Chad Alan Gibbs

Set in Florida, this is a cold-case mystery about a gay football player who is murdered after starting at a wealthy high school. There is a dual timeline & a minor coming of age element with our current day amateur sleuth going through her first serious relationship while in a rags-to-riches scenario. There is a lot of billionaires to keep track of, as well as a sub-plot involving addiction, so there is a lot going on.
The book was just ok. It was interesting enough to finish it, and I liked that the endearing sidekick was neurodivergent. But the story was not realistic. For example, the ‘box in the attic’ type trope was used twice. And as the main characters are high school kids, I often felt like I was reading a Scooby Doo mystery. This was especially true at the end of the book, when the murderer confesses to everything instead of killing our amateur sleuth (all the while claiming that they will.)
I won a free copy of this book (thanks to the author & publisher!) and am voluntarily providing an honest review.… (plus d'informations)

“That newspaper was my first glimpse of the outside world, and I wanted to see more of it.”

FORMAT READ: eBook (Adobe Digital Editions)
READ IF: looking for a light and feel good, classic, YA Contemporary
SIMILAR VIBES: All the Bright Places, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, John Green-ish

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*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise*

OVERALL: 3.5
This is a book to read when you want a light and “classic YA contemporary”. I enjoyed the writing style for the majority of the book and there wasn’t anything that I particularly disliked.

I thought that the characters were very relatable and I found the whole vibe of the book has a bit of an adventurous feel. The narration and writing style very easy to get into with fun character relationships. The writing style also reminded me of PJO (Percy Jackson) because of the chapter titles and overall writing feel… which was really cool.. and cute and sweet
The plot was centered around a lot of highschool-y subjects and I just don’t think that was what I expected from this book nor was I in the mood for it. It was a tad bit cliche even though it was hilariously enjoyable. The added touch of World War II gave the book its own personality and made it more original.

PLOT: ★★★☆☆
WRITING STYLE: ★★★★★
CHARACTERS: ★★★★☆
THEMES: ★★☆☆☆
PACING: ★★★★☆
PAGE TURNER: ★★★☆☆

Thanks to Chad Alan Gibbs and Borne Back Books for sending me an ARC to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.… (plus d'informations)

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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...as much as talent counts, effort counts twice.

WHAT'S GRIT ABOUT?
I'm afraid I'd get lost in minuate or that I'd overcorrect and not give an adequate idea if I tried to give a thumbnail, so let me borrow from Duckworth's website:

pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed—be it parents, students, educators, athletes, or business people—that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.”
Why do some people succeed and others fail? Sharing new insights from her landmark research, Angela explains why talent is hardly a guarantor of success.

Angela has found that grit—a combination of passion and perseverance for a singularly important goal—is the hallmark of high achievers in every domain. She’s also found scientific evidence that grit can grow.

Angela gives a first-person account of her research with teachers working in some of the toughest schools, cadets struggling through their first days at West Point, and young finalists in the National Spelling Bee. She also mines fascinating insights from history and shows what can be gleaned from modern experiments in peak performance. Finally, she shares what she’s learned from interviewing dozens of high achievers—from JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon to Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll.

It's a fascinating mix of psychological research, case studies and personal anecdotes. Duckworth structured this in such a way that not only it was informative and educational, it was enjoyable and motivational.

HOW ABOUT THE NARRATION?
I thought Duckworth herself was a great choice for narrators—she gives an energetic reading, that feels all the more authentic because it's based on her research and experiences*. She talks at one point about the work she put in to make her TED Talk more successful and probably carried over that work to this. In the end, it was one of the more compelling non-fiction narrations I can remember.

* Not that another narrator would've felt inauthentic...

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT GRIT?
I loved this—I was entertained, educated, and a little inspired. The subject was interesting, the approach challenging and didn't always give the answers you expected. Duckworth made it clear that with the right mindset and time, it was possible to increase your own grit and find a measure of success. It's not a one-size-fits-all solution, nor is it a promise of instant success. Just a reassurance that smart work can pay off.

I couldn't stop thinking of different friends/family members that I wanted to share insights from this with—I think one son, in particular, should be very happy that he was busy with school while I was listening to this so I didn't force him to listen along (it probably would have done him some good, but he probably wouldn't have appreciated it in the moment).

The associated PDF was a nice supplement to the audiobook (so I can see charts/graphs and whatnot). Still, I think I'm going to have to get a hold of the hard copy for easy reference (it's just easier to flip through to find something, or to use the index, than skipping through an audio file) and probably give out a copy or three.… (plus d'informations)

Be warned: I'm going to gush here. This is one of the funniest books I've read in a while. It's also a tender sweet story. If you like YA, you need to read this book now!
Edwin Green is a high school junior and a bit of a nerd. He's been in a funk since his girlfriend dumped him a year ago on Black Saturday because she suddenly became famous. When he's paired up with new girl Parker Haddaway for a history assignment, he has no idea what he in for. As Edwin says about himself:
"I was a cautious teenager. And caution, if it is a virtue, is not one often associated with teenage boys. On the whole, we make rash decisions without giving much thought to the consequences, either intended or unintended."
Anyway, Edwin and Parker end up taking Garland Lenox, a ninety-year-old WWII veteran, out of his nursing home and taking him to France to find his lost love. Garland is a character; he tells Edwin stories about his past life - he says he was some sort of secret agent - that are frankly unbelievable - maybe.
One of the themes of this story is the 'virtue' of fame in today's world. Edwin thinks he might win his ex-girlfriend back if he also becomes famous, and this trip to France might just do that. Parker is somewhat mysterious with a complicated backstory, but she and Garland are good friends. She's very kind-hearted really though also extremely funny. She's been through a lot and is older than her years. Parker -
“The world is a stage, Edwin Green, but the play is badly cast.”
Garland is the glue of the book. He's gruff with a heart of gold. He's also having the time of his life running around France with the two teenagers, causing mayhem and international incidents. Whether or not they find Madeleine, Garland takes advantage of this adventure for a last hurrah.
The author is a good writer. The pacing of the story is excellent, and I especially like the little chapter headings that foreshadow what's coming next. He does a great job in describing Normandy; the scene of Edwin and Parker in the canola field is perfect, and he adds in other little historical touches that make it clear he knows the area well.
It's a fabulous book and one that will stick with you for a while. I look forward to more from this author.… (plus d'informations)