Lovin' los libros

A book blog dedicated to young adult and new adult novels

Blog Tour: Class of '98 by A.L. Player {Review+Giveaway}

By 7:40 AM , , , , , ,

Welcome to my stop on the Class of '98 blog tour hosted by YA Bound Books Tours!
To see the full tour schedule click HERE.
 

Class of '98
  by: A.L. Player

Publication Date: Nov. 26, 2013
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: Young Adult/Adult crossover
Source: e-ARC provided by YABound in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 238 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars


Jackie Dunn and Matt Stewart barely knew each other in high school, back when she was a blue-haired alterna-kid and he was a preppy jock. High school rules dictated they'd never hang out, or sit at the same lunch table, or God forbid, date.

But when a weird storm transports them from their ten-year reunion back to senior year, they have to work together to figure out a way to get back to 2008.

Stuck in high school, Jackie and Matt agree to tough it out. They agree to do everything exactly as they remember, even though that means staying with the boyfriend Jackie knows will betray her, or playing nice with the girl that will someday be Matt’s ex-wife. Soon, they come to rely on one other, even become friends.

Jackie’s just starting to get used to curfews and term papers again, when Matt hits her with the biggest surprise of all: he’s fallen in love with her. He’ll change the past however he has to if it means a future with Jackie. But Jackie’s terrified they’ll not only alter their lives, but the lives of everyone around them.

Back to the Future meets She's All That, Class of '98 is a young adult/adult crossover that will appeal to teens and adults.

 
My Review:
 
When I first saw the gals at YA Bound send out this tour invite, I had to join up. Who doesn't love a good blast from the past story? This was the time I was in high school, or almost in high school anyway, so I loved reading and actually getting the pop culture references that A.L. included. Now, I am at the point in my life Jackie and Matt are- my 10 year reunion was this year- so I could relate to this story on both spectrums.
 
I felt for Jackie. She and I are very similar to one another. Her present is filled with work, she's unmarried, and really didn't want to go to her high school reunion. She had been deeply hurt by her ex-boyfriend and best friend, and she definitely doesn't want to have a run in with either of them. Overall, I liked Jackie, but I thought she was a little too obsessive at times during the novel. I get that she was afraid of changing the past and interrupting the future, but by doing so, she came really close to jeopardizing something really great.
 
Jackie ends up running into Matt at their high school reunion and while they are cordial to one another, they are really just acquaintances. They didn't run in the same social circles while in HS, even though she always thought he was nice and he always thought she was cool. Matt is not entirely happy with his present either. He is recently divorced and that really bothers him. When this freak storm hits and the two are transported back in time to their senior year, he isn't all that upset over it. Both of them stated that there are things they would change if they could- but never ever guessed they would maybe have a chance to do it!
 
This book reminded me a little bit of the movie 17 Again with Zac Efron. Matt and Jackie are back in their high school bodies, but still remain 28 mentally. As I said, Jackie is obsessed with keeping things the same for fear of changing the present. However, that is really easier said than done. Both of them are miserable trying to pretend to be their former selves. Matt doesn't want to play by the rules- he'd much rather ditch his HS girlfriend Christy and spend time with Jackie. I really felt for the guy because Jackie would keep throwing it in his face that they don't hang out, that it would be weird to be seen together, etc. Matt doesn't care though- he likes Jackie and likes spending time with her. So when she tells him they can't hang out, he is really hurt by this.
 
I liked watching Matt with Jackie. He is really sweet and cute and I wanted to shake her so much throughout the book. I was like GIRL! Hot guy is into you! GO AFTER THAT! He's nice, sweet, fun, and you enjoy being with him! However, there's only so much rejection a guy can take. Jackie constantly pushing Matt away when he shows his feelings to her, is not bound to have good results...
 
Overall, this was a really cute read about two people who, with the knowledge they have now, have the opportunity to go back and maybe not necessarily change the past, but create a better future and come back with more wisdom and understanding than they did back when.
 
 
About the Author:
 

A. L. Player teaches middle and high school English in Atlanta, GA.  She lives with her guitar-playing, English-teaching husband and their three crazy rescue dogs.  Her last name gets about the reaction you'd expect. CLASS OF '98 is A.L.'s first novel. 
     
 

 
Giveaway:
 
 
 
 
 
 

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8 comments

  1. Great review! This sounds cute and I loved 17 again! I liked the idea behind the plot but I'd probably want to throat punch Jackie too! Who cares about changing the present if you were happy in it to begin with?

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    1. Thanks Chelsea! I was really ready to throttle Jackie!

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  2. Sounds like a good book from your great review and I loved Zac in that movie. I will definitely check this out. Thx

    Ro
    A bookish Escape

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Ro! It was a fun read and definitely different than I've been reading!

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  3. Class of 98 seems like a story I would enjoy too! (I was class of '96...old!) and I get your frustrations with Jackie.
    Great review!

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    Replies
    1. Haha! It was nice to read this book since it's been different than my usual contemp romances!

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  4. Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete

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