(April) Book of the Month



I will confess: I wouldn't have read this book. I barely read the blurb. I thought to myself, Boy with cray cray eyes and scars, haven't I read something like this in a MF version?" I kind of did not want to read this book. I dragged my ass with starting until yesterday. And surprise, surprise I ran through it like it owed me money.

I do not dislike YA, it's not my preference at this point in the reading game. I can't gorge myself on it. Used to with MF YA. After awhile I started noticing a lot of the stories covered a lot of the same basic themes. Kamikaze Boys covered two that I like, nerd-with-the-"bad"good-boy and we're-damaged-and-in-love-sort-of-epic-like (You know the books where the couple does stupid shit for one another because they are in twu luv.)

And I can see the appeal for Jay Bell's writing. Even with my gripes with the story, I have to admit when I recognize a good story teller. Kamikaze Boys was a good story, it felt like it was two books bridged together. I'd even recommend it to others to try.

Kamikaze Boys is a love story starring bullied, out teen David. He's being tormented by a bully after high school one day and the rumored crazy, killer teen, Connor comes to David's rescue. Both boys form a friendship at a great pace. They were a little damaged, life was not particularly easy but good kids.

Connor comes the wrong side of the tracks, struggling to make ends meet for his family. David, is a child of divorce living with his father who has really high hopes but doesn't notice his son is being bullied. But their friendship turns to a budding romance, they pulls some pranks, one cuts class...regular high school love crap. The ride is a little bumpy but mostly smooth.

I'm coasting. I'm liking the boys, their relationship. I'm caught up in the smell of teen spirit. I do love the nerd-with-the-"bad"good-boy vibes.

After what I call the sweet spot of 43%, where if the story ended at that point it would have gotten an automatic 4-4.5 stars out of me, it continued.

Around 50%, things aren't looking bad. The boys are in their first love stage and common sense is slowly but surely leaving the building. Common sense ran away, left town without a forwarding address.



The end of the first story happens basically. The second book from WTF-happened-to-the-MCs showed up and it's coming to wreck the joint. Criminal acts happen. Not the boys' fault in the beginning but after the first event...I wondered what happen to the Connor and David from the first bit, then I remember they lost their damn minds. Which brings me to the second theme, the we're-damaged-and-in-love-sort-of-epic-like. This didn't have to happen. But it did because they are young, dumb and in love.



Connor got fucked by legal aid. Even with the other guy's fancy lawyer, it was like reading the slaughtering of a lamb. It's bullshit. And David? I don't understand why he needed to go the facility. He wasn't depressed enough to warrant that drastic reaction from his father (excluding the baseball thing). Maybe if David was slitting his wrists or in catatonic state...something to excuse psychiatric medication to be involved as treatment. (-1 STAR for the second act.)

If only one of those themes were chosen...if only.

So the boys get their HEA.

But.

The epilogue...if it ended with the graduation, I'd have let some of my gripes go. But it carried on...just pissing me off at the couple's choices. Ever heard the saying, "you can't live on love alone"?

It's true.
You can't.
Love sure as shit doesn't pay bills.
That fairy tale-esque ending...only for the story books.

Not only would I like to smack both Connor and David upside their head until the common sense that's been hiding finally frigging kicked the fuck in, I'd like to get the parents in on this mega slap. (-1/2 STAR)

Florida just shouldn't have happened, the second time around. How does everyone go from encouraging David to continue with college to being a bum for a year?

I liked the story, some things just didn't sit right with me but it might work for you. I don't hate it. It's just one of those kind of reads where I question even giving it a rating.

Meh...I might come back and change my rating in the future. Right now, I'm swimming in the more than 3 less than 4 STAR range. Let's say, 3.33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 and call it even. ;)" ( )

Sweet story.Young love. four stars. ( )

Sweet story.Young love. four stars. ( )

3.5 stars ( )

3.5 stars. Both sweet and sad, but I still got my HEA. ( )