Cancer sucks … and then you die.
Styx and Stones an all-new emotional, mature young adult romance from USA Today bestselling author Carmen Jenner is available now!
Book info:
Author: Carmen Jenner
Genre: YA contemporary
Release Date: September 3rd, 2019
Source: E-galley from Social Butterfly PR which did not influence my opinion
My rating: 5 stars
Synopsis:
Alaska Stone is a walking wet dream.
My wet dream.
For years, I’ve watched her in the halls, wanted her, but she never knew I existed.
Not until she walked into my chemo session.
For me, it was love at first sight.
For her? It might take a little longer.
But hey, it’s not like we’re on a deadline or anything.
My Review:
So I was unsure how a YA book by Carmen Jenner would be, since I have known and loved her adult romance books. But I had no need to worry, because this one grabbed me from the start. I'd like to compare it to The Fault in Our Stars, but since the characters themselves name that book and one of them kind of calls it out, I feel like I shouldn't. LOL! Okay, yeah, maybe I shouldn't have an LOL in a review of a book about kids with cancer, but as I loved in the author's other books, her sense of humor is a huge part of the story, and to me, that is real life. This book was so intense, but so good, and such a page-turner. I picked it up knowing I had one day to get it read, and believe me, the only thing that almost kept me from doing that was all the things I had going on during a Sunday. Notice I said almost. If it wasn't for my usual Sunday activities, I'd have had this completely read before I ever left the house.
This is not going to be your usual happy ending, even a happy ending for a teens with cancer story. I'm trying really hard not to spoil anything, so you may want to stop before going any further, because my thoughts may possibly spoil stuff for you. So, the ending, well the ending made me think a lot about the very end of the Titanic movie. If you remember that scene, you'll know what I mean when you read this one. I like that our characters did what any normal teen would do in this type of situation, or what you'd hope they'd do. I like that the author made things happen realistically. Things weren't miraculously okay after the big scare. There were repercussions for doing the irresponsible things. Life-threatening repercussions. The big "cure" or solution wasn't the perfect solution in the end. But then, they were still just teens. They were real. And the author was able to throw in her usual sexiness that I know and enjoy in her books, but she was able to make it teenage realistic. Not just that, but it was today's teen realistic. It made sense for what teens today might do or know or use to become knowledgeable.
Overall a great book, just solidified for me that I'll read anything by this author and probably love it. Also found out this is a bit of a spin-off from another book by the author that I'll have to go back and read.
This is not going to be your usual happy ending, even a happy ending for a teens with cancer story. I'm trying really hard not to spoil anything, so you may want to stop before going any further, because my thoughts may possibly spoil stuff for you. So, the ending, well the ending made me think a lot about the very end of the Titanic movie. If you remember that scene, you'll know what I mean when you read this one. I like that our characters did what any normal teen would do in this type of situation, or what you'd hope they'd do. I like that the author made things happen realistically. Things weren't miraculously okay after the big scare. There were repercussions for doing the irresponsible things. Life-threatening repercussions. The big "cure" or solution wasn't the perfect solution in the end. But then, they were still just teens. They were real. And the author was able to throw in her usual sexiness that I know and enjoy in her books, but she was able to make it teenage realistic. Not just that, but it was today's teen realistic. It made sense for what teens today might do or know or use to become knowledgeable.
Overall a great book, just solidified for me that I'll read anything by this author and probably love it. Also found out this is a bit of a spin-off from another book by the author that I'll have to go back and read.
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2L2KhjG
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/StyxStones
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2FgFw1i
Excerpt
“Come here,” Styx says, giving my arm a weak tug.
“Where?”
“Come lie with me.”
I laugh and shake my head. “I can’t. I’ll squash your lines.”
“They’re plastic; they’ll bounce back.” His face turns serious, and the desperation in his eyes claws at my resolve. “Get your sweet ass up here, Stones. I wanna hold my girl.”
It takes a little maneuvering with his central line and heart-rate monitor, and my IV, but eventually I settle in against his side and he wraps his good arm around me, holding me as tightly as his weak body will allow.
I wish we had the power to make time wait for us.
I’d make it wait forever, right here. I’d use up all of the seconds it’s stolen from me, from us, and the lifetime it’s going to steal from our future. If I had the ability, I’d hit pause right here, and I’d never let him go.
About Carmen
Carmen Jenner is a USA Today and international bestselling author.
A hardcore red lipstick addict and a romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?
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