Novel Review: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Rating (Out of 5): ~4
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins)
Release Date: 2013
Spoilers?: No.
Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.
Teaser Tuesday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

The Cover:

I love this cover. I think it's adorable and fitting, and the exact type of cover that catches my eye.

Review:

This book was super cute. I almost picked it up back when it was first released, but shied away from it, and I’m glad I finally got to it.

Wren saves Gray’s life when he's choking at a party hosted by her family’s business. It’s a start that draws their attention to each other, but it’s bumpy and awkward afterward. They have a hard time hitting it off, but they’re determined to get something right between them.

I do understand their attraction to each other, and I enjoyed seeing them slowly get to a point where they do know each other. Gray is getting over his mess-ups in the past, all of his bad decisions, and I think he does quite well. Wren gets involved in the way she wants to, as she’s trying to figure out what she really wants in life.

I like all of the focus on Wren’s family and their family business was a lot of fun; her friends were nice, too. There was a good amount of character growth in this book, and I enjoyed where everything ended.

I’m apparently in the minority here, but I enjoyed this book quite a bit, and look forward to picking up her next one.

Teaser Tuesday[187]: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins)

Release Date: 2013

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

Excerpt:

“‘I’d like dessert,’ I said, holding her gaze.

Just what I needed. A little harmless flirting to make the world go away.” (Hardback, pg. 86)

What are you reading right now?

Wishlist Thursday[35]: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publish Date: December 31^st, 2013

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

Why?:

This sounds really good, right up my alley. This looks and sounds like something that I am really going to like, plus the cover is adorable. But I’ve heard some not-so-great things, which makes me kind of afraid, since I had such high hopes for this one. I’m still being optimistic, and hoping that it turns out to be as good as I want it to.