Review: Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally
Defending Taylor (Hundred Oaks #
by: Miranda Kenneally
Publication Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars
There are no mistakes in love.
Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor's always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that's what is expected of a senator's daughter. But one impulsive decision-one lie to cover for her boyfriend-and Taylor's kicked out of private school. Everything she's worked so hard for is gone, and now she's starting over at Hundred Oaks High.
Soccer has always been Taylor's escape from the pressures of school and family, but it's hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she's going through is her older brother's best friend, Ezra. Taylor's had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it's hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?
Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor's always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that's what is expected of a senator's daughter. But one impulsive decision-one lie to cover for her boyfriend-and Taylor's kicked out of private school. Everything she's worked so hard for is gone, and now she's starting over at Hundred Oaks High.
Soccer has always been Taylor's escape from the pressures of school and family, but it's hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she's going through is her older brother's best friend, Ezra. Taylor's had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it's hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?
Since I was in the mood for a quick, fun read, I decided to pick up Defending Taylor. Kenneally's books are always super fast and engaging, which is just what I was looking for. I found that I liked this book, but didn't quite love it. I felt the book read a bit choppy and simplistic and while that wasn't a HUGE factor, it did cause some slight issues for me. I also felt like Ezra and Taylor's relationship went from 0-100 in no time at all. I get they have history, but had I seen a bit more of that, I think I wouldn't have minded so much.
I did really love Taylor and Ezra together though. They are really adorable and I like how easy their relationship was. There was no angst and unnecessary drama. It was very much boy and girl like one another and begin a relationship.
What I liked most of all was the fact that Ezra and Taylor are consistently thinking about their individual futures. Taylor thought she had everything planned out, but after getting kicked out of her swanky private school, she starts to reevaluate her life and what she really wants. Ezra is also at a bit of a crossroads, so it was awesome to see Taylor support and encourage him, because he is capable really being successful- just in a different way than his family may have originally thought.
I also enjoyed seeing how Taylor handled the girls on her new soccer team. They are pretty resentful of her at first, having once been adversaries, as she played for her previous school's team. However, Taylor doesn't take the easy way out and just quit because they don't like her. It's a great lesson for teens to see and I was glad when some of them came around and befriended her.
Ezra really did make the book for me though. Loved that boy so much!
6 comments
I liked this one a lot but totally agree with you about Taylor and Ezra. I felt like it went too fast even with a history. I also liked watching her with the girls on the soccer team. Great review!
ReplyDeleteSorry you didn't love this one entirely, Jess. I thought Taylor and Ezra were really cute together too and Taylor was great even though she made so many mistakes.
ReplyDeleteI hear her next book has swimming so I'm really excited!
Great review!
I enjoyed this one too even though it wasn't my favorite Hundred Oaks book. I still really liked Taylor and Ezra and loved that they were able to really support each other throughout the book. Cute! Great review. :)
ReplyDeleteWhy have I seen this book everywhere? The name Ezra is just giving me mad Pretty Little Liar vibes. Is this the cute summer contemporary I've always been loooking for? I'll read it and find out. Thanks for sharing. I legit didn't know much about this book, not even the synopsis, until I clicked on this post.
ReplyDeleteAlex @ The Book's Buzz
Oh wow, no angst and drama. I'm so reading this one soon!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I didn't love this as much as the others in the series but there is denying how awesome Ezra is!!
ReplyDeleteLeave me some comment love! And I will get around to commenting back!
My blog is an award-free blog, however, as I just do not have the time to follow-up.