This is one of those books I picked up on impulse. So there it was, downloaded, and then it was read. The book is Stay by Emily Evans.

This book was not at all what I expected. There was a lot more drama and physicality than I expected, because the other book I had read by this author was more on the cute, rom-com side.

The main character, Mia, was fantastic. She was over-the-top in a lot of ways, but you couldn’t help but like her. She was confident and honest-oh, so perfectly honest-about how she felt about Alexi. I liked watching her learn to love him and his differences, not just culturally, but personality-wise. I liked that she was popular, but didn’t always follow exactly what the in-crowd wanted her to do (for example saving herself). I liked how she didn’t put up with crap. Oh, and she was a self-checker. She (usually) kept herself from getting in to deep or being overly dramatic.

I also liked Alexi. I would never want him as my boyfriend, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate him. I liked catching glimpses of his sensitivity and his need to be liked for more than his looks.

But there are a lot of things in this book I wouldn’t condone. Teenagers going out to bars, getting drunk, and staying out until dawn. A sister who lies to her parents about a living situation. Parents who leave their high-school age daughter for months to go on a cruise. A guardian who would put two teenagers in rooms in their own section of a massive house and be shocked to find them together. The limo driver taking two teenagers wherever they wanted whenever they wanted. Mia saving herself through all of high school to willingly offer herself on the very first ‘official’ date with Alexi (there was heavy action but they were interrupted). A relationship between two minor characters that was nauseatingly sweet and unbalanced. Overall, a lot of behaviors I didn’t like.

For those reasons, I’m not sure I would recommend this one. Mia is an absolutely lovable character and if none of the things I listed would bother you, then you’ll probably enjoy it. If you are interested in reading something by Evans, I would recommend Accidentally Cinderella, you can read my review of that book here. Happy reading, my friends!