Friday, February 1, 2013

Book Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally,
paperback edition book cover
Stealing Parker
by Miranda Kenneally

Series: Hundred Oaks #2
Genre: YA, contemporary
Editions available: PAperback, Kindle, ebook
Published:  October 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Fire
Source: Borrowed

Blurb (Goodreads):


Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?


My Thoughts:

*There might be some spoilers. I hate to do it, but I can't help it! :]*

First of all, I think Miranda Kenneally is a really good contemporary writer. Don't get me wrong. But in this book... Well, I'll let you read my thoughts:

I'm so excited to find out that there'll be companion novel for Catching Jordan. I seriously loved that book. It was one of the best books I've read last year and I can't wait for Stealing Parker.


Stealing Parker was just LIKE Catching Jordan. Okay so, I expected some sports again because that's obviously the highlights of this series but there are lots of common. (1) The story. Parker is a girl who loves sports. She's cool in that way, like Jordan. But she feels like there's something missing so she seeks boys..and there goes an uber gorgeous guy who is really hot. Insta-love. They hang out but she's not feeling something. And then she finds out that her best friend is in love with her forever and it started to confuse her. (2) The ending. It took until the near-end of the book til Parker decide her real feelings and go for her chosen one. But of course when it comes to admitting, it's really hard especially if that guy is not talking to you. The ending, of course, is happy. But I won't write any further details about that. :P

And because I found a huge similarity between Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker, I can tell what will happen next. It loses the thrill. I was also disappointed because I didn't connect with the main characters. There are swoon-y scenes, but it is not enough. Maybe I felt nothing because deep down, I know I've read something like this before.

I may not liked Stealing Parker that much, but I am still interested in reading the third companion novel, Things I Can't Forget. I believe that it'll be great.

Rating:





Recommendations:
For readers who liked the combination of young adult contemporary romance with an added sports. If you liked/loved Catching Jordan, you might like/love this, and if you liked/loved Catching Jordan, you might not like/love this. You see, there's a difference. :)

You don't need to read CJ so you can enjoy this. It's not a series, it's a companion novel. But if you insist, read it. :)




3 comments:

  1. Thanks for the review. I didn't like Catching Jordan, for a variety of reasons. I can see that I won't try to follow this series. Oh well, not everything is for everyone.

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    Replies
    1. I'd agree. But I'm still curious as to what Things I Can't Forget can offer. :)

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  2. I loved Catching Jordan! This one felt like a little too much was going on, although I liked how she touched on religion and loss. It just might have been too many factors and not enough room to explore them all, which maybe is why the emotional connection wasn't as strong. I was fortunate to meet the author and she is really excited about her next book (#3 in the same universe).

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