By Jennifer Echols
Release Date: January 13, 2015
Source: Edelweiss
As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for capturing those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents' bitter divorce has left her wondering what a loving relationship would look like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody the “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been on her case to ask Brody out.
Brody doesn’t lack in female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He seems confused about why they were matched together, too. They’re total opposites—the last people in the world who would ever be compatible, let alone the “perfect couple.” Yet ever since the class paired the two of them, they've found themselves drawn together--first by curiosity, then by an undeniable bond.
The trouble is, though they're very attracted to each other and both of them admit this, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating clearly. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But after they walk away, both of them feel so changed from making the effort that they can’t forget each other. What if that means this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?
Review: Jennifer Echols was probably one of my very first favorite YA authors. In middle school, I was addicted to her romantic comedies and would devour them in one day. While I haven't read the first book in her Superlatives series, I was excited to see how Perfect Couple would turn out.
Harper loves photography and has thrown herself into her position as the yearbook's photographer. She's found that burying herself in her work helps her forget about her parents divorce and her mom's newest obsession with the Bed and Breakfast she opened. When the student body votes Harper and the school's quarterback Brody as "The Perfect Couple That Never Was," Harper can't stop noticing Brody, despite the fact that she has a boyfriend. But as her boyfriend becomes more distant and Brody finds himself more and more drawn to Harper, the two can't seem to deny that maybe they really should be together. They may be attracted to each other, but they come from two very different worlds and find out that forming a relationships is a lot more challenging than they had thought.
In the beginning, I really liked Harper's character and how she was introduced to us. She's such an interesting person with her love of photography and the crumbling relationship at home with her parents. She has such great friends, though, and they always have her back, which I think is great. From the moment we meet Brody, it's pretty clear why Harper would be attracted to him. He's good looking, athletic, and friends with everyone. What I didn't like about Harper and Brody, though, were how they were both dating other people when they became interested in each other. I didn't really get the sense that they even liked the people they were dating, so I think they should have broken up with those people right away instead of exploring their other options first. I know Harper talked a lot about how she was uncomfortable with cheating because her dad cheated on her mom, but I think that should have deterred her right away from even thinking of cheating herself.
One other thing that bothered me was how unfamiliar I was with the other characters. This is my fault, though, since I skipped book one and went straight into book two. I think that if I had read the first book of this series before reading this one, I would have understood all of the characters more. I did think that this was a cute story and a fun way to play on the Superlatives every high school does. However, I didn't quite understand some of the decisions Harper and Brody made, and it seemed like they only made those decisions to create more drama. I wanted more of a rational reasoning for the way they acted instead of blaming it on that's just who they are.
Overall, this one wasn't my favorite from Jennifer Echols, but it was still a fun read about some high schoolers who aren't so sure about who they are or who they want to be. I flew through this book in one day and definitely want to go back and read the first one so that I can be properly introduced to all of these characters. If you're interested in this series, I'd recommend starting with Biggest Flirts before picking up Harper and Brody's story.
About the Author
Jennifer Echols was born in Atlanta and grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama—a setting that has inspired many of her books. She has written nine romantic novels for young adults, including the comedy MAJOR CRUSH, which won the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the drama GOING TOO FAR, which was a finalist in the RITA, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Book Buyer’s Best, and was nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults. Simon & Schuster will debut her adult romance novels in 2013, with many more teen novels scheduled for the next few years. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and her son.
Tour Giveaway
I'm soooo excited for this book!! I loved the first one and have been waiting for a while for this one to come out as well!!
ReplyDeleteI loved Biggest Flirts so much! I already picked up perfect couple months ago because i couldn't wait! I think you would have definitely known the characters and had a better reading experience if you have read the first one. In the pick a book, i chose biggest flirts but i would actually like perfect couple (how did i forget that i already own biggest flirts is BEYOND ME).
ReplyDelete- Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf
Love this series so much!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating.
ReplyDelete