Review + Giveaway | Be True to Me by Adele Griffin


Be True to Me
by Adele Griffin
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Release Date: June 13th 2017
Genre/s: Contemporary, Romance, Historical
Age Category: Young Adult
Synopsis:
It's the summer of 1976 on Fire Island, where feathered hair and the Bicentennial celebration reign. Jean, a sometimes cruel, often insecure, and always envious rich girl, is accustomed to living in her glamorous older sister’s shadow. So when Gil Burke, a handsome newcomer with uncertain ties to one of the most powerful families in the exclusive enclave of Sunken Haven, notices Jean—not her sister—Jean is smitten. Then Fritz, a girl from outside the gild-ed gates who humiliated Jean in the Island’s tennis championship last year, falls for Gil her-self. Soon the girls are competing for much more than a tennis trophy, with higher stakes than either of them can imagine. Told through the alternating perspectives of Jean and Fritz, as they experience feeling like an outsider and first love.






my thoughts and whatnot

When I first saw this book, I was very intrigued, and rightfully so because this has a very intriguing plot and setting. I'm not gonna lie, it took me a while to get used to the writing style and the setting (as I normally read futuristic novels or from the 1800 era). After I was accustomed to the writing style, it feels so easy finishing this but I decided to not rush into reading because this is the kind of book that you savor.

Anyway, just from the synopsis, we know that there would be some sort of a love triangle - Fritz & Jean with Gil between the two ladies. If this book doesn't have an alternating POV, I would've hated Fritz and sided with Jean but that's not the case so it was the other way around. Jean is an insecure (and childish) girl that's always on the shadow of her more glamorous sister, Daphne. She's so envious and cruel (sometimes) that it feels so easy to hate her but I don't, hate her that is. I kind of understand what she's feeling, it makes me feel so bad for her. Fritz, my poor, poor Fritz. She's my favorite character here. She's an independent, carefree, young woman but she's shunned because she's an outsider, she's not a Sunkie. Enter Gil Burke, a newcomer but he has ties to one of the powerful families in the Sunken Haven. He's so eager to please his "uncle," to fit right in the island. At first, I disliked this guy, it took me a while to warm up to him, to be honest.

Each of the characters are intricately written and their stories so closely woven with each other. The other characters seemed so haughty to me but it just added to the allure of the story, to the allure of Sunken Haven.

This book is divided into three parts and the third part just about broke my heart. That's the part where the characters discover just how much their stories intertwined with each other. It's the part that lead to a very compelling and riveting ending.

Overall, this was such a wonderful book. After finishing this, I was so shocked - it rendered me speechless. Poignant. Astonishing. Remarkable. This is the kind of book that stays with you.


About the author:
Adele Griffin is the highly acclaimed author of almost thirty books for Young Adult and middle grade readers.
Her works include the National Book Award Finalists Sons of Liberty and Where I Want toBe, as well as the popular Oodlethunks series for younger readers. Her latest novel The Un-finished Life of Addison Stone was a YALSA Best Book of 2015, an Amazon Best YA Book of the Year, a Booklist Top Ten Arts Books for Youth, a Junior Library Guild selection, a Romantic Times Finalist for Book of the Year, and a School Library Journal Top Fiction pick. Her latest novel Be True to Me is publishing in June 2017 with Algonquin Books.

Author links:

giveaway

1 Copy of BE TRUE TO ME by Adele Griffin, 1 BE TRUE TO ME patch (see picture) (U.S. Only) 06/14



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1 comments

  1. Michelle9 June 2017 at 04:13

    I love how you described this book-- I just started it and I really like it so far. I love the 70's setting and all the little things thrown in to make you KNOW it's the 70's. Adele's writing style is different. I'm used to it because I've read (and loved) a few of her books, but it does take some getting used to. I'm glad you ultimately liked it and that the ending sounds intense!! I'm excited to see what happens now :)

    Thanks for being on the tour and for writing such a fab review!!

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