September 18, 2012

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Release Date: October 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 245
Series: n/a
Review Source: ARC from Raincoast Books


Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

After a scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.

My Thoughts:
Miranda Kenneally, I bow down to you. You are my new queen of witty, smart, and swoony contemporary YA, and you will forever be on my auto-buy list.

If you loved 'Catching Jordan' the way that I did then you will definitely love 'Stealing Parker' as well. I’m beginning to find that I love companion books, and 'Stealing Parker' is no exception. It includes the main couple from 'Catching Jordan' without relying on them as a crutch, and it utilized the setting and some supporting characters from that book in an amazing way as well.

I absolutely adored Parker, especially because she was so completely different from Jordan. Even as I read the book and was screaming at Parker for some of the decisions she made, I just couldn’t stay mad at her. She was so easy to care about and empathize with. And don’t even get me started on Corndog/Will: way too adorable!

I love how in her books Miranda Kenneally deals with sensitive subjects in an honest way. She’s not sensationalizing them, but just bringing them into the foreground and showing how they’re a part of reality. 'Stealing Parker', for example, deals with homosexuality, religion, sexual relationships, and age differences in relationships.

If I had one teensy tiny criticism about the book it would be that it, in a way, followed the same story pattern as 'Catching Jordan', especially when it came to the romantic relationships. However it wasn’t enough to bother me in a huge way. ‘Stealing Parker’ was a book that I was highly anticipating, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. I love this book, and I can't wait to re-read it.

The Cover:
Cute! I like the colours.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

8 comments:

  1. Great review, Ashley!! I really need to read some Miranda Kenneally ... her books sound awesome!! And I love a good YA Contemporary Romance.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  2. That's great to know, Ashely!
    I'm glad the book lived up to your expectations, though I admit I didn't like Catching Jordan quite so much - it was a bit because of the relationship thing and other personal pickles with Jordan, but it was a fun, engaging book and I'm glad Parker is one as well.

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  3. Oh yay! We didn't love CATCHING JORDAN as much as you did, but there was a lot about it that we appreciated, and it definitely got us interested in whatever else Miranda Kenneally has coming down the pipeline. Glad to hear this lived up!

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  4. I have been DYING to read this series! I am so mad at myself for not having the first book yet. I am so excited to see that you loved it so much and that you said it is smart and witty :)

    That is pretty much my favorite.

    Thanks for the great review Ashley

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  5. Oh, yay! I loved the first book in this series and cannot wait for this one. The one before this is also one that "disappeared" off my classroom bookshelf, never to return...

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  6. Great review! I have loved all the contemp companion books I have read too. I haven't read Catching Jordan yet but I look forward to it. I think this one actually sounds even better! :)

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  7. I CANNOT wait to read this one!!! :D I've been waiting for this one for so long, and I'm seriously so excited for it! :D I'm so glad that you loved it as much as Catching Jordan (even though it does still have the same flippancy about sex...but I can deal with that...I still love Catching Jordan regardless of it :P)...so as I said, so excited! :D And now I'm even more excited after reading your review! :D

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    Replies
    1. Agreed, I have SUCH different feelings regarding those issues, but it doesn't mean I can't appreciate the book despite that fact. =)

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment; I appreciate each one!

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