Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 613
Pages: 613
Source: For review
Genre: YA - Contemporary (12+)
Genre: YA - Contemporary (12+)
My Rating:
 |
| Fluffy and light read |
My thoughts
(It's actually 2 stars but I don't actually have a graphic for it and I'm too lazy to make one just for this book. If ever I come across another 2 star book maybe then I'll make one.)
I should have run the other way as soon as I saw the cover and read the description, but it's been such a long time since I actually reviewed a book that I'd been sent for review (unsolicited) and I was in the mood for a light and fluffy read . . . Well, that's exactly what this book is: fluff. I felt like I was actually using less brain cells to read this book than I would have had I been watching an episode of The Bachelor. For some people that's not such a bad thing at all. After all, reading is a portal to another life, an escape from reality. But. I just could not connect at all. I'm only disappointed in myself because I knew exactly what I was walking into. One look at the cover and you should know what's in store for you. Now that that's out of the way, let's go a bit deeper.
Signs Point to Yes follows Jane, whose plans to spend the entire summer following graduation from high school writing Doctor Who crossover fan fiction are short-lived when her mum has other plans for her, namely, an internship at the place where she works. In order to avoid this, she decides to pick up a babysitting job instead. Unfortunately, that means she will regularly have to bump heads with the super hot but sort of awkward/dorky lifeguard with whom she used to be friends, Teo. Which is only a bad thing because his best friend REALLY hates her. Drama ensues.
I couldn't bother to work on a better summary of the book. These characters did nothing for me. I could not relate to them (which may have had something to do with the third-person narrative) and I found all their decisions and actions silly and juvenile. I could not believe how much blushing was in this book. The romance between Jane and Teo was blatantly shoved in our faces by the amount of blushing that went on. Mind you, I love a good story involving sexual tension where you're basically melting from frustration because CAN'T THEY JUST GET TOGETHER ALREADY? But I don't know. In this book, it was just... lackluster, and maybe that has something to do with the fact that they're such boring cliche characters.
Now let's talk about Ravi, Teo's best friend. Please tell me I'm not the only one who believed wholeheartedly that he has a massive crush on Teo and would do anything to have babies with him. I'm obviously not a guy but I have a hard time believing their friendship is just a friendship. I was so sure that there would be a big reveal, where Ravi confesses that he is actually gay and loves Teo, but I was sorely disappointed. Also, his reasoning for hating Jane was laughable. I'm sure there is a guy out there just like Ravi and let me tell you, he is one guy I hope never to meet because he's a massive tool. The only redemptive factor was his dedication to Teo, but again... I'm betting that he's secretly harbouring fantasies involving an alternate reality where they get together.
While we're at it, let's mention the "perfect" big sister Margo. Now, I also have a "perfect" big sister (seems like all big sisters are the "perfect" one). Which is fine. And this is probably where I had the most potential to really relate to Jane. Because I understand what it's like to be the lesser of the two and feeling like you're unable to meet expectations by comparison. Turns out Margo has a secret of her own. I like that this secret brings the sisters closer together, but I don't feel like the issue was explored completely. At the big reveal their parents seemed to brush it off, which kind of went against everything that the girls had implied from the beginning: that the parents would blow up.
Maybe I'm just too old to appreciate Signs Point to Yes. I feel like maybe tweens will like this, but I refuse to believe that anyone their age would act in the same way. The dialogue was also quite stale, and there was a lot of telling involved (a big writing no-no!). I gave this book an honest try, and I even ended up finishing it which I think is a big achievement on my part.
Let me ask my magic 8 ball: Would I recommend this book?
Don't count on it
(Only if you're really young, like <15 years, and/or you're looking for shallow fluff.)
I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.
