Author: Paige Harbison
Release Date: 01/28/14
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
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Summary & Cover
Nothing should come between best friends, not even boys. ESPECIALLY not boys.
Natalie and Brooke have had each other's backs forever. Natalie is the quiet one, college bound and happy to stay home and watch old movies. Brooke is the movie—the life of every party, the girl everyone wants to be.
Then it happens—one crazy night that Natalie can't remember and Brooke's boyfriend, Aiden, can't forget. Suddenly there's a question mark in Natalie and Brooke's friendship that tests everything they thought they knew about each other and has both girls discovering what true friendship really means.
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Thoughts
I was surprised to see so many mixed reviews about Anything to Have You when I first started reading it and took a glance at GR. I don't let reviews persuade me too much either way, but it's kind of nice to see what other bloggers are thinking.
This is an instance in which I'm glad I went in with an open mind and a need for a great contemporary. Anything to Have You did not disappoint me. This book was just what I've been looking for for the past couple of weeks to get me out of a little slump! I enjoyed Harbison's story...which reminded me a bit of the beginning of the TV show, One Tree Hill. I will be buying myself a finished copy to keep on hand.
I loved the characters -- flaws and all.
Our two main characters, Natalie and Brooke, are BFFs and have been since they were young. Natalie is the quieter of the two. She studies, reads, loves watching movies, and enjoys staying at home on the weekends. She actually loves watching movies and spending time with her dad.
Brooke, of course, is kind of the opposite of Natalie. She's still a smart girl and has plans for college, but enjoys partying and being the center of attention. She has a boyfriend, Aiden, but still feels the need to flirt with other guys to make sure that they still want her.
Being seniors in high school and on their last semester, Brooke convinces Natalie that she needs to live it up and enjoy the time that she has left for high school parties. Brooke conveys to us that Natalie rarely goes to parties, but people look for her at each party and she's still popular.
After a blackout hookup at a party, Natalie ends up with secrets. However, she blacked out. She doesn't know exactly what happened. She's just kind of pieced a story together based on what she remembers before the blackout and what bits Brooke could tell her.
Natalie and Brooke discover Natalie's mishap and it puts a strain on their friendship. They actually end up spending most of the summer apart.
There is a resolution at the end of this book. It's one that I'm content with knowing. Everything that led to the ending was very believable and I could see it all happening. I like the ending, actually!
Like the ending, I was pleased with the whole book. Sometimes, the strains on best friends and how they can just cut each other out of each others' lives astonishes me. However, in Anything to Have You, it was completely relevant and believable. The way it happened and the way the girls handled everything, I was in tears finishing up the story.
The lesson that I hope teens and younger adults get from this, don't drink yourselves into oblivion! Have a drink or two. Enjoy yourself. Don't drink everyday and don't drink until you're drunk. Mistakes happen enough without the influence of alcohol.
A review copy was provided. All thoughts are my own and I have not been persuaded in any way.
Rating
About the Author
Paige Harbison recently graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts. She grew up on the outskirts of Washington D.C. She spends most of her time with friends--who give her constant inspiration for characters--and calls it research. The rest of her time is spent writing, painting, and following all of the worst TV shows.
Giveaway
5 print copies of Anything To Have You
US and Canada only
Ends March 1, 2014
Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 18 or else have parent or guardian’s permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner’s name will be selected. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.
I have seen the mixed reviews for this one too, but it sounds like it would be a pretty good read to me. The message sounds like an important one. Great review. :)
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