YA Book Review: The One The I Want by Jennifer Echols

Release Date: 6 December 2011 (eBook version only)

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased from B&N

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Goodreads description:

Gemma can’t believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma’s heartbroken.

Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max’s friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can’t help thinking that Max likes her back—it’s just too bad he’s already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend’s boyfriend

My Thoughts...

Look! Another contemporary read that I enjoyed! *gasp* Are you getting the feeling that I might actually *like* contemporary YA sometimes? You're probably right and someday I will stop thinking and espousing that I don't.

Gemma is a really interesting chracter and I liked her, but I'm not sure that I ever *loved* her.  I connected with her in a lot of ways and she is clearly really looking for where she fits in. From the start, I found myself disliking both of her supposed best friends, Robert and Addison. Neither seemed to really fit the bill, and I thought that Gemma was really more friends with them because she was "supposed" to be?  Either way, I felt like Gemma realized that those friendships weren't what she really needed.  I was disappointed at her actions a couple of times because I guess I expected more for her and really wanted her to stand up for herself...but at the same time she felt authentic. Does that make sense? High school is confusing in so many ways and Gemma was a perfect exemplar of that.

Max is a totally swoon-worthy male lead and really difficult not to like! There were points when I seriously wanted him to slap some sense into Gemma and tell her she was awesome and being stupid.  I had a sneaking suspicion about what Addison had done when it came to that first date and I kept hoping that Max would set the record straight.  In the end, he does get Gemma to see some sense and I liked that he pushed her a little.

The One that I Want is a fun, quick read that fans of contemporary YA will love.  It's endearing story of friendship and "love" is enjoyable if not just a little predictable.  The romance is well-done and the characters are relateable but I think readers will see the end coming from the moment you meet the boys. Despite that, I really did think that it was an endearing story and a VERY quick read.