Review: Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald

Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
Publisher: Candlewick Press
First published: January 24th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 336

Goodreads Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. 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 total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

First thoughts:

This is such a refreshing and cute read which addresses a very important topic at the same time: unrequited love and the things we can be willing to do to make other people love us. I fell in love with this book very fast and can recommend it for everyone who loves contemporary YA romance. If you're looking for a unconventional love story, this could be the right one for you.

More detailed:

Getting Over Garrett Delaney is a wonderful story which shows us the pain of unrequited love. I think almost everyone has felt this already, but the main character Sadie has taken her love for Garrett to a whole new level. She has become the person she thinks he could fall in love with, but nonetheless she is still waiting for him to realize that they're perfect for each other.

I loved how Sadie starts to realize how much her world only revolved around Garrett. She makes some very disconcerting discovieries about herself and the life she has led, but instead of giving up, she decides to fight. Sadie is a wonderful and very relatable main character and while reading I felt as though I was living her story.

The people she meets while trying to get over Garrett are wonderful. LuAnn, Kayla, Dominique and especially Josh are amazing characters and I'd love to spend some time with them as well. Each of them is unique and although they are "just" secondary characters, you can really see how they're developing during the novel and are inspired by Sadie's new attitude towards life.

All in all, Getting Over Garrett Delaney is a heartfelt and beautiful contemporary novel. I didn't like it as much as Anna and the French Kiss, but it's very close - and I'm sure that everyone who loves Stephanie Perkins' books will like this one as well. Unrequited love hurts, but Sadie has found a wonderful way to cope with it and I would love to know how her story continues.

Challenge(s):

YA Contemporary Challenge 2012

Abby McDonald online:

Goodreads | Website
Read the first chapter of Getting Over Garrett Delaney

Have you read Getting Over Garrett Delaney? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina

Fictional Distractions of the Week #16

Welcome to Fictional Distractions of the Week. It is inspired by Book Journey's It's Monday! What are you reading? and Fiktshun's My Reading Pile and it will show you what I'm planning to read during the next week.

The books I plan to read this week:

At first I'll finish Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald, which I'm really liking so far. It's a really cute and refreshing read and even though I'm not finished yet, I can definitely recommend it!

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. 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 total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

Then I'll finally read Titan Magic by Jodi Lamm, which I got for review a while ago, but until now I didn't get around to read it. But I've heard good things about it and it sounds like a unique idea, so I'm really looking forward to start it.

Mute, heartless, and tormented by auditory hallucinations, Madeleine Lavoie never questions why her family has hidden her from the world. But the night her brother casts her out, she learns the mysterious voice she thought existed only in her mind is no delusion, and no matter how hard she tries, she can never disobey it.

Now Madeleine must find her own voice in a cacophony of powerful tyrants, monsters, and gods. If she fails, she will forfeit her life and the lives of everyone who loves her. But if she succeeds, she may finally gain the ability to love someone in return.

And the last book I'm hoping to read this week is Ties to the Blood Moon by Robin P. Waldrop. I'm part of the blog tour for this book with two stops on Feb 17th and Feb 20th and I can't wait to read this. It sounds really intriguing!

Genevieve is a teenage girl who moves in with her aunt in Alaska after the death of her mother. Soon after her arrival she learns the things she was raised to believe only existed in fairytales are in fact a big part of her history. When it gets to be too much she seeks refuge in the arms of her new boyfriend, William, only to find out he's not who she thought he was either.

What are your Fictional Distractions of the Week?

Fictional Distractions of the Week #15

Welcome to Fictional Distractions of the Week. It is inspired by Book Journey's It's Monday! What are you reading? and Fiktshun's My Reading Pile and it will show you what I'm planning to read during the next week.

The books I plan to read this week:

 

At first I'll finish Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey. Actually I have less than 10% to read, but since I'm writing three exams this week, I've been quite busy learning and couldn't read as much as I wanted to. But so far I enjoyed this nonetheless and definitely want to read more written by Alyxandra Harvey.

Goodreads Summary:
For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.

And once my exams are over (can't wait for Thursday), I'm going to read Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald. I'm sooo looking forward to read this finally since it sounds exactly like something I'd love.

Goodreads Summmary:
Can a twelve-step program help Sadie kick her unrequited crush for good? Abby McDonald serves up her trademark wit and wisdom in a hilarious new novel.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. 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 total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

What are your Fictional Distractions of the Week?

 

Fictional Distractions of the Week #14

Welcome to Fictional Distractions of the Week. It is inspired by Book Journey's It's Monday! What are you reading? and Fiktshun's My Reading Pile and it will show you what I'm planning to read during the next week.

The books I plan to read this week:

At first I'll finish I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella. It's been so long since I've read a Chick Lit novel and I especially realized how much I missed reading Sophie's writing. If you like her books or want to read a very amusing Chick Lit novel, you should definitely pick this up next month!

Goodreads Summary:
I've lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate Poppy. Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn't agree. He wants his phone back and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other's lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents... she soon realises that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

I had actually planned to start Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey last week, but then I got approved for I've Got Your Number on NetGalley and wanted to read that first. I'm still a little bit skeptical about whether I'll like Stolen Away or not, because I've heard quite a few mixed things about this so far.

Goodreads Summary:
For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.

And despite having to learn way too much, I'm also hoping to start Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald, which sounds like such an amazing feel-good-read. Crossing my fingers that I'll have enough time this week.

Goodreads Summmary:
Can a twelve-step program help Sadie kick her unrequited crush for good? Abby McDonald serves up her trademark wit and wisdom in a hilarious new novel.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. 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 total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

What are your Fictional Distractions of the Week?

In My Mailbox #37

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives bloggers the chance to appreciate the books they got last week and to meet new people.

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The books that I was gifted:

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

I actually got a voucher from my mum that she was gifted but didn't need and she told me to order a book that I wanted. Therefore I got Wolfsbane because I really need to continue this series.

The books that I bought:

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (my review)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines (Kindle)

Slumber by Samantha Young (Kindle)

I got Slumber for free and The Vincent Boys for 0,89€ on Amazon.

The books that I received for review:

Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz

Goddess Interrupted by Aimée Carter

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald

The Princesses of Iowa by M. Molly Backes

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen, Random House & Candlewick.

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Can you believe how many amazing books there are available for request on NetGalley? Wow, it seems as though there are new books I've been dying to read every day. It's a very good thing that I'll have to travel by train a lot during my internship in February/March, which means that I'll have a lot of time to read.

What did you get in your mailbox?

Carina