I appreciated the author's debut work, 'Float,' and opted to explore her second novel.
Laurel is a junior studying journalism at Garland University, never wanting the spotlight. She focuses on the finer things in life: friends, house parties, and carne asada tacos. But when her research for an article on the school’s beloved football coach uncovers a pattern of misbehavior and a trail of lies, she knows she must expose the truth. Even if it means risking her part-time job, her reputation, and her safety. Even if Bodie, the heart-of-gold quarterback, seems hell-bent on convincing her that the man who has been like a father to him couldn’t possibly be the villain she thinks. When they team up for a class project, their tentative alliance becomes complicated by growing feelings and mounting evidence of the other being right. And Laurel must choose between staying invisible or doing what’s right.
I initially had some uncertainty regarding whether the story would fall into the young adult or new adult fiction category. However, it became apparent that the narrative would resonate with both audiences. I appreciated the differing perspectives of Laurel and Bodie about the "beloved football coach," and the budding romance that developed between them. I was intrigued to see if they would remain at odds throughout the narrative or if one would be swayed to the other's viewpoint (whether Laurel would come to see the coach in a positive light or Bodie would recognize his flaws). Despite the predictable ending, the journey to that point was engaging and unforeseen.
In the book, there was limited interaction with the central character, the "beloved coach." However, the portrayal of Kyle (Bodie's friend, also known as Fogarty) did not resonate with me. This sentiment is not a critique of the character's morality, but rather an observation on the character's literary construction. The conclusion of the book, which I cannot divulge to avoid spoilers, left a strong impression on me.
As previously mentioned, I found the author's previous work to be quite enjoyable, and I would recommend it to fans of their previous book. I intend to acquire the author's subsequent book, should they choose to write another.
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