Post by saewod on Feb 27, 2012 20:55:51 GMT -5
Book Title: Bubbles Pop
Author: T.K. Marnell
Published By:
Recommended Age: 16 +
Reviewed By: Saewod
Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Thinking Aloud
Rating: 3.5 Ravens
Sixteen-year-old Elle grew up in the most fashionable neighborhood in Philadelphia with everything a girl could want. But when the economy crashes and Elle's father passes away, she moves to the drab suburbs with her stepmother Marie and new sisters Claire and Danielle. Marie seems to care more about work than her family and forces Elle to clean things--a torture Elle would do anything to avoid. Worst of all, the idiotic school "prince," Steve, falls for her at a party and won't leave her alone. Elle prefers Galen, a serious transfer student who may be the first person she could care about as much as herself. The problem? Galen is Steve's best friend.
Fourteen-year-old Claire fell in love with Steve Brendan at first sight, just like in one of her best friend Julie's romance novels. Nicknamed the "Prince of Loire High," Steve has a rich playboy reputation Claire knows is just talk. However, she also knows that Steve only hangs around her to get close to her beautiful sister Elle. When Claire blossoms into a beauty herself, the boys take notice--including Steve. But with the changes in her body comes a new perspective, and Claire starts to see the not-so-charming flaws in her beloved prince.
Twenty-one-year-old Danielle grew up too fast, and her emotions never quite caught up. Saddled with an alcoholic father and a workaholic mother, Danielle acted as a surrogate parent for her young sister Claire. She juggles college classes with her job at Kingston's Bookstore with no time or patience left for relationships. When Danielle meets Chris, a successful video game developer, she faces a dilemma: marry a wealthy man she might love and enjoy the easy life, or stick to her principle to rely on no one but herself?
Bubbles Pop follows the intertwined lives of the three sisters through one crucial year as they learn how to manage relationships, deal with disappointment, and take charge of their own happily-ever-afters.
The premise of Bubbles Pop is brilliant. I truly thought that this could be a book I would fall in love with. Unfortunately, I feel it needed a bit more editing and rewrites. While I appreciate the voice of a 16 year old teenager, I really couldn't handle another 'like' in her internal dialogue. It really put me off. Then there is the naïve 14 year old sister, who would have been really great if she wasn't portrayed as one step away from brain dead. I get flighty and gullible with no common sense, but for me she too annoying to read. The eldest sister was written pretty well and I feel as if the author had taken more time to hash out her character – it showed. There are also some unbelievable situations – like the opening with the 16 year old hiding in gas/fake log fireplace because a boy is at the door. That was a bit too much. A closet, a bedroom, the bathroom, sneaking out a window, that would've been more believable to me.
Given, as the story progresses so do the characters voices, which is fantastic. Marnell really showed growth for her characters and I truly appreciate it, since it isn't an easy feat to accomplish.
Overall, TK Marnell gives you true age behaviors in place of the 'mature' teens we always seem to read about. However, having said that, it is difficult to get through the first chapters in the 16 yr old's POV because you don't feel any redeeming or likable quality in her.
If edited and guided with some rewriting, I think this book could really hit the Young Adult market with its great premise and raw talent.
Author: T.K. Marnell
Published By:
Recommended Age: 16 +
Reviewed By: Saewod
Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Thinking Aloud
Rating: 3.5 Ravens
Sixteen-year-old Elle grew up in the most fashionable neighborhood in Philadelphia with everything a girl could want. But when the economy crashes and Elle's father passes away, she moves to the drab suburbs with her stepmother Marie and new sisters Claire and Danielle. Marie seems to care more about work than her family and forces Elle to clean things--a torture Elle would do anything to avoid. Worst of all, the idiotic school "prince," Steve, falls for her at a party and won't leave her alone. Elle prefers Galen, a serious transfer student who may be the first person she could care about as much as herself. The problem? Galen is Steve's best friend.
Fourteen-year-old Claire fell in love with Steve Brendan at first sight, just like in one of her best friend Julie's romance novels. Nicknamed the "Prince of Loire High," Steve has a rich playboy reputation Claire knows is just talk. However, she also knows that Steve only hangs around her to get close to her beautiful sister Elle. When Claire blossoms into a beauty herself, the boys take notice--including Steve. But with the changes in her body comes a new perspective, and Claire starts to see the not-so-charming flaws in her beloved prince.
Twenty-one-year-old Danielle grew up too fast, and her emotions never quite caught up. Saddled with an alcoholic father and a workaholic mother, Danielle acted as a surrogate parent for her young sister Claire. She juggles college classes with her job at Kingston's Bookstore with no time or patience left for relationships. When Danielle meets Chris, a successful video game developer, she faces a dilemma: marry a wealthy man she might love and enjoy the easy life, or stick to her principle to rely on no one but herself?
Bubbles Pop follows the intertwined lives of the three sisters through one crucial year as they learn how to manage relationships, deal with disappointment, and take charge of their own happily-ever-afters.
The premise of Bubbles Pop is brilliant. I truly thought that this could be a book I would fall in love with. Unfortunately, I feel it needed a bit more editing and rewrites. While I appreciate the voice of a 16 year old teenager, I really couldn't handle another 'like' in her internal dialogue. It really put me off. Then there is the naïve 14 year old sister, who would have been really great if she wasn't portrayed as one step away from brain dead. I get flighty and gullible with no common sense, but for me she too annoying to read. The eldest sister was written pretty well and I feel as if the author had taken more time to hash out her character – it showed. There are also some unbelievable situations – like the opening with the 16 year old hiding in gas/fake log fireplace because a boy is at the door. That was a bit too much. A closet, a bedroom, the bathroom, sneaking out a window, that would've been more believable to me.
Given, as the story progresses so do the characters voices, which is fantastic. Marnell really showed growth for her characters and I truly appreciate it, since it isn't an easy feat to accomplish.
Overall, TK Marnell gives you true age behaviors in place of the 'mature' teens we always seem to read about. However, having said that, it is difficult to get through the first chapters in the 16 yr old's POV because you don't feel any redeeming or likable quality in her.
If edited and guided with some rewriting, I think this book could really hit the Young Adult market with its great premise and raw talent.