Book Stop Corner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


“A lifetime isn't forever, so take the first chance, don't wait for the second one! Because sometimes, there aren't second chances! And if it turns out to be a mistake? So what! This is life! A whole bunch of mistakes! But if you never get a second chance at something you didn't take a first chance at? That's true failure.”




Gina Ciocca, an American author, penned her debut YA novel, Last Year's Mistake that centers around two high school teenagers and their relationship drama with a chance to start all over again. In short, this is a simple-no-fuss-high-school-relationship-drama, but the author have managed to blow it out of proportion.




Synopsis:

Before:
Kelsey and David became best friends the summer before freshman year and were inseparable ever after. Until the night a misunderstanding turned Kelsey into the school joke, and everything around her crumbled—including her friendship with David. So when Kelsey's parents decided to move away, she couldn't wait to start over and leave the past behind. Except, David wasn't ready to let her go...

After:
Now it's senior year and Kelsey has a new group of friends, genuine popularity, and a hot boyfriend. Her life is perfect. That is, until David's family moves to town and he shakes up everything. Soon old feelings bubble to the surface and threaten to destroy Kelsey's second chance at happiness. The more time she spends with David, the more she realizes she never truly let him go. And maybe she never wants to.

Well, the storyline is very realistic and the issue sounds believable and I bet, almost every high-school teenager can relate to the issues addressed in this book, like feeling awkward towards an ex, best friend dating your ex, still having hots for your ex, couldn't let go, starting over, dating hot guys, etc. PS: This book will be ideal for those who love to read about cheesy no-fuss high-school romance since apart from the romance part and love-triangle, there is nothing much interesting in the storyline. But, I can bet that whoever reads this book will have a good and fun time.

The story revolves around Kelsey who broke up with her boyfriend, David and who is now dating the baseball champ, Ryan in some different town, away from all those drama with David, she was happy, until David threatens her chance to be happy with Ryan, by moving to Kelsey's town with his parents and what's worst, Kelsey still have the hots for David and she can't let go of him.

The author complicates and twists the whole drama with a hell-lot-of embarrassing moments between Kelsey-Ryan-David. Yes, the author threw quite a number of challenges on David's and Kelsey's path to test their feelings for each other.

The writing is absolutely crisp and articulate and the author have layered the plot with witty moments that are surely going to crack you up. The narrative style is very catchy and the author have featured it in an alluring manner with shifting narration between Kelsey and David and that let me see through the two protagonists' minds. The pacing is also good, since it's a very light read with not much complicated themes.

The characters are the best thing is this book which the author have portrayed in a realistic manner. It felt like the author have embodied herself into the shoes of teenage high-schooler who is going through all the relationship tantrums in her life, and the author have undoubtedly captured her pretty vividly. Unfortunately we fail to see past through Kelsey's vicious yet understanding demeanor, due to lack of back-story about her and David's relationship.

There is a lot of high-school drama that centers around teenage romance and how teenage couples trying to figure out their feelings for one another along with friendships and insecurities. Well, for me, it was like taking a trip down to the memory lane when I was in high-school and when I was pretty much in the same puddle of relationship drama. Overall, the book is thoroughly entertaining, if you don't mind those irritatingly-sweet-and-cheesy-high-school-moments.

Verdict: This book will appeal to almost all the young readers who prefer reading YA contemporary romance.

Courtesy: I received an e-copy of the book, in return for an honest review. 
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Author Info:
Gina Ciocca is the author of LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE (Simon Pulse, 2015) Respecter of the Fluff. Lover of love. I am represented by John M. Cusick at Greenhouse Literary.
Visit her here


Book Purchase Links:

• Amazon US 
• Amazon India