting these disabled characters in the spotlight of being a lead character, as opposed to being the love interest, also gives people the chance to take pity and commend the actual love interest for falling for a disabled person, because that is something to be celebrated. How lucky are they, a lowly disabled person, to have had someone like you choose to be with them?
Bethany Mangled buried those ideas deep under ground, the roles were finally reversed; and I couldn’t be happier to see that happen.
All the Right Reasons was nothing short of spectacular; every single part of it. A novel like this circling the world is something that has been needed for such a long time, and I’m so glad that it’s finally arrived.
I just know that this book, and the books that are in the same vain that came before and will come along after, are changing the game for disabled authors like myself.
5/5 stars, I can’t wait to read this again soon. ✨🌟
January 8, 2022
For some reason (cough a fanfic I read years ago) I am such a fan of reality dating show books. This was a fun YA twist where her mom is the lead and she gets to tag along and vet her potential step siblings.
This was so fun and funny and I just had a fun time reading it. I was instantly sucked it and read it in two sittings. Cara and her mom had a great dynamic and both are a little dramatic at times and honestly would love to see this reality show.
My only critique is the ending could've been expanded and I wish we could have seen the public's reaction to the show because it would've been WILD.
CW: cheating, divorce
*thank you so much to the publisher for an ARC; all thoughts are my own*
This was so fun and funny and I just had a fun time reading it. I was instantly sucked it and read it in two sittings. Cara and her mom had a great dynamic and both are a little dramatic at times and honestly would love to see this reality show.
My only critique is the ending could've been expanded and I wish we could have seen the public's reaction to the show because it would've been WILD.
CW: cheating, divorce
*thank you so much to the publisher for an ARC; all thoughts are my own*
November 29, 2022
A very sweet and fun read! The Bachelor meets Gilmore Girls marketing of this book is spot on. I enjoyed the reality tv drama and seeing how everything unfolded, and I liked the mother-daughter relationship at the center of the book. I just think the pacing could have been a little better, and I didn't like that the mom didn't believe Cara for a large part of the book. Overall though, this is a fast and fun read!
January 7, 2024
„Und wieder bin ich das Mädchen, was zurückgelassen wurde.“
(Cara in All the right reasons)
Worum geht’s?
Caras Leben steht Kopf, als ein Film viral geht, in dem sie sich über ihren Vater auslässt, der die Familie verlassen hat. Doch eine Produktionsfirma, die alleinerziehende Eltern für eine Datingshow sucht, engagiert Cara und ihre Mutter vom Fleck weg. Sie sind einfach perfekt geeignet für das Format. Schon bald finden sich die beiden im sonnigen Key West wieder, wo sie auf Schritt und Tritt von Kameras verfolgt werden. Ganz schön nervig, findet Cara - bis sie Connor kennenlernt. Als Sohn eines Kandidaten ist er eigentlich tabu, aber Cara kann nichts dagegen tun, dass ihr Herz in seiner Nähe immer schneller schlägt...
All the right reasons ist ein Einzelband und in sich geschlossen.
Schreibstil und inhaltliche Hinweise
Das Buch ist in der Ich-Perspektive von Cara geschrieben.
Meine Meinung
Als ich das Buch in der Vorschau gesehen habe, war mir klar, dass ich es unbedingt lesen möchte. Zwar bin ich mittlerweile schon weit über die Zielgruppe von Young Adult hinaus, aber ich mag es, hin und wieder mal einen YA-Roman zu lesen. Die Idee von All the right reasons fand ich auch einfach zu witzig.
Ich habe ein wenig Zeit gebraucht, um in die Geschichte zu finden. Cara ist ein sehr lebhafter Charakter, der dem Leser viele Gedanken mitgibt. Ihr Vater hat die Familie verlassen, ist nun mit einer Frau zusammen, die er im gemeinsamen Fitnessstudio der Eltern kennengelernt hat und lässt Caras Mutter finanziell ein wenig ausbluten. Doch Cara und ihre Mutter machen irgendwie das beste daraus. Bis Cara versehentlich einen Tagebuch-Videoeintrag mit Gesprächen ihrer Mutter über die familiäre Lage online stellt, der über Nacht viral geht. Ihr Vater? Findet das gar nicht witzig. Ein TV-Produzent? Der ist Feuer und Flamme und möchte das Mutter-Tochter-Duo für ein neues TV-Format haben. Bei der Datinshow soll Caras Mutter Julia eine Art Bachelorette sein, die zwischen diversen Single-Männern mit Kind wählen soll. Cara soll gleichzeitig die Kindern kennenlernen und ihrer Mutter so bei der Wahl helfen, wer das neue Stiefgeschwisterkind sein soll. Doch beim Dreh steht die Welt Kopf und es gibt einige Überraschungen.
Zugegeben, dieses Buch ist ein schnelllebiges, leicht chaotisches Buch. Aber ich hatte sehr viel Freude daran. Die Einblicke in das Leben am Set, die Probleme die hier auftauchen, die Meinungsverschiedenheiten zwischen Julia und Cara bei der Kandidatenwahl, die Beeinflussung durch die Crew – es gibt jede Menge interessante Faktoren. Ich fand Julia und Cara wahnsinnig sympathisch, auch wenn es einige Zankereien zwischen ihnen gibt. Ich habe viel gelacht, ein wenig geflucht und habe ein klitzekleines bisschen den Plottwist der mütterlichen Liebesgeschichte vorhergesehen, aber das war kein Problem, im Gegenteil hat man so noch mehr mitgefiebert. Durch die Einblicke in die Show hat man vielleicht auch noch einmal mehr erfahren, wie manipulativ vergleichbare TV-Shows sind, was für Quote alles gemacht und geplant wird. Gleichzeitig ist es auf einem Niveau, dass es für ein Jugendbuch passend und unverfänglich ist. Mit Cara, die 17 Jahre alt ist, hat man auch eine Protagonistin, die eine eigene Meinung hat, aber gleichzeitig noch etwas naiv sein darf. Eine gute Mischung, die funktioniert.
Was für mich jedoch an dem Buch keine Sinn gemacht hat? Im Klappentext wird auf Connor hingewiesen, der Sohn eines Kandidaten, in den sich Cara verguckt. Das ist immer mal wieder kurz Thema, aber so wirklich sieht oder hört man die beiden nicht miteinander. Es ist, als hätte die Autorin ein wenig den beliebten Stepbrother-Trope reinbringen wollen, aber so gar keine Mühe in die töchterliche Lovestory gelegt. Denn bis zum Ende konnte ich weder die (vermeintliche) Anziehung zwischen den beiden noch sonst irgendetwas sehen oder greifen. Entsprechend fragend habe ich dann auch das Ende des Buches zur Kenntnis genommen. Wer also wegen der Lovestory das Buch lesen möchte, sollte es bleiben lassen. Für einen quirligen, unterhaltsamen Read mit viel Witz und Einblicken in die TV-Branche ist das Buch aber super.
Mein Fazit
All the right reasons ist eine witzige, charmante Geschichte mit einem starken Mutter-Tochter-Paar, einer guten mütterlichen Liebesgeschichte, aber einer sehr schwachen töchterlichen Lovestory. Die Einblicke in den Dreh sind spannend und unterhaltsam. Tolles Buch für Zwischendurch!
[Diese Rezension basiert auf einem vom Verlag oder vom Autor überlassenen Rezensionsexemplar. Meine Meinung wurde hiervon nicht beeinflusst.]
(Cara in All the right reasons)
Worum geht’s?
Caras Leben steht Kopf, als ein Film viral geht, in dem sie sich über ihren Vater auslässt, der die Familie verlassen hat. Doch eine Produktionsfirma, die alleinerziehende Eltern für eine Datingshow sucht, engagiert Cara und ihre Mutter vom Fleck weg. Sie sind einfach perfekt geeignet für das Format. Schon bald finden sich die beiden im sonnigen Key West wieder, wo sie auf Schritt und Tritt von Kameras verfolgt werden. Ganz schön nervig, findet Cara - bis sie Connor kennenlernt. Als Sohn eines Kandidaten ist er eigentlich tabu, aber Cara kann nichts dagegen tun, dass ihr Herz in seiner Nähe immer schneller schlägt...
All the right reasons ist ein Einzelband und in sich geschlossen.
Schreibstil und inhaltliche Hinweise
Das Buch ist in der Ich-Perspektive von Cara geschrieben.
Meine Meinung
Als ich das Buch in der Vorschau gesehen habe, war mir klar, dass ich es unbedingt lesen möchte. Zwar bin ich mittlerweile schon weit über die Zielgruppe von Young Adult hinaus, aber ich mag es, hin und wieder mal einen YA-Roman zu lesen. Die Idee von All the right reasons fand ich auch einfach zu witzig.
Ich habe ein wenig Zeit gebraucht, um in die Geschichte zu finden. Cara ist ein sehr lebhafter Charakter, der dem Leser viele Gedanken mitgibt. Ihr Vater hat die Familie verlassen, ist nun mit einer Frau zusammen, die er im gemeinsamen Fitnessstudio der Eltern kennengelernt hat und lässt Caras Mutter finanziell ein wenig ausbluten. Doch Cara und ihre Mutter machen irgendwie das beste daraus. Bis Cara versehentlich einen Tagebuch-Videoeintrag mit Gesprächen ihrer Mutter über die familiäre Lage online stellt, der über Nacht viral geht. Ihr Vater? Findet das gar nicht witzig. Ein TV-Produzent? Der ist Feuer und Flamme und möchte das Mutter-Tochter-Duo für ein neues TV-Format haben. Bei der Datinshow soll Caras Mutter Julia eine Art Bachelorette sein, die zwischen diversen Single-Männern mit Kind wählen soll. Cara soll gleichzeitig die Kindern kennenlernen und ihrer Mutter so bei der Wahl helfen, wer das neue Stiefgeschwisterkind sein soll. Doch beim Dreh steht die Welt Kopf und es gibt einige Überraschungen.
Zugegeben, dieses Buch ist ein schnelllebiges, leicht chaotisches Buch. Aber ich hatte sehr viel Freude daran. Die Einblicke in das Leben am Set, die Probleme die hier auftauchen, die Meinungsverschiedenheiten zwischen Julia und Cara bei der Kandidatenwahl, die Beeinflussung durch die Crew – es gibt jede Menge interessante Faktoren. Ich fand Julia und Cara wahnsinnig sympathisch, auch wenn es einige Zankereien zwischen ihnen gibt. Ich habe viel gelacht, ein wenig geflucht und habe ein klitzekleines bisschen den Plottwist der mütterlichen Liebesgeschichte vorhergesehen, aber das war kein Problem, im Gegenteil hat man so noch mehr mitgefiebert. Durch die Einblicke in die Show hat man vielleicht auch noch einmal mehr erfahren, wie manipulativ vergleichbare TV-Shows sind, was für Quote alles gemacht und geplant wird. Gleichzeitig ist es auf einem Niveau, dass es für ein Jugendbuch passend und unverfänglich ist. Mit Cara, die 17 Jahre alt ist, hat man auch eine Protagonistin, die eine eigene Meinung hat, aber gleichzeitig noch etwas naiv sein darf. Eine gute Mischung, die funktioniert.
Was für mich jedoch an dem Buch keine Sinn gemacht hat? Im Klappentext wird auf Connor hingewiesen, der Sohn eines Kandidaten, in den sich Cara verguckt. Das ist immer mal wieder kurz Thema, aber so wirklich sieht oder hört man die beiden nicht miteinander. Es ist, als hätte die Autorin ein wenig den beliebten Stepbrother-Trope reinbringen wollen, aber so gar keine Mühe in die töchterliche Lovestory gelegt. Denn bis zum Ende konnte ich weder die (vermeintliche) Anziehung zwischen den beiden noch sonst irgendetwas sehen oder greifen. Entsprechend fragend habe ich dann auch das Ende des Buches zur Kenntnis genommen. Wer also wegen der Lovestory das Buch lesen möchte, sollte es bleiben lassen. Für einen quirligen, unterhaltsamen Read mit viel Witz und Einblicken in die TV-Branche ist das Buch aber super.
Mein Fazit
All the right reasons ist eine witzige, charmante Geschichte mit einem starken Mutter-Tochter-Paar, einer guten mütterlichen Liebesgeschichte, aber einer sehr schwachen töchterlichen Lovestory. Die Einblicke in den Dreh sind spannend und unterhaltsam. Tolles Buch für Zwischendurch!
[Diese Rezension basiert auf einem vom Verlag oder vom Autor überlassenen Rezensionsexemplar. Meine Meinung wurde hiervon nicht beeinflusst.]
May 11, 2023
2.5 stars.
I really wanted to love this book but I’m just so confused. The description and cover of this book focus so much on Cara and Connor, but the actual book has hardly any content of the two together, and the content that there is feels so rushed! It was love at first sight between the two which already took away from my enjoyment of the book because I am never a fan of insta-love, and after that, everything just felt so flat. They admit they like each other and it’s just, “I like you” and “I like you too” and then nothing. Agh! Boring! And then in the end I don’t even get to see their reunion or even a glimpse of their relationship after the show? All I get is a description of the fact that they talk on the phone all night? So disappointing!
On top of that, what the book was actually focused on also just bothered and bored me. Her mom pissed me off choosing the guy who is clearly the most asshole-ish out of the bunch and suddenly not listening to Cara at all which was SO unlike their previous relationship that it didn’t seem realistic at all. And then the whole Sam thing had no build up, just another sudden strong crush. Where’s the building up of crushes in this book? Everyone just looks at a person and is in love with them!
To be honest, I only read this book for the ehlers danlos representation, and while I’m happy the representation exists, it still felt (for lack of a better word) half-assed. I got that Connor was in a sling, that his knee popped out of place, that he had EDS, and that he used KT-tape. That’s it? I mean yeah, those are pretty common EDS things, but as a Zebra, I wanted to see more. I know everyone experiences different symptoms but personally, I don’t only experience joint issues. It’s so much more than that and I got NONE of that extra stuff. It felt like someone google searched what EDS was and included what they found in the very first link they opened.
Overall, this book was just missing so much and while I wanted to love it for the EDS rep, I just couldn’t.
I really wanted to love this book but I’m just so confused. The description and cover of this book focus so much on Cara and Connor, but the actual book has hardly any content of the two together, and the content that there is feels so rushed! It was love at first sight between the two which already took away from my enjoyment of the book because I am never a fan of insta-love, and after that, everything just felt so flat. They admit they like each other and it’s just, “I like you” and “I like you too” and then nothing. Agh! Boring! And then in the end I don’t even get to see their reunion or even a glimpse of their relationship after the show? All I get is a description of the fact that they talk on the phone all night? So disappointing!
On top of that, what the book was actually focused on also just bothered and bored me. Her mom pissed me off choosing the guy who is clearly the most asshole-ish out of the bunch and suddenly not listening to Cara at all which was SO unlike their previous relationship that it didn’t seem realistic at all. And then the whole Sam thing had no build up, just another sudden strong crush. Where’s the building up of crushes in this book? Everyone just looks at a person and is in love with them!
To be honest, I only read this book for the ehlers danlos representation, and while I’m happy the representation exists, it still felt (for lack of a better word) half-assed. I got that Connor was in a sling, that his knee popped out of place, that he had EDS, and that he used KT-tape. That’s it? I mean yeah, those are pretty common EDS things, but as a Zebra, I wanted to see more. I know everyone experiences different symptoms but personally, I don’t only experience joint issues. It’s so much more than that and I got NONE of that extra stuff. It felt like someone google searched what EDS was and included what they found in the very first link they opened.
Overall, this book was just missing so much and while I wanted to love it for the EDS rep, I just couldn’t.
February 20, 2022
All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle is a young adult contemporary romance. When I read the blurb I was immediately interested in reading this. This was an entertaining read about finding love in the most unexpected places.
I loved the reality dating show concept and the drama it added to the book. The mother/daughter relationship often portrayed in fiction isn’t very realistic, but in this book it was. The author showed that despite their disagreements they still had a great relationship. This definitely plays a part in the book.
One of my favorite parts of this book is the disability representation. I’ve read books where the main character is disabled, but in All the Right Reasons this character is the love interest. I would have read this book for that reason alone if I knew it before going into the book.
This was a cute, heartwarming, and relatable book with drama, laughs, and romance.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved the reality dating show concept and the drama it added to the book. The mother/daughter relationship often portrayed in fiction isn’t very realistic, but in this book it was. The author showed that despite their disagreements they still had a great relationship. This definitely plays a part in the book.
One of my favorite parts of this book is the disability representation. I’ve read books where the main character is disabled, but in All the Right Reasons this character is the love interest. I would have read this book for that reason alone if I knew it before going into the book.
This was a cute, heartwarming, and relatable book with drama, laughs, and romance.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 23, 2022
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
All the Right Reasons is an entertaining read that I could not put down. I actually finished it a few days in advance from when I planned because I needed to know the ending! Immediately I loved the mother and daughter relationship between Cara and her mom. If you love a parent who snorts at their child's jokes, has their back all the time, and feels like they can be vulnerable? Then this book is for you! While this relationship also gave me tons of angsty feelings, I still love them!
And Mangle delivers a book that is full of swooning romance as well as a dating show! Mangle is able to describe how constricting it feels for Cara to have her life packed in a box. She has to figure out how she can escape the mess her father left behind. And Cara is one of my favorite characters. She has a wry sense of humor and sarcasm. At the same time, she was so relatable to me in her tendency to blurt out things that are just not the right time.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
All the Right Reasons is an entertaining read that I could not put down. I actually finished it a few days in advance from when I planned because I needed to know the ending! Immediately I loved the mother and daughter relationship between Cara and her mom. If you love a parent who snorts at their child's jokes, has their back all the time, and feels like they can be vulnerable? Then this book is for you! While this relationship also gave me tons of angsty feelings, I still love them!
And Mangle delivers a book that is full of swooning romance as well as a dating show! Mangle is able to describe how constricting it feels for Cara to have her life packed in a box. She has to figure out how she can escape the mess her father left behind. And Cara is one of my favorite characters. She has a wry sense of humor and sarcasm. At the same time, she was so relatable to me in her tendency to blurt out things that are just not the right time.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
February 25, 2022
very fun read, I loved the whole concept and while I appreciated the wholesomeness with connor and cara i'm kinda bummed as well because this would have been such a great opportunity for ANGST and DRAMA and BACKSTABBING BETRAYAL because yk REALITY TV!!!! call me basic but i would have eaten that right up also SAAAAMM IS THE BEST, HIM AND IAN ARE JUST *chefskiss* fav characters ever, ohohoh and not to forget, I really really appreciated how osteogenesis imperfecta was included here, it's really quite rare to see it in a book which i hadn't realised until someone pointed out to me that it was really nice to see themselves represented here! so i loved that, and i really enjoyed this book, it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and i got so excited when i realized it was already published heheheh PLUSPLUSPLUS the COVER is INSANE (affectionate)
March 27, 2022
This was a cute read! I really enjoyed how it was mostly a story between a mother and her daughter, and their relationship, but I do wish we got to see a little more of the love interest. There was a little bit in the middle that dragged, but overall, this was a quick read that I really enjoyed!
March 15, 2023
overall, it was solid but i was honestly expecting more. i wished the book talked more abt the sc who has EDS (half because it was the main reason i wanted to read it and half because it wasn’t necessarily rlly discussed). i wish it sorta gave u more insight abt what its like to live with EDS but i understand why it wasnt the main focus since it was about a romance tv show
November 2, 2024
1.5
Plot was weird and all over the place
Plot was weird and all over the place
February 6, 2022
3.5 stats
RTC
RTC
Want to read
January 26, 2022The author has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome so apparently this book has EDS rep and honestly I don’t even need to read the description I’m already sold
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