Review : Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots and Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald

Posted by on August 17, 2013 1:00 am in 4 stars reads | 1 comment

Yesterday I shared my review of Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald. As you all know now, I didn’t really enjoy the book – not as much as I had enjoyed the author’s previous work, anyway. So I thought it was time I went through my notes on the two books I last read by Abby McDonald. At the time, I didn’t post the reviews because, as much as I enjoyed the books, I didn’t have much to say about them. Now though, I thought it would be nice to balance the negativity with a bit of positivity. Here we go!

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boys, bears and a serious pair of hiking bootsBoys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald
Pages : 304
Genre :  YA, Contemporary fiction
Stand Alone My Rating : 3,5/5

From the back of the book  :

Jenna may hail from the ’burbs of New Jersey, but Green Teen activism is her life. So when her mom suggests they spend the summer at Grandma’s Florida condo, Jenna pleads instead to visit her hippie godmother, Susie, up in rural Canada. Jenna is psyched at the chance to commune with this nature she’s heard about — and the cute, plaidwearing boys she’s certain must roam there. But after a few run-ins with local wildlife (from a larger-than-life moose to Susie’s sullen Goth stepdaughter to a hot but hostile boy named Reeve), Jenna gets the idea that her long-held ideals, like vegetarianism and conservation, don’t play so well with this population of real outdoorsmen. A dusty survival guide offers Jenna amusing tips on navigating the wilderness — but can she learn to navigate the turns of her heart?

My Thoughts :

Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots was my second book by Abby McDonald, and I really enjoyed it. It’s true that I couldn’t resist the Canadian setting, and even though it takes place in a different part of the country, I recognized many aspects of it!

I also loved how she gently poked fun at the country, but most of all I appreciated how Jenna’s vision of nature was confronted to the reality of it. It’s an opportunity for her to grow up and see the nuances of life, and learn to be a little less judgemental of others. It’s nice to see her change in a realistic way, while still recognizing her in the end. There’s also a super cute romance of course, and I appreciated the complete cast of characters – Fiona included!

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getting over garrett elaneyGetting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
Pages : 336
Genre :  YA, Contemporary fiction
Stand Alone My Rating : 4/5

From the back of the book  :

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly one-sided. The object of her obsession — ahem, affection — is her best friend, Garrett Delaney, who has been oblivious to Sadie’s feelings ever since he sauntered into her life and wowed her with his passion for Proust (not to mention his deep-blue eyes). For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett’s constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to art films to ’80s indie rock — all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder — until he calls to say he’s fallen in love. With some other girl! A heartbroken Sadie realizes that she’s finally had enough. It’s time for a total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized self-help guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

My Thoughts :

I read Getting Over Garrett Delaney last year and found it to be super cute and heartwarming. Mostly, I was in love with it because it is not a book about a love story. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to have a YA novel be about getting over romantic feelings rather than about falling in love. I have a hard time thinking about another YA contemporary novel that doesn’t include romance but is also a light, fun read!

I also appreciated that Sadie wasn’t getting over Garrett by throwing herself into the arms of another boy. With a fun cast of characters supporting her, she gets the opportunity to discover more about who she is and what she wants, to become a better (and more likable) person, while rethinking entirely her relationship with her close friend Garrett – and it was  much needed, believe me! So, while this book is not a swoon-worthy romance of any kind, it is still the perfect, light and fun YA novel, something to read under the sun on a beautiful summer day and conclude with nothing less than a smile!

1 Comment

  1. bermudaonion (Kathy) August 17, 2013 at 10:44 am

    They both look cute but I love the title of the first one.

    Reply

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