Review: Dear Cassie by Lisa Burstein

Release Date: 5 March 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon

Goodreads description:

What if the last place you should fall in love is the first place that you do?

You’d think getting sent to Turning Pines Wilderness Camp for a month-long rehabilitation “retreat” and being forced to re-live it in this journal would be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.

You’d be wrong.

There’s the reason I was sent to Turning Pines in the first place: I got arrested. On prom night. With my two best friends, who I haven’t talked to since and probably never will again. And then there’s the real reason I was sent here. The thing I can’t talk about with the guy I can’t even think about.

What if the moment you’ve closed yourself off is the moment you start to break open?

But there’s this guy here. Ben. And the more I swear he won’t—he can’t—the deeper under my skin he’s getting. After the thing that happened, I promised I’d never fall for another boy’s lies.

And yet I can’t help but wonder…what if?

My Thoughts...

When I read Pretty Amy over a year ago now, I felt like I had found a gem in Ms. Burstein's writing. Amy was perfectly flawed and fun to read about. I was incredibly excited to discover that Cassie would be getting her own story and Ms. Burstein once again delivered on a great premise.

What I Liked:
The writing and character development was once again fantastic. I was excited to have the opportunity to get into Cassie's head and wasn't disappointed at what we discovered there. Cassie is a very dynamic character with her tough-girl, rough-around-the-edges attitude coupled with clear heartbreak over something that she keeps hidden deep. The minor characters in this book were fantastic and I found myself intrigued by each and every one of them.

What Was Disappointing:
Bens's stunt at the end seemed a little over-the-top and perhaps unrealistic. I liked that they got to have this moment, but I felt like it was too easy and not really plausible.

Overall:
I will continue to follow Ms. Burstein's writing quite avidly and the hints of a Ben/Cassie novella make me quite the happy reader. I think this is also one that will consider adding to my library collection (possibly out of my own pocket) because it has that raw, realistic quality to it that my students enjoy.

Friday Fling! The Next Forever by Lisa Burstein

During Friday Fling , I share with you a "just for fun" romance book or novella that I read and really enjoyed.  It will generally be a "mini review" instead of a full review and I'll stray from my YA focus into the realm of adult romance (which, in case you're curious, is my not-so-guilty pleasure).  These are books that I think are fun, quick (sexy) reads that are definitely worth checking out!




Follow-up novellas tend to be hit or miss for me, but I have to say that this little gem was spot on...

Publisher: Ever After (Entangled Publishing)
Release Date: January 2013
Get it! Amazon | B&N

Amy and Joe have known each other for a long time, but it was only at the end of their high school career that their friendship was rekindled and blossomed into something more. Now together in college, Amy and Joe must navigate the uncertainties and difficulties of college life.  Amy must reconcile her new (actually, old) self with the person that she was while hanging out with Lila and Cassie.  Joe is trying to find his own path while holding on to Amy as his anchor.  Will they be able to forge a path forward together?

Told in alternating POVs, The Next Forever offers up both Amy and Joe's perspective on a single college night that proves a turning point for both of them.  For such a short novella, I felt like Lisa really packed it in with this one.  The reader gets a deeper sense of connection to Amy and gets to spend some time in Joe's head.  This was a quick, fun read--a definite MUST for fans of Pretty Amy.