Author: Jolene B Perry
Release Date: May 1, 2012
by, Tribute Books
Source: *a copy was provided by the author for review purposes*
Format: Paperback
Pages: 278
Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.~Review:
Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.
Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both. {Goodreads}
Woah! Just woah. I was lucky enough to receive this book from Jolene because we are doing an interview here on the blog pretty soon. And as most authors know, I like to read the author's book beforehand so that I can intertwine questions related to the book and its characters. It makes the interview more personal and lures people in to read the book knowing more about it ya know? Yes so lucky me gets to interview Jolene and she tells me to choose. To choose one book out of a few! How hard was that descision?? HARD! She has so many amazing books and I was having a tough time deciding but in the end (obviously) I chose Knee Deep. My oh my was that a good choice!
I am going to have to split this review into two parts..one about the writing, characters, and story line and one about its impact on me. First off...the writing, etc. Ok so my copy was a ARC copy so obviously it had a few un edited kinks. No problem. It never once shadowed the amazing talent of Jolene. Her writing is pure and it just captures you. You truly believe it is Ronnie speaking. A normal teenage girl that has normal teenage problems...with a bit of an extreme to it. Ronnie has been in love with Shawn since she was 14. They were fully devoted to each other. Sweet, loving, charming. That is the Shawn Ronnie fell in love with but recently...Angry, irritable, possessive, jealous (and the most scary of them all) abusive...are the words she can associate him with. And slowly....she is falling for Luke, her other childhood friend. They are Romeo and Juliet...literally well, at least play wise. But it begins to be more than just the play.
I loved following Ronnie's story and seeing her grow from her choices and troubles. She is possible the most true and believable character I have ever read. Teens all around the world can relate to her inner struggle of life, love, and learning to fight and let go. I loved her best friend. I loved the cute book they had kept during the years documenting all the "firsts" they had done over the years. I loved Luke with his charm and wit. His sexiness and his kind heartedness. The ending broke me apart and lifted my heart at the same time. Ronnie's story was heart breaking yet so beautifully wonderful. I loved this book with a passion. Every character was believable. I felt like I was living out Ronnie's life. Knee Deep is a book you will love to hate. It will rip your heart and then make you smile like a fool.
Now for the impact it had on me. When I heard stories of girls in abusive relationships, I felt pity and then...to be painfully honest...disgust. How could a girl stay with a guy that only caused them pain? Physically and mentally? It should be so easy to just tell him stop and walk out the door without looking back. So easy. Right? I mean you would have to be completely stupid to stay with someone like that. What does that say about you? What kind of example are you leaving for other girls? But...I never truly understood. There is more to the story. More to the words and the bruises. More to the girl's thoughts. I never understood all of it but this book..it helped opened my eyes. And if you have ever thought the above "before" thoughts...you need to read this too. Knee Deep is more than a story. It is a life lesson. A pamphlet for life that all girls should read. Ronnie saw the bruises. Saw the anger but...he has reasons. His father was a you-know-what-whole. He was just going through a rough time. There was too much stress in his life. He has every right to be made about the heels she wore that made her taller than him. the guys should always be taller right? She didn't need to make him feel lower than her...
Ronnie gave him ever excuse in the book and they were reasonable. I found myself agreeing with her. Yes, that's how easy it is. And its not because she was stupid. It's not because Ronnie didn't see the signs. It's not because should could handle the bruises. It wasn't easy! I truly understand how hard it just can be. Her situation was reasonable. I reasoned her abusive relationship!!! Something like that will never be easy. It just can't and won't it is a situation you would need help with. And that is the main point I saw. Ronnie wasn't willing to get help. She thought she could take care of it. But you can't do something like that by yourself. There's no way. I have truly seen the light because of this book. Now, I'm not saying that its fine to stay in abusive relationship. No amount of reason is worth that hurt. You do need to walk away from that relationship. I am just merely saying that I now know that it isn't easy and understand it better. Not completely but better. It is hard but most things in life are and they make you a stronger person. You are a better person than that. You deserve better. It had me thinking about what I would have done if I was Ronnie. Would I be saying what I said in the "before" or would I be doing the same as Ronnie. Would I be able to do the "after"?
This book goes beyond the worth of buying. I would have everyone read it if I could. This book changed me! I loved every bit! <3 I need to go on a Jolene B Perry book marathon because all of them sound so amazing and if they are anything like this one...I will forever be in love with the books and the author ;D Buy, borrow, rent, it doesn't matter just get your hands on a copy will ya! ;)
~Rating:
4.5 wonderful stars!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hope you have a great day! :D
~Jaiden
