Review: The Devil you Know by Trish Doller

The Devil You Know
by Trish Doller
Published June 2nd 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens 

Eighteen-year-old Arcadia wants adventure. Living in a tiny Florida town with her dad and four-year-old brother, Cadie spends most of her time working, going to school, and taking care of her family. So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. They invite her and friend to join them on a road trip, and it's just the risk she's been craving-the opportunity to escape. But what starts out as a fun, sexy journey quickly becomes dangerous when she discovers that one of them is not at all who he claims to be. One of them has deadly intentions.
A road trip fling turns terrifying in this contemporary story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

My Thoughts

I am going to keep this review short and fairly to the point since it wasn't that long of a book and I don't want to give anything away. The Devil You Know follows the story of a girl named Arcadia Wells. Arcadia lost her mother and in turn lost all of her freedom since she had to not only care for her grieving father but take her mother's place to her baby brother. She has always done the responsible thing. She has even given up things like her place on the soccer team and most recently her boyfriend, Justin. However, Arcadia is sick of always being responsible and sick of seeing Justin flaunt his new girlfriend around town. She decided to put of a dress and a kickass pair of boots and take on the town. Well, really more like a party at the near by campground but still this new Cadie is all about the adventures she always wished she could have. That is what spurs her to catcall the cute stranger camping near by and invite him along to the party. When he actually shows with his cousin, Cadie is in for an adventure she never imagined and will never forget. (Love cliche sentences like that one!).

Let me start off by saying that I DO NOT CONDONE GOING ON ROAD TRIPS WITH STRANGERS. That is just not cool. I was a fairly reckless teen and I feel like that would have been a bit much even for me. That being said I really do feel for Cadie's character. She not only misses her mother but is still a teen. Caring for a preschooler is NOT EASY! Trust me, I have one. Compile that with her father's mental absenteeism and high school and it's just a recipe for some good ol' fashioned rebellion. Cadie seems like such a smart cookie with a good head on her shoulder so it was a major shock to me that she could be so monumentally stupid when it comes to getting into cars or tents with strangers. I am pretty sure that is EXACTLY the shock factor that Mrs. Doller was trying to portray. Well played Madam, well  played.

The characters were really well written and while the story was fast paced it was also fairly short so there wasn't a ton of room for lagging. I truly think that saved the book since had it been any more wordy, I may have lost interest which is the worst thing that could possibly happen in a thriller/suspense book. Things were incredibly predictable but I still caught a mean case of the who done it's. While this wasn't the most groundbreaking epic book ever, it was still a decent enough read. It's length and quick pace will make the thrill seeker happy.

3 Snowflakes

Waiting on Wednesday, #45

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Here's my selection for this week...

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller
Expected publication: September 24th 2013 

Publishers: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.

"Trish Doller writes strong, gutsy characters that you can't help caring for and Callie is no exception. Her journey is heartbreaking and powerful." —Melina Marchetta, Printz Award winning author of Jellicoe Road

Wow! This sounds intense and the fact that Melina Marchetta is singing Trish Doller's praises makes it even more intriguing. The description makes this novel sound like a story that will keep my attention, so count me in!

Sooo, what book are you waiting on???

Review: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
Publisher-Bloomsbury USA Childrens 
Release Date- June 19th 2012
Purchase- Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Chapters

When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

Thoughts:

5 Snowflakes


"But what has been done can't be undone. My best friend is dead and I'm never going to be the same Travis Stephenson."

On a month-leave from the Marines, Travis Stephenson is finally home after a year in Afghanistan, only he doesn't really feel like it's his home anymore. He enlisted fresh out of high school to escape his father, whom Travis will never be good enough in his eyes and a year away still hasn't made their relationship magically perfect, in fact, it's probably worse. His (ex)-girlfriend, Paige hooked-up with Travis's brother, Ryan but he just can't bring himself to care. About anything.

Travis feels guily that he made it out alive while his best friend, Charlie, didn't make it. Haunted by his memory. Charlie is everywhere. His only saving grave is a girl named Harper, who he made life miserable for in middle school, but together they find themselves sliding into an easy friendship, an easy connection and find comfort in each others arms. And maybe when it's all said and done, find their own version of something like normal.

Once in awhile a book will come along and make me think and feel and ache for these characters in a way where I just want to hug them and wish away their pain.

Something like Normal is one of those stories.

Travis is the kind of character that made a lasting impression the minute I met him. He's cold, cynical and almost bitter about being back home. But I loved the way he cared about his mother and how he stood-up to his father.

As the story goes on we see him battling nightmares and hallucination and even terrifying triggered-memories of his time in Afghanistan. This is a guy who is riddled with pure guilt that's tearing him upside down and sideways. And it broke my heart. 

So I can't seem to blame him when ever he made a wrong decision, especially when it comes to Paige. A moment presented itself and he took it. It's not an excuse, even he knows that, but yet I can't find it in me to hold it against him. Maybe it's because it fits his personality so perfectly, maybe cause he didn't care about anything at that point in time, or at least till he started to care about Harper and she started to care back. 

I absolutely loved Travis and Harper. This was the kind of relationship that was sweet and bubbling and real. Something they both needed. Those were the moments that I looked forward to. But this story isn't about romance, not really. It's more about grief and guilt and lost and coping. It's about coming back from something so big and so crazy that no one could understand till you live it. It's about coming back from the other side and not being able to be who you were going in. It's about losing your best friend and not being able to do anything about it and trying to figure out how to live without him by your side. 

Trish Doller's writing is simply remarkable. She doesn't hold back as she describes the good, the bad and the ugliness when it comes to war, and what a solider who's suffering from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) has to endure. This is powerful stuff, honest and emotionally raw as well as eye opening and thought provoking.

I was unbelievably touched by so much in this book and was proud of the Travis we got to see in the end compared to him in the beginning. 

Bottom line, I absolutely fell in love with this book. It's beautiful and sad, humorous and sweet and the ending was perfect and realistic. It doesn't end in the traditional cookie-cutter way, but with uncertainty, hope and endless possibilities that life after lost can truly move on.

An instant favorite! Fantastic debut! I can't wait to see what Trish Doller comes up with next!
                                                                      

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