Review : What Happens Now by Jennifer Castle
What Happens Now by Jennifer Castle
Pages : 384
Genre : YA, Contemporary
Stand alone
My Rating : 4/5
About the Book :
That’s when Camden Armstrong steps onto the beach of Ari’s local swimming lake.
At first, Ari quietly longs for Camden from afar, seeing in him everything she wants to be. When the two discover a true connection the following summer, Ari lets herself fall not just for the quirky and self-assured Camden but also his friends, tumbling into their world of independence, adventure, and shared sci-fi fandom. As Ari’s romantic dreams come true, she must unlock the mysteries of the very real and troubled boy behind her infatuation, while also struggling with her own demons, obligations, and loyalties.
My Thoughts :
I’d read Jennifer Castle once before and really enjoyed her writing, so when I heard about What Happens Now, I immediately wanted to read it. And while I’m not doing my usual “YA contemporary month” this July, it seemed like the perfect time of the year to read this book.
What Happens Now was exactly what I needed to read last week. It combined romance, family and friendship with summer and serious themes like depression, all of it just in perfect doses. In reminded me a little of Sarah Dessen in fact, with the story having just enough light moments mixed with some more somber ones. This book felt like summer, but it felt like life, too.
The romance was adorable, of course, but more than that I appreciated how to author talked of friendships. New ones and old ones, and how to find yourself through them. I liked the idea of not all friendships being good for you, without going to the extreme of having Bad Kids involved.
On top of that, I loved how family played into the story. Ari’s family is far from perfect, but it’s far from all bad, too. Her parents’ struggles felt realistic and believable, and I appreciated, once again, how normal this felt, both the good and the bad moments. I loved how balanced the book was, and how positive the story could be without being seen through rose-colored-glasses. Even though I’m almost twice Ari’s age now, I felt I could relate to her and her family.
Also, bonus points for the cosplay aspects and Ari being such a fangirl. I absolutely loved how dedicated she was to Silver Arrow, and now I sort of wish I could watch the show, too! (but I’m guessing some Doctor Who or Star Trek would do!)
Overall, I really enjoyed What Happens Now. Jennifer Castle’s writing is extremely enjoyable and her story was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It really put me in the mood for summer and I’m so happy I got to read it!
I agree, this books sounds perfect for summer. Like a good mix of light-hearted scenes with some more serious content.
Happy Reading!
I love that cover and am glad to see the inside is great too!