Published: July 12, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Rating: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab
Amazon ❘ Goodreads ❘ Website
On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Sebastian dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction—and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Sebastian, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...
**This Review is based on an ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy). The final text/cover might change.**
I’ve heard of Lauren Barnholdt’s books, but this one’s the first one that I picked up. I read this one in one sitting. It was so good! I loved it. It’s just so interesting to find out what happens– both in progression of the first day of senior year and what happened in the summer. I found the switch between the present and past views really interesting, as how the characters attitudes change during the course of the novel to one another. I found that the summer was interesting, as it shows the progression of Hannah and Noah's romance, yet it was quite suspenseful to see what happens on the first day of school when things start to unravel and fall apart.
I don’t really know what to say about Hannah. I mean, I think she wasn’t such a significant character. She didn’t leave much of an impact on me, but I do think that at times she was quite funny. Ava was a much more interesting character. She made a much better story, at how she's at summer camp, and yet, there's something about it she's not letting on. Lacey was hilarious– she added the humor in the story. She's obsessed with being perfect and always thinks that she has some sort of medical problem with her. I love how Hannah and her meet!
NOAH!! YAY! Love him. He goes all the way out to make Hannah comfortable, and takes "care" of Sebastian when he bothers her. I like the progress of his and Hannah's friendship which turns into something more. Sebastian? BLECK. I don't know why he even bothers to try. He's no Noah! and for some really strange reason, it says in the blurb that his name's Ryan (I changed it to Sebastian)...maybe it's in the final version? No idea.
What I didn't like was that most of what was going to happen was either given away from the blurb or the perspective in the present. There wasn't much room for suspense, although there was a bit for the present as what was going to happen next. As people break and make up during the day, it all ends up pretty differently.
I do like though, that it wasn't all serious and stuff. There were some fun parts, like the laundry place and the concert bit. It's like an icebreaker from what's going on, and I loved these bits the most. It also was really cute! :D
Overall, Sometimes It Happens is definitely one of the best YA contemps of the year. Its sweet, addictive and anticipating and readers will want to find out what happens during the development and course of Hannah and Noah's romance. I'm really looking forward to reading more of Lauren Barnholdt's books.
If you like this, try...
- Love Story by Jennifer Echols (Review ❘ Amazon ❘ Goodreads)
- Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott (Review ❘ Amazon ❘ Goodreads)
- The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (Review ❘ Amazon
❘ Goodreads)
- What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (Amazon
❘ Goodreads)
- The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder (Review ❘ Amazon
❘ Goodreads)
- Moonglass by Jessi Kirby (Amazon
❘ Goodreads)
I'm excited to get to this one. Even more now.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like something I would read at the beach and I really want to read it. Her books are usually really cute :) Great review!
ReplyDeleteAs we watch Noah and Hannah fall for each other, we think: Ahh, "it" is clearly love. (For they do ultimately fall hard for each other despite their best efforts not to.) But just as each character is multi-faceted, so too is "it." "It" encompasses all the craziness that is being in high school and learning to deal with complex emotions and situations. "It" is definitely sex AND romance AND love. But it's also friendship drama and difficult consequences. "It" is that mistake you made that changed your life forever, but was maybe the best thing you ever did.
ReplyDeleteYou won't walk away from Sometimes it Happens feeling like you've spent a lot of time thinking deeply (it definitely reads more like a beach book), but it nonetheless tackles some tough issues in a bright, quick read.
thank you so mich for the review cant wait till July =)
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