Finding Mr. Brightside by Jay Clark
Abram and Juliette know each other. They’ve lived down the street from each other their whole lives. But they don’t really know each other—at least, not until Juliette’s mom and Abram’s dad have a torrid affair that culminates in a deadly car crash. Sharing the same subdivision is uncomfortable, to say the least. They don’t speak.
Fast-forward to the neighborhood pharmacy, a few months later. Abram decides to say hello. Then he decides to invite her to Taco Bell. To her surprise as well as his, she agrees. And the real love story begins.
Manda's 5 Star Review
I absolutely loved this book! I could tell from the blurb that this was going to be totally different than the usual YA romance. I love books that follow their own rules and don't try to fit into the typical mold. The writing style is fresh and different. The banter between the the main characters is witty and brimming with sarcasm and teenage angst, mostly coming from Juliette. Jay Clark has a gift for writing the teenage mind and has created a fantastic story about growing up and dealing with the past and an uncertain future.
This book starts off after the big life changing tragedy and focuses more on dealing with the after effects and confusion of their parents betrayal.
Juliette is an amazingly complex character who has so many conflicting emotions about her mother and what happened that she chooses to deal with it by self medicating and blocking it out. Choosing to focus more on trying to keep her father moving forward than dealing with her own emotions and insecurities.
Then we have Abram, who chooses to handle his feelings on the matter in a slightly different manner. Somewhat awkward and completely laid back, Abram is just kind of drifting through life. Although he is intelligent and a gifted athlete, he has lost his drive to compete and is more interested in sleeping his time away in his basement.
Juliette and Abram know each other but have never really interacted, until one strange encounter in a local pharmacy leads them into an uneasy friendship. As time passes and they begin to really get to know each other a stronger bond is formed. Through their own personal dysfunction they begin to bring out the best in each other and find a way of moving forward.
One of my favorite things about this book is the ending. It is just so perfectly Juliette and Abram. Fantastic job Jay Clark and congratulations on a truly amazing book.
Abram and Juliette know each other. They’ve lived down the street from each other their whole lives. But they don’t really know each other—at least, not until Juliette’s mom and Abram’s dad have a torrid affair that culminates in a deadly car crash. Sharing the same subdivision is uncomfortable, to say the least. They don’t speak.
Fast-forward to the neighborhood pharmacy, a few months later. Abram decides to say hello. Then he decides to invite her to Taco Bell. To her surprise as well as his, she agrees. And the real love story begins.
Manda's 5 Star Review
I absolutely loved this book! I could tell from the blurb that this was going to be totally different than the usual YA romance. I love books that follow their own rules and don't try to fit into the typical mold. The writing style is fresh and different. The banter between the the main characters is witty and brimming with sarcasm and teenage angst, mostly coming from Juliette. Jay Clark has a gift for writing the teenage mind and has created a fantastic story about growing up and dealing with the past and an uncertain future.
This book starts off after the big life changing tragedy and focuses more on dealing with the after effects and confusion of their parents betrayal.
Juliette is an amazingly complex character who has so many conflicting emotions about her mother and what happened that she chooses to deal with it by self medicating and blocking it out. Choosing to focus more on trying to keep her father moving forward than dealing with her own emotions and insecurities.
Then we have Abram, who chooses to handle his feelings on the matter in a slightly different manner. Somewhat awkward and completely laid back, Abram is just kind of drifting through life. Although he is intelligent and a gifted athlete, he has lost his drive to compete and is more interested in sleeping his time away in his basement.
Juliette and Abram know each other but have never really interacted, until one strange encounter in a local pharmacy leads them into an uneasy friendship. As time passes and they begin to really get to know each other a stronger bond is formed. Through their own personal dysfunction they begin to bring out the best in each other and find a way of moving forward.
One of my favorite things about this book is the ending. It is just so perfectly Juliette and Abram. Fantastic job Jay Clark and congratulations on a truly amazing book.