First & Then
Recommended in John Green's Book Giving Guide for the Holidays 2015
Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them - first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this novel, a contemporary YA romance about love--for the unexpected boy, for a new brother, and for yourself. First & Then comes from Emma Mills, the YouTube vlogger and co-creator of the popular "life skills" channel, "How to Adult" which currently has over 160,000 subscribers.
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Community Reviews
See this review and more on my blog, Lilybloombooks
First & Then was not a book that immediately caught my eye when it starting popping around on blogs and social media. Nothing specific but with so many other books out there vying for my attention, a book needs to speak to me in order for me to get excited about it. In any case, I read a review from a fellow blogger and since it came recommend, I requested it on audio.
First, I know many, many readers were excited because it's a Pride & Prejudice retelling with football. Sounds good in theory. However, I am not a classics girl and I can count how many Jane Austin books I have read on one hand; Pride & Prejudice not being it. Second, I don't do well with cute.
And First & Then had a whole lot of cute.
Devon is our heroine. Only child, closed off girl that doesn't have plans for her future and is perfectly fine fitting on the bleachers and waiting on the sidelines. She is a live in the now kind of girl, which I loved. There were times though she frustrated me to no end. She isn't the easiest heroine to like; yet I liked her more because of that. She had so much character growth over the course of the book which was my favorite part, next to Foster, and the friendships.
Foster, Devon's younger cousin, has come to the with her and her family due to a tough situation regarding his mom. He made this book for me. He was strong, yet soft and I loved that he was more than okay with telling people, especially Devon, like it is. His moments on the football field had me grinning because I was just SO HAPPY he found his niche and place in the world after suffering so much.
The romance was well, cute. I didn't have that OMG I AM SHIPPING AND THEY ARE THE CUTEST thoughts, not even once. Considering I don't have that anyway means nothing. Ezra is a quiet, shy brooding type. The awkwardness was cute, sure, but I never saw the appeal. *shrug* I did love how different he saw the world - and how much he took to Foster. Bromance all the way.
The setting! Football! Friday Night's! Ahhhhh!!!
The Narration
I'll admit, I was nervous when I heard that Emma Mills was narrating. Why? Not sure. But she was fantastic! She hit all the right emotions and accents, making this one of the best narrations I have listed to. Granted, it IS her book! She could totally work as a writer and audio book narrator!
Overall - I did enough it. It's cute and quirky, just not a ME book. I seem to be in the minority so I do recommend it! Especially if you loved Pride & Prejudice and/or football, light romance and strong friendships.
I received this book for free from The Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
First & Then was not a book that immediately caught my eye when it starting popping around on blogs and social media. Nothing specific but with so many other books out there vying for my attention, a book needs to speak to me in order for me to get excited about it. In any case, I read a review from a fellow blogger and since it came recommend, I requested it on audio.
First, I know many, many readers were excited because it's a Pride & Prejudice retelling with football. Sounds good in theory. However, I am not a classics girl and I can count how many Jane Austin books I have read on one hand; Pride & Prejudice not being it. Second, I don't do well with cute.
And First & Then had a whole lot of cute.
Devon is our heroine. Only child, closed off girl that doesn't have plans for her future and is perfectly fine fitting on the bleachers and waiting on the sidelines. She is a live in the now kind of girl, which I loved. There were times though she frustrated me to no end. She isn't the easiest heroine to like; yet I liked her more because of that. She had so much character growth over the course of the book which was my favorite part, next to Foster, and the friendships.
Foster, Devon's younger cousin, has come to the with her and her family due to a tough situation regarding his mom. He made this book for me. He was strong, yet soft and I loved that he was more than okay with telling people, especially Devon, like it is. His moments on the football field had me grinning because I was just SO HAPPY he found his niche and place in the world after suffering so much.
The romance was well, cute. I didn't have that OMG I AM SHIPPING AND THEY ARE THE CUTEST thoughts, not even once. Considering I don't have that anyway means nothing. Ezra is a quiet, shy brooding type. The awkwardness was cute, sure, but I never saw the appeal. *shrug* I did love how different he saw the world - and how much he took to Foster. Bromance all the way.
The setting! Football! Friday Night's! Ahhhhh!!!
The Narration
I'll admit, I was nervous when I heard that Emma Mills was narrating. Why? Not sure. But she was fantastic! She hit all the right emotions and accents, making this one of the best narrations I have listed to. Granted, it IS her book! She could totally work as a writer and audio book narrator!
Overall - I did enough it. It's cute and quirky, just not a ME book. I seem to be in the minority so I do recommend it! Especially if you loved Pride & Prejudice and/or football, light romance and strong friendships.
I received this book for free from The Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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