What a super cute book!

Synopsis

Flynn: At first we were almost strangers. But ever since I moved to New York, Amos was the one person I could count on. And together we were there for Poppy. (I mean, what kind of parents leave their kid to be raised by a nanny?) I just didn’t expect to fall for him—and I never expected him to leave us.Amos: I thought I was the only one who felt it. I told myself it was because we were spending so much time together—taking care of Poppy and all. But that night, I could tell she felt it, too. And I freaked out—you’re not supposed to fall for your stepsister. So I ran away to boarding school. I should have told her why I was leaving, but every time I tried, it felt like a lie.

One missed flight was about to change their lives forever….

GOODREADS  AMAZON

Review

An ARC has been kindly given by Random House Children via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion

4 stars

What a super cute book!

I read this story like I would drink hot cocoa on a winter day. I read it in one sitting because everything worked perfectly well together. I loved this bitter sweet story about a family with most of the time absent parents where the kids stick together and create their own home feel.

It really was kids against adult.

And what kids!

You have little Poppy around ten years old. She is the kid gluing her older siblings together as they were from two different families. Poppy is just adorable. She has a special condition that will never be named but that makes her the odd kid at school. The one the other children are mocking as kids can be mean. The one all alone at lunch. The one with an old soul and an irresistible smile.

““No one else gets me the way you and Flynn do. The kids at school think I’m weird.” She looks up at me, and my heart breaks for her. “They think I’m weird at my school, too,” I reply. “Yeah, right.” “It’s true. But you have to remember that weird is good. Weird means you have personality. Weird means you’re not like everyone else.””

Poppy has two fantastic siblings. Flynn her dad’s daughter and Amos her mom’s son. I swear I’ve rarely read about brother and sisters as united as these were. I guess when your parents work so much and travel all the time leaving you with the nanny/cook you learn to fend for yourself and create your own family unit.

Flynn will very soon be sixteen and has always felt different from the other girls. She is authentic. She has never had a boyfriend just for the sake of it as she wants more than make out sessions. She wants feelings too. But being the girl that “has never done it” can feel awkward too.

“I don’t know why I’ve been such a prude my whole life, or what I’m really waiting for. Even the idea of hooking up with random guys has always made me feel kind of sad. Not that I’m some romantic sap. It just seems sort of strange to be that reckless with your emotions. But now it’s as if everyone around me is not only making out, but, you know, doing more than that, too.”

We all know what Flynn is going through as we experienced it in our youth. Peer pressure. Wanting “in” and yet keeping your own personality. Not just being a copycat but remaining our own person while fitting in the teenage crowd.

Amos. Handsome and aloof Amos. Seventeen and confident Amos. Amos who left for boarding school without warning Flynn because he was falling for his stepsister. Amos who is feeling adrift without Flynn and yet can’t tell her everything. Now he is back for winter break things are awkward.

They used to be so close together but now Flynn can barely look at Amos.

He can tell she is changed.

The kids were supposed to join their parents on a trip but when learning what was waiting for them the three siblings decided to run while waiting for their layover plane in LA.

““So we’re doing this.” I look at Amos and Poppy. And then, without saying anything else, we toss our phones into a trash can outside the Los Angeles International Airport. We’re officially off the grid.”

It will be two days to reconnect. Two days to celebrate “us”. Two days to let the adults know that they matter. They are a family unit and can’t be disposed of as it pleases the parents.

It will be a time of “first”. Small acts of rebellion like every teenager put from time to time. Feelings running rampant unsaid till it’s too much and they are bursting out of chest.

I really had a wonderful time reading this uncomplicated but well executed story. I loved the kids loyalty. They have each other’s back and it was really heart warming to read especially when my own children fight to much!

Told from three POV this book broaches many topics about teenage years in a realistic way:

-how you try to fit in and should you fit in;

-what it feels to be different and mocked;

-first love, first kiss, first…;

-making mistakes at parties and regretting it;

-finding oneself. Find your own way and fight for it;

-experimenting grief and surviving it;

-…

Parents read this book. Kids notice. Kids have feelings. They want your love your support and no money can compensate for this.

Have you read this book? Do you love contemporary YA books?

Thanks for reading!

Sophie