Sweethearts

As this book has taught there are many definitions for the word sweethearts. At least more than the one most of us are used to. From the cover and the blurb of the book I thought I would be reading a sweet sort of every day teen love story. I was so wrong in all the best ways. For you see, Sweethearts is not a love story at least not in the typical sense. Instead, it is much more than that. It's a journey of self discovery for both the protagonists, Jenna and Camron, Both these teens need each to help them discover who they are by remembering who they are together as a team. They are Sweethearts in the sense that they will always have a connection that no one else can touch and a love that's hard to define. I've always loved how the book tells it when Jennifer says "In the end, I decide that the mark we've left on each other is the color and shape of love." "That's the unfinished business between us. "Because love, love is never finished." I remember those lines clearly. It's been nearly a year since I've read this book and yet I remember because they resonate with me. I think such an idea does and should resonate in many a human heart. This book is truly something special. It's a book I'll carry with me always.

"Because love, love is never finished. It circles and circles, the memories out of order and not always complete"This one line basically sums up this book, the story about a teenage girl dealing with the loss in grade school and reemergence during her senior year of high school of her childhood best and onetime, only, friend. After his departure, she reinvented herself to avoid getting lost in herself, and when he returns she must come to terms with who she is, was, and will become while also trying to understand the abuse and hardship that led to his leaving in the first place. All at once, they are grappling with having grown apart, yet still in some ways being exactly where they left off, and also trying to discover what they mean to each and the roles they will or will not ultimately play in each others lives.This touching story evokes memories of friends found, friends lost and friends rediscovered. It touches on a kind of love that many don't understand, or choose to acknowledge, as it is about as far from black/white as you can get. As much as many of us do not like to admit, some love is so firmly rooted in the gray areas that it will never be fully understood. This can be a torment, but can also be a blessing and a lesson, which is what this novel wants to say. And while teenagers of course do not know it all (as many of surely thought we did back then!) the world as seen through the naive eyes of young adults can sometimes be the most thought provoking, and Sara Zarr does a wonderful job of channeling this innocence. This is a easy read without much challenge or overly exciting writing to it, but where it lacks in those areas it definitely makes up in substance and thought provoking ideas.[...]

There are some books that will always stay with you, that change you in a small but important way (even in a way you don't realize at first or can't put into words) - this is one of those books. Jennifer was not the popular girl, in fact she was the exact opposite - overweight, a loner, and even only had one friend. But that one friend, Cameron, made all the difference in the world and changed her and her future. Cameron was her rock, her best friend, her everything. Then one day he is gone. Eight years have passed, believing Cameron has been dead this entire time, and Jennifer is now Jenna.Jenna is skinny, popular and is in a romantic relationship for the first time ever. Know one knows about Jennifer and her past, something that Jenna is bound to keep hidden. Despite her new life, Jenna has just been going through the motions, doing what she thinks what is 'normal'. Then one day Cameron shows back up in her life, from the 'dead', and nothing is normal again.It is hard to know where to begin with this book. I started listening to the audiobook version and after about 40 minutes I decided I couldn't listen to it anymore but had to read it, buying the Kindle version right when I got home. If it wasn't for the need of sleep the book would have been read in one sitting. While Jennifer goes through an experience that most of us are lucky not to, there is something completely relateable about her. Jenna goes through an emotional struggle between the Jennifer of her past and the Jenna of her present, struggling with the knowledge that they must co-exist. During which time memories resurface and new facts about Cameron's past and even present come to light.Despite the severity of issues Sara Zarr explores, there is something calming about finding the connection between Jenna and Cameron and even finding your own connection with them. While I loved Jenna's character I found myself thinking about Cameron all the time, just like Jenna. He's one of those characters that leaves an imprint in your mind, that you cannot get rid of, or want to. If I had to say one thing this book lacked was it did not have enough Cameron, I wanted to know more about him! But at the same I think that was the point. Cameron is a mystery, someone that comes into your life, shakes everything up and then leaves without notice. Knowing more about him would do more damage to the book than good.Sweethearts is a rare book in YA Literature, a once in a lifetime read that will move and change you.

I wasn't too keen on this book, I feel as though some sections of the book dragged on a little more than necessary. I wasn't overly keen on the character development either. It was a nice story but I think it is more for younger readers.

It was a generally great book however i found the ending highly disappointing. The story is about Jennifer who used to be a social reject with only ine person who she considered herself friends with named Cameron Quick, at first it suggests they were just friends but throughtout the book you grow to appreciate just how close they were. You feel sympathetic for Jenna who becomes lost and confused.

Ohlala. J'ai été complètement bernée par ce coeur rose et ce titre en couverture, non ce roman n'est pas craquant, il est plutôt déchirant (*heartbreaking*) ! Jennifer et Cameron étaient les meilleurs amis du monde. Un jour, Cameron a disparu. Les rumeurs ont couru : le garçon est mort. Jennifer est anéantie. A l'époque, elle se sent seule au monde, elle n'a aucun ami, à l'école on la traite de Fattifer et sa mère a bien du mal à joindre les deux bouts. Huit ans plus tard, Jennifer est devenue Jenna. Sa mère a épousé un type génial. Au lycée, Jenny est populaire. Son charme fait des merveilles. Elle a un petit ami, Ethan, qui ne vit que pour elle. Son passé appartient au passé. Et paf, Cameron réapparaît. Jenna est sous le choc. Comme elle, je me suis demandée pourquoi il était parti, pourquoi sa mère n'a jamais démenti les rumeurs, pourquoi Cameron est de retour et pourquoi, à la fin, ... argh ! C'est terrible. Un petit roman qui brise le coeur. Si vous aimez les histoires qui tournent autour des amitiés qui datent de l'enfance et qui laissent une empreinte indélébile, c'est forcé, vous allez aimer. Par contre, il n'y a pas d'action, c'est un roman qui s'écoule lentement et qui évoque essentiellement ce pouvoir des amitiés fortes et des rencontres qui vous marquent à jamais."There are certain people who come into your life, and leave a mark. . . Their place in your heart is tender; a bruise of longing, a pulse of unfinished business. Just hearing their names pushes and pulls at you in a hundred ways, and when you try to define those hundred ways, describe them even to yourself, words are useless."

A great read, very lovely story. Besides, the buying process was easy and without any troubles. Thanks for that :)