Saturday, January 5, 2013

Review: She's So Dead to Us (He's So/She's So, #1)



She's So Dead to Us

Author: Kieran Scott

Summary:

Ally Ryan would rather be in Maryland. She would rather be anywhere, in fact, than Orchard Hill, site of her downfall. Well, not hers exactly—but when your father’s hedge fund goes south and all your friends lose their trust funds, things don’t look so sunny for you. Her mother moved her to Maryland to flee the shame, but now they’re moving back. Back to the country-club, new-car-every-year, my-family-came-over-on-the-Mayflower lifestyle that Ally has outgrown. One bright spot, however, is gorgeous, intense Jake Graydon. But it won’t be easy for the two of them to be together—not if his friends (her former friends) have anything to say about it. Is Ally ready to get thrown back into the drama of the life she left behind?




Published May 25th 2010.

*

Written from the perspectives of both Jake and Ally, this novel takes us down the familiar path of high-school drama, yet still manages to shine bright like a diamond from the growing pile of Young Adult contemporary works.

SHE'S SO DEAD TO US is not conceptually unique, but neither is it your typical run-of-the-mill teenage romance. Two teenagers crushing on each other from opposite ends of the social hierarchy is in essence, almost a Cinderella-esque story. However, add into the mixture an estranged father gone missing, a protagonist who went from riches to rags, fickle friends who each harbour their own dirty little secrets and a boy who puts the play word in "playboy"... And you get something that is intense, emotional and awfully enjoyable. 

You see, sometimes, there is no need for every contemporary tale to adhere to the rules of being wholly realistic. In this novel, there is a huge divide between the Cresties-- rich kids who have exclusive five-course Sunday dinners, Long Beach Island shore houses and cars for their seventeenth birthday-- and the Norms (the name is self-explanatory). Indeed, this divide might seem over-dramatised at certain parts of the novel and the group of friends that revolve around Jake and Ally might appear melodramatic at times. Yet, these are simply just the backdrop of the central story-- the love-hate relationship between Jake and Ally. 

Their love story is wonderful, thanks to Kieran Scott's entertaining writing style. The story flows easily with no difficulty at all and you will be entirely engrossed from the very first page to the last. When Ally first meets Jake outside her old mansion, their encounter is described from both of their point of views, and my heart started pounding so fast as though I was the one feeling the sparks on the spot. Their relationship spans over a long period of time and each of the events that contribute to their romance is unforgettable. There is a major conflict in this novel because of how Jake is torn between his Crestie friends and Ally who is the pariah amongst the Cresties. To see how Jake starts from trying to deny his attraction towards her, to regretting playing hurtful pranks on her and finally, defending her in front of all the Cresties and dating her openly, your heart will wrench in the process, but you will never want to stop reading.

The story touches me because it is a story about teenagers. As a teenager myself, the relationship between Jake and Ally in a school setting is much easier to relate to than those paranormal romances. Never before have I seen any relationship develop so deliciously, to the extent that even a conversation between them will made my heartbeat accelerate!
  
And the climax came at the ending, which was one which eschewed any real resolution and left us groaning on the last page. Strangely enough, I had the weirdest urge to just reread the whole book again and savour every moment between Ally and Jake before I get my hands on the next instalment. 

This is how good this novel is. It's sweet. It's scathing. It's a cut above the rest. 


Source: Purchased





xoxo,
Sel


6 comments:

  1. This sounds really good! I've dated my fair share of the 'play'boys....

    Bex
    CrazyBex

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jake will be one that you'd love to date, but never will! Because you would rather die than tear him apart from Ally ;)

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  2. Wow! Great review kitty :) Me and this book will get on smashingly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, monkey ;) I'm sure you guys will!

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  3. The cover leaves something to be desired... But the plot sounds really interesting! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's true, Jake looks like an adult, doesn't he? :(

      But the plot is good, and the cover kind of correlates with it, so nothing else matters!

      Delete

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Wishing you lots of good books to come along your way!

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