Title: The Weekend Bucket List
Author: Mia Kerick
Release Date: April 19th 2018
Genre: Young Adult, LGBT
BLURB
High school seniors Cady LaBrie and Cooper Murphy have yet to set one toe out of line—they’ve never stayed out all night or snuck into a movie, never gotten drunk or gone skinny-dipping. But they have each other, forty-eight hours before graduation, and a Weekend Bucket List.
There’s a lot riding on this one weekend, especially since Cady and Cooper have yet to admit, much less resolve, their confounding feelings for one another—feelings that prove even more difficult to discern when genial high school dropout Eli Stanley joins their epic adventure. But as the trio ticks through their bucket list, the questions they face shift toward something new: Must friendship play second fiddle to romance? Or can it be the ultimate prize?
Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Interlude Press
EXCERPT
Ever since we skipped the junior prom together last spring— neither of us is the type to participate in overrated school events, especially ones that involve dancing—and came to this very spot at the end of the Wellington Town Beach, I’ve felt a flicker of “something more” for my longtime BFF. It wasn’t exactly a romantic evening—we listened to eighties music and downed a full bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken while gazing at Tamarack Lake—but for me, our relationship changed. When Cooper touched my face that night I was overwhelmed by an urge for something completely new and different and dangerous: I wanted to kiss him. The urge has been lurking since that night, but right now, it’s stronger than ever. I want so badly to drop down on top of him and plant my lips on his, just to find out how it tastes... just to find out how it feels. But I don’t because it isn’t next on the list.
And because I just don’t.
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I've gotta stress that this book is not a romance, so you won't find one here. That said, what this book is, is a story about friendship—lifelong in the case of Cady and Cooper and newfound between them and Eli— and coming of age and realizing things aren't as black and white as one might expect.
My favorite of the three was Eli, he was such a sweet boy and even if he was a new addition to their group, he was a great one. I really liked poor, confused Cooper. Unfortunately, I didn't particularly care for Cady. She was just too pushy and hellbent on doing things her way and got on my nerves a lot because of that. However, even if things weren't all smooth sailing, the three of them managed to build a lovely friendship.
I really liked that even if Cady and Cooper started out with a Weekend Bucket List, the three of them ended up with a completely different one at the end of the book, showing a lot of growth in the main characters, that gave me hope that they could actually keep their friendship intact even if time and distance might get in the way.
Overall, this was an entertaining read, different to what Ms. Kerick has us used to, but still, well-written and interesting. Recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
4 Stars!
I've gotta stress that this book is not a romance, so you won't find one here. That said, what this book is, is a story about friendship—lifelong in the case of Cady and Cooper and newfound between them and Eli— and coming of age and realizing things aren't as black and white as one might expect.
My favorite of the three was Eli, he was such a sweet boy and even if he was a new addition to their group, he was a great one. I really liked poor, confused Cooper. Unfortunately, I didn't particularly care for Cady. She was just too pushy and hellbent on doing things her way and got on my nerves a lot because of that. However, even if things weren't all smooth sailing, the three of them managed to build a lovely friendship.
I really liked that even if Cady and Cooper started out with a Weekend Bucket List, the three of them ended up with a completely different one at the end of the book, showing a lot of growth in the main characters, that gave me hope that they could actually keep their friendship intact even if time and distance might get in the way.
Overall, this was an entertaining read, different to what Ms. Kerick has us used to, but still, well-written and interesting. Recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
About the Author Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—a daughter in law school, another in dance school, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She writes LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-four years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject. Mia focuses her stories on emotional growth in turbulent relationships. As she has a great affinity for the tortured hero, there is, at minimum, one in each book. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of said tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press and Harmony Ink Press for providing alternate places to stash her stories. Her books have won a Best YA Lesbian Rainbow Award, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards. Mia is a Progressive, a little bit too obsessed by politics, and cheers for each and every victory in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com.
Visit her website for updates on what is going on in Mia’s world, rants, music, parties, and pictures, and maybe even a little bit of inspiration.
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My bucket list #1 item is to sky dive. (jozywails@gmail.com)
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