Blurb:
High
school sophomore Charlotte Masterson isn't smart enough to be a nerd, musical
enough to be a band geek, or pretty enough to be popular. But when the handsome
quarterback unexpectedly asks her out, she becomes part of the in crowd. It's
every girl's dream come true.
Too bad she still has to depend on good old
Rodney, teachers' pet, for rides. Too bad her mother is so unreasonably strict.
A ten PM curfew? Just because she lied? It's not fair.
But maybe there's more to other people than
Charlotte realizes. And maybe she doesn't even know everything about herself.
When Charlotte Masterson gets a life, life gets interesting.
Excerpt
“It’s your own fault, Charlotte.” Mom’s
digging wet clothes out of the washing machine.
My fault? How can she possibly think that?
Mom continues. “We had simple rules, and
you didn’t follow them. You not only didn’t follow them; you lied to us. That’s
what I hate most of all. The lying. How can I ever trust you again?”
“But Mom…”
“There’s no but Mom.” She throws the
clothes into the dryer like she’s pitching fastballs.
I understand that lying’s wrong. I didn’t
like that Rodney lied to me about band practice. But when it comes to my
mother, lying is the easiest way to avoid conflict.
“But Mom, Saturday night there’s a party
for the football team. It doesn’t even start until eight. How can I be home by
ten?”
“You should have thought of that before you
broke the rules.” She slams the dryer door shut.
“But all the football players will be
there. All the cheerleaders. All the cool kids.”
“So you’re a cool kid now?” Mom stares at
me.
As long as I’m dating Tony, I’m in the cool
crowd. I shrug.
“Will there be beer at this party?” Mom
pushes the dryer’s start button.
The clothes start going round and round
just like my thoughts. How can I answer that question? If I say yes, I’ll be
grounded. If I say no, I’ll be lying. I’m almost certain there’ll be beer. “If
there is, I won’t drink any. I promise.”
“So there might be beer? Is that what
you’re telling me? There might be beer at a party for underage teens?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. Nobody discussed the
eating and drinking arrangements with me.”
I should not have said that. Not in that
tone of voice. But it’s too late to take it back.
My thoughts
I read this one cover to cover in one sitting, far late into the night. I loved it. All the angst, humour, despair and trials of a teenager all mixed with Ms Raj's wonderful story telling make for a compelling read.
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FBH8562
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/9781522303138
Comments
Good luck and God's blessings
PamT
Kathy Bailey