The Right Side of Reckless

by Whitney D. Grandison

A troubled boy in need of a fresh start meets a girl who is off limits, sparking forbidden friendship and maybe more when their paths cross at the local community center.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Young Adult Romance, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published July 13, 2021

About the author

A lover of words, Whitney D. Grandison has been writing since as far back as she can remember. Outside of writing, she is a lover of Asian dramas, all things John Hughes, and horror films. Whitney currently lives in Akron, Ohio with her cats.

Visit Whitney’s website, www.whitneydgrandison.com, and follow her on Instagram, @wheadee.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad boy meets descent girl who never does anything wrong! Polar opposites premise, enemies to friends and friends to lovers theme plus boiling, tempting chemistry! Sign me in! This promising formulation always widens my smile and warms my ice cold blood who are getting tougher each day after binge reading mind bending thrillers! I need urgent romance cure to brighten my pitch black mood!

Firstly the most important thing for me at romance readings are characters and second one is chemistry. Thankfully this book passed two of my likable romance necessities tests!

I loved our hero! If I would give grades for only Guillermo, I could give five stars : my feelings for him can be defined as love at first chapter!

He is on parole, serving for community service because he made wrong choices, suffering from mistakes he’s made and I have to emphasize with him: he is doing his best to learn from them to a better man and build a new life for himself! He’s truly trying it! So you need to appreciate his efforts as you read his POV and inner fights with his demons! He’s too irresistible and sweet to get angry at!

Regan was more like a people pleaser and insecure, playing by the rules, never crosses the lines!

I loved to witness how the characters improve themselves by discovering their hidden capabilities and learning to listen to their hearts!

Only thing that bothered me and made me lower my points was Troy and Regan’s way too much long relationship. From the beginning we want to see Guillermo and Reagan together and there was unnecessary angst and irritating love triangle theme which pissed me off. I wanted to scream at Reagan : “are you blind? You’re not gonna be happy with this guy. It’s so obvious he’s not your end game! “ Her indecisiveness bothered me a lot but eventually she found the right way, didn’t she?

So I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 Bad boys, whatcha want gonna do When sheriff John Brown come for you stars!

I absolutely liked this book more than the author’s previous work! It’s descent, solid recommendation for the feel good, soft-sweet-swoon, enemies to lovers theme lovers!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

[Ahaana Bhargava · Rating 4 out of 5]

aside from regan's parents really annoying me, i loved this!

3.75 stars; top 5 reasons to read to come!

[Grace✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with an EArc in exchange for an honest review!

Let's start with the positive: I was really invested in this story! I got mad when I was supposed to and I grew very attached to the characters. I really liked how this book talked about "bad" kids, kids who go to juvie or get in trouble, and how so many really want to be better. We see the "bad boy" (I say that because this story is very good girl-bad boy) gets constantly judged for his past, while he is a much better person than some other people (no spoilers of course!). I also liked seeing a teenager being unsure and very teenager-y! It's hard to stand up for yourself and put your foot down when you're not being treated right, so I really empathized with our main character, Regan.

Now on to the negative: this story really dragged for me. I don't know why, but it felt like it took me agesss to finish this book, and I really felt like the story could have been condensed. It didn't even feel like interesting things were happening most of the time, just angst and filler. I also felt a bit underwhelmed when the main characters got together, I was hoping after slogging through the angst I'd be rewarded with cuteness but no!! The book is over now, sorry!! I feel torn because this definitely wasn't a bad book and I really enjoyed it at times, but I read YA romance for cuteness and a short page-turner, so this one did not hit the mark for me.
-> I JUST SAW THIS BOOK IS 400+ PAGES? No wonder it felt long, wow0_0

[hannah! · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a horrible end to the challenge but like whatever who cares. both characters had zero personality or chemistry and did i mention cheating! is! bad! we don’t do that.

her parents were so abusive and controlling and everything was just shrugged off like it was nothing. the writing style was basic and classic watt pad and it was kind of a waste of my $9 on kindle.

[Brinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I saw this on Netgalley, I knew I would love it. I was praying I'd get accepted, and thankfully, I did! I was in the mood for a fluffy romance, so this was everything I was looking for!

Blurb
After making a final mistake, Guillermo is put on parole, and set to community service. Never having made a mistake, Regan is his exact opposite. Sometimes though, opposites attract, and sparks fly. Despite people determined to keep them apart, Guillermo and Regan are willing to play a bit recklessly to have their chance.

When I was going into this, I knew it was going to be a bad boy x good girl romance. There's nothing wrong with that, I love that trope. What I hadn't expected, was how different this would read when compared to similar romances. Most "bad boys" drink, smoke, or even kill. Guillermo on the other hand, had just made a few mistakes. I loved the fresh take, and I loved Guillermo!

If I had to choose one thing to rave about regarding The Right Side of Reckless, it would be the character development. This was on point!! Guillermo started out the book questioning himself and questioning his relationships. By the end of it, he has worked to change, and started on a better path. I loved how respectful he was, it was refreshing.

Regan on the other hand, started out the book insecure and willing to bend to other's expectations. By the end, she had found herself, and was confident. I loved her, and I loved watching her sort out her relationships.

My one complaint about this would be the amount of time it took for Regan to decide to break up with Troy. By the midway point, I was somewhat tired of him. It wasn't a major complaint, but it did hold the book back a little.

And, I respect Grandison so much for straying away from having her characters cheat. I've read so many romances in which the characters cheat because their partner just "isn't right for them" or they don't want to break it to them. It was so nice to read characters who respected each other, who waited for the current relationships to be broken off before they started exploring what could be.

This was my first book by Whitney Grandison, but it's definitely not my last! I loved the emphasis on family, and how she shows that people can change, that a single mistake doesn't define you. This was an adorable romance, and definitely something I see myself rereading!

[Chidimma Desiree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was way too long! I really hate the reoccurrence of authors making their books 400+ pages but for no actual purpose. Regan and Guillermo were really cute and I wish we got to seek them grow as a couple more. Regan should’ve broken up with Troy way sooner we were 3/4 through the book and they were still together like enough. Regan’s family actually pissed me off so much but that was the intended reaction from the author so I’ll let it slide. I loved reading from Guillermo’s POV. I almost never see ya contemporaries with main characters who are deemed “delinquents” or “troubled” so this was a nice change. Seeing how much he wanted to redeem himself especially to his family was very sweet. This book started out strong and just dragged on for way longer than it should have.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wrote two different reviews for this book. One when I was only a quarter of the way through the story and the other one after I had finished reading the book. One review was entirely disparaging and the other was far more positive. I’m going to give a review that sits somewhere in between. I was ready to give up on this book at the quarter mark. I am glad I didn’t as my feelings changed widely between the first and last portion of this book.

When I started this book, after reading just a few chapters I wished I had done some more research before requesting and reading this book. I judged it on its cover and synopsis alone, which sounded great, but as soon as I started reading I knew I wasn’t going to enjoy this book. Or at least, that’s what I thought to begin with. The characters seemed two dimensional. The writing needed a really good edit and everything is told instead of shown. I wasn’t even a quarter into the book and I was already sick of Regan putting up with rubbish from her boyfriend and Guillermo reads like a bad boy who isn’t actually bad, he just went along with his friends who did the bad stuff and now he is being misjudged and he’s actually a good guy, so he just needs to prove it, so no character development needed. At this point I jumped online to do a bit of research about the publisher and author and found that reviewers suggested that the author’s first book suffered from all the same points. The author is also a Wattpad star and while I love that people are getting published in this way, it doesn’t mean these stories should be published without some really thorough editing. I’m going to give some passages to my writing class so they can practice editing and rewriting to show not tell. It should be pretty easy for them to spot the areas that need improvement.

At this point I was ready to put the book down, but I honestly very infrequently not finish a book. If I’ve promised to read it, I usually do. So I skimmed through until around halfway into the book and suddenly I found myself being drawn into the story. Yes, Guillermo made a mistake but doesn’t read like a real bad boy. Yes, Regan seemed spineless. But they had some wicked chemistry and I found myself rooting for them. Guillermo shows some genuine leadership and Regan does learn to stand up for herself and it all goes down in a no-unnecessary-drama way, which I really appreciated.

I ended up really enjoying the last half of this book. I thought it had some great messages about dealing with problematic relationships, both romantic and familial. The romance and chemistry and understanding between Regan and Guillermo is the standout of the story, but I can also celebrate that this book has diverse characters and a unique voice that, while I might want to edit the heck out of the language and slang used, actually work to build that unique voice.

I’m guessing readers will love this romance and I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed it.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library

[rachel, x]

Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Twitter • Instagram

[Caylie Ratzlaff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! 3/5 stars. I really liked this book, and honestly it lost stars simply because the TOXICITY of the relationship of Troy and Regan. I know that was one of the main points of the novel, but it took FOREVER for Regan to get over her fears.

Pros: The concept? Beautiful. The diversity? Beautiful. I LOVED Guillermo and his characterization. He was well developed, and it flowed well with the plot and his rehab. I fell in love with him and his self-growth. It was also refreshing to see this in YA lit. It was new, and it was great to read it. I also liked the relationships between Regan, Mo, and all the friends. Regan's father and Troy also provided an interesting dynamic. Also, the Troy plot was well done!

Cons: I HATED how long it took in the book for Regan to stand up to her father. I also hated how long it took Regan and Troy to have a solution.

[Elizabeth]

DNF at 1%. Don’t want to read a romance with a 17-year old.

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: The Right Side of Reckless
Author: Whitney D. Grandison
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Inkyard Press, for sending me an ARC.

Even though I am reading more and more adult books these days, I still have a very soft spot for YA contemporary reads. It just makes me feel all of the right feelings and makes me feel good. This one was no exception. While we do have the light nature of a high school romance, we also have the deeper layer of trying to discover who we are and coming back from when we hit rock bottom. I really enjoy these type of coming of age books and getting to learn about the characters as they start to discover themselves and start to get their life in order.

The characters, I thought, were well done. We start out with Rey, who just wants to make everyone happy, even if that means giving up her own happiness. She doesn’t know what she wants and is used to having her whole life planned out for her. She knows that she doesn’t like the life course that people are putting her on, but she doesn’t really want to speak up and say so. As we read and see her character change, we see a different side of Rey. We see her start to say what she doesn’t want and start to make changes. By the time the book is over, we see a much more happier and confident Rey.

Guillermo is the other lead character. He has a past and a rather difficult past. He is just trying to start fresh and rebuild his life. Unlike so many in his situation, he does have a family who loves and supports him. We see him struggle with people still judging him for his past and having to deal with what happened. Like with Rey, we see him go through a number of changes. He starts out as being this guy who sees the world as something out to get him and, then, change into someone who sees just really how lucky he is. We see him gain friendships and earn trust back.

Normally, I don’t like books where two characters are so dependent on each other, but I think it worked here. I do think that without Guillermo and Rey meeting that there characters would not have made the changes they needed and it would not have worked out so well. These two characters just make sense is what I’m getting out.

I do have a compliant against the characters though. Whitney has two non-White leads. Guillermo is of Mexican descent and Rey is Black. While I was reading the book, I had to keep reminding myself of that. I would have liked to see more of the culture included in the book. It just felt like Whitney was saying her characters were diverse for the sake of having diverse characters. Let that diversity come across the page and let the readers see it, rather than just reminding us of their skin tone every now and then.

The story itself is pretty basic. We have the good girl falling for the bad boy and changing him. We see the good girl coming out her shell and becoming the person who she wants. I mean, it’s not anything new, but it still gets to me every time. You know, sometimes you just need a charming and cliché book to make everything okay. Every now and then, you just need a book to boast your mood and that is what this book did for me.

I was able to get into the writing pretty easily. It was serious when we needed to it be and light hearted when needed. I really liked this balance. I think that is what really kept me engaged. By doing it this way, we get to see a more human side of the story and it just makes the whole experience feel more real.

This book comes out on July 13, 2021.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/4w2c0bgK6j8

[cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

couldn't tell you a thing that happened in this book but the extra star is for the dogs

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

After I finished reading The Right Side of Reckless, I went back and reread the synopsis because I was under the impression that this was a YA contemporary romance. That's exactly what the synopsis' leads one to believe, however that's not what I just read.

RANT TIME:
Regan has no backbone, she lets her parents dictate her future, and her boyfriend was the worst. They had only been together a year, but he was constantly pressuring her for sex. Regan is in a committed relationship with her boyfriend until the 75% mark of the book when she finds out he cheated on him and then kisses Guillermo right after that ugh. HOW IS THAT A ROMANCE STORY?!? Regan and Guillermo aren't even friends have the book. The characters all just felt flat, and I'll be honest I almost DNFd more than once, but I'm trying to not do that with arcs anymore. Then we have Guillermo is our "bad guy" who for his first two strikes was really just a kid with crap luck. Yes he had anger issues, but he obviously learned from his mistake and had a good head on his shoulder. However, his ability to dish out lengthy Dr.Phil type advice would have been more believable if he was at college age, not high school. I felt the author was trying too hard with his preachy speeches of wisdom.
RANT OVER

There are some silver linings to this not as advertised YA novel. It has a fantastically diverse cast and some really great side characters. Most of the time, I enjoy Guillermo , especially when he was with his new group of friends. The novel also focused on some really important subjects. Such as not letting yourself be pressured into sex, standing up for yourself, respect, consent, and learning from your mistakes.

In the end, I was just really disappointed in this book. The plot had such potential, but I just don't think this author executed it well. I don't think I'll be reading any more by her and note for future me to not be fooled by a cute cover and perfect synopsis.

[Haadiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a bad lad finds a decent girl who never does anything wrong, it's a match made in heaven! The concept of polar opposites, the subject of foes to friends and friends to lovers, and the sizzling, enticing chemistry! Sign me up! This promising composition always makes me grin and warms my icy cold blood, which is becoming harder by the day after binge-reading mind-bending thrillers! I really want a romantic remedy to lift my gloomy mood! I knew it would be a bad boy x nice girl romance as I started reading it. That's OK; I enjoy that genre. What I hadn't anticipated was how different this would read from other romance novels. The majority of "bad lads" consume alcoholic beverages, smoke cigarettes, or even commit murder. Guillermo, on the other hand, had made a few errors. I adored Guillermo, and I adored the unique perspective. This narrative had me completely engrossed! I became linked to the characters and became enraged when I was meant to. I loved how this book discussed "bad" students, those who go to juvie or get into trouble, and how many of them genuinely want to improve. We witness how the "bad kid" is continuously condemned for his past, despite the fact that he is a far better person than certain others (no spoilers!). I really like seeing a teen who was hesitant and extremely adolescent-like! It's difficult to stand up for yourself and put your foot down when you're being treated unfairly, therefore I sympathized with Regan, our protagonist.

[Inkyard Press]

Categories
Young Adult Social Themes

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished reading: June 14th 2021

"Don't deny yourself a better shot because you messed up in the past."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***



There was just something about the blurb of The Right Side Of Reckless that caught my attention immediately, and as I don't seem to read nearly enough YA books in recent years I couldn't resist getting an ARC. I had really high hopes for this story, thinking that it might turn out to be a new favorite, so imagine my surprise when I ended up having mixed thoughts instead... I'll try to explain my contradictory feelings briefly below.

Part of me still finds it hard to put the finger on why exactly this story didn't work as well for me. I still love the premise of The Right Side Of Reckless with the power of opposites attract and second chances. I think this is part of the reason I did keep reading, as the story had an interesting message. I liked the Mexican influences and diversity in general, which I can always appreciate... And I loved just how big of a role dogs played in the plot.

BUT. And here comes what didn't work for me: I really did feel that the story was overlong and dragged in certain parts. It took me a lot longer than expected to finish The Right Side Of Reckless, and I started to struggle to stay invested in the story... Especially as certain details of the plot were repeated a lot. I can't say that I appreciated the whole cheating and love triangle angle either, which both really put a damper on things for me. I understand the need to make things 'more complicated', but I would have enjoyed this story so much better if it had just been the opposites attract theme with Regan and Guillermo... And especially Regan could get really annoying as she continued to let everyone walk all over her.

In short, there were things I liked and things that didn't work for me in The Right Side Of Reckless, and I do still like the premise of this story. It might just have been the wrong time for me to read this book though, as most people do seem to love Regan and Guillermo's story.

P.S. Find more of my reviews here.

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog]

 

  

[Brittanie Parisien · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8/5 stars.

Had the potential to be a great YA contemporary romance type, but lost its footing. Dragged on for way too long, with no real need or development.

I really enjoyed Guillermo’s POV, but it got buried under my annoyance of Regan’s POV, which is quite a shame.

Not horrible, but not memorable either :////

[Eden]

DNF &33%

The way this family is OBSESSED with this teenage girl’s relationship & how her boyfriend pressures her for sex… I was so uncomfortable. I can’t read any more.

[Breanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) review to come!!

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

*thank you very much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!*

Such a cute story! The bad guy meets nice girl combo is always a favorite. One character is rebellious and one is your typical A student, They are put together to help each other out and begin to grow fond of each other, Very relatable for young adults for sure. I enjoyed how this book showed both sides of the story as opposed to one perspective. We really got a good feel for what each character was dealing with and it didn't just paint Guillermo as a bad kid because of his past. I enjoyed getting to hear his thoughts and see through his eyes as well. This is different than most books I have read with this type of story line, as the 'bad' character is always made to be so mysterious they usually don't touch on their past until well into the book, but this one was a nice change. I think that so many aspects of the story are relatable to young teens. The way that this story describes the characters thoughts and feelings and also the things that the characters go through with their parents is so relatable.

This story has a lot of potential to be great but the writing could've been a little stronger. I can tell that this author has a lot of potential and I cannot wait to read more from them in the future.

[Leelynn (Sometimes Leelynn Reads) ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review on my blog Sometimes Leelynn Reads

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours, Netgalley, and Inkyard Press for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

Grandison has done it again! Yet another novel that I couldn’t get enough of, and to think this is just her sophomore novel! So, so happy to be able to support her and her work again by reading and reviewing this book.

The more I was reading this novel, the more I was just completely infatuated with Guillermo. Seriously, for someone who used to not give a F about anything, and with him truly trying to change his life for the better, he was just so wise and respectful and wow. He literally was a dream guy, and I couldn’t believe he was just in high school! I truly think that he would make a great mentor for other troubled teens that are trying to get their lives back on track. Ugh I could keep going on and on but that would be WAY too long of a review. This was just amazing, and one of my favorite stories of 2021. I highly recommend!

[Shelby (Grace with Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc provided by netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
W0w. For a book that started off really slow, I actually need up enjoying it so much more than I thought I would, What I dislike about a lot of romances is that they are plot rather than character-driven, and that is not the case in this book.
This book follows Guillermo, who has just gotten out of juvie and is on probation, determined not to waste his fresh start, and Regan who is the perfect daughter, student, and girlfriend but all the pressure that ends leaves Regan feeling lost ad wanting more. The book chronicles their relationship together and what I love about this book is first, the emphasis on consent and respect in relationships, two, the fact they both feel the need to grow and develop before starting a relationship, and three, the theme of second chances.
So yes, while it was slow at first, this book really picked up and turned into a wonderful romance with great character development and an ending leaving the reader with hope.

[Jawahir the Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't work for me.

Review to come soon on blog.

Blog | Twitter | Pinterest | Tiktok

[Michelle]

DNF around 50%

Just couldn’t get into the story. It felt like it was dragging on a lot that I couldn’t push myself to finish it. Maybe I’ll pick up again at a different time

[Elliot A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher, Inkyard Press, for providing me with an ARC of The Right Side of Reckless in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Gist

I may almost be 40, but that doesn’t discourage me from reading young adult fiction. It’s one of my favourite genres and it can be such fun to read.

Having said that, I have noticed a change in the last couple of years. A good change. It has become more inclusive, grittier and more realistic when it comes to describing the struggles teenagers face.

It has shifted from the typical teenage angst of “no one understands” to the more realistic existential crises we all faced as we transitioned from child to adult.

What I’m trying to say here is that I appreciate this more realistic take on teenage struggles and anxieties. I also appreciated that this is a large theme in The Right Side of Reckless.

There were just a few aspects of this story that felt glossed over which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in it.

The Details

The Right Side of Reckless started out very promising. We have a boy and a girl trying to make it work at home and at school, each in their own way. Possibly even trying to right some wrongs.

The introduction of the two protagonists was well done. It grabbed my attention and I wanted to know more. But this is where it fell short. Throughout the story the characters were kept at arm’s length. I wanted to get closer to them, but I felt the narration just kept on scratching at the surface.

It frustrated me and it took me quite a bit of motivation to keep reading.

Furthermore, I noticed that almost 20% into the story we were still somehow stuck in the introduction phase of the book. It really began to drag. There were a lot of details, yet not enough substance to keep me interested.

I mean 20% of over 400 pages is almost 100 pages dedicated to introductory chapters. I felt the story never got past that initial stage which is a shame.

The writing in general is very good. I could feel the protagonists’ inner conflict and I was really rooting for them to get their happy ending. It just wasn’t enough for me.

The Verdict

Overall, I thought The Right Side of Reckless had great potential and I know that others may disagree with my opinion here, but I think the story could have benefitted from further editing and cutting of some chapters.

It isn’t a bad story. It just doesn’t have the pace that makes it a page-tuner for me. I would still suggest it, though.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you like me, always falling for the bad boy? Then you will adore 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬.

Guillermo is one gorgeous seventeen-year-old out of juvie and on probation, who’s been told by his probation officer, therapist, and dad not to mess up again or else, and no girls.

Sixteen-year-old Regan keeps rules. It’s kinda been expected of her, with her dad being an ex-cop and her parent’s sky-high expectations. She’s also dating her school’s star football player, but she’s tired of him not respecting her boundaries.

While Regan is volunteering at Briar Park Community Center she meets Guillermo but realizes he is in the “respect program” for probationers. He is off-limits. Guillermo instantly takes to Regan, but Regan is “taken,” and like everyone keeps reminding him - no more girls.

I loved this YA story with a forbidden love feel to it, and a bad boy trying to stay out of trouble. I especially enjoyed how making the right choices was a big part of these teen’s lives. @wheadee does a great job of portraying how quickly we label and judge people by past mistakes or rumors.

A fun, poignant diverse romance, with dogs to sweeten it too!!

Thank you to harpercollins, inkyardpress, and harlequinbooks for an invitation to this tour and a digital copy.

[A.BookNerd.Bookseller&Bibliophile.Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Right Side of Reckless is a beautiful young adult book based off two youth who are enduring the struggles of their choices and form a connection through the support that they each give one another.

Whitney D. writes a emotional story that depicts realistic situations that youth go through during their adolescents.

Guillermo and Regan journey is one that will have you rooting for them to overcome all of the obstacles that they are struggling with.

This book is well written and the author does an amazing job telling you a story of two minority kids that are just trying to find their way in life without having to include racial stereotypes that would perpetuate stigmas.

I loved that is a book based off mix cultures, I love that this book could be read by parents and youth, and I love that this story is so unique compared to many YA books that focus on just two teens hooking up. The Right Side of Reckless has so much to offer it's readers and I am becoming more and more of a fan of Whitney D. Grandison.

~Glori💜

[Vickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the well-known story of bad guy meets a good girl and they are attracted to each other. Guillermo has just gotten out of juvie and is on probation, complete with community service. He is doing this service at the place where Regan’s mom is a manager. Regan never makes bad choices and Guillermo’s life seems to be one bad choice after another. I enjoyed the characterization and thought that it was well done. The plot, however, just did not do it for me. I knew from the beginning what was going to happen, so I didn’t mind not having surprises as I read. What I did mind is that the story seemed to drag at times. Regan couldn’t make up her mind about breaking up with her current boyfriend in order to follow her attraction to Guillermo. And Guillermo was almost timid in approaching her since he was avoiding trouble at all costs. I thought the storyline worked, but the slow pace made it hard for me to really get into the story and enjoy it as I had expected I would. This is light romance, targeted to a young adult audience.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

[Tatyana Vogt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a bit of an up and down for me. At times it felt too long but others it felt just right. I was annoyed at the directions it was going, then it would switch up and I'd be into it again. I feel like this is a good coming of age YA romance that focuses on doing the right things, finding who you are, standing up for yourself, and just being a better person. I liked the conversations it was having and really liked the male love interest for the female character. I did find some things a little annoying but nothing bothered me for too long to reduce my general enjoyment. It was cute and I would recommend this.

I also like that the adults were not one dimensional and although still annoying at times were the usual YA obstacle that I'm not a big fan in. (granted I'm NOT the target audience technically). Got a netGalley copy of this ages ago but purchased my own copy for this review.