Release Date: August 25th 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Purchase: Amazon
Synopsis via Goodreads:
To everyone who knows him, West Ashby has always been that guy: the cocky, popular, way-too-handsome-for-his-own-good football god who led Lawton High to the state championships. But while West may be Big Man on Campus on the outside, on the inside he’s battling the grief that comes with watching his father slowly die of cancer.
Two years ago, Maggie Carleton’s life fell apart when her father murdered her mother. And after she told the police what happened, she stopped speaking and hasn’t spoken since. Even the move to Lawton, Alabama, couldn’t draw Maggie back out. So she stayed quiet, keeping her sorrow and her fractured heart hidden away.
As West’s pain becomes too much to handle, he knows he needs to talk to someone about his father—so in the dark shadows of a post-game party, he opens up to the one girl who he knows won’t tell anyone else.
West expected that talking about his dad would bring some relief, or at least a flood of emotions he couldn’t control. But he never expected the quiet new girl to reply, to reveal a pain even deeper than his own—or for them to form a connection so strong that he couldn’t ever let her go…
*Received a physical ARC from the publisher in exchange of an honest review
My feelings are all over the place in regards to Until Friday Night. For some reason, I expected more after reading the blurb. There were great moments, like when West was with his family and his pain felt real, but there were parts that just frustrated me. And in all honesty, I just didn't feel the fireworks.
I couldn't connect with the characters, and their intense feelings for each other didn't convince me that much. Also, there were things about them that I couldn't warm up to. Maggie was okay. She'd been through something very tragic and like West's situation, I sympathized naturally. But I didn't get the reason for her not speaking. I just think that if you don't want to talk about something and you don't want people asking you about it, then just say so. They were her family, and I'm sure they would have been supportive either way had she simply made her feelings clear to them, instead of spending the majority of the book shutting them out.
West on the other hand, wasn't exactly likable. With the alternating POVs the reader got the opportunity to get inside his head and experience what he was going through at home. But his suffering wasn't an excuse for him to be an asshole. The way he treated his mother and always spoke so highly of her should have been enough for him to treat girls better. I hated how he handled his first encounter with Maggie, and the fact that he never discussed it with her and found out how she felt. Throughout the book he was basically using her to help cope with his pain, not once did he wonder how it was all affecting her when she had problems of her own. It was a relief when Maggie finally spoke up about his selfish behavior and possessiveness. Like he was even getting territorial with her cousin, Brady. Seriously? That didn't make any sense to me. So good for her. I just wish she had done that sooner.
In spite of these issues that I had, it wasn't a bad story. I liked the friendship between the guys and the support that Brady's family showed to Maggie. I hope they return in the second book and I hope Brady gets to be the main. For some reason I was more interested in his character than Maggie and West. Still, not a bad read.
It's difficult to get truly invested in a story if you can't connect with the characters, especially if that happens because you can't follow their motivations. It puts me off too :\ Still, you wrote a great review! Nicely done :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was hard, but I guess I made it through because the story wasn't too bad.
DeleteHmm I have this one and need to read it soon, but reviews have me worried. Glad you enjoyed it for the most part. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Teresa. Maybe you'll enjoy it more. Give it a try :)
DeleteGreat review! I have mixed feelings on whether or not I should check this little guy out. Thanks for posting <3
ReplyDeleteGive it a try. You never know <3
DeleteAck. This book. I'm pretty certain about my feelings for it (not a good one, tbh). Lol.
ReplyDeleteOh yikes. It's a hit or miss I guess.
DeleteI would want to read something better. Not enough for me. happy it was okay though.
ReplyDeleteI get that, Jen. Thanks for coming over :)
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