Helpful Score: 5
Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com
Lauren's life seems almost perfect at first. She's got a perfect boyfriend, Dave. She's not struggling with school. She's got an awesome best friend, Katie. She doesn't really fight with her father. Her life is good. Safe, but good.
She's not happy, though. Lauren doesn't know why, but her life doesn't seem like all it's cracked up to be. Neither does her relationship with Dave, who may be just a little bit too perfect. She finds a chance to make herself happy when Evan Kirkland comes to town, but is she ready to let go and take the plunge? Is Lauren ready to leave her safe, boring life behind for the passion and happiness that she sees with Evan? She's not sure. She has, after all, struggled not to be like her mother, who let herself run away to pursue what she wanted even though it meant leaving her husband and young daughter behind. But does being who she, Lauren, wants to be have to mean sacrificing her happiness just to make the choice everyone else seems to think is right?
BLOOM is a beautiful, powerful love story, a wonderful coming-of-age story, and most of all just an amazing novel told in Lauren's fresh, funny, and distinctive voice. Lauren is a strong, likeable character, and she is not the only three-dimensional character in the story--they are all fantastic. Fantastic is also a good word to describe BLOOM itself. Elizabeth Scott is a wonderful writer, and this brilliant novel makes me very excited to see what this author will write next!
Lauren's life seems almost perfect at first. She's got a perfect boyfriend, Dave. She's not struggling with school. She's got an awesome best friend, Katie. She doesn't really fight with her father. Her life is good. Safe, but good.
She's not happy, though. Lauren doesn't know why, but her life doesn't seem like all it's cracked up to be. Neither does her relationship with Dave, who may be just a little bit too perfect. She finds a chance to make herself happy when Evan Kirkland comes to town, but is she ready to let go and take the plunge? Is Lauren ready to leave her safe, boring life behind for the passion and happiness that she sees with Evan? She's not sure. She has, after all, struggled not to be like her mother, who let herself run away to pursue what she wanted even though it meant leaving her husband and young daughter behind. But does being who she, Lauren, wants to be have to mean sacrificing her happiness just to make the choice everyone else seems to think is right?
BLOOM is a beautiful, powerful love story, a wonderful coming-of-age story, and most of all just an amazing novel told in Lauren's fresh, funny, and distinctive voice. Lauren is a strong, likeable character, and she is not the only three-dimensional character in the story--they are all fantastic. Fantastic is also a good word to describe BLOOM itself. Elizabeth Scott is a wonderful writer, and this brilliant novel makes me very excited to see what this author will write next!
Helpful Score: 3
This book was not nearly as exciting as I hoped it would be. Lauren is kind of a dull character, and her relationship with Evan just sort of happens without a lot of development. Most of the book is about her fretting over what to do when we all know how it's going to end. On top of that, she's cheating on her boyfriend and not really a particularly likeable character.
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved! So Sweet!!!, October 18, 2009
My Thoughts: This is my second Elizabeth Scott book. I will be reading more from her! I heart her! I particularly enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end. As I flipped the pages and got closer to the end, it left me sad. I enjoyed it a lot! I love that Lauren runs into Evan after so many years and they have an instant connection. Not so much as brother and sister (their parents were dating) but more like a connection into their souls. I loved watching the chemistry between them and the way their friendship blossomed. Yes, I should bring up her celibate boyfriend but I'll let you read about him, I didn't find him that fascinating to be honest. I especially liked the part where Lauren's dad did not remember Evan. I think that could really happen in real life. The more time goes on, the more we forget and forget what is really important. I loved the characters in this book, the setting, the chemistry, and especially all the relationships.
Overall: Wonderful. Love the writing style, love Lauren and Evan! Loved everything about this book!!!
My Thoughts: This is my second Elizabeth Scott book. I will be reading more from her! I heart her! I particularly enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end. As I flipped the pages and got closer to the end, it left me sad. I enjoyed it a lot! I love that Lauren runs into Evan after so many years and they have an instant connection. Not so much as brother and sister (their parents were dating) but more like a connection into their souls. I loved watching the chemistry between them and the way their friendship blossomed. Yes, I should bring up her celibate boyfriend but I'll let you read about him, I didn't find him that fascinating to be honest. I especially liked the part where Lauren's dad did not remember Evan. I think that could really happen in real life. The more time goes on, the more we forget and forget what is really important. I loved the characters in this book, the setting, the chemistry, and especially all the relationships.
Overall: Wonderful. Love the writing style, love Lauren and Evan! Loved everything about this book!!!
