30.10.12

Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:
Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She's on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she's made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother's scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three. Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?
Review: 

Ever since reading Catching Jordan last year, Miranda Kenneally has become my MOST favorite YA contemporary romance author EVER! With Stealing Parker, this was only made more official, as to put it simply: Stealing Parker was AMAZING! It was funny. It was heartbreaking. It included a hot and steamy romance. And most of all, it was real. Basically, you all need to read this book NOW.

Stealing Parker begins the story of Parker Shelton, a girl whose life has seemingly fallen apart ever since her mom (A) announced she was a lesbian and (B) moved hundreds of miles away with her secret girlfriend. Ever since then, Parker has faced the brunt of her mother's actions from her overly religious community. She's faced the jeers and the taunts as well as the whole "what if Parker is a LESBIAN questions?!" And to put that last one to rest especially, she's becomes the girl all the guys want. However, the more she sinks into this new life, the more she looses herself. However, everything changes when she's asked to manage the boy's baseball team. She begins to loose herself in a forbidden relationship and makes a surprising ally in an incredibly sweet boy. What happens, though, when she sinks to an all time low? Will she fix everything once and all, or run away from everything at an even faster speed? Only time and more pages can tell in this fast paced and fun read sure to have any reader reading late into the night!

First of all, just like in Catching Jordan, I LOVED the characters in this one! Parker was somehow who has been through a lot in the past year, and while there were times were I just wanted to shake her on the shoulders and yell "stand up for yourself girl!", I could understand why she changed everything. What I liked most about Parker, however, though was her sassy attitude. She was funny and sarcastic and that just made the story fly by! Another one of my favorite parts about her character was seeing her relationship with Corndog blossom. He was favorite of mine in Catching Jordan so it was fun to see him take on a bigger role in this one. Plus it didn't hurt how that he was incredibly swoon worthy in all ways possible. The one person I was always too big on, though, was Parker's best friend. He always seemed to be incredibly mood, especially towards the end, and while I could understand why he was that way as well, he still got on my nerves no matter how hard I tried to stop it. 

The plot in this was also a ton of fun. I enjoyed seeing the sports aspect, even though I'm not a huge sports person. Kenneally did a great job with the religious part as well. I'm not always big on religion being part of books, because it can usually go come off one of two ways: (1) incredibly pushy or (2) well done. Thankfully, it was the later of the two in this one, and more importantly, it played an important part in Parker's overall development as a character. Talking about Parker, her relationship with the assistant baseball coach was also interesting and kept the book moving. I was never a huge fan of him. I thought he was pushy and not that great. Plus I'm team Corndog all the way. However, just like the religious aspect, it played a big part in Parker's evolution as a character, and the book wouldn't be nearly the same without it. 

Lastly, Kenneally's writing was fantastic in this! She always does such a great job of creating a solid and unique teen voice, and I just love the way she always pushes the lines with her books. 

In all, Stealing Parker is another winner in my eyes, so I demand that you all get your hands on this book ASAP. It's amazing...trust me! However, I have one tiny problem right now: I'm DYING to read the next one! 

Grade: A+

Stealing Parker (Amazon/ BN/ Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley 

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