Title: Leaving Paradise
Series: Yes
Author(s): Simone Elkeles
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 303
Summary: Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares — has been canceled.
Series: Yes
Author(s): Simone Elkeles
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 303
Summary: Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares — has been canceled.
After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.
Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.
My Thoughts: Oh. My. Gosh... I can't explain how shockingly great this book was. Simone Elkeles has a way with writing that is just... wow... I am sorry, and do give you advance warning that this book review may not contain one coherent thought or sentence due to the fact that I just finished it, and am in shock mode right now. There were just so many dark surprises with Maggie and Caleb's twisted relationship along with the combination of great duel perspective writing that make it hard to stop reading, and when I say dark surprises I am not joking! In the beginning I thought Caleb was a jerk for wanting his life back to normal but he was anything but a jerk. Maggie was emotional, sweet, and caring, and had a heart of gold. Luckily, in the end it turned out Caleb was the exact same way even though on the outside he seemed like a mean selfish monster. Their relationship was interesting, exiting, and crazy which made for a great plot line. One of my other favorite characters was Mrs. Reynolds she was official the best, and most stubborn old lady ever! Overall this book was impossible to put down with addictive writing, realistic characters, and crazy plot twists! (Sorry I have said that about ten times but I can not stress how crazy the twist was in the end!)
Overall Rating: 5/5
One word/phrase sum up: wow.... so good...
My Thoughts: Oh. My. Gosh... I can't explain how shockingly great this book was. Simone Elkeles has a way with writing that is just... wow... I am sorry, and do give you advance warning that this book review may not contain one coherent thought or sentence due to the fact that I just finished it, and am in shock mode right now. There were just so many dark surprises with Maggie and Caleb's twisted relationship along with the combination of great duel perspective writing that make it hard to stop reading, and when I say dark surprises I am not joking! In the beginning I thought Caleb was a jerk for wanting his life back to normal but he was anything but a jerk. Maggie was emotional, sweet, and caring, and had a heart of gold. Luckily, in the end it turned out Caleb was the exact same way even though on the outside he seemed like a mean selfish monster. Their relationship was interesting, exiting, and crazy which made for a great plot line. One of my other favorite characters was Mrs. Reynolds she was official the best, and most stubborn old lady ever! Overall this book was impossible to put down with addictive writing, realistic characters, and crazy plot twists! (Sorry I have said that about ten times but I can not stress how crazy the twist was in the end!)
Overall Rating: 5/5
One word/phrase sum up: wow.... so good...
Pass it over...will yah?! Come on...I want to read it now ;-D I'm intrigued, I think I will be adding this to my YA list! Thanxs, you summed it up well...I love crazy twists~
ReplyDelete"Simone Elkeles has a way with writing that is just... wow..."
ReplyDeleteYou said it!
I agree Simone Elkeles is certain one of my top 5 favorite writers. I cannot wait for Return to Paradise. So did you like this one better or Perfect Chemistry better. I guess I would say Perfect Chemistry for me but it was pretty close call and I have a feeling Return to Paradise will take the cake. The fault with Leaving Paradise was the fact that it needs that sequel. Yet it was still amazing.
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