YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me.

Feel free to join Nicole and I August 19th for this read!

I can't wait for this one

I'm going to start this one either later today or tomorrow, Nicole, if you still want to read it with me!

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--I like that each day is numbered; it gives this a sort of diary-esque feel that does a lot to make the characters realistic and easy to relate to for readers.
--I have to admit, I really sort of hate Julia at the beginning of this; she's haughty, immature, and spectacularly rude. It makes me feel bad for Molly. I mean, come on, we're all human--she doesn't deserve the crap they've been putting her through. We all make mistakes.
--I really, really like Gabe...I just hope he's not some sort of rebound for Molly. Patrick...I don't know, he's sort of a jerk right now and I'm not sure I like him.
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--So Tess seems nice. I sort of like that she's actually going out of her way to give Molly a chance. I mean, it can't be all that easy, knowing her boyfriend and pretty much the entire town dislikes the girl--the backstory is cringe-worthy, honestly. I like when characters DON'T do the normal thing, but instead forge their own paths and make up their own minds. Tess is my kind of girl.
--I had hoped this wouldn't turn into a giant messy love triangle with Molly, Patrick and Gabe... I guess I hoped wrong. I still don't really like Patrick, and while I understand Molly's just trying to put the past behind her and get over some of the awkward, the subtle flirting, the strokes of jealousy, and the weird half-truths to the rest of the world are a bit annoying to me. I wish she'd stop being so wishy-washy. Don't get me wrong, I totally get how you can like two guys at the same time, but...this is honestly just a mess.
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--There's honestly not much to dissect about this read, which sort of stinks; I wish I had more to react to, but the story's about this messy situation between a girl and two brothers and it's just...there aren't many reaction-worthy moments I guess.
--That being said... I don't LIKE where this is headed with Gabe and Patrick. I actually LIKE Gabe--BETTER than Patrick, which is sort of surprising in itself given I think readers are meant to be drawn to Patrick as the "first love" more??? I just... I don't really like what Molly's doing. Maybe because I did this same thing myself in high school, and looking back on it, HATE that I did. I don't know.
--It seems weird to me that Julia is giving up so suddenly on her vendetta after Molly discovers her secret. Like...that's really awkward and weird? Why is she doing that? Or is she planning something?
--ALSO, I didn't mention earlier, HOW WEIRD is it that Connie was smash-talking Molly? I mean, she's the MOTHER. Like...I know mothers gossip and all, but really, to gossip like THAT with your daughter? It seems a bit uncharacteristic, to me? I guess we don't really know much about Connie, so I can't say for certain, but...it just didn't seem like something she'd do?
--I really, really, really like Gabe... If Molly doesn't want him, I'll take him! Just don't tell my husband. XD
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Finished! Review can be read here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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--This isn't one of my favorite reads, but I really really love the moral and think it's SO, SO important. Slut-shaming is a terrible, nasty thing for people to do to others, and it needs to stop. I also love that this didn't end all neatly tied up and wrapped with a bow; real life isn't like that at all, and Katie Cotugno did something not many authors like to do: she ended on a question mark. She ended with a character bruised, battered...but finally strong enough to hold her head high and not take crap from others. I just... I love Molly so much, throughout all of this read. She's my new spirit animal.
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