Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Published 2008 by Little, Brown
Source: the library
Rating: 5 paws
From the blurb: As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another's only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend. When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr is a heartbreaking story of two kids,
Jennifer and best friend Cameron. The book opens eight years earlier, on
Jennifer’s ninth birthday. They are at Cameron’s house, his dad is home and he
is hassling Cameron and then Jennifer as well. Jennifer shares with us the
beginning of this memory and then we jump forward to the present day, her seventeenth
birthday, a day which she hates due to that memory. Jennifer and Cameron were
both from poor families and she was a chubby, unpopular kid who was teased a
lot but it was ok because she and Cameron had each other. But during fifth
grade he disappeared, without saying goodbye. Jennifer didn’t know why but the
kids at school told her he’d died and she believed them.
Since then Jennifer has reinvented herself, she lost weight,
changed schools and when her mum remarried she took her step-dad’s surname and
changed her first name, she now goes by Jenna Vaughn. She has friends and a
boyfriend and is control of every aspect of her life. But she still thinks
about Cameron a lot and then he shows up at her new school and her control
starts slipping.
From the very first page, I felt immersed in Jennifer and
Cameron’s lives. I could picture his house, feel the ominous presence of his
father and just like that, Sara set the tone of her book perfectly.
Jennifer is trying to go about her life as Jenna, she
watches what she eats, exercises, enjoys hanging out with her new friends at
Jones Hall High School but she can never truly relax and let go of her old self
and her memories of Cameron. They were the best of friends in their own little
world and one day he gave her a ring with a note saying that he loved her.
Slowly over the course of the book, she reveals more from the memory of her
ninth birthday and I felt worried and extremely sick because I had a feeling I
knew what had happened. I also found Jennifer very relatable, she’s tried so
hard to put her past behind her, she just wants to fit in and every time she
worried about her friends and boyfriend finding out about the real her, I felt
worried too; I didn’t want her carefully crafted world to crumble.
The scenes between Jennifer and Cameron were intense. I
could understand Jennifer’s surprise at his reappearance and like her, I wanted
to know everything that had happened to him, why he’d left and now returned,
but Cameron is different from most people and clearly doesn’t want to talk
about their past but he does want to spend time with her, though he’s not used
to calling her Jenna.
I know some people weren’t happy with the ending and I admit
I am always hoping for a happy ending but instead it was true to the book. It
was hopeful and it was sad, I cried a lot. But mostly I was left wondering what
happened next and this is a story that will stick with me.
Sweethearts is a bittersweet story about love, family, friendship
and how loving someone can leave a mark on your life, that no one else can
remove.
Purchase a copy: The Book Depository
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34 comments:
Isn't Sweethearts wonderful? Next to Once Was Lost, it's my favorite Zarr novel. That ending gets me every time.
Wow. This sounds incredible! Another book you've convinced me to read ;) Great review!
Sweethearts was one of those books that totally caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting to be really that interested in it, or amazed by it (which is my own mistake, Zarr's a wonderful writer), and when I first finished it, my feelings were like, eh, okay. But still later, I remember Jennifer and Cameron and they're still so real to me. That's the lasting power.
Oh I loved this book (:
Read it for a Valentine's read.
My first book of Zarr that you have now made me remember how good it really was. That cover is evil though. I want that cookie!
She’s Got Books on Her Mind
Holy. Crap. This. Sounds. AMAZING! Seriously, I read the blurb and KNEW I wanted to pick this up because if anyone can do justice to a tale like this, it's Sara Zarr. I'm so glad you felt so invested in this story, Mandee, and I definitely want to pick it up myself now. Thanks for alerting me to this one, dear, and wonderful review! Must. Buy. Now. ;)
I read this book so long ago I don't remember it to well. I remember liking it though! Great review!! Your review makes me want to reread it soon. :)
Oh gosh no HEA?! I think I'll pass! LOL The beginning sounds so sad. I wonder what happened on her birthday. Since you said you felt sick I have a few horrible ideas. I am curious where Cameron when and if he and Jennifer can find their way back to each other. Just sounds too heartbreaking for me :-(
Somehow Sweethearts is my less favorite of Sarah Zarr's books. It was the book that I struggled the most to finish, probably because I felt no swoon toward Cameron or between him and Jenna.
And the lack of HEA plays a part on it too, I guess.
Still, it was a good story, just didn't click as much with me as other stories by this author have.
This sounds like such a sweet story. :) And I will keep in mind to keep tissues in hand for the ending. Great review!
While this sounds like a wonderful story, I can't ignore the sad ending part! I hate those! Great review Mandee and I'm glad you enjoyed this so much even with the disappointing ending. :)
It sounds like this book tugged a few heartstrings not to mention it also sounds really intense . . . I must read this! Great review!
Heartbreaking story...eeeeeeee! I have to spread heartbreaking stories out or else it's too heartbreaking:S
Wonderful review! You really liked this one by the sounds of your review:D:D
Mich
Oh i've seen this one around a couple of times but haven't got around to picking up a copy.
Sounds like you really loved this one. Even though we always want a HEA, sometimes the endings the book gives us just fits better huh?
Great review!
Oh, wow! I'm not sure I've ever really read what this book is about. It's sounds amazing! I've read one book by Zarr and loved it. I really need to start reading her others.
This was not even on my radar. I want it so bad after reading your review! I love a good HEA too, but I would rather read something that is true to the story being told.
Lovely review, I'm tempted to go out and get it right away!
Wow, I've only read one book by Zarr. I'd like to read more. This sounds like a serious book but one that I'd probably suck right up.
Whoa this review has me curious. I can imagine a lot of bad things happening early on and I want to know about the heart breaking ending!
I love, love, love how you point out that you felt the ending was true to the story. I very much felt the same thing. It isn't necessarily what I was expecting, but I had so much peace about it. I'm so glad you and I felt the same way about this one! Book twins! :)
Oh I really need to read some Sara Zarr, but I have to admit that I'm a bit afraid of her books. They seem so bittersweet, every one of them, but I kind of love that. Lovely review!
All this praise for Sara Zarr and I still haven't gathered the courage to read one of her books. Shame on me. It's the same with Courtney Summers, the very idea terrifies me. :)
But if anyone can convince me, you can.
Oh wow this sounds like a really emotional but beautiful read! You definitely make me want to read it I love these types of reads now and then! Wonderful review!
I totally need to jump on the Sara Zarr bandwagon! great review.
*sigh* Sarah Zarr certainly knows how to nail it when it comes to YA contemp. I read and loved Story of a Girl and How to Save a Life (have you read it yet, btw? I hope so!) so that is a definite indication that I have to read this book asap. Your beautiful makes me so happy, Mandee. :)
So glad to see you loved this. I've been debating reading it. I'll have to pick it up soon.
Oh gosh, this seems like really wonderful book! As a contemp lover, I really do need to read one of Sara Zarr's books. Great review, Mandee!
I completely agree with everything you said, Mandee! I read Sweethearts last year and it was just beautiful. My first Sara Zarr book! The book was a combination of intense and sweet and I really enjoyed reading about Jennifer and Cameron!
Awesome review, Mandee ♥ So glad you enjoyed it!
I knew, knew, knew you'd love this one when you read it. It was my first book by Zarr and now the only one I have left is How to Save a Life (I couldn't handle the audiobook of that one). I hear what you're saying about the ending. I don't need a happy ending either but I was/am just dying to know ANYTHING about what happens later on, you know? I wish she'd revisit the two of them:-/
This sounds wonderful, it's new to me and your awesome review had convinced me that I need to get my paws on a copy of my own! I adore the cover too. So glad you loved this so much. :)
This sounds like such an emotional and intense read! I am intrigued about these characters and their lives.
I'll definitely be adding this one to my TBR pile.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful review :)
Sweethearts sounds like an amazing story. I recently bought Story of a Girl based on a great review. This seems like another of Zarr's books that will be a must-read. Awesome review!
I have heard great things about this author but I haven't read any of her books, but I love the idea of Sweehearts. I love emotionally deep YA books. I'll be saving this one for later for sure.
Oh thank you, Mandee! It's been years since I read this and my memory is a bit sketchy, but your review definitely helped me remember more of the story. I can't remember exactly how it ended, but I do know that I was crying after.
You've really inspired me to get myself a copy because I want to relive this all over again and especially recap on the points I'm fuzzy on. Brilliant review! <3
Awesome review! The story did catch my attention before but I was never as convinced to buy the book as I am now - you really made me want to go ahead and get my own copy :)
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