***I just want to throw out there that I feel like the synopsis is really spoily and pretty much just tells you the whole entire book! I actually only read the first paragraph before reading this book and I'm so glad that I did it this way because I started writing this review after I'm already halfway through the book and I just noticed how the book literally follows the whole entire synopsis! So read at your own discretion.
Synopsis (From Goodreads)
Seventeen-year-old Veronica Clarke never thought she would wish she'd failed a test until she finds herself holding a thick piece of plastic in her hands and staring at two solid pink lines. Even the most consistent use of condoms won't prevent pregnancy when your boyfriend secretly pokes holes in them to keep you from going out-of-state for college.
Veronica needs an abortion, but the closest place she can legally get one is over nine hundred miles away - and Veronica doesn't have a car. Too ashamed to ask her friends or family for help, Veronica turns to the one person she believes won't judge her: Bailey Butler, Jefferson High's own little black cloud of anger and snark - and Veronica's ex-best friend. Once on the road, Veronica quickly remembers nothing with Bailey is ever simple and that means two days of stolen cars, shotguns, crazed ex-boyfriends, truck stop strippers with pro-life agendas, and a limo driver named Bob. But the pain and betrayal of their broken friendship can't be outrun. When their fighting leads to a brutal moment of truth, Bailey abandons Veronica/ Now Veronica must risk everything in order to repair the hurt she's caused.
Middle of the Book Check-In
Let me start off by saying this is definitely a YA book! But I've been in such a reading slump I feel like this is literally just what I needed! I have not been able to put this book down! Another crazy thing I never buy books on my Kindle unless they're on sale, but this one I just had to read and I'm so glad I splurged on it. I feel like this might become one of those controversial books and I'm so glad to get my own opinions before it starts blowing up.
I think Veronica's back story really helps add to the story, she lives in this very conservative community and you really see this when you are introduced to her sister's family. I can't decide if I like Veronica or not though. There are moments where I feel bad for her and I'm rooting for her. But then I feel like she's just being selfish about everything. I keep flipping back and forth. But you definitely get reminded of it being a YA book because of how Veronica is, she's obsessed with what her friends think of her, social media, and being the most popular person in the school. Which this trope itself I can't decide if I like it or not. If it is done well then I can love it but it can definitely get annoying and old really fast for me too. Right now it is really clicking for me. I really don't know if she is going to actually go through with the abortion or not. I feel like even though Bailey gives her a really hard time here and there I think she really cares and is actually being more realistic than Veronica is being. So I'm really curious about how this stripper scene goes down because that's where I am at so far. But also what happens between Veronica and Bailey?! This whole book you know they don't have the best relationship but what makes it implode so much??
As of now, this book is about 3.5-4 stars for me it can go in either direction right now since I'm only in the middle of the book now. So let's see how this thing goes. If I keep up this pace I will definitely be done with it by this weekend! Which is crazy not just because I've been in this reading slump but also because of work and school I never have the time to read anymore.
After Thoughts
So I was right I finished this book last night! I really hate using half stars to rate books so I just never do it and I honestly ever had a book that I had to use it with. But this book I can finally understand the feeling of having to use half stars. I loved this book but I don't think it is a 4-star book. However, it is definitely not a 3-star book so 3.5 for it! I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this book. So I think we should start doing 5 things list so let's start with this one!
Pros
- I loved Bailey's story! It was amazing and she was so quirky.
- The spin on that freaking stripper! OMG, that was one of the craziest parts of this story.
- This book is so fast-paced that I had no time to get bored with it, and we all know how easy it is for me to wander away from a book if it gets boring.
- There were so many funny scenes in this book and I lived for them! I couldn't read it fast enough.
- I don't know if this should be a pro because I'm not for or against abortion, I have no thoughts of it. But I loved how the book was about abortion because even the procedure was the main thing for the character the book itself didn't just stay on the subject the whole time. Throughout the book, it focused on people for abortion, people against it, and then you had the comedy in the book so I didn't feel like the book was either for it or against it, and it wasn't really just focused on it.
Cons
- The synopsis! I want to be able to read the synopsis to see if I want to read the book but I don't want it to tell me everything that is going to happen throughout the book! Pull me but don't spoil the read for me!
- Veronica! To be honest I had a big love/hate relationship with her. I felt bad for her and the situation she was shoved into but the decisions she made drove me nuts! But to be fair it is a YA book.
- Just like how I said the book wasn't just about the abortion but I wish there was more of Veronica deciding through the options. I get that she knew abortion was the choice she wanted but the book didn't really show her think about other options. It seems like that was the only choice she had and I get that it was but it would've been nice for this book to at least show her think through the different options there are for her.
- The ending of the book was a huge downfall for me. I wanted more resolution between Veronica and her school friends. Heck, I wanted more between her and Bailey. Good news the book seems to be apart of a series, but I really don't know what is going to happen in the next book. I hope it follows Veronica and Bailey because I want more in this story. But if it is the same kind of scenario but with different people, I think it is going to get old fast. I don't want to just read about people getting abortions I want to see more of Bailey, plus I think it would be interesting to see how Veronica moves on after this.
- The ex. I get his part in the story and he did add to the story. But for me personally, I had a hard time reading about the stalking side of his story. Plus he was just a garbage human, to begin with.
Bailey ended up staying my favorite character in the book! I loved her as a character and I had a love/hate relationship with Veronica. This story took some really crazy twists and turns, GUYS THERE'S A STRIPPER! I think the only thing that I would really wish was in the book was maybe a prologue, because I would love to see what happens to Veronica and Bailey after they got back to school. You kind of get a glimpse of the choices Veronica makes but I would just love to see how their relationship ends at least up until graduation. Plus maybe leave out some of Veronica's need to be the best scenes, they got annoying real fast. This book looks like it is going to be a series and I don't know if they are going to follow this dynamic duo or if they will follow another girl in this scenario. If it follows these two I think I would read it because I just mentioned how I need more of these two, mostly Bailey. But I don't know if I would read it if it follows another person in this scenario because I hate when series follows different people. You just got me attached to these characters, so give me those characters!
But one of the biggest things I can say about the book that will be best for you as a reader is if you are curious about this book please do not read the synopsis it will literally give away everything that happens in the book. If you are on the fence and feel like you have to read the synopsis then just read the first paragraph!
