My rating: 4 of 5 stars
GENRE: Contemporary
THEME: Romance, Drama
RECEIVED: Received for review for tour
AUTHORS BLOG: Jolene Perry's Blog
BLURB:
Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.
Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.
Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both.
Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.
Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both.
REVIEW:
Knee Deep is my second book in a row with a high emotional edge to the plot and of course a lot of heart break. This book caught me a little off guard with how emotional it did get, but in a good way. This is definitely a story that mature teens should read to help them, if they get in a hard situation like the lead character Ronnie does.
Knee Deep follows Ronnie Bird a young girl who is deeply in love with her “soul mate” Shawn. Ronnie soon discovers that Shawn is changing and he’s not telling her everything. But the worst of it is when he starts getting more aggressive and violent. Their best friend Luke is starting to put the pieces together and wants to be there for her. Ronnie is stuck between what she thought she wanted and what is best for her.
Ronnie is at the time in a girl’s life where she thinks she knows what love is. So blinded by that love and what is actually happening to her relationship. I was a bit frustrated with her; she made the worst decisions and really just needed to wake up. Everyone else was staring to see the change in her boyfriend and she just didn’t get it. But love or what some may think is love can blind you in so many ways.
Luke is a boy who Ronnie can hang out with and feel like herself, talk to about anything…well almost anything. Playing Romeo opposite to Ronnie complicates their relationship and strains the friendship with Shawn. But I loved this guy; he was the friend that someone in Ronnie’s position really needs. Every scene Ronnie and Luke were in I absolutely loved, their chemistry and friendship were wonderfully written.
What I loved most about this book was the interaction between Ronnie and her parents. Her parents are truly two wonderful people and really in love. Her dad is the first to catch on that something is wrong and he pretty much is the best dad a girl could ask for. I was pleased with the parents being prominent; it really brought the story to life.
Overall I enjoyed this emotional roller coaster of a novel, romance, friendship and family are key elements that make this story captivating. My only issue was Ronnie just frustrated the heck out of me and I couldn’t handle how blind she was of the serious situation she was in. But in the end I know people who would probably do as she did. I recommend this coming of age novel to young teens and parents.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult book with some minor violence. Fans of Simone Elkeles author of Perfect Chemistry and Stephanie Perkins author of Lola and the Boy Next Door will enjoy Knee Deep by Jolene Perry.
Jolene Perry's Bio:
Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.
After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.
She is also the author of Night Sky and The Next Door Boys.
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Tour Links: Tribute Books Site | Twitter | Facebook
Kristen, thanks for the review!
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