I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
Grade: D
Release date: February 3, 2015
This e-galley was provided by Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line. Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: I really don't understand myself sometimes. I was very excited for Heather's debut, Something Real, a year ago. But it ended up being a bit of a let-down. I loved the family dynamics and the different side of reality TV. But I didn't enjoy the swearing, alcohol and drug content, or the romance one bit. And I'm pretty sure I should've realized I'll Meet You There would have all of those things in the same amount - or perhaps even more. And it did. I will tolerate a certain level of foul language and other foul content in my books to some extent, but there reaches a point when it's gratuitous and adds nothing to the story. Such is the case here. When the f-word and s-word are used practically on every page, I start to skim. And then I start to lose interest in the characters and plot. So overall, the majority of this book is unmemorable. I liked the concept of the motel where they work. And that was about it. I'll Meet You There was too dismal otherwise for my tastes.
The Verdict: So, if you don't mind a bunch of swearing and other inappropriate content, give this book a chance. Otherwise, it's very much a miss.
It is unfortunate that you did not connect with this one! I think I am probably going to give this a chance despite the swearing because the synopsis sounds exactly like something I will love.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honest review - it is completely understandable that we don't always connect with the books we expect to like at some level. :)
Oh man. I requested this one, but didn't get it. I didn't even know it was on NetGalley or I would have went through there.
ReplyDeleteI might pass it up now. From your review, it seems like something that would probably annoy me at multiple times during the book.
Erin @ The Hardcover Lover