Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord -- ESSENTIAL

Lord, Emery Open Road Summer, 352 pgs. Bloomsbury/Walker, 2014. $17.99. Mature content: PG-13; Language: PG-13 (50+ swears; no 'f'); Violence: PG.

Reagan is convinced that joining her superstar best friend Dee on her concert tour will be the perfect way to forget a troubled past. Unfortunately, it's not as easy to run from mistakes as Reagan had hoped, and hot opening act Matt Finch only adds to the complications.

This young adult novel is the perfect blend of romance, humor, and angst, with plenty of backstage details to entice music fans. Reagan and Dee's friendship is a wonderfully strong element as well, showing that best friends can be just as important as crushes, if not more so. While the cover implies a hotter read, Reagan and Matt's relationship is refreshingly clean, and I appreciate that they decide to move slowly despite their mutual attraction; it adds a depth and sweetness to their relationship. As a character, Reagan comes across as brusque and cynical at times, but her attitude seems realistic given her background, and her demeanor gives her plenty of room to grow both during the novel and, presumably, afterward.

HS -- ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Caryn

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