Hi everyone, I hope you are all enjoying the month so far. We’re facing wintry days ahead as the nights get longer here in Auckland. The teen read I will be reviewing this week is one I found quite difficult to process but I persevered. I hope you read this with an open mind and heart.
Title: To be honest
Author: Maggie Ann Martin
Genre: Fiction – contemporary
Publication details: Swoon Reads Books; NY, 2018
ISBN: 9781250183156 (Hardcover)
What this book is about: Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her big sister – and best friend – goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she’ll be able to escape to college too. Since her mother’s appearance on an extreme weight loss show, she’s been obsessed with keeping her diet in check. And now, she’s pressuring Savvy even more to be constantly mindful of what she eats. Between her mom’s diet helicoptering, missing her sister, and stressing about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.
My review: This was an interesting but difficult teen read for me. It’s hard understanding eating disorders when it comes to young people, but when it’s the adult in the family, it must be even more difficult. I liked how Savannah’s character was always happy in her own skin and weight and liked how Martin depicted her in this sense. How she made Savannah react to her mother’s behavior was expertly crafted into the storyline. I enjoyed the descriptions of the school scenes and the friendship Savvy made with George. I found this not your average teen romance but one with a strong message of self-love and determination. In Savannah and her supporting cast we find a story that speaks quite loudly to the teens of today in a language that they can understand. Please be mindful if you’re recommending this to a teenager as there are some mature themes explored here. All in all, it was a fascinating and interesting one for me!
My rating: 4 ⭐
Stay safe and keep reading
Miss Mahee
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 