December 15, 2019
A teen from a rough neighborhood is taken in by a wealthy family and falls for their daughter. Six months ago, 17-year-old Trice's abusive father shot him, killed his mother, and then committed suicide. Trice was left in the care of his grandfather, but when he dies, his former employers, the Smith family, became Trice's legal guardians. Trice moves from Lindenwood, where he was secretly involved in a car theft ring, to the affluent Pacific Hills, getting a fresh start. Although Trice and the Smiths' popular teen daughter, Nandy, used to be childhood playmates, when he moves in she's rude because she thinks he is going to ruin her summer. They spend the summer fighting, although their mutual attraction is almost immediate. Debut author Grandison returns to the emotional fallout from the death of Trice's family and his new beginning ad nauseum, testing the patience of readers. Fans of the TV show The O.C. and author Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry trilogy will recognize both the characters and plot. Nandy and Trice are black, and while there is a multicultural cast of supporting characters, including Nandy's brother who was adopted from Thailand, they are not well developed and their issues feel generic. The final drama that brings Trice back to Lindenwood is hard to believe, but the wrap-up is exactly what readers will want. Familiar bad boy-meets-good girl--but it's complicated--romance. (Fiction. 14-18)
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January 1, 2020
Gr 9 Up-Nandy lives in Pacific Hills, a rich neighborhood close to Lindenwood, a less affluent and notoriously tough neighborhood. Nandy's closest childhood friend, Trice, is from Lindenwood and would visit with his grandfather who worked as a landscaper for Nandy's family. But Nandy and Trice lost touch when they were seven years old. Ten years have passed and Trice is suddenly living with Nandy's family in Pacific Hills. Convinced that he is a dangerous criminal who will at the very least ruin her summer plans, Nandy shuns Trice and excludes him at every opportunity. While Trice struggles with his tragic past, he develops friendships with some of the people in Nandy's social group. The mounting tension between Nandy and Trice results in an argument in which Nandy finally learns the truth about Trice's past. A renewed friendship follows and allows Nandy and Trice to indulge their romantic desires for each other. Told in the alternating, indistinguishable voices of the two teens, the plot moves slowly through almost 500 pages. Supporting characters are one dimensional and do not add depth to the story. The lessons about tolerance and friendship are almost entirely lost among the overly stereotyped situations and dialogue. VERDICT This book may find an audience in the author's following on Wattpad but it is otherwise an additional purchase.-Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD
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