Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Clarissa and Lexie couldn't be more different. Clarissa is a chirpy, optimistic do-gooder and a top rider on the school's equestrian team. Lexie is an angry, punk rock activist and the only out lesbian at their school.

When Clarissa declares she's bi and starts a Gay-Straight Alliance, she unwittingly presses all of Lexie's buttons, so Lexie makes it her job to cut Clarissa down to size. But Lexie goes too far and finds herself an unwitting participant in Clarissa's latest crusade. Both are surprised to find their mutual loathing turning to love.

A change in her family's fortunes begins to unravel Clarissa's seemingly perfect life, and the girls' fledgling love is put to the test. Clarissa and Lexie each have what the other needs to save their relationship and the people they love from forces that could tear them all apart.

 

Book Review

This book is primarily about high school and all its wonder and angst. Some parental input, trials, and high trauma get mixed in, but the two teenage senior girls most definitely steal the show. There are some incredibly hysterical situations, emotionally complex downers, and heart-soaring wonders. I certainly laughed and tearfully maneuvered my way through this perfectly delightful young adult romp. So much so, I recommend this for everyone if even only one thread is still alive and twanging from your teenage years. Delicious to the max!

Clarissa Kirchendorfer, I love her last name, could sustain her passion for people, ideas, honesty, causes, family, with such intensity that I found truly remarkable. Being a teenager however, she could flip on her position with such speed as to make me feel woozy. It was usually with good cause from her point of view and I certainly cherish her more than finding her irritating. She and her family go through some horrific times during the course of her senior year, but she really shows her strengths when she is more than helpful in unraveling the slimy intricacies that have ensnared her family. Plus, she participates in the formation and execution of one of the most brilliant plans that truly sticks it to the man. Fantastic!

Lexie is one of two out lesbians at her high school. With her spiky blue hair, love of butterflies, impressive tattoo, encyclopedic mind for movies, accompanying the broad streaks of rebel in her psyche and her soul, I just love her. In fact, she is magnificent. Her relationship with Clarissa has an extraordinary off and on quality, but on more than one occasion their minds meet, and then they make a fabulous and hot team. Lexie's mind has a strong leaning toward larceny, but she manages to explain what she does to herself and others as involving a huge greater good at the foundation of it all. Among the many things they coordinate, what they accomplish for Clarissa's sister Desi nearly takes top honors. However, for me, nothing can surpass the "brilliant plan". Splendiferous!

All manner of stuff befalls several of the seniors along with Clarissa and Lexie. However, they all make it to the homecoming ball which is right up there but not topping the prom in importance. There is just so much to enjoy within this story. Don't miss this divine escapade with all the wonderful nuances and the multi-level incandescent gambits. Awesome!

For your information, Clarissa does call Lexie at one point an “enemy of the people”. I looked up “frenemy” and, apparently, according to an urban dictionary reference it is an enemy disguised as a friend. I found that curious and thought-provoking, but I believe Lexie may have been an 'enemy of the people' at times. However, I do not think she was ever a frenemy to Clarissa. I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I did.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel240 pages/64520 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	01-May-2014
Price	$7.99 ebook, $11.95 paperback, $13.99 bundle
Buy Link	http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/9781626391062e.html