Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people’s lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby has stayed focused on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm.
GENRE:
Young Adult, Contemporary
PAGES:
224 pages
PART OF A SERIES?:
Standalone Novel
RELEASE DATE:
April 3rd, 2018
YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK AT:
iBooks
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people’s lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby has stayed focused on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a prized internship at her favorite local boutique, she’s thrilled to take her first step into her dream career. She doesn’t expect to fall for her fellow intern, Jordi Perez. Abby knows it’s a big no-no to fall for a colleague. She also knows that Jordi documents her whole life in photographs, while Abby would prefer to stay behind the scenes.
Then again, nothing is going as expected this summer. She’s competing against the girl she’s kissing to win a paid job at the boutique. She’s somehow managed to befriend Jax, a lacrosse-playing bro type who needs help in a project that involves eating burgers across L.A.’s eastside. Suddenly, she doesn’t feel like a sidekick. Is it possible Abby’s finally in her own story?
But when Jordi’s photography puts Abby in the spotlight, it feels like a betrayal, rather than a starring role. Can Abby find a way to reconcile her positive yet private sense of self with the image that other people have of her?
Is this just Abby’s summer of fashion? Or will it truly be The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles)?
MY REVIEW:
**Please note that this review is based on an advanced readers copy given to me in exchange for an honest review. Final publication may vary. This in no way had any effect on the integrity of my review**
Can I just start off by saying that I absolutely love Amy Spalding and her books? When I got the notification that I got this ARC for this book, I was so excited. I knew I was in for a fun and emotional book and I was even more excited because it was taking place in the place I love: Los Angeles.
Okay, technically it was Glendale but it’s fiiiiiine.
What makes an Amy Spalding book so good are the characters she created. Abby leaps off the page in every way. I loved her addiction to fashion and her unapologetic way of being herself. I loved that even in her own confidence, she was still very unsure as well and learning as she went. She was smart and genuine and a thrill to read. She was funny and she was a person that you’d want to be your best friend. She felt familiar. She took me around to fun and familiar places and I have a soft spot for books that take place in my backyard because I love where I live.
The secondary characters also jumped off the page as well. Eating burgers with Jax, gossiping and having girl talk with Maliah, talking fashion with Maggie…they all felt like pieces of a family that fit together.
I also just love that there are more books being written with characters that aren’t gorgeous and skinny and straight. Not that there’s anything wrong with it but the more diverse characters I read, like an overweight lesbian, the happier I am and the more likely it is that someone will recognize themselves in these characters. As a pretty chubby, bisexual myself, I love feeling a personal connection with a main character and I definitely felt like this with Abby.
All in all, I call this a must read. I know there are two months til it comes out but scroll back up top and add it to goodreads because it’s definitely a book you do not want to miss!
RATING:
4 out of 5 Stars
