The Secrets Of Attraction by Robin Constantine

* * * 1/2

Set in the same world as The Promise of Amazing, this smart, surprising, and romantic follow-up to Robin Constantine's debut novel follows two New Jersey teens as they become friends and fall in love. Perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Mlynowski, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Madison Pryce thinks she's got everything figured out—she's working on a portfolio for a summer art program and hanging with her friends. Plus she has her hot boyfriend, Zach. But then a visit from a family friend turns Maddie's life upside down.

Jesse McMann is still reeling from a breakup that shattered his heart and his band. Then pride (and some goading from his bass player and fellow barista) forces him to find a new drummer—and the inspiration to write music again.

Kismet arrives in the unlikely form of Grayson Barrett, who tries out for Jesse's band, and whose girlfriend is BFFs with the cute girl who orders a chai latte after yoga every Thursday: Maddie. What Jesse and Maddie thought they knew about the secrets of attraction and the rules of romance changes once they start falling for each other.

Isn't this cover just so freaking cute? There’s nothing more gratifying that reading a sweet story that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. That’s how I felt after I read Constantine’s previous release, The Promise of Amazing, so reading The Secrets of Attraction was a no-brainer.

This follow-up does feature characters from the previous book but the spotlight this time shines on Maddie. She’s just as nice as Wren but she comes with a hint of an edge to her. Trouble starts when her boyfriend says "I love you" to her. Most teenage girls would be ecstatic that their hot, popular athlete boyfriend would declare those magical three words. Not Maddie. She doesn’t feel the same at all. Not that he’s a bad guy just that she knows that she’s not in love. This makes things awkward between them especially when she strikes up a friendship with Jesse who works at the coffee shop near the yoga studio she goes to. Neither of them have any connection to each other until Grayson, Wren's boyfriend, auditions for Jesse’s band and now both groups of friends are intermingling.

Jesse's had his heart broken by his ex-girlfriend. She hooked up with his ex-best friend who was also the drummer in his band. Both betrayals hurt him badly enough that music kind of lost its luster. Enter Maddie whom he's been noticing for a while. Their friendship sparks something in him. She's delightful to be around and being in her company renews Jesse's interest in his music. He also wants to go for it with her but Maddie draws the line at just being friends. So Jesse has to come up with inventive ways to be with her. 

I like that Maddie is certain about some things yet hesitant about others. For one, I like that she knew that she wasn’t in love with her boyfriend and doesn't want to mislead him once she musters up the courage to be truthful with him. I like her devotion to her friends. I like her closeness with her mom which does get tested at some point in the book. I like that her character experiences the typical anxieties about graduating high school and moving on to college. She has her studies then she has her passion which is art. There’s the practical side of her then there’s the side of her that wants to abandon the heavy responsibilities and just take that risk in pursuing art.

Jesse is great too. He’s got a few kinks to work out like getting his ex out of his system. He’s really into Maddie but she's not ready to admit that attraction. His thoughtful gestures toward her are impressive and will woo the reader as well. While he’s not declaring undying, eternal love here, it’s interesting how he’s the one pushing for them to be an item. Maddie just needs to realize that what she’s experiencing with him is indeed falling in love for the first time.

All in all, The Secrets of Attraction is just adorable and I know that I can count on Constantine to deliver that just-right amount of sweet and angst without too much melodrama. 

~ Bel

The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

* * * 1/2

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a

social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

It was this adorably sweet cover that caught my eye.  There’s just something about it that set it apart. And what followed was an equally adorable story about two confused kids falling in love.

Wren just wants to break out of the rut she’s in. Everyone thinks of her as the safe, rule-follower who doesn’t rock the boat. After a particularly derisive speech from the social worker to the student body about how none of them will get into Harvard, Wren begins to think her options are seriously diminishing. She’s seen her older siblings go off to college and do well. She doesn’t think that college is in her future. Meeting Grayson adds some excitement to her life.

Grayson is even more lost than Wren.  Kicked out of the school where he was the star and ostracized by his so-called friends, he immediately notices Wren.  Well it’s hard not to notice the person who’s administering the Heimlich maneuver on you because you were performing jackass circus tricks with cocktail weenies. Sparks fly instantly and he can’t get her out of his mind. She is so unlike anything in his life at the moment.

They get off to an awkward start where they’re second-guessing their moves and constantly wondering what the other one is thinking. Whenever the point of view switches to Grayson, it becomes clear that there’s stuff from his past that he’d like to distance himself from.  His biggest problem is his former schoolmate, Luke who’s trying to reel him back in to their delinquent past. Let’s just say that it goes beyond the whole “term paper pimp”. Grayson doesn’t want to confess this part of his past to Wren and tries to keep the two separate. So not a good idea and I counted off the multiple ways in which things would swiftly go south between the two as a result of the lies and omissions.

Wren and Grayson are equally likable with their alternating perspectives adding extra substance to their characters. Wren can't resist his charm and Grayson is truly falling for her. Even when his sordid past comes to light it’s hard not to like him because he does sincerely wish to change for the better.  This isn't just about young love. It's about how they affect change in each other and the desire to strive for more than they think they're capable of. They also had plenty of moments that had me chuckling.

I was utterly smitten with The Promise of Amazing. I hope you find it just as wonderful as I did!  

~ Bel

Waiting on Wednesday (84)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

Bel has read this one (review coming very soon) and I will be following in her footsteps because that cover is absolutely adorable!


By Robin Constantine
Publication Date: December 31, 2013

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

A Peek In The BiblioBin #78

Welcome to our Stacking the Shelves post! Stacking the Shelves (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the BiblioBin) has been created by the lovely ladies at Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking the Shelves is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.  



For Review:

The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constatine

Uninvited (Uninvited #1) by Sophie Jordan


Borrowed:

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

Through The Ever Night (Under The Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi


Purchased:

Holiday Games (Play by Play #6.5) by Jaci Burton

Of course we just had to read up on who has been deemed worthy enough to be labelled "sexy". We won't lie. We're totally in it for the pictures. 

We're living up to our motto: books, boys and pie! :-)