Title: The Lonesome Young
Author: Lucy Connors
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Pub. Date: April 8, 2014
Genre: Young Adult
Rec. Age Level: 14+
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Victoria Whitfield is just returning home when a meth lab explodes. Mickey Rhodale's older brother is just returning home as well... from jail. Both teens are pulled to the scene of the explosion, where they meet by chance. A relationship between good girl Victoria and bad boy Mickey should never work, but, for better or worse, the two are pulled towards one another. But there's more than just class and status against the Victoria and Mickey: their families have hated one another for decades and the feud is no where near dead. Will blood or love prevail in this story of starcrossed love?
Okay, I admit it, it was the cover that first drew me to THE LONESOME YOUNG. It shows bad boy Mickey with Victoria in his arms. I was itching for a good romance and Simone Elkeles blurb made me hopeful that Connors' YA debut would fulfill this craving. Unfortunately, the romance in THE LONESOME YOUNG was just too... predictable? contrived? boring? It just didn't make my heart speed up or leave me with a goofy smile on my face. In fact, I would have been much happier with this novel if there was less romance and more of a focus on the action and family drama.
In addition to a comparison to Romeo and Juliet, THE LONESOME YOUNG has been pitched as Justified for YA readers, which also pulled me in. And I definitely saw - and approved of - the similarities. There's drugs, guns, crazy drug-running families headed by scary women, corrupt cops... I loved this side of the novel! Which is why I was disappointed each time it was brushed over for more Victoria and Mickey and their agonizingly ridiculous should-we-or-shouldn't-we fights. I think it's fairly obvious that our starcrossed lovers are going to be together, no matter the consequences, so the back and forth got pretty frustrating (and pointless) after the second time.
Overall, not a horrible novel, but lacking the depth it could have had. There was so much potential here, but the romance squashed it!
I first saw this when I was doing my weekly new release post. I thought the cover was different for YA, but maybe a little dramatic.( I thought that they couple was fleeing disaster until I read the blurb.)
ReplyDeleteSorry that the story doesn't match what the cover promises!!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics