The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Title: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Release Date: March 31, 2015

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 384

Received: Library

Star Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?[goodreads]

My Thoughts

I've felt very mixed about this. I've read Emery's debut and these concepts held a very cliche mood. But I have friends who absolutely adore her stories and I tried not to get into this one with a clouded mind. But I think her stories aren't for me. I enjoyed aspects of this novel, but it felt like just another YA contemporary.

Paige's first boyfriend died in an incident and high school is about to start. Her high school follows labels and she is concerned of getting "the girlfriend of the boy who died". I don't think anyone who's just beginning freedom should go through this close of death. But this accident opened her eyes and she really sees how she wants to play at this. I'm glad that the author didn't leave out the post panic attacks because it's normal for anyone to go through something this recent and not feel anything. Because this is how being human is a battle between yourself.

Paige's friendships with everyone was very "high school". Which is great because this is a novel set in a high school setting. It was comforting that these teens are just beginning to make their own choices and living. There were also intellectual teens who had conversations about pop culture and film. Maybe this does happen realistically and I'm not part of it. 

In this genre, there is no end to the amount of white and heterosexual couples. It's just how the writer deludes these things that I've come to realize becomes repetitive. Yes, I gushed at this story because I'm a wimp for cliches. But I think it's time to expand to different things. I'm not bad mouthing this author and Emery is a lovely person to follow on Twitter. I'm talking about this dilemma in general. But I'm not sure if I'll pick up another Emery novel soon.

3/5 STARS