Too Old For Bad Boys?

June 25, 2012 By 46 Comments

I was reading a very popular book recently and it got me thinking about bad boys. When they’re done right, when they’re overdone, and when they’re just plain douchebags.

I found myself becoming increasingly impatient with that book and I think the biggest reason was the bad boy. He was a complete jerk. I was kind of disgusted by him. Why would any girl like a guy that insults her? What does that say about that girl? Sure the jerky bad boy probably had ulterior motives, of course he did! But I was too annoyed to even care what those were by the time they were brought up.

All these thoughts made me wonder, am I just too old for bad boys? I’m 25. Not exactly the target audience for YA books. I’m old and boring and I like to read about sweet, caring, and funny boys. (Cute doesn’t hurt) So maybe I just outgrew these leather wearing, attitude wielding boys.  I almost left it at that and just wrote the bad boys off. But..

Then I started thinking about the bad boys that are done right. The ones that make me swoon. What those boys have in common is a bad attitude but not when it comes to the girl. I realized that’s my problem. I need the boy to be all soft inside. Especially when it comes to the girl. I just can’t deal with the the girl falling for the guy that was just a complete douche to her. Even if it was by some sort of otherworldly force.

Want to know who some of my favorite bad boys are?

Update: NOAH SHAW! (I was remiss in not adding him before. I think my blind adoration makes me forget about his bad boy antics, but OMG he is my favorite!)
Adrian (Vampire Academy)
Alex (Perfect Chemistry)
Marcus Flutie (Jessica Darling)
Varen (Nevermore)
Noah Hutchins (Pushing the Limits)
Logan (Shade)
Cassel (Curse Workers)
Kaleb Ballard (Hourglass)
Travis (Something Like Normal)

We mustn’t forget those yummy TV bad boys:

 

Jess MarianoOMG isn’t Jess the most perfect bad boy ever? Sure, he did have a bit of an attitude with Rory in that first episode, but sigh….He’s every bookish girl’s dream. He reads…lots. Smart books, too. And then he wrote one! I’ve said it a million times but, Rory should have ended up with him.

Tim Riggins

 

 

Oh, Tim Riggins….Maybe the best bad boy ever.

 

 

 

 

Who are your favorite bad boys? Least favorite?

Filed Under: Bad Boys, Friday Night Lights, Gilmore Girls, Young Adult

Review: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

April 30, 2012 By 15 Comments

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

In Honor by Jessi Kirby
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Age Group: Young Adult
Received From: Borrowed
IBSN: 9781442416970
Blurb:

A devastating loss leads to an unexpected road trip in this novel from the author of Moonglass, whose voice Sarah Dessen says “is fresh and wise, all at once.”

Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it.

Honor gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

 

Jessi Kirby was a breakout last year among contemporary YA fans with Moonglass. Now I must say that she has done something that is hard to do: Followed it up with a book that is somehow even better than her first. I really enjoyed Moonglass, but I loved In Honor even more.

Somehow, the sadness of the story surprised me. I was thinking that the death of her brother had happened awhile before the story starts, but no, the book starts off with Honor at her brother’s funeral. It was so heartbreaking and I didn’t even know the characters yet. There’s something about Taps that just guts me. I don’t even have to hear it, apparently I can just read about it and be sad. In Honor had me emotional from page 1. I really liked that.

The story unfolds slowly as Honor and Rusty make their way across the desert so that Honor can fulfill her brother’s last wishes. Yes, this is a road trip book. Complete with classic rock–Tom Petty and Kansas! The story also has a depth that will surprise some readers. So much of it is about grief, but also about Honor growing up.

Rusty…sigh. You know he’s based off of Tim Riggins from Friday Night Lights, right? And you know how much I love FNL and Tim Riggins, right? OMG, you guys. Tim Riggins…I might just repeat his name for the rest of the review…Rusty had the same bad boy/lady’s man attitude, he was a football star, and he liked to drink. Tim Riggins spot on. Really, he was amazing. I loved, loved, loved him. I’ll stop gushing now. All the little elements that reminded me of FNL only made the story better for me. (If you haven’t watched it yet, change that!)

There really isn’t a big romance story line, so don’t go into it expecting one. It doesn’t need romance to be good. I loved everything about In Honor. It’s filled with these beautiful moments of clarity for Honor, but it’s also so fun. It’s the perfect balance and I highly recommend it.

Filed Under: Contemporary, Friday Night Lights, Jessi Kirby, Review, Young Adult

YA on TV: Friday Night Lights

March 9, 2012 By 24 Comments

YA on TV is going to be a new semi regular feature. It’s really just going to be an excuse to blab about TV shows and movies that I LOVE, but the main focus is going to be  TV shows and movies that appeal to me on the same level that YA books. (Not necessarily shows based on YA books…just shows that feel YA) Admittedly, I don’t watch a lot of TV but the shows that I do love feel rooted in YA. Sometimes I’m just going to gush about the show and sometimes I will recommend similar books. I really, really couldn’t think of a better place to start than Friday Night Lights.

Friday Night Lights poster

 

I didn’t start watching Friday Night Lights until last Fall. That’s when all of the lovely things fellow bloggers were saying caught with me and I decided that this show must be watched. It worked out perfectly, really. Because my husband is a huge football fan and FNL has just enough drama and romance to keep be glued to the screen and plenty of football for him. We haven’t finished the series yet. We’re about to start season 5, the last season. (so pleeeease no spoilers!) I’m going to be so sad when it’s over. Anyway, want to know what I love about the show?

Everything…honestly. Every single character is interesting even if they aren’t likeable, but most of them are super loveable. They tackle interesting issues like racism and abortion. The writing is great and never predictable. It’s always fresh. I never feel like they are just doing the same things over and over again. So far, season 1 has definitely been the best. It’s hard to live up to how amazing season 1 was but all the other season have been fantastic as well. Plus….OMG Tim Riggins…the most swoonworthy southern bad boy ever. He is amazing.

Friday Night Lights cast

The reason that I think it’s great for YA fans is that it’s obviously about high school. But it’s not a teen drama. The Taylor family is usually the main focus and other adults play a huge role too. But there’s a big teen romance and drama side to the story that would appeal to any fan of YA. Especially YA contemporary fans.

I know most people have watched the show already. Long before I started it. But if you haven’t I beg you to watch them. It’s an exceptional show. One of the best ones ever. My love for it is immense. WATCH IT!

Here’s some Tim Riggins to start your weekend:

Tim Riggins

And if anyone wants to suggest a better name for this feature go right ahead! I’m no good at names.

Filed Under: Friday Night Lights, TV, YA on TV

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