The Unlikelies
by Carrie Firestone
June 6, 2017
336 pages
336 pages
Goodreads Summary:
Five teens embark on a summer of vigilante good samaritanism in a novel that's part The Breakfast Club, part The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, and utterly captivating.
Rising high school senior Sadie is bracing herself for a long, lonely, and boring summer. But things take an unexpected turn when she steps in to help rescue a baby in distress and a video of her good deed goes viral.
Suddenly internet-famous, Sadie's summer changes for the better when she's introduced to other "hometown heroes." These five very different teens form an unlikely alliance to secretly right local wrongs, but when they try to help a heroin-using friend, they get in over their heads and discover that there might be truth in the saying "no good deed goes unpunished." Can Sadie and her new friends make it through the summer with their friendships--and anonymity--intact?
This rich and thought-provoking novel takes on timely issues and timeless experiences with a winning combination of romance, humor, and wisdom.
Carrie Firestone's debut novel, The Loose Ends List, was one of my favourite contemporary books of last year. Needless to say I was excited to read whatever she came out with next. The Unlikelies did not disappoint.
There's something really catchy about Ms. Firestone's writing. It held my attention. The short section writing style might not be for everyone but it kept the story moving forward. I liked the style a lot since I was never bored and was always curious to see what came next.
Don't let the cheery cover fool you because there are definitely some serious sensitive issues discussed in The Unlikelies. I love the idea behind the story. Instead of doing the Most Likely, you look at the Unlikelies. Sadie and her friends did some great things that rendered me speechless. Even though the probability of having that happen in real life is low, I didn't mind. It made for an encouraging and fun storyline. It's important to occasionally be reminded that in the face of darkness, there is still goodness in the world. That is exactly what the homegrown heroes did.
I am a fan of Sadie's. What she did was incredibly brave and selfless. It was almost like an automatic response given the horror she was witnessing. It's impossible not to be in awe of Sadie's courage. Her one act brought unexpected joy and excitement and maybe a little fear into her life.
The Unlikelies was such a diverse and dynamic group. Whether it was Gordie's computer skills, Jean's artistic abilities or even Val's relationship woes and Alice's troubled druggie best friend, each person brought something into their group. I loved seeing the bonds between them tighten. I also swooned at the romance between Sadie and Gordie. Their relationship was natural and adorable. The misunderstanding at the beginning was hilarious and so innocent. It made their interactions even sweeter and more thrilling.
The Unlikelies is a perfect summer read with friendship, cuteness and swoons. I think it goes without saying I'm a fan of Carrie Firestone and will read whatever she writes. Give them all to me please.
Rising high school senior Sadie is bracing herself for a long, lonely, and boring summer. But things take an unexpected turn when she steps in to help rescue a baby in distress and a video of her good deed goes viral.
Suddenly internet-famous, Sadie's summer changes for the better when she's introduced to other "hometown heroes." These five very different teens form an unlikely alliance to secretly right local wrongs, but when they try to help a heroin-using friend, they get in over their heads and discover that there might be truth in the saying "no good deed goes unpunished." Can Sadie and her new friends make it through the summer with their friendships--and anonymity--intact?
This rich and thought-provoking novel takes on timely issues and timeless experiences with a winning combination of romance, humor, and wisdom.
Review
Carrie Firestone's debut novel, The Loose Ends List, was one of my favourite contemporary books of last year. Needless to say I was excited to read whatever she came out with next. The Unlikelies did not disappoint.
There's something really catchy about Ms. Firestone's writing. It held my attention. The short section writing style might not be for everyone but it kept the story moving forward. I liked the style a lot since I was never bored and was always curious to see what came next.
Don't let the cheery cover fool you because there are definitely some serious sensitive issues discussed in The Unlikelies. I love the idea behind the story. Instead of doing the Most Likely, you look at the Unlikelies. Sadie and her friends did some great things that rendered me speechless. Even though the probability of having that happen in real life is low, I didn't mind. It made for an encouraging and fun storyline. It's important to occasionally be reminded that in the face of darkness, there is still goodness in the world. That is exactly what the homegrown heroes did.
I am a fan of Sadie's. What she did was incredibly brave and selfless. It was almost like an automatic response given the horror she was witnessing. It's impossible not to be in awe of Sadie's courage. Her one act brought unexpected joy and excitement and maybe a little fear into her life.
The Unlikelies was such a diverse and dynamic group. Whether it was Gordie's computer skills, Jean's artistic abilities or even Val's relationship woes and Alice's troubled druggie best friend, each person brought something into their group. I loved seeing the bonds between them tighten. I also swooned at the romance between Sadie and Gordie. Their relationship was natural and adorable. The misunderstanding at the beginning was hilarious and so innocent. It made their interactions even sweeter and more thrilling.
The Unlikelies is a perfect summer read with friendship, cuteness and swoons. I think it goes without saying I'm a fan of Carrie Firestone and will read whatever she writes. Give them all to me please.
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinion are my own and not affected in any way. All quotes were taken from the Advance Review Copy I received.
I was just looking at this book yesterday. I'm definitely looking forward to giving it a try, and it sounds like it will be well worth it!
ReplyDeleteYAY! I know it won't be for everyone but fingers crossed you'll like it!
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