Author: Camille Noe Pagan
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Subject: Friendship, Daily Life
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Release date: June 9th, 2011
Length: 304 Pages
I got this book: From the publisher for review through NetGalley.
"Marissa Rogers never wanted to be an alpha; beta suited her just fine. Taking charge without taking credit had always paid off: vaulting her to senior editor at a glossy magazine; keeping the peace with her critical, weight-obsessed mother; and enjoying the benefits of being best friends with gorgeous, charismatic, absolutely alpha Julia Ferrar.
And then Julia gets hit by a cab. She survives with minor obvious injuries, but brain damage steals her memory and alters her personality, possibly forever. Suddenly, Marissa is thrown into the role of alpha friend. As Julia struggles to regain her memory- dredging up issues Marissa would rather forget, including the fact that Julia asked her to abandon the love of her life ten years ago- Marissa's own equilibrium is shaken.
With the help of a dozen girls, she reluctantly agrees to coach in an after-school running program. There, Marissa uncovers her inner confidence and finds the courage to reexamine her past and take control of her future."
Personal opinion:
I have to say that I loathed Julia for the biggest part of the book. She was just a spoiled brat to me who used Marissa as a doormat much of the time to get her way. Even after her brain injury I still didn't find her very likeable. I could identify with Marissa really well because she was a lot like me, sans the diet talk. I too have had confidence issues for a long time and I experienced a similar growth that Marissa goes through during the book. That part, I liked very much, however the reading was slow because I just couldn't stand Julia and that made this a really frustrating read at times. Still, both Julia and Marissa are complicated characters and the author succeeded at portraying how different they are. I did like the conclusion of the book and I got more understanding for Julia as a person in the end.
A quote:
"Swans are very intelligent, and their memories are is long as an elephant's." Her eyes twinkle. "That is why they tend to be so damn mean."
"No kidding."
"Indeed. Swans will actually try to drown each other if they're angry enough. People admire their beauty and their devotion, but they're certainly not the animal whose social patterns we'd be wise to emulate. Unlike humans, they're unable to learn the art of forgetting."
It was okay.
Purchase links: Amazon
Other reviews: None Yet
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I have read a lot of mixed reviews about this book - especially from people who have liked but book but hated Julia! I'm going to have to read it for myself, it has definitely caught my attention!
ReplyDeleteBonnie @ HandsAndHome