Stubborn, Realistic Characters
587635
As with Parr's first book (Rush Me), I really enjoyed the characters in Running Back.  They're stubborn, argumentative and often deeply flawed (leading, of course, to some very dramatic issues in their relationship), but they're also realistic.  They take time to open up to one another, respect each other, and work through problems together.  That kind of balance is unfortunately lacking in many other novels in the YA and NA genres.

Of course, the poignant descriptions of Ireland and the characters' dreams/hopes also add a lot to the story!  Gorgeous, detailed prose really makes for an enjoyable read, and the story develops at a great pace.
3787243
Absolutely lovely fantasy that stays consistent within its own world-rules, with a strong female heroine who doesn't do frustrating stupid things and gets better as the book progresses. Definitely an adult book, with maybe a little more senseless death than I'd like, but otherwise perfect.
4140676
This is the first book by Harlan Coben that Ive read. Id heard a lot of people praise his ability to twist the story and send it in a direction youd never expect. Now I see thats absolutely true. Early in the  book, I thought I had predicted where the story was headed. But as I kept reading, it went in a direction Id never even fathomed.

Aside from the compelling plot in the book, the characters Harlan Coben created in this story are equally as compelling. The protagonist, Jake Fisher, is equal parts smart, stubborn, relentless, and overall likable. His stubbornness can sometimes be annoying, but thats the mark of a good, realistic character. People, in general, can be annoyingly stubborn just like Jake Fisher. The other characters in the book are also fleshed out well; they each have a unique voice and demeanor.

Overall, this was an amazing book! I would highly recommend it for all crime fiction fans, for readers who want tense, suspenseful storytelling with a dash of humor, and/or readers who just want a thrilling, enjoyable read.
1392251
Admirable qualities:
Gorgeous world-building. Complex characters: often mysterious, creating suspenseful relationships and subplots. Thoughtful dialogue between characters. An author unafraid to make sacrifices to raise the stakes and progress the story. Author layers subtle message throughout on the difference between love and lust, as well as the pros/cons of monarchies and communism. Strong message on the importance and power of empathy. (Which is great; very "it all comes full circle")
Slight drawback:
Though understandable due to particular events, the protagonist's inner dialogue/demons can be frustrating at times (lengthy depression & self-hate; later, strength/confidence immediately followed by pitiful hopelessness).

Overall: I didn't find the protagonist very likable at first, (I almost don't think you're meant to) but by the end of chapter ten I was unabashedly rooting for her. The exciting emotions of infatuation and the dizzying confusion of interpreting an interested party's true feelings is captured well enough to have any reader's stomach fluttering, heart racing, and head spinning. I am glad to know this is part of a series.
4004789
I enjoyed this book full of strong characters and stubborn personalities pitted against each other. Taos and Samantha make a good couple and his son,Tommy, is too cute with his motor mouth. The other supporting characters were interesting and the villain was, well, villainous. I do wish there had been a bit more explanation as to why the son of a really good man, a trusted family friend, became such an evil guy, but I guess that's why it took every one by surprise when his true colors were revealed.

This book is well written with only a few typos, not enough to detract from the story. (ie: you for your, titled for tilted) I loved Sam's independent nature and her lack of prejudice. I also liked that she didn't let the guys get away with any crap, especially Taos. Taos really grew up, or rather back, into the man he had been before his first marriage. And boy did he need it. Overall, a fun read, with some violence and sexual scenes.

Heat factor moderate.
57903
This was a very well written story with complex characters. This story shows how stubbornness effects everyone and what you see on the outside is not what you get on the inside. One should not make judgements based solely on what they see.
4868712
Arcadia (Cady) and Avalon Day are twin sisters, and their family  although under strain with their parents separation  is a typical American family. The girls face all the usual trials and tribulations one can expect for their age  school, friends, boys. Everything seems on track until Cadys sister dies in a tragic accident, irrevocably throwing the surviving twins life out of kilter.

Not only must Cady deal with the grief, but she finds herself being the strong one in her family when her mother falls into the bleakest of depressions. Added to that is Cadys discovery that she is an empath, which brings with it other, less pleasant developments when she discovers that she is at the mercy of everyone elses emotions in addition to her own.

A new boy at school, Bryan, offers a glimmer of hope  as do Cadys friends  and Cady is not along as she tries to come to terms with how her circumstances have changed. Despite all the difficulties, she comes across as a generally happy and spirited teen, and shes willing to face her challenges despite the hurt.

Arcadias Gift by Jesi Lea Ryan is the first book in what looks like a series. Its slow paced but thorough, and Ryan has used this to good purpose in order to build a solid setting populated by characters who feel authentic, and who have to deal with real issues.

What I especially enjoyed about the story was Ryans understanding of death, and the way the grieving process can cast a pall over a persons life. Also, she approached the supernatural elements in the story in a manner that felt plausible. Actions have consequences, and though I could see where Ryan was headed with certain premises, the execution was nonetheless satisfying, even though it wasn't overly dramatic as in were going to save the world from itself epic. Which is also fine. Sometimes heroes don't need to move mountains, but work quiet miracles among the people they love.

While Arcadias Gift does take a while to get off the ground  and this clearly the author laying groundwork  I nonetheless enjoyed Arcadias Gift. Ryan has a light yet engaging tone, and she writes with a great love for her characters and subject matter, and I can imagine that this story will appeal to those who enjoyed all the obvious bestsellers in the YA paranormal/urban fantasy genres.
4421260
This is a strong story, obviously so by virtue of the fact it is now a mini-series on Fox.  I read the entire book in one sitting, something I cannot remember doing in a very long time.  Did I mention it was a strong story?  It really is.  The author successfully steered clear of many of the cliched pitfalls which bog down so many others and built a convincing, realistic world with believable and reasonably motivated characters.  The pacing is spot on, ratcheting up the tension and forcing you to keep reading at a fevered pitch.

Having said that, the actual prose had some spots which left me a bit frustrated at times.  For example.  There were. Way too. Many sentence. Fragments for.  My personal taste.

And here's that caveat:  modern editing preferences must have moved on to leave me lingering in the dust of antiquated style... I just don't know.  I found some of those stylistic touches a bit distracting at times.  I realize this could be nothing more than a matter of personal taste, so by no means let it stop you from reading this book, the story is really that good, enough so that I still gave it 5 stars in spite. Of the number. Of sentence fragments.

When the protagonist finally discovers what is happening around him, it's a jaw-dropping moment!  I know because I dropped mine and am still looking for it.
2918854
Really enjoyed this. Characters who have flaws but are still very likeable, combined with a unique setting, plus a story line that touches on issues of gender, caring for disabled family, and xenophobia in a practical manner. This is a serious beak from the usual, but without feeling like its trying too hard. very readable.
1273766
I insist that the main characters in a book I am reading be likable, intelligent, hard working - someone who I would like to hang out with. This book is peopled with such characters. Some violence and romance but not boringly graphic and doesn't slow the plot down to a snails pace. Hurray! I look forward to more books in this series.
3708005
I loved the characters in this novel. In a way, I almost wish I didn't know the similarities they bear to real people in Walls' life -- but I did read her memoir, so I do. Knowing the extent to which these characters derive from "real" people could diminish some of the wonderful, rich reality that these characters properly possess. But that isn't fair to Walls or to the inhabitants of this novel.

The plot develops gradually, and as gradually builds in intensity. The climax is not implausible, and is in some ways quite satisfying, though I'm not sure whether to view it as in some sense an easy way out. The actual ending is a bit abrupt, which left me blinking and wondering where these people and their world suddenly went -- but that's a quibble. I definitely recommend this book.
3523497
The premise sounds similar to the familial setup of Gilmore Girls, and in a way it is the story of Lorelai, Christopher, and Rory through Rory's point of view. And thankfully the "Rory" in Natasha Friend's story is not as off-putting or unbelievably awkward-pretty as Alexis Bledel. FOR KEEPS is a gentle contemporary read, but the degree to which I was invested in Josie's story took me by delightful surprise.

Josie is a fabulously multifaceted character, with a strong and memorable voice. She's got snark and guts, even while grappling with her problem of her lack of trust in men. Above all, she is resilient: when bad things occur, she may hide and retract into her shell for a while, but we get to the point where we have faith in her healing soon.

The other characters also have good voices, quirky but never stereotypical, though I would have liked to have gotten to learn more about Kate. Kate is the central figure in Josie's life, but in between worrying about the proximity of her father's family, and her dealings with her crush, Josie-the-narrator unfortunately forgets to show us the strength and "width" of her relationship with her mother, instead assuming we know what it's like through generalized "telling" statements. The plot, also, is a bit on the weak side: the story starts off strong, with an incredible protagonist voice, but does quite reach its full potential on the scale of epicness.

In spite of those few issues I had with the book, though, I thoroughly enjoyed reading FOR KEEPS. It was my first Natasha Friend novel, but it's definitely a keeper for me, with my love for its well-voiced MC, and if Natasha's other books are anything like this one, I will have a new favorite author on the horizon.
215516
A strong, intelligent, sexually free alpha heroine takes the stage front and center as she fights to save the family business from her insane brother and her right to live and love on her own terms in a world where women are nothing more than pretty decorations. Humor and horror go hand in hand as Conrad and Corona build an engaging world that straddles the line between the mundane and the supernatural. Dynamic characters and witty dialogue keep the story moving along at a steady pace. Overall, I enjoyed though there were issues that stood out for me. A bit too much repetition (heroine constantly repeats that she cant be with the hero due to his family) and there are some plot holes that defied explanation. Regardless, I look forward to reading more of this world.
970997
Very good, despite several flaws.  The characters are very "real", sharing the same struggles that we have.  Some portions are violent or heavy.
4231552
The characters are well developed into people you want to know. They are able to deal with difficulty in life without giving up.
1713490
What I love the most about FLYAWAY by Helen Landalf is how authentic the characters are. So many times, authors present readers with caricatures. You have "The Jock," "The Stoner," "The Brainiac" etc. FLYAWAY is different. Landalf has created characters whose personalities can stand up apart from the story, and I love that.
The main story is about Stevie whose mom is an exotic dancer in a downtown Seattle club. Her mother gets overly-involved with drugs, enough so that Stevie must live with her mother's sister, Aunt Mindy. Her aunt Mindy owns a Pilates studio and is more appearance-conscious.

In many families, you see two siblings - one of whom has taken on the "Good Child" role, while the other takes what's left: "The Challenging One". And yet, we know that our kids aren't stereotypes and that they have ups and downs. So too, with FLYAWAY's characters.

Stevie, for instance, is kind of a pain in the butt, but Landalf allows us to see her heart and her vulnerability as well. Stevie's not always likable but she IS lovable. That's a tough character to create.
Also, Landalf captures the love-hate relationship between an addict and her family. It isn't stereotyped or sugar-coated but it's also not exaggerated to manipulate the reader.

These are real characters with real challenges, real screw-ups, and real triumphs.

I highly recommend "FLYAWAY" for a teen girl, ages 12 - 15.
4037073
This is an intriguing yet sometimes frustrating story that reflects on the many forms of strength . It is written with a sensitivity rarely seem in today 's modern writers. Most women readers may find it difficult to understand the aim character's apparent lack of emotion as she encourages her husband to form a new romantic alliance and yet you will keep turning the pages as the story unfolds. A fantastic read!!