Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher

By the end of Billy and Me, I was underwhelmed. Sophie May's secret wasn't really a secret. The relationship between Sophie and Billy seemed to have not progressed at all from when they first met and barely knew each other. Sophie became a character I didn't even like. (How does one relate to a character who seems to do nothing with her life other than be someone's girlfriend?) And what was supposed to be a happy ending felt saccharine and overly sentimental.

The writing is technically correct- too correct, actually. Everything was so formal it felt almost like reading a recitation of facts rather than being told a story by a friend. The use of ellipses drove me absolutely crazy. There was, at a minimum, one per page. Exclamations points were used in even the most mundane of sentences, making me feel as if I were talking to someone who'd indulged in way to many espressos before telling me this (mostly) dull story of a regular girl's love for a famous man. 

It's unlikely that I'll read this again.  I'll give Fletcher's next book a chance, but I don't hold high hopes. 

Aspen by Rebekah Crane

Aspen is an amazing story of the strength one person can find inside herself.  It is well written, the characters are strong and easily related to, and for many, the ending will come too soon.  Anyone who has ever felt that she won't be accepted if others knew all her truths (and who among us hasn't?) will love this story as much as I did.  A beautiful narration details incredibly hard moments offset by wry humor, Aspen is one story you should definitely read.

The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore

One of the main reasons I requested this book was because it was a great comparison to Sarah Dessen.  I can't say I agree with that at all.  The Truth About Letting Go was a decent story, but it lacks the depth and strength of Dessen's titles.

Ashley is one-dimensional to me.  Yes, she's rebelling against everything because following the rules didn't save her dad. But she doesn't do anything else, and so the rebellion is marginal at best. It's not exactly shocking that a girl would choose the bad boy over the good one, and it's not surprising that she might not be comfortable with where the relationship she chose is headed.  What is surprising is how predictable she remains, and how uninspired the unfolding of the story is.  Regardless of how long she decides to forgo all previous behavior and habits, there is no growth when Ashley does begin to act like herself again.

The other characters don't stand out, either.  I remember them being there, struggle to remember their names, and then roll them all into one short, forgettable paragraph.

I might give Moore another chance with another book, but I will certainly argue adamantly against anyone who claims that her story-telling skills are in the same league as Sarah Dessen for The Truth About Letting Go.