The Accidentals by Sarina Bowen Published by Indie on July 10, 2018
Genres: Young Adult
Pages: 320
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble
I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.
My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.
When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost.
Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.
There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.
My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.
Read It, Rate It and Record
A short review to update challenges
The Accidentals is not in my usual genre to read. I avoid Young Adult since I find high school students are often immature and there’s too much drama. However, Carole’s Random Life in Books loved it and her review convinced me to try it.
I foolishly started reading at 11:30pm after a long and active day. I finished just after 4 am. Sometimes I just need to read to have time to myself and an escape, no matter the consequences. I did enjoy the book.
The characters were an interesting collection. The main character, Rachel, went through a lot and handled herself maturely. She controlled her reactions to her emotions very well for someone so young and was very fair and kind to others regardless of how they treated her. I loved her. Also, she was funny.
Her father was sort of a mess and often an asshole but he was trying to do better even if he didn’t always succeed. Haze made me nervous and angry. Jake and Aurora were funny and awesome.
Rachel’s journey over her senior year of high school from her mother dying, to meeting her father the first time, and applying to colleges is compelling. To be sure, it is an emotional journey, with a strong view of human nature – the good, the bad and the ugly. Humans are flawed but their potential is great.
About Sarina Bowen
Sarina Bowen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She lives in Vermont’s Green Mountains with her family, six chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.
In 2016, Sarina became a Rita Award winner! The Romance Writers of America honored HIM by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy with Best Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2018 Library-Love Challenge
- 2018 New Release Challenge
I am so glad that you enjoyed this book, Anne! Rachel goes through so much over the course of this book and I really wanted to see everything work out for her. I am glad that this YA book ended up working for you.
Thanks Carole! I thought it was very well done handling some sensitive topics. Yet it was interesting and a journey of growth. It looks like a romance but that isn’t really the focus or point in the story.
I’m really glad you enjoyed this one. I usually don’t do well if YA is set in a school setting (I think that was why I didn’t enjoy Harry Potter, even though that is totally my genre). It is always so much fun when you read a review and love the book as much as the blogger. Such a fun feeling sharing book love. 🙂
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Thanks. Did you try HP on audio? I find it is easier to do some books that way.
I haven’t. It has been on my list to try. But, honestly, I didn’t really enjoy the movies that much. We watched the first three movies from the library. Then got a new TV and our DVD player wouldn’t work with it (no HDMI input on DVD, only HDMI on the TV), so we stopped and never picked it back up. I just don’t think it is my thing for whatever reason.
I like the sound of this one, Anne – great review:). I do read a fair number of YA, but generally science fiction or fantasy. This one sounds well written, with a strong character arc – thank you for sharing.
The emotional growth and personal relationships are really well written.