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February 01, 2015

Contemporary double reviews: Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols & 99 Days by Katie Cotugno

Perfect Couple (Superlatives, #2)
Title: Perfect Couple (Superlatives, #2)
Author: Jennifer Echols
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: January 13, 2015
Genre(s): Young Adult (Contemporary)
Source: Edelweiss
Format: eARC
Pages: 336
Can your heart be put to a popular vote?

As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for capturing those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents' bitter divorce has left her wondering what a loving relationship would look like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody the “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been on her case to ask Brody out.

Brody doesn’t lack in female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He seems confused about why they were matched together, too. They’re total opposites—the last people in the world who would ever be compatible, let alone the “perfect couple.” Yet ever since the class paired the two of them, they've found themselves drawn together--first by curiosity, then by an undeniable bond.

The trouble is, though they're very attracted to each other and both of them admit this, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating clearly. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But after they walk away, both of them feel so changed from making the effort that they can’t forget each other. What if that means this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?
I read Perfect Couple back in September because I couldn't not! Ever since I read Biggest Flirts, I needed the sequels to it. As soon as it was available for reviewing, I picked it up and read it in a single day. While Perfect Couple didn't surpass my love for Biggest Flirts, it was just the book I needed at the time: cute, adorable, fun characters, a great contemporary plot, and an addicting read. 
In Perfect Couple, we follow Harper and Brody, the two people that got voted something along the lines of the perfect couple that never happened. Harper is the newspaper photographer while Brody is the typical high school jock. I thought their relationship was sweet and adorable but sometimes I was so frustrated at them because they each had a boyfriend/girlfriend and if they feel they're developing feelings for each other… maybe staying with that person isn't the best decision? I loved how rational Harper was at times but when it comes to her heart.. that girl is the most naive person I know. She was very endearing. I have to admit that sometimes I really disliked Brody and his playboy persona. It really got to me and wanted to stick it to him and for Harper to ditch him and let him come groveling to her (wow was that too mean?). 
Still, overall, I think the progression of the plot was done in a way that doesn't really allow you to put the book down, which was what happened to me. This is why I love Echols' books. They are simple in relative terms to how extravagant some plots are, but still oh so deliciously addicting. I can't wait to pick up Most Likely To Succeed (which I have on my Nook already) to finally read about Sawyer's story. I love this new emergence of companion contemporaries. They make me so happy and let me live in the contemporary world authors create a little bit more. I definitely recommend it to all contemporary fans. 
99 Days

Title: 99 Days
Author: Katie Cotugno
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication date: April 21, 2014
Genre(s): Young Adult (Contemporary)
Source: Edelweiss
Format: eARC
Pages: 384
Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me.
99 Days is the sophomore novel for Katie Cotugno. Living up to How to Love is almost impossible but I was willing to give 99 Days a go. 99 Days' plot was easy to get into and get hooked on. It counts up the days by each chapter. I was so excited to read it because, I mean, read the synopsis! Girl comes back from out of town after she somehow fled the town when something big happened that ruined her friendship and relationship with Patrick, Gabe, and Julia. You see, Molly used to date Patrick but apparently she cheated on him with his brother, Gabe.  
This was months before the book started and I was ready for Molly to face the consequences of her mess up and see where the author would take us from there. Unfortunately the author took us exactly back to how it was instead this time, the brothers' roles were switched. It bugged me so so much that a) Molly STILL didn't learn from her mistake of messing with these two and b) SHE IS STILL CHEATING. I hate hate hate books that have cheating in them.. especially protagonists that justify it and keep doing it again and again and again. I grew so tired of Molly.. so unbelievably disgusted by her and her ability to easily swing from one boy to the other claiming love. I hated how she never questioned what the hell she was doing and when she did.. it was short and fleeting and then justified. 
If I rate this book alone on Molly, I would give it 1 star. However plot, progression of story, and pacing all should be accounted for. Which is why I gave 99 Days three stars. For one, I couldn't put this book down.. even if I tried.. I would just pick my nook up and continue reading. Another, I really do enjoy Cotugno's writing. She has a way of writing that really appeals to me. and three, she didn't shy away from ending it the way she did. I literally gasped towards one of the last chapters because of how shocked I was at something. So in all, this isn't a book I would be recommended to anyone because I don't care to read any books about cheating but I must say it is an addicting contemporary.

5 comments:

  1. I'm glad that you enjoyed Biggest Flirts too Juhina, I don't know if I enjoyed this or Perfect more, it was definitely the cute fun sort of read that I needed. And I'm sorry that you didn't end up enjoying 99 Days, I really enjoyed Cotugno's debut read as well, but I'll still be checking this one out. Fab reviews Juhina!

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  2. I'm reading 99 Days for a blog tour soon! :D

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  3. I really enjoyed Perfect Couple too :D I love Jennifer Echol's writing~ I definitely won't be reading 99 Days because I can tell I'll definitely hate Molly haha.

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  4. I really liked Biggest Flirts and have been excited to continue on, so I'm glad you enjoyed Perfect Couples too.
    I agree with you, I really hate books that involve cheating in the main plot and have the main character constantly rationalizing it.

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  5. Lovely review of 99 days, I was quite disappointed in it though :(

    Benish | Feminist Reflections

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