Rating: 2.5 stars
Cover Rating: 4.5 stars (Sexy. I like it a lot.)
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 8, 2013
Publisher: Flux
Page Count: 229 p.
Add it: Goodreads
Madelyn starts attending college at sixteen. She's too smart to stay in regular school especially if she can get a jumpstart on her degree and therefore, her career. This is everything she's always wanted right? She meets Bennett at the college and they just seem to get each other. For the first time she has some one she can talk to and who will listen. A few snags in their relationship are that he thinks she's college-aged...and he's her professor. Madelyn tries to make those things disappear, because she doesn't think they matter. She wants him to know the truth, but she can't stand the thought of losing him. She doesn't know how to proceed without ruining everything, but you can't control everything.
I simply did not like Madelyn. She was manipulative the entire time. I know that she never necessarily lied outright, but it's a big deal. She knew what she was doing was wrong and could destroy Bennett and she simply did not care enough.
This was certainly an interesting take on the student-teacher relationship. A different set of events and all. I just didn't feel it between them. It seemed more like casual dating than the throw-caution-to-the-wind romance that Madelyn had come up with in her head. She was obsessed with him because she clearly had nothing better to do. The very first person to pay attention to her and she's convinced they are meant to be together forever. This could have easily turned into Swim Fan.
I guess the reason I didn't like this book is that it lacked emotion. I didn't like Madelyn and therefore didn't feel for her imagined turmoil. I just wanted her to grow up. The format was nice and the concept was fascinating, but maybe I missed the whole point of the novel. I just wanted more to happen. I wanted consequences, I wanted some FEELING. Mostly though I just felt annoyed. Maybe someone under parental pressure like Madelyn will be able to relate with her and I think that would make a world of difference in enjoying this story. I simply didn't like her and that made the story fall flat.
First Line:
"Dear Bennett, You might not read this, but maybe they will, and maybe somehow that will help you."
Favorite Line:
"You have to be perfect, and if you aren't, well, you better fake it pretty damn well."
Great review! I completely with your review. I really wanted to love this book. I mean, look at the cover. The premise. The author! So much promise, but you were absolutely right when you said it lacked emotions. The way the novel was written into letters was interesting, but the characters were lacking depth. Such a shame.
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