10+ Swoon-Worthy Reads—Clean Teen Romances

Clean teen romances. Some people don't care, but the ones that do, care a lot. When I first started as a children's librarian, I had a mom come up and ask me for contemporary, fun romance recommendations. But, since they were for her freshly-turn-teen-aged daughter, she wanted them clean—as in no sexuality or crass content. I admit, I was stumped. I offered a few ideas then and have since had many more mothers ask the same question.

So here is my list of ten—plus a lot more because these authors do a lot of good stuff—clean and funny contemporary romances just in time for Valentine's Day. I'm sure there's more for me to discover, so by all means, share your recommendations in the comments below! And, just for fun, I added like 15 more fantasy and dystopian ones into the mix at the bottom, too.

Romeo and What's Her Name
Shani Petroff
Swoon Reads (February 7, 2017)
978-1250111142

"Understudies never get to perform...which is why being Juliet's understudy in the school's yearly Shakespeare production is the perfect role for Emily. She can earn some much-needed extra credit while pursuing her main goal of spending time with Wes, aka Romeo, aka the hottest, nicest guy in school (in her completely unbiased opinion). But then Amanda (the real Juliet) ends up in the hospital and Emily, as the (completely unprepared!) understudy, has to star in the most famous scene from Romeo and Juliet opposite the guy of her dreams. Oops?"

This is the one the really kicked off the idea for this list. I just read it this week. In one sitting. So corny, yet so cute; drama-heavy, yet sweet moments of true friendship. It's the ultra-high-school-romance book. It's being released next week, just in time for Valentines, so check it out!

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss
Stephanie Perkins

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-0525423270
Publisher: Dutton
Date of publication: December 2, 2010
Age: Grades 9 - 12
Genre: Romance, Realistic Fiction

Themes: boarding school, father relationships, friendship, Paris

Anna is looking forward to her senior year with her best friend and crush. But when her dad surprises with enrollment in a French boarding school, she's sure she'll never like it. She in no way wants to live in a foreign country by herself, even if it is Paris, France. That is, until she meets Étienne St. Clair. He's smart, charming, handsome...and taken. Sure, they can be best friends, but what if she wants something more?

Adorable. Stephanie Perkins has a way with cute romances. I thought Anna was a rather interesting character (I loved that she wants to be a movie critic) but her lack of self-confidence was annoying (isn't that the case with a lot of romances?). St Clair is, of course, perfectly attractive in his British-accent sort of way, but I especially loved his depth of character shown through his family relationships. The last quarter of the book, however... Just sort of dragged out the inevitable. More drama drama blah blah and then it hits sort of suddenly. I wanted it to be a five-star, but it just didn't quite fill it for me.

Warning: Explicit Content
Language
Some sexuality

Find it at your library or on Amazon

On the Fence

On the Fence
Kasie West

My rating: ★★★★½

ISBN: 978-0062235671
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date of publication: July 1, 2014
Age: Grade 8 and up
Genre: Romance, Realistic Fiction

Themes: identity, femininity, family, secrecy

Charlotte Reynolds (aka Charlie) can outrun, outplay, and outscore the best of them--all thanks to being raised by a single dad, her three brothers, and her honorary brother from next door, Braden. But she doesn't know the first thing about being "girly." So everyone's surprised, especially Charlie, when she starts working at a chic boutique--and likes it. While trying to understand her evolving identity, and battling with nightmares about her mom's death, she escapes to the backyard fence late at night to talk it out with Braden. And falls for him. Hard. Can Charlie risk their friendship? Or is it a game she can't win?

I will be upfront about this right away: I loved this book immensely because I could relate to Charlie immediately. I loved hanging out with my brothers, and took my time figuring out the girly stuff (makeup? I mean really). I read this book into the wee hours, I couldn't put it down! Anyway, moving on to the more technical aspects...

West writes an amazing story. It's not just a cutesy romance; there's a serious undertone regarding identity and family. Charlie would much rather deal with sports than the real reasons behind her mother's death; she'd rather hide her appreciation for her new job (and new-found girly-ness) from her brothers than own up to a evolving self-perception. And then there's the romance with the boy next door. Which is a hard decision in itself. Overall, Charlie's character development is fantastic.

It's not perfect; I felt that the other characters were a little flat. Braden had some depth with his family issues, but I wish I knew more about his development. Like, why did he suddenly love her, too? I felt that all came in at the end, a little to rapidly. But still, this comes with a high recommendation. Plus, it's a clean romance. So go and enjoy!

Find it at your library or on Amazon

My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories

My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories
Edited by Stephanie Perkins

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 978-1250059307
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Date of publication: October 14, 2014
Age: Grades 9 and up
Genre: Romance

Themes: love, winter, holidays, anthology

This is an anthology of holiday love stories from popular YA authors including: Rainbow Rowell, Kelly Link, Matt De La Pena, Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins (who also compiled/edited), David Levithan, Holly Black, Gayle Forman, Myra McEntire, Kiersten White, Ally Carter, and Laini Taylor. Ranging from Hanukkah to Christmas, fantasy/folklore to contemporary/realistic, there's a little bit of everything for everyone.

It seemed like the appropriate time of year to read this book! I have never reviewed an anthology before, and am now realizing how hard it is. Overall, sure, my rating is three stars, but that's just the average. There were some really, really fantastic stories. And some really weird, totally not-my-style stories. And the in-betweens. So I can honestly recommend this to most anyone that likes cheesy holiday romances because there is a really good chance at least one story will impress.

In interest of space and time, I'll talk about the authors/stories that impressed me the most. My favorite favorite was Stephanie Perkins (who I haven't read before, but will now be seeking out more!) and her short called, "It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown." It's impressive how quickly she builds a realistic romance between two complex characters. And how quickly I fell into it--I want more! Also (for same reasons), Gayle Forman's and Rainbow Rowell's stories are impressive.

As for complexity in setting, concept, and character, the award goes to....(drum roll)... Laini Taylor. I haven't read her work before either, but her story (which wraps up the anthology, for obvious reasons) is above and beyond the cutesy contemporary romance. It's a intricate, folklore-ish, deep tale of admiration and love. Maybe not totally my style, but impressive nontheless.

So give it a try. Read it however you want; I won't judge.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Jennifer Han

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 978-1442426702
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date of publication: April 15, 2014
Age: Grades 9 and up
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Themes: love letters, communication, family, "saving face"

Lara Jean's life has just gone from normal to crazy: her five secretly-written love letters were accidentally mailed out to her crushes. They're not really love letters, just a confession of things that Lara Jean writes down for herself (she'd never say them aloud!) and they were never meant to be sent out. Now her first kiss, the cute guy from middle school, and even her sister's ex-boyfriend are confronting her, wanting to know the truth. She thought all these crushes of hers were done and in the past...but she may be feeling a spark once again. Maybe something good can come out of this.

I will admit right now that I had a hard time putting down this book, and was staying up pretty late trying to finish it. It was building itself up for this great romantic climax and ending! But then...it just ended. I felt so unfulfilled. Granted, it has been let on that there will be some sort of sequel. But still! It just ended! I'm still frustrated about it.

As for the characters, Lara Jean was difficult for me to understand. On the one hand, she's pretty conservative and tries to live up to the ideals of her perfect older sister. On the other, she has a crazy best friend and made out randomly with a boy in the hall. She wants people to think she's dating the school's hottie, but bursts into tears when a rumor spreads that she had sex with him. It seems like these characteristics are on opposite ends of the spectrum. The boys of the book were a tad unpredictable, perhaps because their characters weren't as well developed as they could have been.

So how do I really sum this up. It was obviously a good story that kept me reading, but in the end, I was not impressed. I might recommend it to the right person.

Warning: Explicit Content
Language
Some sexuality

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Afterworlds

Afterworlds
Scott Westerfeld

My rating: ★½

ISBN: 978-1481422345
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date of publication: September 23, 2014
Age: Grades 10 and up
Genre: Romance, Paranormal Fantasy/Realistic Fiction

Themes: publishing, independence, New York City, death, ghosts, terrorism,

Darcy has just signed a publishing contract for her YA novel, Afterworlds. With her sizable advance, she decides to defer college and move to New York--no friends, no apartment, no idea what she's getting into. Still, she has a network of fellow authors to help guide her--including Imogen, with whom she falls in love. Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel about Lizzie, a girl trapped in the middle of a terrorist attack who fakes death so well she travels to the Afterworld. The transition makes her a spirit guide and she must soon learn to navigate her new abilities. She gets help of Lord Yama, a god of the dead, with whom she falls in love.

It's really two books in one and they are both difficult to read. Darcy's story is flat and boring, with no real climax. And it's somewhat unrealistic--not so much about the publishing industry (which has been criticized by others for good reason) but about Darcy's sudden homosexual love life. Like, that came out of nowhere. Darcy as a character was unlikable because she is shallow, insecure, and whiney. The Afterworlds story was a bit more readable with more excitement...but the insta-love (again, unrealistic) combined with a scot-free murder at the end just kills any appreciation one might have for the story.

I'm rather disappointed. Westerfeld has written some great novels in the past for teens. This, however, is a trendy, meta book that seems to be desperate for attention. He throws in paranormal romance, homosexuality, liberal use of the f-word (you'd think authors would have a more impressive vocabulary), death and violence, all while constantly praising his own writing (think about it: every time a character compliments Darcy's book, he's really just complimenting himself). It's really unattractive. I barely finished. I was about to give up, when I just decided to skim all of Darcy's story and then go back and read all of Lizzie's story--no alternating. Made it a little easier, but still not worth it. When I consider his other books, I can't even fathom how this is the same author.

Warning: Explicit Content
Some sexuality
Language
*Also, the terrorist scene at the beginning is pretty graphic.

If you really want to, find it at your library or on Amazon

Flipped

Flipped
Wendy Van Draanen

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 9780375825446
Publisher: Ember
Date of publication: October 1, 2001
Age: Grades 6 - 8
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Themes: friendship, communication, misunderstandings, relationships, family

When Juli first saw Bryce, she was sure it was love at first sight (even if she was only in second grade). When Bryce first saw Juli, he ran. And he's been avoiding her ever since, even as she keeps chasing after him. Until now. As the two enter into eighth grade, it gets turned upside down: Bryce may now realize there's more than meets the eye even as Juli decides Bryce isn't all he seems.

Told between the two alternating view points, Van Draanen masterfully captures the maturing view of these two kids. And their budding little romance. Also, it's adorable. The story is just about the cutest little romantic comedy-ish book for pre-teens that I've ever seen. There is some drag and a little bit of stalling, but it's still good. I recommend it.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Better Off Friends

Better Off Friends
Elizabeth Eulberg

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 9780545551458
Publisher: Point
Date of publication: February 25, 2014
Age: Grades 7 - 11
Genre: Romance

Themes: best friends, family, popularity, relationships

Macallan and Levi really are best of friends--they hang out after school, their families are really close, and they share a ton of inside jokes. They date other people and still banter as buddies. But as they progress into their high school years, can the really remain such? People assume they're together, they have trouble paying attention to their dates, and maybe...maybe Levi is developing some feelings. Could he convince Macallan that she should give it a shot? Or will it cost them their friendship?

Cute and clean and funny. Everything a good romance needs, right? It didn't really stand out in any one way or another. I did feel like the ending kept on dragging ("oh my gosh, really, they're still avoiding it") but I also didn't want to put it down. Also, it definitely sends the message that guys and girls can't really be best friends without it developing into something. Which I think is a little silly, but that's personal bias. In the end: yeah, it's good. Read it if you want.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Pride and Popularity

Pride and Popularity
Jenni James

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 9780983829300
Publisher: Brigham Distributing
Date of publication: July 13, 2011
Age: Grades 8 and up
Genre: Romance

Themes: pride, popular crowd, high school, clean romance

Chloe despises the popular crowd, but there's on in particular: Taylor Anderson, the most popular guy in school. Every girl fawns over him and he loves it, never going without a girlfriend for more than a couple of days. She finds it sickening, especially when it seems he's falling for her. And no, she does not like him back. Not at all. Maybe.

Cheesy Pride and Prejudice retelling coming right up! With a side of ultra-conservative ideals! Okay, now that I got that off of my chest, I have to admit, (it's true) I actually kinda liked it in all of its corny-ness (I know, but I'm not sorry). I read it in just a couple of hours one evening--it's just fluff. But it's cute fluff. I actually thought the retelling worked pretty well in the high school setting, hitting all the important parts. It's super, super clean (like, SQUEAKY clean) and super conservative. So if that's not your style, than yeah, you'll hate it. But me? I'd recommend it. Especially to those parents that want something clean for their daughters.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Landline

Landline
Rainbow Rowell

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 9781250049377
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Date of publication: July 8, 2014
Age: Adult
Genre: Romance

Themes: marriage, communication, separation, love, family, best friend

Georgie McCool loves her husband—and she knows he loves her—but that's almost beside the point, now. When she drops the news that she can't go to Omaha for Christmas at his parent's because she needs to stay in LA for work, she knows he's disappointed. But she didn't think he'd take the kids and go without her. She's sure she's ruined her marriage for good. Yet, that night, she finds a way to talk to Neal in the past—the Neal from before they're married. Now she wonders—should she try to fix her marriage? Or prevent it from the start?

Rainbow Rowell has the amazing ability to show the nitty-gritty of romance (with language that would make a sailor blush) because it is NOT all rainbows and butterflies. I really liked the characters and the timeline format with flashbacks to the past, since it provided just the right amount of depth and background for the characters (I wish I could remember word-for-word what my husband said when he proposed). In the end, it's not a five because her tendency towards profane vocabulary is juvenile and the story as a whole was rather stressful for me. But that's just my personal preference. Overall, an excellent book with a perfect ending.

Warning: Explicit Content
Language
Some sexuality

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Can You Keep a Secret?

Can You Keep a Secret?
Sophie Kinsella

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-0385336819
Publisher: The Dial Press
Date of publication: March 23, 2004
Age: Adult
Genre: Romance

Themes: secrecy, communication, trust, marketing

Emma, like any girl, has a few small secrets. Her boyfriend may think her a size four. She may have fudged her CV for her job. These things go unsaid. Until, one very turbulent flight... Emma is sure she's going to die--this plane is FALLING--and so ends up spilling all of her secrets to the man next to her. They land safely and Emma never expects to see the man again...until she shows up to work on Monday and it turns out he's the CEO of her company. And he has a very sharp memory.

I loved it. Obviously. Because Kinsella is a guilty pleasure I have. So I don't know that I'll be unbiased in this review. I did like this one better than the others I have read so far, though. It came off more believable and deeper. Family issues, relationship issues, communication issues--it's all there and Emma has to fix them. It's fantastic. I recommend it.

Warning: Explicit Content
Language
Sexuality

Find it at your library or on Amazon

My Double Life

My Double Life
Janette Rallison

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 978-0399252624
Publisher: Putnam
Date of publication: May 13, 2010
Age: Grades 7 - 12
Genre: Romance

Themes: Hollywood, rock stars, family relationships, identity

All her life, Alexia has known she looks just like rock star Kara Kingsley. But when Alexia's photo goes viral online, she does not expect what comes next: a job offer to be Kara's double. With a wage that will get her into any college she wants and a chance to meet her long lost father, Alexia goes to Hollywood, whether her mom wants her to or not. Being Kara definitely has its perks, especially when Alexia starts hanging out with hunky star Grant Delray. But will she be able to stay true to herself when she's pretending to be someone else?

A fun, clean romantic comedy with an ending that wasn't totally predictable: I liked it. It's fun, light, and easy. Yes, it is still somewhat shallow with the perfect happy ending that really isn't all that realistic. But hey, that's what romantic comedies are for. Written from Alexia's perspective, it lets the reader into the story. There's some really good plot twists and unpredictable bits that keep it exciting. I gave it three stars, but I'm sure young teen girls would love it.

(And bonus! It's a cheap on Kindle: only $3)

Find it at your library or on Amazon

An Abundance of Katherines

An Abundance of Katherines
John Green

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 9780525476887
Publisher: Dutton
Date of publication: September 21, 2006
Age: Grades 9 and up
Genre: Romance

Themes: intelligence, probability, small town, road trip

Awards: Michael L. Printz Honor Book (2007)

Colin Singleton, a once-believed child prodigy, only dates girls named Katherine—with a "K" not a "C." But he always gets dumped. And with a spur of the moment road trip with his best friend, he’s setting out to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability. Such a theorem will predict the future of any relationship, avenging dumpees everywhere. The adventure, however, results in much more than a theorem, but a reevaluation of love itself.

I liked it. But I don't really know why. Is it because John Green can do no wrong? Perhaps. The characters were strange and a tad unbelievable. The concept behind the story was weird. The language is offensive. And yet… who else can pull it off? It was a comical novel about reinventing oneself. I don't know that I'd read it again, but I still admire John Green’s style. (Why yes I did read The Fault in our Stars first and thought it was absolute genius—read that if you haven't, for goodness' sake).

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Attachments

Attachments
Rainbow Rowell

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 9780525951988
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Date of publication: April 14, 2011
Age: Adult
Genre: Romance

Beth and Jennifer know that someone monitors the work email; it’s company policy. But that doesn’t stop them from divulging all their gossip and hilarious observations to each other. Lincoln is the email monitor, which is totally not what he signed up for—he thought being the “Internet Security Officer” would involve building firewalls or stopping hackers. And yet, he finds himself looking forward to Beth’s and Jennifer’s emails. In fact, he starts falling for Beth…but how could he ever possibly explain himself?

This book is just clever. Partly written as emails, part story, it’s a fun way to peek into these characters’ lives. And that's just it--they are fantastic characters. (Obviously—what else would you expect from Rainbow Rowell?) Basically, it’s just a really fun book. Not totally unbelievable or cheesy, but just enough truth to be a realistic romance. I recommend it.

Warning: Explicit Content
Language

Find it at your library or on Amazon

This Is What Happy Looks Like

This is What Happy Looks Like
Jennifer E. Smith

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 978-0316212823
Publisher: Poppy
Date of publication: April 2, 2013
Age: Grades 7 and up
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Themes: fate, movie stars, paparazzi, family relationships, love

Ellie O’Neill has just received an email that she’s sure is meant for someone else. Intrigued, she decides to reply and soon finds herself enjoying their instant connection—with guarded identities, of course. Little does she know she’s emailing Graham Larkin, a popular teenage movie star. And he’s just decided to take his next movie location to Ellie’s hometown in attempts to take their relationship from virtual to face-to-face. But can the two really have a normal relationship? Especially when Ellie has a secret that is threatened by the paparazzi’s constant presence?

Um, it was a stretch. A really fantastical, didn’t-quite-convince-me sort of stretch. It was cute and clean, which is good... But the story had weird gaps or lack of development that just made the plot a tad ridiculous. The characters were a little flat, but still lovable in their own way. I did enjoy the emails interspersed between chapters to give another point of view to the story. But really? Random email from a movie star? Personal biases aside, I think it is a good, fun romance that teenage girls could enjoy.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

The One

The One
Kiera Cass
(Selection Trilogy #3)

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 9780062059994
Publisher: Harper Teen
Date of publication: May 6, 2014
Age: Grades 8 and up
Genre: Romance

Themes: Love, caste hierarchy, reality television, Post-Apocalyptic America, royalty

The final installment of the Selection Trilogy, America Singer is with the last few the competitors for Prince Maxon’s hand in marriage. Having (finally) determined her true feelings for him, she wants to be the one. But with growing unrest from the southern rebels, the competition becomes more perilous. (Sounds a lot like the second one, eh?)

I’m just going to get to the point. If you read the first two, then yeah, you’ll need to read this book. But if you’re reading this review to determine whether or not to read the series, than I am here to tell you: DON’T. My goodness, I am very upset with this author. She took the easy way out at the end. Not only that, but the squabbles between Maxon and America are the most juvenile, teenage-angst-y arguments I’ve ever read. Picture me saying “UGH.” A lot. I don’t know if I can recommend this book…even though I’m obviously invested in the story, I’m so upset. Just UGH.

Check out my reviews for the other books in the series: Book 1 and Book 2.

Warning: Explicit Content
Some sexuality

If you really want to, find it at your library or on Amazon

The Elite

The Elite
Kiera Cass
(Selection Trilogy #2)

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 9780062059963
Publisher: Harper Teen
Date of publication: April 23, 2013
Age: Grades 8 and up
Genre: Romance

Themes: Love, caste hierarchy, reality television, Post-Apocalyptic America, royalty

The middle installment of the Selection Trilogy, America is among the last six competitors, or the elite. However, the closer she gets to Maxon, the more she fears the crown. And what about her feelings for Aspen? How could she possibly choose between the two? With a growing number of attacks from rebels, she must decide soon since her own safety is at stake.

This is definitely a middle book: it drags, it doesn’t really seem to have its own plot, and it could have easily been condensed into the other two books. Overall, it was a bit hard to read in that America’s indecision and angst over the whole competition becomes tiresome. The characters are shallow, too, flip-flopping in ways that don’t make sense. Cass needs give them better depth.

Check out my reviews for the other books in the series: Book 1 and Book 3.

If you really want to, find it at your library or on Amazon

Love in the Time of Global Warming

Love in the Time of Global Warming
Francesca Lia Block

My rating: ★

ISBN: 9780805096279
Publisher: Henry Holt
Date of publication: August 27, 2013
Age: Grades 9 and up
Genre: Romance

Themes: apocalyptic disaster, GLTBQ, retelling,

Awards: YALSA Top Ten (2014), American Library Association Rainbow List Top 10 (2014) 

In this retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey, Penelope is left seemingly alone in Los Angeles after disaster strikes the country. However, as she finally leaves the house, she encounters cyclops, giants, witches, and other such fantastical beings. Meeting up with a few other survivors, Pen begins her journey to find her family.

I don’t really know what to say. Like, I even had a hard time writing the summary, because there’s just too much competing for attention in this book. It is such a mishmash of genres, themes, stories that…my brain hurts. Let me touch on a few: Global Warming is killing the earth. But the disasters were actually caused by a mad scientist who created giants and stuff. Yet, Pen has elemental powers. Oh, and she’s homosexual and falls in love with a transgender. And it loosely follows The Odyssey (which it makes a point of mentioning SEVERAL times throughout the book). But it is only 240 pages. Yeah. I really don’t recommend this. At all. Apparently, it’s the first in a series, but I’m not even going to worry about it.

Warning: Explicit Content
Sexuality

If you really want to, find it at your library or on Amazon

Twenties Girl

Twenties Girl
Sophie Kinsella

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 9780385342025
Publisher: The Dial Press
Date of Publication: July 21, 2009
Age: Adult
Genre: Romance

Themes: Ghosts, 1920s, London, love

Lara Lington has enough stress in her life when the spirit of her great-aunt Sadie visits with one last request: find her beloved necklace. Feisty and opinionated, the 23-year-old ghost won’t leave Lara alone, especially in matters of love. Lara is already trying to run a failing business and win back her ex-boyfriend, and a demanding ghost is not helping. As the two try to work together, however, important truths are being uncovered.

With the wit and charm that is common with Kinsella’s books, Twenties Girl was a fantastic read. While it was a basic chick-lit read, the ghost element brought in some really refreshing elements that I enjoyed. And though I’m still confused as to why the lead guy changes his mind on love (maybe he needed to be developed a little better), I really enjoyed it. It doesn’t take a lot of brain power so I definitely recommend it if you need a fluffy read.

Warning: Explicit Content 
Language

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Defiance

Defiance

C. J. Redwine

(Defiance #1)

My rating: ★★

ISBN: 9780062117175
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Date of publication: August 28, 2012

Age: Grades 8 - 12

Genre: Dystopian

Themes: post-apocalypse, fantasy, dystopian society, romance, tyranny, missing person

Rachel’s father, Jared, has gone missing on his latest courier mission, so the tyrannical Commander must declare him dead and put the 15-year-old girl under a new protector—Logan McEntire, Jared’s apprentice and Rachel’s once upon a time love interest, until he rejected her. Both are furious at the new set up, but Rachel doesn’t really care; she thinks her father is alive and will go to any lengths to get past the walls of Baalboden and its misogynic society to search for him. Logan is determined to protect her, as is his duty and—he soon discovers—his love.

Commander Chase, cruel and powerful, however, has other ideas for the two of them. Outside the walls of the city is a fire-breathing monster, and Chase knows that Jared may have found a way to control it. Rachel and Logan are forced to work together to stop the commander, discovering heartbreak and romance along the way.

While the plot is very dramatic and driven, the teenage angst can be a bit much. Redwine focuses a lot of her writing on emotions, and most of them are depression, hatred, anger, etc. etc. It’s repetitive and wordy; it gets tiresome. The Commander is evil, just because, and does not seem to have much depth. The love Logan starts to feel for Rachel seems to appear from nowhere, quite suddenly, too. And I really thought the fire-breathing monster was just a bit too much. There are better dystopic fiction books available.