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The Accidentals
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction (2018)A YA novel from USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen.
Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth.
I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.
My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.
When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost.
Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.
There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.
My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.
Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth.
I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.
My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.
When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost.
Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.
There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.
My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2018
About the author
Sarina Bowen
97 books17k followers
Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!
You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 728 reviews
July 5, 2018
4 stars!!!
There are a few authors who I will read any book they write. Sarina Bowen is one of those authors for me. The Accidentals was different than many of the other books of hers I have read, but I loved it all the same.
Rachel grew up with a single mother who was a nurse. All she knew about her father is what she read in magazines such as Spin. You see, Rachel's father is a famous rock star who she's never met. When her mother dies of cancer when Rachel is 17, that all changes. Freddy Ricks comes for his long lost daughter and knows he's got a lot of making up to do.
Freddy and Rachel have a tough time navigating their father daughter relationship at first. It's difficult for them both. Rachel has never had a father and Freddy has never been one. But they do their best to manage. There are many parts of this book that were emotional for me to read. My heart broke for Rachel, but I was happy with the direction her story took.
While this father daughter story line was going on, there was also a story of friendship between Rachel and her new roommate at school and a budding romance with a super sweet geeky guy. I loved all the different aspects of this book and how they came together to form one wonderful story. The Accidentals is a must read coming of age story that I recommend to all!
There are a few authors who I will read any book they write. Sarina Bowen is one of those authors for me. The Accidentals was different than many of the other books of hers I have read, but I loved it all the same.
Rachel grew up with a single mother who was a nurse. All she knew about her father is what she read in magazines such as Spin. You see, Rachel's father is a famous rock star who she's never met. When her mother dies of cancer when Rachel is 17, that all changes. Freddy Ricks comes for his long lost daughter and knows he's got a lot of making up to do.
Freddy and Rachel have a tough time navigating their father daughter relationship at first. It's difficult for them both. Rachel has never had a father and Freddy has never been one. But they do their best to manage. There are many parts of this book that were emotional for me to read. My heart broke for Rachel, but I was happy with the direction her story took.
While this father daughter story line was going on, there was also a story of friendship between Rachel and her new roommate at school and a budding romance with a super sweet geeky guy. I loved all the different aspects of this book and how they came together to form one wonderful story. The Accidentals is a must read coming of age story that I recommend to all!
July 18, 2022
Like Father, like Daughter? Rachel is a bundle of contradictory emotions. She has anger and abandonment issues, but, despite their "love/hate" relationship, she desperately craves her father's attention.
Rachel obviously inherited her vocal chords from her famous father - whom she has never met, until now...
Rachel's mother had terminal cancer, which was the only reason that Rachel finally permitted her social worker to contact Rachel's absentee father. Rachel was turning eighteen in less than a year, but foster care is rough going for a girl who just lost her mother, so she reluctantly agreed to allow her worker to make the call.
Frederick is your usual, self-absorbed rock star but at least he has a conscience. He will do his duty by his daughter and give her a home now that Rachel is alone in the world. These two circle each other warily: it was fascinating to watch Rachel and Frederick test the waters of the emotional ocean between them.
Profound, engrossing and worth a second read. The two parallel relationships - daughter/father and older teen girl/boy - captured and then held my interest. I was spellbound and gave up on trying to get any sleep because I had to finish this novel in one go.
At first, I was more interested in the progression of the relationship between the absentee father and his teen daughter. This part of the story was incredibly touching. Rachel and Jake's budding relationship also piqued my interest, but I often found myself holding my breath whenever the story focused on Rachel and her father, Frederick.
This author writes very well. I tend to like - even in a romance novel - to read books that have strong characters with emotional depth and maturity, who are dealing with real life situations. The Accidentals is a truly great read. I was very impressed, touched, and rewarded by this "marathon"read. Highly, highly recommended.
This excerpt says it all:
Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth.
I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.
My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.
When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost.
Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.
There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.
My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.
Rachel obviously inherited her vocal chords from her famous father - whom she has never met, until now...
Rachel's mother had terminal cancer, which was the only reason that Rachel finally permitted her social worker to contact Rachel's absentee father. Rachel was turning eighteen in less than a year, but foster care is rough going for a girl who just lost her mother, so she reluctantly agreed to allow her worker to make the call.
Frederick is your usual, self-absorbed rock star but at least he has a conscience. He will do his duty by his daughter and give her a home now that Rachel is alone in the world. These two circle each other warily: it was fascinating to watch Rachel and Frederick test the waters of the emotional ocean between them.
Profound, engrossing and worth a second read. The two parallel relationships - daughter/father and older teen girl/boy - captured and then held my interest. I was spellbound and gave up on trying to get any sleep because I had to finish this novel in one go.
At first, I was more interested in the progression of the relationship between the absentee father and his teen daughter. This part of the story was incredibly touching. Rachel and Jake's budding relationship also piqued my interest, but I often found myself holding my breath whenever the story focused on Rachel and her father, Frederick.
This author writes very well. I tend to like - even in a romance novel - to read books that have strong characters with emotional depth and maturity, who are dealing with real life situations. The Accidentals is a truly great read. I was very impressed, touched, and rewarded by this "marathon"read. Highly, highly recommended.
This excerpt says it all:
Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth.
I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.
My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.
When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost.
Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.
There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.
My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.
July 9, 2018
Contentment: (n.) A feeling of quiet happiness and satisfaction.
The key word is quiet. It’s not the happiness that makes you scream until your lungs combust or tremble with the pent-up energy that has to be diffused by running and sharing this joy with the world. It’s the type of happiness that resembles those moments when you bask in the sun; listen to the melody of a violin; feel the wind rustle your hair. That’s the warm feeling that blossomed in my chest while I was reading The Accidentals.
There are two things you need to know about Rachel: she has never met her father, a famous and extremely talented musician, and her mother just died. Being at the mercy of social services, Rachel has to endure a few months of humiliation and solitude until she can move to her dream prep- school, and fulfill her deepest desire: to discover what happened between her parents. Was she an accidental, the product of a one-night-stand? Or did her parents love each other, but a mysterious force tore them apart? Rachel always hoped, but never expected, that her father would show up. But he did. And he took her in, and cared for her when no one did. Between the fear of him leaving her again, the joy of joining a choir and the butterflies that seem to fly whenever Jake appears, Rachel struggles to find the truth about her past, overcome the obstacles of the present and plan a future that includes all those she loves but dares not say it.
This book was so lovely that I wish I could climb inside it and live there forever.
It was the first time I came across Sarina Bowen's work, and she already earned a fan; her words are like a warm blanket I clutch in my hands, its warmth sipped by my pores and reaching my very core. It’s been so long since I read a contemporary YA book laden with rich emotions, with the perfect balance between humor and heartache. There weren’t unnecessary dialogues or drama for the sake of drama; every sad event that made Rachel’s heart (and mine) splinter, every moment of camaraderie and love, every smile of a boy that gazed at the stars waiting for their explosion, they were all stops of a route that led Rachel to finding peace.
Every sentence had a purpose, and shed fluorescent light on these wonderful, three-dimensional characters. The writing was so fluid and soulful that made me sigh with satisfaction. The way Rachel’s was I not enough to make you stay insecurities and fear of losing her father again were utterly realistic, and painful, and so was her inner battle between good Rachel and angry Rachel, that tangled, livid version of herself that wanted answers to the questions she didn't have the courage to ask. Rachel's relationships with her late mother, her absent father, Aurora, Haze and, of course, Jake were depicted with masteful brushstrokes. The dynamic between Rachel and Frederik was fragile, delicate, a flower that took its time to bloom, but when it did, it was simply beautiful.
The romance was not the main aspect of the novel, but it was radiant, and Jake's support and devotion was a fundamental factor for the development of Rachel's character. I could hear the butterflies flap their wings in every scene they had together, they were sweet and heated, and I must admit that I had a crush on Jake since he confessed that his sheets have snowmen on them. He was nerdy and adorable, and I may or may not have swooned a couple of times.
Set in a school reminding of medieval castles, with music pouring from its pages, The Accidentals is a book that lulls you into blissful silence, a deafening silence that holds the power of thousands of perfect words and feelings.
I can't recommend it highly enough!
*ARC generously provided by the author via Nina Bocci in exchange for an honest review*
Review also posted on BookNest!
The key word is quiet. It’s not the happiness that makes you scream until your lungs combust or tremble with the pent-up energy that has to be diffused by running and sharing this joy with the world. It’s the type of happiness that resembles those moments when you bask in the sun; listen to the melody of a violin; feel the wind rustle your hair. That’s the warm feeling that blossomed in my chest while I was reading The Accidentals.
“Every fairy tale has a righteous ending, Rachel. It's guaranteed.”
There are two things you need to know about Rachel: she has never met her father, a famous and extremely talented musician, and her mother just died. Being at the mercy of social services, Rachel has to endure a few months of humiliation and solitude until she can move to her dream prep- school, and fulfill her deepest desire: to discover what happened between her parents. Was she an accidental, the product of a one-night-stand? Or did her parents love each other, but a mysterious force tore them apart? Rachel always hoped, but never expected, that her father would show up. But he did. And he took her in, and cared for her when no one did. Between the fear of him leaving her again, the joy of joining a choir and the butterflies that seem to fly whenever Jake appears, Rachel struggles to find the truth about her past, overcome the obstacles of the present and plan a future that includes all those she loves but dares not say it.
This book was so lovely that I wish I could climb inside it and live there forever.
It was the first time I came across Sarina Bowen's work, and she already earned a fan; her words are like a warm blanket I clutch in my hands, its warmth sipped by my pores and reaching my very core. It’s been so long since I read a contemporary YA book laden with rich emotions, with the perfect balance between humor and heartache. There weren’t unnecessary dialogues or drama for the sake of drama; every sad event that made Rachel’s heart (and mine) splinter, every moment of camaraderie and love, every smile of a boy that gazed at the stars waiting for their explosion, they were all stops of a route that led Rachel to finding peace.
Every sentence had a purpose, and shed fluorescent light on these wonderful, three-dimensional characters. The writing was so fluid and soulful that made me sigh with satisfaction. The way Rachel’s was I not enough to make you stay insecurities and fear of losing her father again were utterly realistic, and painful, and so was her inner battle between good Rachel and angry Rachel, that tangled, livid version of herself that wanted answers to the questions she didn't have the courage to ask. Rachel's relationships with her late mother, her absent father, Aurora, Haze and, of course, Jake were depicted with masteful brushstrokes. The dynamic between Rachel and Frederik was fragile, delicate, a flower that took its time to bloom, but when it did, it was simply beautiful.
The romance was not the main aspect of the novel, but it was radiant, and Jake's support and devotion was a fundamental factor for the development of Rachel's character. I could hear the butterflies flap their wings in every scene they had together, they were sweet and heated, and I must admit that I had a crush on Jake since he confessed that his sheets have snowmen on them. He was nerdy and adorable, and I may or may not have swooned a couple of times.
Set in a school reminding of medieval castles, with music pouring from its pages, The Accidentals is a book that lulls you into blissful silence, a deafening silence that holds the power of thousands of perfect words and feelings.
I can't recommend it highly enough!
*ARC generously provided by the author via Nina Bocci in exchange for an honest review*
Review also posted on BookNest!
July 11, 2018
Going into this book, I thought Sarina Bowen, hell yes, of course I am reading this even though I've struggled with Young Adult before, its Sarina Bowen for goodness sakes. So afterwards, I can honestly say this book is exactly what I needed, HELL YES, probably one of the most easiest books I have read this year! It’s emotional, it’s sweet, it captures you from the start and keeps you locked tight throughout. I absolutely loved this book, hands down one you need to pick up and read.
This book takes you on a journey of a girl who loses her mother, just shy of her 18th Birthday. She has never met her father, doesn’t mean she doesn’t know who he is, but he has never been a part of her life until now. So how does she start a relationship with an absentee father for the past 17 years, yet she has idolized him from the sidelines her entire life and has followed his career as a successful rock star? The connection, the unique relationship that is built is simply beautiful. The ups and downs, the lefts and rights, it’s downright genuine and real. The relationship between Rachel and her father, it’s so beautifully done.
This story also brings us Jake Willis. Another magical character that I wish we got more of, because what we got, I head over heals fell in love with. Jake & Rachel’s relationship is like breathing fresh air, it’s so easy, so natural, and it slowly, yet perfectly becomes such a stunning relationship.
Each side character is so beautifully executed, each having a role in making this book simply irresistible. This book has all the feels, just enough to break you at times, but enough to completely and utterly have you swooning for most of the characters.
Heartfelt, sweet, heartbreaking, and so downright lovable, this book is one you can’t pass by. Pick it up!!!
This book takes you on a journey of a girl who loses her mother, just shy of her 18th Birthday. She has never met her father, doesn’t mean she doesn’t know who he is, but he has never been a part of her life until now. So how does she start a relationship with an absentee father for the past 17 years, yet she has idolized him from the sidelines her entire life and has followed his career as a successful rock star? The connection, the unique relationship that is built is simply beautiful. The ups and downs, the lefts and rights, it’s downright genuine and real. The relationship between Rachel and her father, it’s so beautifully done.
This story also brings us Jake Willis. Another magical character that I wish we got more of, because what we got, I head over heals fell in love with. Jake & Rachel’s relationship is like breathing fresh air, it’s so easy, so natural, and it slowly, yet perfectly becomes such a stunning relationship.
Each side character is so beautifully executed, each having a role in making this book simply irresistible. This book has all the feels, just enough to break you at times, but enough to completely and utterly have you swooning for most of the characters.
Heartfelt, sweet, heartbreaking, and so downright lovable, this book is one you can’t pass by. Pick it up!!!
July 8, 2018
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
OK OK. Hold the press..I have an announcement to make: This is one of the best books I've read this year. Leave it to Sarina Bowen to shatter my heart and put it back together, piece by piece. This book will stay with me for a very long time and I think it's my most favorite by this author so far. The Accidentals is not your usual YA romance. It introduces us to a set of characters who sneak into your heart. You will fall in love with them despite their flaws and past mistakes.
Rachel's life changes over night when her mother passes away and her famous father enters her life. For seventeen years she has been longing for her dad to be a part of her life, now that her secret dream has come true she doesn't know what to do with it. There are so many questions she wants to know the answer to but the biggest and most complicated of all, "why did you never want to meet me?" she doesn't dare to ask. What's more, she has to deal with her grief, the loneliness she feels after her mom passed away transfers from the pages right into your heart. I hurt for this young girl who didn't have a lot of people she could turn to.
This story isn't so much about the romance between a lovable boy called Jake and good girl Rachel but her relationship with her dad and I have to say it was my most favorite thing about it. While the blossoming love was heartwarming and sweet the complicated ties to her father completely captivated and entangled me. Both Rachel and Frederick avoid conflict at all cost out of fear. Rachel because she's scared of the truths she will learn, Frederick out of embarrassment. Rachel also shows some passive-aggressive behavior towards her dad which is par for the course for a seventeen year old girl who is still trying to find out who she is and most of all where she comes from.
My whole life I’d been trying to understand my missing father. And the whole time I hadn’t had the first clue about my mom.
She held on to her anger tightly and there was also this life-long guilt, inadvertently nourished by her mother, that she messed up her mom's live.
I was totally immersed in their growing love for each other and while they got to know each other the facts Rachel knew as truth began to blur, now learning the other side of her parents's story. Frederick was first and foremost a friend for Rachel, his paternal side started to show a little later and I thought it was in line with his character - he had been living the celebrity life and had no clue about raising a child. Granted, it took him a while until he figured out how to be a good parent but it was obvious right from the start that Frederick wanted his daughter in his life. He wanted to know her, to give her his time and ultimately his advice. And he also gave her the unconditional love only parents can give, he just needed to make Rachel understand it.
"I hear you tossed your cookies."
I turn my face away. The mattress wiggles as he lies down on the bed next to me. One hand skims over my hair.
"Rachel, I love you anyway."
When I finally found out about his reasons for not being a part of Rachel's life I was all the way there along with Rachel's righteous anger but like Rachel I forgave him because he didn't make excuses for himself. His unapologetic honesty was what I loved most about Frederick.
Now Jake was the best. He was a wonderful counterpart and an anchor for Rachel. Somebody she could rely on 100 percent. I know that Sarina Bowen's heroes are always awesome but she hits me right in the feels with them every single time. And have I mentioned that he is a nerd? Yes! Totally my kind of guy.
He smiles, and it’s such a nice smile that I wish I could just climb inside it and live there.
This year in books has already been AMAZING. I keep adding to my favorites shelf and you bet that The Accidentals will go there. Ms. Bowen is one of those authors I can never go wrong with. Her characters are always relatable and lovable. She delivers every single time but I think with her Young Adult debut she has outdone herself. I adored Rachel, Frederick and Jake. I laughed, I cried a little, I felt and rooted for all of them and was hoping for things to work out. And this, people, is what I expect from a good book.
July 7, 2018
*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Under the lavender sky, I feel transported to someone else’ life. As if I’ve stumbled here in a dream.
I’m thinking I need to make it a point to read some more YA novels. I forgot how angsty and entertaining they can be. THE ACCIDENTALS is a story about a teenager whose world is rocked to its core when her mother dies of cancer and she comes face to face with her father for the first time in her life. This story is both heartbreaking and frustrating at the same time. I enjoyed this one so much but there were aspects of the story that I wish the author had spent more time exploring.
Rachel is about to turn eighteen. Her mother died about a month before her birthday. Her father is a famous musician and she’s known about him almost her entire life, but he’s never been a part of hers except for the monthly checks he would send her mother. Her mom hardly spoke about him and she obviously held some deep feelings of resentment towards him. So when he shows up to finally claim her as his after almost eighteen years of absence, Rachel is going through inner turmoil. She’s excited because deep down he has been her hero. She’s followed his career and is in love with his music. But she feels as if she is betraying her mom by spending time with him and having actual feelings for him as well.
Her father is able to get custody of her and takes her to California with him during her summer break before she goes off to boarding school on the East Coast. Here’s where I was feeling like the story needed more. The time they spend together went too fast for me and it seemed like they spent more time apart than actually together. I felt that if he really was remorseful for having missed out on practically her entire life, he should have made every effort to spend more time and get to know the child he left behind for his career. This was the part of the story that intrigued me the most. There were so many questions that needed answers. I wanted Rachel to get some closure. I hoped for her to get the love from the man she always dreamed would claim her as his.
There is a romance between Rachel and the boy she meets in prep school. It was definitely sweet and I loved Jake for Rachel. I had only hoped that aside from meeting this really amazing guy that she would also be able to work through all the baggage that the years of separation from her father had created. I can’t say that it doesn’t happen. It just all felt a bit rushed and I wasn’t happy with how Frederick’s story develops. I see how it was used to help Rachel find her voice, but it could have been done differently. I found myself getting angrier as I read on because of the things that happen later on in the story with her father. I wanted to love the guy but I found him lacking.
I have no doubt that Sarina Bowen and YA fans will enjoy this one! I have to admit, I found it hard to put down. I think it would have been a five star read for me if that father/daughter relationship had been developed further.
Here are my overall ratings
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Plot:
Angst:4.5
Steam: 2
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4
THE ACCIDENTALS releases on July 10th.
Amazon Global Link: http://geni.us/ACCAmazon
Audio: http://geni.us/ACCaudio
Paperback: http://geni.us/ACCpaperback
iBooks: http://geni.us/ACCibooks
Kobo: http://geni.us/ACCkobo
Nook: http://geni.us/ACCnook
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Under the lavender sky, I feel transported to someone else’ life. As if I’ve stumbled here in a dream.
I’m thinking I need to make it a point to read some more YA novels. I forgot how angsty and entertaining they can be. THE ACCIDENTALS is a story about a teenager whose world is rocked to its core when her mother dies of cancer and she comes face to face with her father for the first time in her life. This story is both heartbreaking and frustrating at the same time. I enjoyed this one so much but there were aspects of the story that I wish the author had spent more time exploring.
Rachel is about to turn eighteen. Her mother died about a month before her birthday. Her father is a famous musician and she’s known about him almost her entire life, but he’s never been a part of hers except for the monthly checks he would send her mother. Her mom hardly spoke about him and she obviously held some deep feelings of resentment towards him. So when he shows up to finally claim her as his after almost eighteen years of absence, Rachel is going through inner turmoil. She’s excited because deep down he has been her hero. She’s followed his career and is in love with his music. But she feels as if she is betraying her mom by spending time with him and having actual feelings for him as well.
Her father is able to get custody of her and takes her to California with him during her summer break before she goes off to boarding school on the East Coast. Here’s where I was feeling like the story needed more. The time they spend together went too fast for me and it seemed like they spent more time apart than actually together. I felt that if he really was remorseful for having missed out on practically her entire life, he should have made every effort to spend more time and get to know the child he left behind for his career. This was the part of the story that intrigued me the most. There were so many questions that needed answers. I wanted Rachel to get some closure. I hoped for her to get the love from the man she always dreamed would claim her as his.
There is a romance between Rachel and the boy she meets in prep school. It was definitely sweet and I loved Jake for Rachel. I had only hoped that aside from meeting this really amazing guy that she would also be able to work through all the baggage that the years of separation from her father had created. I can’t say that it doesn’t happen. It just all felt a bit rushed and I wasn’t happy with how Frederick’s story develops. I see how it was used to help Rachel find her voice, but it could have been done differently. I found myself getting angrier as I read on because of the things that happen later on in the story with her father. I wanted to love the guy but I found him lacking.
I have no doubt that Sarina Bowen and YA fans will enjoy this one! I have to admit, I found it hard to put down. I think it would have been a five star read for me if that father/daughter relationship had been developed further.
Here are my overall ratings
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Plot:
Angst:4.5
Steam: 2
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4
THE ACCIDENTALS releases on July 10th.
Amazon Global Link: http://geni.us/ACCAmazon
Audio: http://geni.us/ACCaudio
Paperback: http://geni.us/ACCpaperback
iBooks: http://geni.us/ACCibooks
Kobo: http://geni.us/ACCkobo
Nook: http://geni.us/ACCnook
September 3, 2018
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
It's not usually a good thing when I say that a story pulls readers in two different directions. Typically that would be followed by me saying the story didn't have a clear direction and that it was confusing. But I'm going to say it about The Accidentals and actually mean it in a good way. Because a huge part of this book was focused on the heroine navigating her new life with a father she's only just meeting at seventeen, well really it was pretty much the main thing going on, but then we also got some really interesting moments between her and her love interest, Jake. And these two things ended up blending together beautifully.
Even with so much happening in the book there was still a clear focus to it and that was Rachel. This was irrevocably her story and every other character was just along for the ride. I loved getting to experience her going through such a life changing event and seeing the impacts that other characters had on her. Seeing her trying to find her place in the world and doing so with a newly found support system was just captivating and every page sucked me in deeper. Though I did kind of want more answers about what happened with her mom and dad because I'm nosy, I was still really happy with the ending she got.
To get personal for a second, I can honestly say this book came at the perfect time because I've been going through such a reading slump where my books have been doing nothing for me and I even had a few days where I didn't read at all. Then I picked up this book and through these pages I discovered friendship, love, and a father-daughter relationship that had me tearing up. This book is the very reason I love reading as much as I do. Ms. Bowen wrote this beautiful and heartwarming story so well I was able to escape into these pages and live through Rachel, and it was an amazing experience.
This wasn't a romance, it wasn't a typical YA drama-filled book, it was a story of life. As pure and as simple as that, this book takes you through Rachel finding herself in this creative, and intriguing, and very real way. It wasn't sunflowers and rainbows, it was tough life situations but with a strong character that I admired and loved reading about. Definitely a recommended read for everyone.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
It's not usually a good thing when I say that a story pulls readers in two different directions. Typically that would be followed by me saying the story didn't have a clear direction and that it was confusing. But I'm going to say it about The Accidentals and actually mean it in a good way. Because a huge part of this book was focused on the heroine navigating her new life with a father she's only just meeting at seventeen, well really it was pretty much the main thing going on, but then we also got some really interesting moments between her and her love interest, Jake. And these two things ended up blending together beautifully.
Even with so much happening in the book there was still a clear focus to it and that was Rachel. This was irrevocably her story and every other character was just along for the ride. I loved getting to experience her going through such a life changing event and seeing the impacts that other characters had on her. Seeing her trying to find her place in the world and doing so with a newly found support system was just captivating and every page sucked me in deeper. Though I did kind of want more answers about what happened with her mom and dad because I'm nosy, I was still really happy with the ending she got.
To get personal for a second, I can honestly say this book came at the perfect time because I've been going through such a reading slump where my books have been doing nothing for me and I even had a few days where I didn't read at all. Then I picked up this book and through these pages I discovered friendship, love, and a father-daughter relationship that had me tearing up. This book is the very reason I love reading as much as I do. Ms. Bowen wrote this beautiful and heartwarming story so well I was able to escape into these pages and live through Rachel, and it was an amazing experience.
This wasn't a romance, it wasn't a typical YA drama-filled book, it was a story of life. As pure and as simple as that, this book takes you through Rachel finding herself in this creative, and intriguing, and very real way. It wasn't sunflowers and rainbows, it was tough life situations but with a strong character that I admired and loved reading about. Definitely a recommended read for everyone.
July 3, 2018
MY REVIEW can also be found on my blog:
KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
THE ACCIDENTALS: Is a full length, by Sarina Bowen her first YA fiction debut novel. About Love, Loss and New Adventures.
An accidental is a note in the piece that departs from the stated key signature. But there's nothing accidental about an accidental, in spite of it's name. The use of accidentals ads colour and depth to the music effectively allowing the composure a expanded colour palate from which to paint.
For seventeen years it’s always just been Racheal and her mum, on her mother’s death bed she declares that now it’s time that Rachel get in touch with her father, not long after, right before Racheal’s eighteenth birthday her mother passes away from cancer. It’s then that she’s placed in a group home until she can go to boarding school in New Hampshire in the fall.
Racheal knows nothing of her father, only the child support cheques her mother regularly got, but other than those her mother refused to speak of him, Racheal only knows his name and what she’s sourced off the internet from wikipedia and u-tube videos.
Music has always been my only connection to him. And in a weird way, he’s never let me down.
When she meets her father for the first time and their journey is where the story came into it's own, so beautifully told, I loved their connection, their learning curves, this was just such a straight forward beautiful tale.
Boarding school is the only thing that Racheal has set her sights on, it's the only solid thing in her future, everything else imploded the day her mother died. She’s going to the place where her mother and father supposedly met. It’s where her own story began.
And a boy named Jake that’s attending the same school that became her pen pal who she meets the first day on campus, he was a breath of fresh air, the nerdy boy, a friendship that blossomed into so much more, a slow moving perfectly paced romance.
What wasn’t to love about this, normally the ya genre doesn’t really do it for me, but slowly and with this one under my belt I’m changing my mind.
It's hard to explain this book, all I can say is that it was just so real, nothing was over dramatised, it flowed perfectly, it wasn’t dramatically full of angst, which so many authors tend to do when it comes to this genre, or overly emotional it was just the perfect story, you would not know that this was this authors first tip toe into this genre because she nailed it.
I loved the father, daughter dynamic, their connection after seventeen years of absence which was brought on by a traumatic event was heartfelt and the perfect blend of angst. There is absolutely nothing I would change about this story.
July 10, 2018
***IT'S ALIVE!!!***
I’d be happy if this book went on forever…
It’s been a bloody long time since I’ve freaked out to look at the bottom of my Kindle and see 4 minutes – 99% left in my book. I really didn’t want this story to end. I was even kind of hoping that Sarina left us a little message hinting at a The Accidentals #2. I’m slightly overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted and so giddily happy that I practically ran to my study to start my review.
BUT HOW THE HELL DO I WRITE A REVIEW TO DO IT JUSTICE????
See, I don’t think I’m the best judge of YA Romance stories. I’m not really a fan…except this story makes me a liar. But, I do think I’m a pretty good judge of a bloody good story and this story is BLOODY AWESOME!!
Next part is a wee bit of a warning, The Accidentals made me cry A LOT. I could blame it on my cold but I was misty-eyed nearly the whole way through. What Rachel has faced in her young life broke my heart. Her strength, courage and ability to carry on with her burden of grief showed how remarkable she was.
Rachel’s parents did wrong by her…from a good…ish place. Rachel’s mum Jenny had Rachel out of wedlock very young. Her mistake was keeping Rachel away from her father. Rachel’s father, Fredrick, is a world-famous musician. His mistake was keeping himself away from Rachel. Together, they gave Rachel a mixed-up twisted view of the reality of her beginning and how she came to be. It’s only when Jenny dies, Richard finally steps up to do more than hand over a monthly cheque.
Geez, I went through highs and lows with Frederick. I’ll never trust the bugger but you can really tell that he doesn’t purposely act like a self-centred, egotistical, douchewaffle, it just comes naturally. When you have millions of adoring fans, people who cater to your every wish and women who throw themselves at you, who could blame him? I just kind of wished, he’d devoted more than a few weeks and days here and there to Rachel. She shouldn't have had to ask the deep and meaningful questions, he should have offered the explanations. Initially, it was almost like he was too gutless to admit to his faults. Luckily, he kinda sorta gets to a point where he becomes a real Dad.
Now, I wouldn’t say this was a story focused on the romance. It almost played a second or third place to Rachel’s growth. Jake, well he was PERFECT!! Kind of nerdy, but the hot kind of nerdy. His patience and thoughtfulness towards Rachel made me a little giddy. Where were these kind of guys while I was growing up?
There are some amazing additional characters we are introduced to. Too many to list here, but I will make special mention of Haze, who doesn’t stay for the whole story, but played an integral part of Rachel’s recovery after her mother’s death. Sure, Haze goes off the rails and I wanted to kick him in the ding-ding. For a time, though, he helped Rachel get through when there was no one else.
Rachel’s roommate, the band guys, Frederick’s driver and parents were all great. I’m not going to mention names, but there’s one person who comes in late that I hated to love. When (no ifs) you read this you’ll know who. But, this person, you just couldn’t hate even when you wanted to. They weren’t in the wrong but they came into Rachel’s life at a really awkward time. Sorry if that was vague but I don’t want to give too much away.
Anyways, I know I was a wee bit mushy gushy fangirling, but this…THIS STORY…THE ACCIDENTALS is one of my best book of 2018. I know, big call, but it was just THAT BLOODY GOOD!! I have read some awesome stories this year and I’m not discounting all the others, it’s just still a shock that I loved a Young Adult story. Will wonders ever cease…?
I was devastated when The Accidentals finished and I would NOT be disappointed if Sarina Bowen decided to treat us to a wee bit more…soon…ish.
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
I’d be happy if this book went on forever…
It’s been a bloody long time since I’ve freaked out to look at the bottom of my Kindle and see 4 minutes – 99% left in my book. I really didn’t want this story to end. I was even kind of hoping that Sarina left us a little message hinting at a The Accidentals #2. I’m slightly overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted and so giddily happy that I practically ran to my study to start my review.
BUT HOW THE HELL DO I WRITE A REVIEW TO DO IT JUSTICE????
See, I don’t think I’m the best judge of YA Romance stories. I’m not really a fan…except this story makes me a liar. But, I do think I’m a pretty good judge of a bloody good story and this story is BLOODY AWESOME!!
Next part is a wee bit of a warning, The Accidentals made me cry A LOT. I could blame it on my cold but I was misty-eyed nearly the whole way through. What Rachel has faced in her young life broke my heart. Her strength, courage and ability to carry on with her burden of grief showed how remarkable she was.
Rachel’s parents did wrong by her…from a good…ish place. Rachel’s mum Jenny had Rachel out of wedlock very young. Her mistake was keeping Rachel away from her father. Rachel’s father, Fredrick, is a world-famous musician. His mistake was keeping himself away from Rachel. Together, they gave Rachel a mixed-up twisted view of the reality of her beginning and how she came to be. It’s only when Jenny dies, Richard finally steps up to do more than hand over a monthly cheque.
Geez, I went through highs and lows with Frederick. I’ll never trust the bugger but you can really tell that he doesn’t purposely act like a self-centred, egotistical, douchewaffle, it just comes naturally. When you have millions of adoring fans, people who cater to your every wish and women who throw themselves at you, who could blame him? I just kind of wished, he’d devoted more than a few weeks and days here and there to Rachel. She shouldn't have had to ask the deep and meaningful questions, he should have offered the explanations. Initially, it was almost like he was too gutless to admit to his faults. Luckily, he kinda sorta gets to a point where he becomes a real Dad.
Now, I wouldn’t say this was a story focused on the romance. It almost played a second or third place to Rachel’s growth. Jake, well he was PERFECT!! Kind of nerdy, but the hot kind of nerdy. His patience and thoughtfulness towards Rachel made me a little giddy. Where were these kind of guys while I was growing up?
There are some amazing additional characters we are introduced to. Too many to list here, but I will make special mention of Haze, who doesn’t stay for the whole story, but played an integral part of Rachel’s recovery after her mother’s death. Sure, Haze goes off the rails and I wanted to kick him in the ding-ding. For a time, though, he helped Rachel get through when there was no one else.
Rachel’s roommate, the band guys, Frederick’s driver and parents were all great. I’m not going to mention names, but there’s one person who comes in late that I hated to love. When (no ifs) you read this you’ll know who. But, this person, you just couldn’t hate even when you wanted to. They weren’t in the wrong but they came into Rachel’s life at a really awkward time. Sorry if that was vague but I don’t want to give too much away.
Anyways, I know I was a wee bit mushy gushy fangirling, but this…THIS STORY…THE ACCIDENTALS is one of my best book of 2018. I know, big call, but it was just THAT BLOODY GOOD!! I have read some awesome stories this year and I’m not discounting all the others, it’s just still a shock that I loved a Young Adult story. Will wonders ever cease…?
I was devastated when The Accidentals finished and I would NOT be disappointed if Sarina Bowen decided to treat us to a wee bit more…soon…ish.
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
July 9, 2018
<3 5 amazing stars <3
This is by far my favorite book from Sarina!! I loved everything about it! I devour it, I couldn’t put it down! It was addictive and the story was refreshing.I was hooked from the beginning and I didn't want to finish this story because it was simply amazing!
Such a unique,beautiful,emotional and sweet story.Rachel was a fantastic heroine and I easily connected with her, I was so into the story that I was feeling like I was a part of it!I loved the plot so much and the characters were original.Also the secondary characters were great and this helped a lot to the story.
Rachel is a young girl who lost her mother.Her biological father is the only one who can help her, he is a famous rock star who she never met before.Freddy has sent checks, but never been part of her life.I loved how the story goes.Meeting for the first time, spending time together and trying to learn things for each other.
I highly recommend it, it's a must read!Favorite book for this year!Sarina Bowen did an amazing job!!
This is by far my favorite book from Sarina!! I loved everything about it! I devour it, I couldn’t put it down! It was addictive and the story was refreshing.I was hooked from the beginning and I didn't want to finish this story because it was simply amazing!
Such a unique,beautiful,emotional and sweet story.Rachel was a fantastic heroine and I easily connected with her, I was so into the story that I was feeling like I was a part of it!I loved the plot so much and the characters were original.Also the secondary characters were great and this helped a lot to the story.
Rachel is a young girl who lost her mother.Her biological father is the only one who can help her, he is a famous rock star who she never met before.Freddy has sent checks, but never been part of her life.I loved how the story goes.Meeting for the first time, spending time together and trying to learn things for each other.
I highly recommend it, it's a must read!Favorite book for this year!Sarina Bowen did an amazing job!!
February 17, 2019
I am proudly sporting dark smudges and Samsonite bags under my eyes. They are the battle scars of a reader who was compelled to pull an all-nighter to read The Accidentals in one sitting. I have long been a fan of Sarina Bowen’s writing, but I think this is her best work yet. It is her first Young Adult novel and she nails it! The story is breathtakingly haunting in the most wonderful way. Even my feels have feels, and I don’t know what to do with them all!
I don’t read a lot of Young Adult books. I think I’m just too old to appreciate the amount of avoidable drama caused by a lack of communication that is often found in the YA genre. Is there drama in this book? Yes. The story is tragic given all the wasted opportunities between a recently orphaned 17-year-old girl and the rock star father she’s never met. In this instance, my perspective as a more mature (aka middle-aged) adult allowed me to accept the conflicts and helped me form a balanced understanding of not only Rachel’s heartache, but Frederick’s struggles as well. I totally got these two characters.
I immediately connected with bookworm Rachel and her desperate need to feel wanted following her mother’s death. She is very perceptive, but her fears and insecurities prevent her from getting the answers she craves. I love Frederick’s determination to be there for Rachel 100%, even if he knows nothing about being a good parent and is unintentionally self-absorbed at times.
What went down between Rachel’s parents nearly two decades ago is a great mystery that lingers throughout the book. Ultimately – just like real life – things aren’t black and white. There is no villain vs. victim. There is no grand prize winner in The Blame Game. The story is more thought-provoking as a result.
Sarina Bowen skillfully weaves this poignant coming of age tale with an insightful hand. I especially appreciated the keen observations about music’s power to unite and transform. I loved the diverse cast of characters, including Rachel’s bad boy best friend Haze, her boisterous roommate Aurora, and hot nerd Jake.
The Accidentals is an emotional, captivating journey that lingers long after “The End”.
Recommended for fans of:
Music
Astronomy
Hot nerds
Young Adult novels
I don’t read a lot of Young Adult books. I think I’m just too old to appreciate the amount of avoidable drama caused by a lack of communication that is often found in the YA genre. Is there drama in this book? Yes. The story is tragic given all the wasted opportunities between a recently orphaned 17-year-old girl and the rock star father she’s never met. In this instance, my perspective as a more mature (aka middle-aged) adult allowed me to accept the conflicts and helped me form a balanced understanding of not only Rachel’s heartache, but Frederick’s struggles as well. I totally got these two characters.
I immediately connected with bookworm Rachel and her desperate need to feel wanted following her mother’s death. She is very perceptive, but her fears and insecurities prevent her from getting the answers she craves. I love Frederick’s determination to be there for Rachel 100%, even if he knows nothing about being a good parent and is unintentionally self-absorbed at times.
What went down between Rachel’s parents nearly two decades ago is a great mystery that lingers throughout the book. Ultimately – just like real life – things aren’t black and white. There is no villain vs. victim. There is no grand prize winner in The Blame Game. The story is more thought-provoking as a result.
Sarina Bowen skillfully weaves this poignant coming of age tale with an insightful hand. I especially appreciated the keen observations about music’s power to unite and transform. I loved the diverse cast of characters, including Rachel’s bad boy best friend Haze, her boisterous roommate Aurora, and hot nerd Jake.
The Accidentals is an emotional, captivating journey that lingers long after “The End”.
Recommended for fans of:
Music
Astronomy
Hot nerds
Young Adult novels
*I received an early copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion or the content of my review.*
June 29, 2018
4.5 stars
Reading this book was one of the easiest things I've ever done.
The Accidentals was so much more than just a YA novel. But it was also so very different from what I came to expect form the YA trope.
Sarina Bowen's first YA novel was emotional, touching in an understated way but that didn't hold back the punches.
Like I mentioned before, reading this book was easy. It's the epitome of a feel good novel that should be on anyone's reading list. This book had everything I love about a Sarina Bowen novel. It had wonderful writing, dialogues that made me laugh out loud, and characters that were charming, genuine, and immediately likable.
There was nothing in this book I didn't like.
It didn't have the WOW or OMG effect. What it did have instead was the ability to leave me glowing with a feeling of being fully satisfied and utterly surprised by this heartwarming story. This book felt very differently compared to many other YA books. It felt genuine and hear-felt even without the typical emotional rollercoaster. It rather concentrated on relationships, their intricacies, nuances, and how imperfect they truly are, but also how much love they can give.
Mistakes can turn into life lessons. And the willingness to change the status quo, opens new doors to new and meaningful relationships. Giving second chances, not giving up, and just being open to the shortcomings of all things human was the overall message that pulled on my heartstrings.
I read this book in two days, and if I hadn't been traveling and was forced to being an adult, I would have finished this book without interruptions, because honestly I didn't want to put it down.
This heartwarming and unique story touched my heart and didn't let go.
The Accidentals was way more than what I could have imagined. And I can only recommend it to anyone that loves a wonderful story, that leaves you smiling and utterly satisfied.
✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵
If you want to chat with me about books, find me on Instagram
For more of my reviews:
My Blog: Book Twins Reviews
Facebook Blog Page
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Subscribe to Blog
Reading this book was one of the easiest things I've ever done.
The Accidentals was so much more than just a YA novel. But it was also so very different from what I came to expect form the YA trope.
Sarina Bowen's first YA novel was emotional, touching in an understated way but that didn't hold back the punches.
Like I mentioned before, reading this book was easy. It's the epitome of a feel good novel that should be on anyone's reading list. This book had everything I love about a Sarina Bowen novel. It had wonderful writing, dialogues that made me laugh out loud, and characters that were charming, genuine, and immediately likable.
There was nothing in this book I didn't like.
It didn't have the WOW or OMG effect. What it did have instead was the ability to leave me glowing with a feeling of being fully satisfied and utterly surprised by this heartwarming story. This book felt very differently compared to many other YA books. It felt genuine and hear-felt even without the typical emotional rollercoaster. It rather concentrated on relationships, their intricacies, nuances, and how imperfect they truly are, but also how much love they can give.
Mistakes can turn into life lessons. And the willingness to change the status quo, opens new doors to new and meaningful relationships. Giving second chances, not giving up, and just being open to the shortcomings of all things human was the overall message that pulled on my heartstrings.
I read this book in two days, and if I hadn't been traveling and was forced to being an adult, I would have finished this book without interruptions, because honestly I didn't want to put it down.
This heartwarming and unique story touched my heart and didn't let go.
The Accidentals was way more than what I could have imagined. And I can only recommend it to anyone that loves a wonderful story, that leaves you smiling and utterly satisfied.
✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵
If you want to chat with me about books, find me on Instagram
For more of my reviews:
My Blog: Book Twins Reviews
Facebook Blog Page
Subscribe to Blog
April 19, 2022
OK! I'm gonna make this quick. I'll write 2 reviews. This first one will be short and not spoil at all. And the second one will be a bit longer - scroll down for that!
THIS BOOK WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.
I'M THE BIGGEST ROCK-STAR-ROMANCE LOVER EVER AND EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS NOT REALLY A ROCK STAR ROMANCE ... IT HAD SOME PERFECT ROCK STAR MOMENTS!
I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF THIS STORY AND NOW I'M SITTING IN FRONT OF MY TV WAITING FOR NETFLIX TO MAKE A SHOW OUT OF THIS AMAZING BOOK!
══════════════════
Orlando, Florida. Rachel will be 18 in a month. A time to celebrate for most kids. But Rachel's life sucks at the moment. Her mom just died and she was put in a group home until she can go to boarding school in New Hampshire after the summer.
And then there's her father. Rockstar Freddy. Her mom never told her anything about him - how they met or what happened or why she's so mad at him. The only thing Rachel knew was that every month a check was in the mail.
Didn't he want to get to know her? She's been in love with his music and his talent ever since she knew how to use an iPod. She inherited his talent. She loves everything about music.
And now her father is suddenly here. Trying to get to know her. To be with her. But she still doesn't know anything about her parents past. And she's too chicken to ask.
And then there's Haze - her best friend since second grade - who is kind of in love with her.
And Jake. Her adorably nerdy student liaison pen pal from the new school.
What will happen with Rachel?
Will there be a HEA?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺
════════════════
OMG WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK!
I had no idea what kind of story I was getting when I started reading. I thought it would be a cute little young adult thingy with a bit of rockstarishness thrown in. But it was sooo much more. SO MUCH MORE!
I already fell in love with everything while reading the first few pages.
Ugh. Those first few pages made me cry already.
We meet Rachel, her best friend Haze and her dad. I felt a bit sorry for Haze immediately, because we know that Rachel's not staying in Florida. Poor guy.
Dad Frederick. He came. He didn't have to - he hadn't been here for the last 17 years, but he's just there. He came as soon as he heard that Rachel's mom died. He seems to be an amazing guy. He's here to help, to get Rachel out of the group home, to get custody, to talk. But poor Rachel doesn't know what to think about all that. He hasn't been there for 17 years and now he's suddenly here? She expects him to disappear again every second. But he's not disappearing. He's here and he's staying.
And I loved every single moment of that daddy daughter time.
He takes her with him to California until school starts. And then??? HE COMES WITH HER to New Hampshire!!!!! He even looks for a house! He tries real hard to be the dad she never had. But even he doesn't talk about the past - and Rachel never asks.
She finds a new bestie in her roommate and then things with her and Jake are getting interesting.
And dad is always there. Going back and forth to be a rockstar for a bit, but then he's back in town. And it's so adorable to watch Rachel and Frederick walk through town talking about things but never about what's really wanting to get out ... like her music and singing talent and why he never came for her.
Ugh, it was all so sweet and funny and adorable and rockstarish and frustrating and heartbreaking. But so so beautiful. I wanted at least 200 more pages. I need this to be on Netflix asap PLEASE!!!
PERFECT BOOK! NUFF SAID!
THE ACCIDENTALS was the most beautiful mix of young adult & rockstar & daddy/daughter & first love story! I absolutely adored every single word in this book!!! Run to your nearest amazon asap - this will be sold out in no time!
P.S. I somehow hope for more. Maybe we'll get a second book about college times? Or a book about Frederick and Norah? Or about Haze? Or all of the above? ☺ I'm not ready to let them all go yet!
Oh, the tiny little thing I didn't love? THE BLURB! Those few lines do NOT adequately bring across the amazingness of this book. I would change it a bit! ☺
♡
♡
♡
July 12, 2018
3.75 stars!
I ended up really enjoying this book! I get apprehensive when authors known for romance decide to tackle the YA genre, because 9 times out of 10 they write a romance novel and just make the characters in their teens. I was very much impressed that Sarina Bowen gave us a true young adult novel and she did an excellent job. In fact, I would hesitate to even label this book as a romance. Yes there is a romantic storyline in it, but that’s not the true focus of the book.
The Accidentals is about Rachel, a girl on the verge of 18 who loses her mom to cancer and then comes into custody under her rock star father who she’s never met before. The highlight of this book for me was the relationship development between Rachel and her father, it was what I was most interested in reading and held my interest. There were slow bits to this book and to be completely honest, I almost quit about 60% in, but I stuck it through and I am glad I did.
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I ended up really enjoying this book! I get apprehensive when authors known for romance decide to tackle the YA genre, because 9 times out of 10 they write a romance novel and just make the characters in their teens. I was very much impressed that Sarina Bowen gave us a true young adult novel and she did an excellent job. In fact, I would hesitate to even label this book as a romance. Yes there is a romantic storyline in it, but that’s not the true focus of the book.
The Accidentals is about Rachel, a girl on the verge of 18 who loses her mom to cancer and then comes into custody under her rock star father who she’s never met before. The highlight of this book for me was the relationship development between Rachel and her father, it was what I was most interested in reading and held my interest. There were slow bits to this book and to be completely honest, I almost quit about 60% in, but I stuck it through and I am glad I did.
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November 10, 2020
5 Real Life Truths Stars-Not An Accident, ONLY 99CENTS!!!
* * * * * 2018 Best Young Adult Fiction Semifinal Round Nominee
UPDATE: I have been so fortunate to have read many of these Semifinalists. If this review helps in deciding your voting choice, then I have done my job. Happy Reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarina Bowen has written a lot of books. She has covered so many topics and done them in ways that are relatable and with compassion. I truly believe she could tackle any type of genre or topic and make it work well. Her latest book, The Accidentals, is her first YA entry and in my opinion, she hit it out of the park.
With remarkable insight into all of the normal emotions of those years, she didn't settle to write a quick easy read. Instead, she tackled all of the angst of feeling as if one doesn't fit anywhere, where losing the one parent you had and being thrust into a new relationship with the long lost one is difficult and confusing. She takes all the questions about loyalty, wish-fulfillment, grief, sexual pressure, anger, and meets them head-on. And the best...she weaves them throughout this story of a young talented woman, her rock star, long absentee father, and how all of this happens during her senior year at the same prep school her mother went to.
Amazing.
What makes this a 5 star for me is not just the big picture issues but all the little things that add up. There are these tiny moments which will just take your breath away. They are not all pretty, though there are so many that fall into that category...no, there are also some which will strike you to the gut, then to the heart because you can understand them so well.
What also is telling is no one character is perfect...each has their own insecurities and imperfections. Just because one would want everything tied up in a perfect bow, what we get is more in keeping with how things really are; imperfect people who seem to be trying to do the best they can... who have learned from their actions and hopefully will do better now.
My true hero in this story, hands down is Rachel. She is the embodiment of a budding woman who believes in who she wanted to be... and never let others pressure her into actions she wasn't comfortable with...She had pain, anger, sadness, and with music, pure joy, and happiness. She was smart and understood what her mother's goals for her were...she took all the teachings from her...weighed them in her mind and heart and figured things out. She sometimes didn't know how to act the way she wanted but she was able to see when she may have acted out on others. She was so special to meet and learn about.
All of the main characters have their specific purposes but it didn't feel that way. They were friends, they were adults, and then also the lost dad. He was unique in his way of handling things...he made great strides, then would mess up and then recover again.... just like real people.
There was enough humor, pathos, and sweet first romance to have me read through the night...Yup, I was up until 4 AM... I could not stop.
As someone who is not primarily a YA reader...Read this book...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Doing new things can be scary...
Especially if you have succeeded on so many levels...
Sarina Bowen is about to venture into new territory...
Her YA Debut novel has all the elements of what YA is all about...
It has discovery, loss, young love, and secrets...
I am ready to explore and discover...
I am ready to experience all that fresh angst and love...
And I am ready to do with the guidance of Bowen's hand...
The Accidentals-July 10th 2018
Pre-Order Discount! $2.99 Until Release!!
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * * 2018 Best Young Adult Fiction Semifinal Round Nominee
UPDATE: I have been so fortunate to have read many of these Semifinalists. If this review helps in deciding your voting choice, then I have done my job. Happy Reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarina Bowen has written a lot of books. She has covered so many topics and done them in ways that are relatable and with compassion. I truly believe she could tackle any type of genre or topic and make it work well. Her latest book, The Accidentals, is her first YA entry and in my opinion, she hit it out of the park.
With remarkable insight into all of the normal emotions of those years, she didn't settle to write a quick easy read. Instead, she tackled all of the angst of feeling as if one doesn't fit anywhere, where losing the one parent you had and being thrust into a new relationship with the long lost one is difficult and confusing. She takes all the questions about loyalty, wish-fulfillment, grief, sexual pressure, anger, and meets them head-on. And the best...she weaves them throughout this story of a young talented woman, her rock star, long absentee father, and how all of this happens during her senior year at the same prep school her mother went to.
Amazing.
What makes this a 5 star for me is not just the big picture issues but all the little things that add up. There are these tiny moments which will just take your breath away. They are not all pretty, though there are so many that fall into that category...no, there are also some which will strike you to the gut, then to the heart because you can understand them so well.
What also is telling is no one character is perfect...each has their own insecurities and imperfections. Just because one would want everything tied up in a perfect bow, what we get is more in keeping with how things really are; imperfect people who seem to be trying to do the best they can... who have learned from their actions and hopefully will do better now.
My true hero in this story, hands down is Rachel. She is the embodiment of a budding woman who believes in who she wanted to be... and never let others pressure her into actions she wasn't comfortable with...She had pain, anger, sadness, and with music, pure joy, and happiness. She was smart and understood what her mother's goals for her were...she took all the teachings from her...weighed them in her mind and heart and figured things out. She sometimes didn't know how to act the way she wanted but she was able to see when she may have acted out on others. She was so special to meet and learn about.
All of the main characters have their specific purposes but it didn't feel that way. They were friends, they were adults, and then also the lost dad. He was unique in his way of handling things...he made great strides, then would mess up and then recover again.... just like real people.
There was enough humor, pathos, and sweet first romance to have me read through the night...Yup, I was up until 4 AM... I could not stop.
As someone who is not primarily a YA reader...Read this book...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Doing new things can be scary...
Especially if you have succeeded on so many levels...
Sarina Bowen is about to venture into new territory...
Her YA Debut novel has all the elements of what YA is all about...
It has discovery, loss, young love, and secrets...
I am ready to explore and discover...
I am ready to experience all that fresh angst and love...
And I am ready to do with the guidance of Bowen's hand...
The Accidentals-July 10th 2018
Pre-Order Discount! $2.99 Until Release!!
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
July 10, 2018
Title: The Accidentals
Series: Standalone
Author: Sarina Bowen
Release date: July 10, 2018
Cliffhanger: No
HEA
I'm a big YA fan, so I was thrilled when I heard that Sarina Bowen was venturing into one of my favorite genres. She's one of my auto-read/auto-buy authors in contemporary romance, and has been for some time. What I especially loved about this book was that she really went outside of her norm by placing the father daughter relationship at the forefront of the story, and the romance was just a sub-plot in the background. I love romance, but the lack of it in a story never affects my reading enjoyment at all. In fact, I may get stoned for saying this, but I could have even done without the romantic element completely in this case. As much as I loved Jake in all of his nerdy glory, Rachel and her father needed their time to heal and work on their relationship. They were starting from rock bottom.
Rachel has just lost her mother to cancer, and her entire life has been turned upside down and shaken with a vengeance.
My life in Florida is coming abruptly to an end, like a familiar song shut off right in the middle of the chorus.
At seventeen, her mother is the only parent she's ever known and she's not sure that she wants her father waltzing in after being ignored for so long. Financially, he has always given his support, but that does not compensate for absence of his time and love. From their first meeting and interaction, I was sad for both of them. For the missed years and opportunities that passed them by as she was growing up. Frederick seemed genuinely emotionally wrecked and hopeful for some type of real relationship with her.
My first impression was that there had to be some grand explanation for his absence because of how determined he was to prove himself to her. He wasn't trying to make excuses or marginalize his parenting fail. He owned it. So for that, I had total respect. From Rachel's point of view, you could feel her internal conflict through every page. Having imagined being a part of her famous rock star father's life for so long, it now felt surreal to be living that dream so abruptly. She can't help but feel as if he was forced into the situation, and yet when given the choice to have her live with him or leave her in the hands of the state, he chose HER. For once in his life, he chose his daughter, and because of that, she knows that he deserves a chance to make things right.
Our relationship is like an experiment gone awry. Maybe my father and I will never be able to hear each other properly, because so much of our beginning was spliced off and thrown away.
Frederick and Rachel have a long road to healing in front of them. It doesn't help that they are their own worst enemies and have a total lack of communication. She holds her resentment and hurt inside, only letting it out in passive aggressive swipes. He likes to shove uncomfortable explanations and conversations under the rug for later. Or never. There were so many times you want to grab them and lock them in a room until they yell and scream, and come to understand each other. But it's a process, one that they need to filter through, experiment, and learn from. Don't expect perfect behavior from perfect characters, because you won't find that here. That had me conflicted for a while, because Frederick truly did some immature and selfish things as they were taking that journey together. But the character growth by the end was realistic and well earned.
Jake was an amazing love interest for Rachel. There wasn't anything about him that I didn't love, and I rooted for them to admit the feelings that were brewing while she was navigating her new life. One of the things I really liked about them was that they became good friends over emails before they met face to face.
His messages are like an escape hatch from my real life. They make Claiborne Prep seem like a real place. And when I read his messages, I can almost believe that the earth is still turning around the sun, and that I’m really going to a fancy new school in the fall.
Then to find out that her self proclaimed nerd of a friend was just as sweet and funny and person, AND made her heart skip a beat? There was never any doubt that their crush was going to develop into more. They had an easy camaraderie and flirtatious energy between them that was unmistakable. It almost became a joke at how they seemed to be the only one who weren't aware that their crush was reciprocated. Everyone around them was just waiting for them to get with the program and make it official.
I loved that Rachel was a talented singer herself. It fed into the whole music theme, while at the same time giving her and her father a common interest to help them bond with each other. Combined with their frequent walks and his persistence in consistently showing up and being present, they slowly start to build a relationship together. But the whole way, you're waiting for the past to rear its ugly head. The Talk is a long time coming, and secrets need to be aired. When her father finally put the ugly truth out there, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. It was then that you realize that he had a lot of growing up to do, and there was so simple excuse or tidy bow to place on top of everything. They were messy, they were broken, but in the end they found a way to put the shattered pieces back together again.
I could have done without Haze being in the picture altogether. I wasn't his biggest fan, and the fact that they "hooked up" in the past in the circumstances that they did was a little disturbing. Rachel was the type of person who didn't speak up when something was bothering her. Unfortunately that's what happened when she didn't feel comfortable with his pressure to move past friendship and get physical with her. In no way did that excuse his behavior either in the past, or when he visited her at her school. I didn't like that she never held him accountable and confronted him, but rather the entire thing was forgotten after she made him leave. The resolution of that felt like an after thought, and I wanted to see it more defined and addressed.
Overall, I thought this was such a beautiful coming of age story about a father and daughter building trust, learning how to get real with each other, and healing the wounds of their past. It was such a highly addictive, fast-paced book that I binge read almost the entire thing in one setting. Even if you're not typically a YA fan, I think you would find this story well written and easy to fall in love with. Sarina has another winner on her hands with The Accidentals, and I can only hope that there are many young adult titles in her future. I'll be the first one to sign up for every one of them.
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August 8, 2018
I am on a roll.
I'm not bothering with a review because I spent the entire day live-texting/ranting about this to a buddy (sorry Rebecca, ps please read her review, it says everything I would've said, but in a much nicer way) and that's already more time than I care to dwell on this one. I really enjoy this author but this was a total, frustrating, painful, fail for me. But everyone else loved it so what do I know.
I'm not bothering with a review because I spent the entire day live-texting/ranting about this to a buddy (sorry Rebecca, ps please read her review, it says everything I would've said, but in a much nicer way) and that's already more time than I care to dwell on this one. I really enjoy this author but this was a total, frustrating, painful, fail for me. But everyone else loved it so what do I know.
Read
February 11, 2019DNF @ 32%/NR
I tried. That sentence in and of itself is a loaded one. Reading SB's books is normally effortless. I've gotten hooked on books of hers within the first chapter. I've read some in one sitting. I've even bought some of them in multiple formats, so when I reached the one-third mark of this one and still didn't care?
Yeah, it's time to throw the towel in.
I've been reading quite a bit of YA lately so it's not the genre but perhaps it was in part the writing style which seemed choppier than what I'm used to with SB's writing. There also was an abundance of describing things and setting the scene rather than developing Rachel as a character, imo.
I don't really have an explanation as to why I didn't care about Rachel. Obviously, I feel badly that she's lost her mother at such a tender age but I didn't connect to her in any way. The only thing that I was really interested in was what happened between her parents that split them up and I don't have the wherewithal to wade through an entire book to find out what happened to a couple of secondary characters.
So in lieu of a potential negative review, I'm just going to throw the towel in and shrug this off as an anomaly by an otherwise reliable author. Maybe I'm not in the right headspace now. Maybe I'll come back to it one day and want to slap this version of myself. Who knows. One look at GR will show you that it is loaded with 4 and 5 star reviews so YMM(probably will)V.
I tried. That sentence in and of itself is a loaded one. Reading SB's books is normally effortless. I've gotten hooked on books of hers within the first chapter. I've read some in one sitting. I've even bought some of them in multiple formats, so when I reached the one-third mark of this one and still didn't care?
Yeah, it's time to throw the towel in.
I've been reading quite a bit of YA lately so it's not the genre but perhaps it was in part the writing style which seemed choppier than what I'm used to with SB's writing. There also was an abundance of describing things and setting the scene rather than developing Rachel as a character, imo.
I don't really have an explanation as to why I didn't care about Rachel. Obviously, I feel badly that she's lost her mother at such a tender age but I didn't connect to her in any way. The only thing that I was really interested in was what happened between her parents that split them up and I don't have the wherewithal to wade through an entire book to find out what happened to a couple of secondary characters.
So in lieu of a potential negative review, I'm just going to throw the towel in and shrug this off as an anomaly by an otherwise reliable author. Maybe I'm not in the right headspace now. Maybe I'll come back to it one day and want to slap this version of myself. Who knows. One look at GR will show you that it is loaded with 4 and 5 star reviews so YMM(probably will)V.
July 30, 2018
“Our relationship is like an experiment gone awry. Maybe my father and I will never be able to hear each other properly, because so much of our beginning was spliced off and thrown away.”
Regardless of the genre she chooses to tackle, Sarina Bowen’s superb storytelling prowess never fails to enthral, so it’s no surprise that her Young Adult debut would be something truly special. A perceptive coming-of-age tale that explores the complex entanglements of family, love, and identity on the verge of adulthood, this story felt like a breath of fresh air to me, capturing so vividly the highs and lows of a young woman’s search for truth and affection in the aftermath of a great loss. Some books are love at first read, and this was one of them for me.
Continue reading this review...
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July 14, 2018
2.5 STARS
I adore Bowen, and it makes me sad to report this is my least favorite work she's written. Rachel was immature, and while I didn't dislike her per se, she never truly won me over. Frederick was so unlikeable, and I could never warm to him despite his reasonings. I adored Jake and Aurora and they were the main forces that had me continuing with the book. Even with the character drama, the main issue was the choppiness of the plot. There were numerous random events occurring that were mentioned but never again addressed; it was bizarre and unfulfilling.
At the end of the day...I still love Bowen and realize it's nearly impossible to truly enjoy everything an author writes. I hope her next work finds us in a happier place.
I adore Bowen, and it makes me sad to report this is my least favorite work she's written. Rachel was immature, and while I didn't dislike her per se, she never truly won me over. Frederick was so unlikeable, and I could never warm to him despite his reasonings. I adored Jake and Aurora and they were the main forces that had me continuing with the book. Even with the character drama, the main issue was the choppiness of the plot. There were numerous random events occurring that were mentioned but never again addressed; it was bizarre and unfulfilling.
At the end of the day...I still love Bowen and realize it's nearly impossible to truly enjoy everything an author writes. I hope her next work finds us in a happier place.
July 10, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was such a good story! I was really excited to see how Sarina Bowen would do with a Young Adult novel. Honestly, she blew me away with this story. Once I started reading this one, I didn't want to stop. I needed to know how things would work out for Rachel. I was hanging onto every word and felt like I knew this group of characters. This was one of those books that was just a joy to read.
Rachel goes through so much over the course of this book. When we meet Rachel, she is living in a children's home after the death of her mother. She has never met her father until he shows up to be introduced by the social worker. Rachel's father is a star with fans everywhere including the daughter he has never met. Rachel and her father get to know each other very quickly and before she knows it her life is turned upside down once again.
I loved the characters in this book. Rachel is such a nice girl, a good girl, and there was a part of me that just wanted to see her scream and be angry. But that wasn't Rachel. As I read further I really understood who Rachel was and when she did break down she did it in her own way. She is resilient and tough and proves that she is willing to stand up for herself. Fredrick was equally great. He made a whole lot of mistakes in the years that lead up to the start of this book but in this story he is really trying to do what is best for Rachel. He does mess things up a time or two but he never stopped trying. His character may have been the one with the most growth over the course of this book.
This book does so many things well. The core of the story deals with Rachel building a relationship with her father. It also deals with Rachel's grief over the loss of her mother and her desire to learn more about her parents' relationship. There is a romance that is well done and offers quite a few swoony moments. I thought another key aspect of the story is watching Rachel learn what she wants and having the courage to speak up for herself. Everything really works together to tell an amazing story.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This was just an amazing story that was able to find its way into my heart. Rachel is an unforgettable character with an incredibly powerful story. I can't wait to read more from Sarina Bowen in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Initial Thoughts
I loved Rachel's story. She goes through so much over the course of this story and remains positive throughout everything. I loved Fredrick and thought that even though he makes a few really bad decisions within the story he really was trying to be what Rachel needed him to be. There is a bit of romance in the book and I thought that it was really well done. I stayed up late reading this one (which I rarely do anymore) because I had to find out how things would work out. I will be thinking about this one for a while.
This was such a good story! I was really excited to see how Sarina Bowen would do with a Young Adult novel. Honestly, she blew me away with this story. Once I started reading this one, I didn't want to stop. I needed to know how things would work out for Rachel. I was hanging onto every word and felt like I knew this group of characters. This was one of those books that was just a joy to read.
Rachel goes through so much over the course of this book. When we meet Rachel, she is living in a children's home after the death of her mother. She has never met her father until he shows up to be introduced by the social worker. Rachel's father is a star with fans everywhere including the daughter he has never met. Rachel and her father get to know each other very quickly and before she knows it her life is turned upside down once again.
I loved the characters in this book. Rachel is such a nice girl, a good girl, and there was a part of me that just wanted to see her scream and be angry. But that wasn't Rachel. As I read further I really understood who Rachel was and when she did break down she did it in her own way. She is resilient and tough and proves that she is willing to stand up for herself. Fredrick was equally great. He made a whole lot of mistakes in the years that lead up to the start of this book but in this story he is really trying to do what is best for Rachel. He does mess things up a time or two but he never stopped trying. His character may have been the one with the most growth over the course of this book.
This book does so many things well. The core of the story deals with Rachel building a relationship with her father. It also deals with Rachel's grief over the loss of her mother and her desire to learn more about her parents' relationship. There is a romance that is well done and offers quite a few swoony moments. I thought another key aspect of the story is watching Rachel learn what she wants and having the courage to speak up for herself. Everything really works together to tell an amazing story.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This was just an amazing story that was able to find its way into my heart. Rachel is an unforgettable character with an incredibly powerful story. I can't wait to read more from Sarina Bowen in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Initial Thoughts
I loved Rachel's story. She goes through so much over the course of this story and remains positive throughout everything. I loved Fredrick and thought that even though he makes a few really bad decisions within the story he really was trying to be what Rachel needed him to be. There is a bit of romance in the book and I thought that it was really well done. I stayed up late reading this one (which I rarely do anymore) because I had to find out how things would work out. I will be thinking about this one for a while.
August 29, 2018
I was in a book slump, so I thought I'd go with a Sarina Bowen because there's a high chance I'd like it, even if the main characters are younger than her usual. And that panned out very well, indeed.
I'll admit I was worried for a bit, though. I mean, it's a slow start with Rachel gradually moving on from the death of her mother. So everything is dark and confusing and Bowen does as excellent job pulling the reader into that world of hopeless restlessness. And it doesn't help that her "best friend" Hayes is one of those ambiguous predators that may be acting unintentionally out of the cluelessness of youth, but may be something darker as well (or become something darker). So I couldn't wait for Rachel to move out of his sphere of influence so I could stop worrying about him becoming an overt threat.
Once things picked up, though, the story moved along very well and I loved seeing Rachel grow into herself and find friends, family, and eventually purpose. It doesn't hurt that Jake is Swoony McDroolerson wrapped in a bright pink (but still manly) bow. He doesn't actually have a ton of page time, even when he begins taking a bigger role in Rachel's life but when he's there, he positively shines.
But the thing that really drives this story home is Rachel's father, Frederick. I loved seeing them develop a relationship and start to understand and love each other. I think Norah was a brilliant addition (as Freddy's new girlfriend) and the holidays with Rachel's newly discovered grandparents was equally brilliant. I already knew Bowen had a fantastic touch with tough characters and situations and she proved that here, again.
She really floored me with a twist I hadn't seen coming (and no, not the easy one with the roommate—I saw that one coming almost from the start, though I admit appreciating how well-done it was). I mean choosing not to go as dark as I had assumed and making
Anyway, this is a good 4½ stars due mainly to that slow start and impatience with Rachel's patience with the despicable Hayes. I'm going to round up on the strength of the Freddy/Norah/Rachel relationship axis. That positively rocked.
A note about Steamy: There are a handful of explicit sex scenes and the middle of my steam tolerance as none of them were terribly long or detailed. Frankly, I don't remember if any of them were actual sex, now I think on it. Even so, there's enough and in enough detail to back that middle-tolerance decision, I think.
I'll admit I was worried for a bit, though. I mean, it's a slow start with Rachel gradually moving on from the death of her mother. So everything is dark and confusing and Bowen does as excellent job pulling the reader into that world of hopeless restlessness. And it doesn't help that her "best friend" Hayes is one of those ambiguous predators that may be acting unintentionally out of the cluelessness of youth, but may be something darker as well (or become something darker). So I couldn't wait for Rachel to move out of his sphere of influence so I could stop worrying about him becoming an overt threat.
Once things picked up, though, the story moved along very well and I loved seeing Rachel grow into herself and find friends, family, and eventually purpose. It doesn't hurt that Jake is Swoony McDroolerson wrapped in a bright pink (but still manly) bow. He doesn't actually have a ton of page time, even when he begins taking a bigger role in Rachel's life but when he's there, he positively shines.
But the thing that really drives this story home is Rachel's father, Frederick. I loved seeing them develop a relationship and start to understand and love each other. I think Norah was a brilliant addition (as Freddy's new girlfriend) and the holidays with Rachel's newly discovered grandparents was equally brilliant. I already knew Bowen had a fantastic touch with tough characters and situations and she proved that here, again.
She really floored me with a twist I hadn't seen coming (and no, not the easy one with the roommate—I saw that one coming almost from the start, though I admit appreciating how well-done it was). I mean choosing not to go as dark as I had assumed and making
Anyway, this is a good 4½ stars due mainly to that slow start and impatience with Rachel's patience with the despicable Hayes. I'm going to round up on the strength of the Freddy/Norah/Rachel relationship axis. That positively rocked.
A note about Steamy: There are a handful of explicit sex scenes and the middle of my steam tolerance as none of them were terribly long or detailed. Frankly, I don't remember if any of them were actual sex, now I think on it. Even so, there's enough and in enough detail to back that middle-tolerance decision, I think.
July 16, 2018
3.5 Stars!
Read
July 19, 20184 « bittersweet »stars for the story and 5 stars for the cover.
« An accidental is a note in the piece that departs from the stated key signature. But there’s nothing accidental about an accidental, in spite of its name. The use of accidentals adds colors and depth to the music, effectively allowing the composer an expanded color palate from which to paint.”
Ok did you understand it?
Good! Maybe you are a musician.
Me, not so much but how cool does it sound right?
Joke aside The Accidentals was only my second book by Sarina Bowen. The first one did nothing for me while everyone was raving about it. I had this “odd man” feeling you know?
I’m happy to report now that The Accidentals was much more to my taste as I read this one literally in one sitting. I had the couch imprint on my behind as a remnant of my couch reading day.
The Accidentals is really easy to read. I won’t delve into the plot as you can perfectly read the summary here above. If I had to summarize The Accidentals I would say it’s a mash up of bitter sweet sprinkled with some lemon zest to add an acidic taste. I may not be a musician but I am a cook so that will be easier to explain speaking my lingo.
The bitter (because when I eat I always begin with what I like less on my plate)
-Rachel’s mom had to raise her daughter all alone. Working extra hours as a pediatric nurse to have Rachel live a decent life. When we’ll learn about Rachel’s dad and her relationship with him (no spoiling your fun here) I was left with a bitter taste. Because what the new woman had she could have had it. She should have had it.
-Rachel’s family that she could have known and enjoyed years and years ago. What a mess her coward of a father left!
-Rachel tiptoeing around her father. Afraid he would hightail to LA is she dared uttering a reproach for abandoning her as a kid. I wanted her to shout and rage at him. Not be so frightened and a shell of herself. Poor Rachel. She was a sweet girl. Talented but she’s just got bad cards in life with her mom dying so young and her having to move, leaving everything behind.
The sour
-Haze, Rachel’s childhood friend pushing his need on her. Sorry man she may be your best friend but pushing your need and feelings when she is vulnerable is so not OK! It left a sour taste in my mouth.
-Frederik, Rachel’s father. OK he tried. But he tried seventeen years late! And when his mom just was angry with him he left again! He came back but really how could he expect Rachel to let her guard down and trust him completely? He’s got me all riled up! And what he’s done later…I don’t want to spoil your fun so let’s just say that her dad was trying but he was so immature!
The sweet (I kept the best part for the end)
-Jack. He was the one to redeem the male population in this book! Never putting pressure on Rachel, always ready to alleviate her mood. Smart (future astronomer), handsome, loyal, always respecting Rachel ….I don’t think he had a single flaw.
His banter with Rachel was the light in the dark weeks and months after Rachel’s mom died.
-Aurora. Rachel’s roommate and friend. She was the lightness and fun Rachel needed. Rachel was a good girl at heart. Never did anything risky. Aurora was not what I would call wild but she was more daring and bold than Rachel. Her perfect sidekick. She was also supportive. What Rachel lacked with her dad she found it with her friends.
In short this is a bittersweet story about growing up. Overcoming drama and finding your own voice and your own path. Building your own happy future amidst a rickety road. Learning to forgive, yourself and others. Learning to trust.
I recommend this story if you are a fan of contemporary YA and are looking for something easy to read yet insightful.
Have you read Sarina Bowen before?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
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« An accidental is a note in the piece that departs from the stated key signature. But there’s nothing accidental about an accidental, in spite of its name. The use of accidentals adds colors and depth to the music, effectively allowing the composer an expanded color palate from which to paint.”
Ok did you understand it?
Good! Maybe you are a musician.
Me, not so much but how cool does it sound right?
Joke aside The Accidentals was only my second book by Sarina Bowen. The first one did nothing for me while everyone was raving about it. I had this “odd man” feeling you know?
I’m happy to report now that The Accidentals was much more to my taste as I read this one literally in one sitting. I had the couch imprint on my behind as a remnant of my couch reading day.
The Accidentals is really easy to read. I won’t delve into the plot as you can perfectly read the summary here above. If I had to summarize The Accidentals I would say it’s a mash up of bitter sweet sprinkled with some lemon zest to add an acidic taste. I may not be a musician but I am a cook so that will be easier to explain speaking my lingo.
The bitter (because when I eat I always begin with what I like less on my plate)
-Rachel’s mom had to raise her daughter all alone. Working extra hours as a pediatric nurse to have Rachel live a decent life. When we’ll learn about Rachel’s dad and her relationship with him (no spoiling your fun here) I was left with a bitter taste. Because what the new woman had she could have had it. She should have had it.
-Rachel’s family that she could have known and enjoyed years and years ago. What a mess her coward of a father left!
-Rachel tiptoeing around her father. Afraid he would hightail to LA is she dared uttering a reproach for abandoning her as a kid. I wanted her to shout and rage at him. Not be so frightened and a shell of herself. Poor Rachel. She was a sweet girl. Talented but she’s just got bad cards in life with her mom dying so young and her having to move, leaving everything behind.
“I used to wonder what was so wrong with me that he didn’t want to meet me.”
The sour
-Haze, Rachel’s childhood friend pushing his need on her. Sorry man she may be your best friend but pushing your need and feelings when she is vulnerable is so not OK! It left a sour taste in my mouth.
-Frederik, Rachel’s father. OK he tried. But he tried seventeen years late! And when his mom just was angry with him he left again! He came back but really how could he expect Rachel to let her guard down and trust him completely? He’s got me all riled up! And what he’s done later…I don’t want to spoil your fun so let’s just say that her dad was trying but he was so immature!
The sweet (I kept the best part for the end)
-Jack. He was the one to redeem the male population in this book! Never putting pressure on Rachel, always ready to alleviate her mood. Smart (future astronomer), handsome, loyal, always respecting Rachel ….I don’t think he had a single flaw.
His banter with Rachel was the light in the dark weeks and months after Rachel’s mom died.
-Aurora. Rachel’s roommate and friend. She was the lightness and fun Rachel needed. Rachel was a good girl at heart. Never did anything risky. Aurora was not what I would call wild but she was more daring and bold than Rachel. Her perfect sidekick. She was also supportive. What Rachel lacked with her dad she found it with her friends.
In short this is a bittersweet story about growing up. Overcoming drama and finding your own voice and your own path. Building your own happy future amidst a rickety road. Learning to forgive, yourself and others. Learning to trust.
I recommend this story if you are a fan of contemporary YA and are looking for something easy to read yet insightful.
Have you read Sarina Bowen before?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
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July 8, 2018
★5 STARS★
The Accidentals is the emotionally poignant story of seventeen year old Rachel Kress, and the upheaval of her life after her mothers tragic passing.
Although her father has been absent throughout her life, she’s never been in any doubt of who he is. The “he" in question is grammy nominated and multi award winning rock star, Freddy Ricks. His musical presence has been the soundtrack to her childhood, but the reality of his enigma and physical presence strike notes of discord between what she thinks she knows, and the answers she still seeks.
The testament to my instant investment in this story is the result of Sarina’s flawless writing. I was immediately endeared to Rachel and the grace and bravery she exhibited at such an uncertain period in her life. The relationship between father and daughter was seamless yet fraught as they danced around the the painful decisions of the past. I felt her hesitation and curiosity and met them with my own hopeful need for her to have the happy ending she so deserved.
An additional dynamic to the story was the adorable romance between Rachel and her fellow classmate Jake. He’s sweet relief from the heaviness of home and I was grateful it gave her the reprieve to be a kid again.
With perfect pacing and development, The Accidentals is an emotionally sophisticated Young Adult debut from an author i’ve long been in adoration of.
August 2, 2018
Release Date: July 10, 2018
Genre: Young Adult Coming of Age (Musicians)
Actual Rating: 3 stars
Unpopular Opinion Alert: I liked this book but I didn't love it. It's hard for me to describe exactly why so I am just going to say that I wasn't in the mood for it.
The Accidentals is Sarina Bowen's first YA romance novel and I certainly praise her for her amazing storytelling ability. She writes perfection and in most cases, I fall deep in love with her characters and novels. Unfortunately, this book felt to me like it was missing something. Perhaps it's the fact that there wasn't enough romance? It was more of a coming of age novel with a bit of romance thrown in. I went into thinking it was a musician romance but honestly felt it to be lacking in this department. Sure, the heroine's father is a famous rock-star and she sings in a group, but there wasn't much (or enough) detail. And for the romance, she did meet someone that she fell for, but the it seemed like one moment she liked him and the next she was in love. It just didn't feel right to me. That's not to say the author did a terrible job because it she didn't. It just didn't vibe with me like I had hoped when I first picked it up.
As I said, my opinion may be unpopular as it doesn't reflect others on the title. Many will fall head over heels in love with this one, so please don't let only my opinion sway you in terms of whether you read it or not. I just didn't feel it the moment I read it. Maybe if I go back to it at a future date my opinions will change.
Genre: Young Adult Coming of Age (Musicians)
Actual Rating: 3 stars
Unpopular Opinion Alert: I liked this book but I didn't love it. It's hard for me to describe exactly why so I am just going to say that I wasn't in the mood for it.
The Accidentals is Sarina Bowen's first YA romance novel and I certainly praise her for her amazing storytelling ability. She writes perfection and in most cases, I fall deep in love with her characters and novels. Unfortunately, this book felt to me like it was missing something. Perhaps it's the fact that there wasn't enough romance? It was more of a coming of age novel with a bit of romance thrown in. I went into thinking it was a musician romance but honestly felt it to be lacking in this department. Sure, the heroine's father is a famous rock-star and she sings in a group, but there wasn't much (or enough) detail. And for the romance, she did meet someone that she fell for, but the it seemed like one moment she liked him and the next she was in love. It just didn't feel right to me. That's not to say the author did a terrible job because it she didn't. It just didn't vibe with me like I had hoped when I first picked it up.
As I said, my opinion may be unpopular as it doesn't reflect others on the title. Many will fall head over heels in love with this one, so please don't let only my opinion sway you in terms of whether you read it or not. I just didn't feel it the moment I read it. Maybe if I go back to it at a future date my opinions will change.
July 17, 2018
Sarina Bowen's first YA novel is a roaring success! Great story, interesting characters, and tons of feels that only Sarina can bring!
[full review to come!]
[full review to come!]
September 22, 2019
I loved this story so much!
It is different and it made me angry on many accounts (but mostly about parent's decisions) and I had all the feels while reading it. Totaly something new from Sarina Bowen...
It is different and it made me angry on many accounts (but mostly about parent's decisions) and I had all the feels while reading it. Totaly something new from Sarina Bowen...
July 10, 2018
This book was a toough one. I got into it blind, since I love the author, but with a general idea of what the YA genre implied. I was expecting a cute coming of age story, but this book was way heavier than that. I am not saying it in a negative way. I liked how this book played my heart strings. It was intense, and Bowen did a great job letting the characters' actions speak louder than internal monologues ever could. That being said, I did found this novel a bit too disproportioned towards sedness. The story starts from Rachel’s lowest point, her mom having just died, and throughout the novel, you could still feel the hurt caused by both her parents. It was omnipresent and while it added realism, it also made the book denser.
Realism is definitely one of the major positive features of this book. Each character is flawed in a human and relatable way. If at first it was disconcerting for me to see how the story was not evolving in the way the books I normally read would, with serendipitous happenstances and good feelings thrown in to balance the bad, I started to appreciate the realism as it hightened the emotions conveyed in the story.
Rachel’s character was different than the usual heroine. She’s very… average, in a good way. She has her hobbies and passions, but she’s not a genius, or overly-sassy or sterotypically beautiful. Many readers will be able to relate to her insecurities and personality.
The other key character of the story, in my opinion, was not her love interest, Jake, to which I’ll get in a minute, but her father, famous musician Frederick Richards. Their relationship was very human, and the misunderstandings made sense, considering that they had never seen each other before. Still, I have to say, I saw Rachel’s non-confrontational attitude towards Freddy as quite troubling. Her hurt in reaction to his actions felt so real and so deep that I ended up wanting to slap Freddy more times than I actually supported the dude.
Now onto Jake. I loved Jake. 100% great guy. Nerdy, but also fun, and attractive and thoughful. I would have loved to read more about him. But here lies the issue. I felt like his character could have been given more space. Sometimes I felt like he was there as a pawn for the narration, rather than being a human being with his own flaws and thoughts and feelings. For example, when a question arose regarding his similarity with his brother, I would have loved to really dig into that topic and bring Jake’s insecurities to the surface a bit more. That being said, I adored the guy. He was the sunshine to Rachel’s justified glum, and I smiled every time I read his name of the page. On the other hand, I was quite confused about Haze. I started the book loving him, then pitying him, then I was just confused about his role in the book and whether it was truly that necessary.
Regarding the plot, I found it unconventional but interesting how the author took her time with Rachel and Freddy’s introduction at first and their dynamics, with her transferring to Clairborne Prep almost halfway through the narration. It gave the reader something to look forward to, but also a ground for Rachel and Freddy’s relationship, budding as it may be.
The writing style is very solid and this book kept me hooked. I literally could not put it down, and YA is also a genre I don’t usually read because it does not grab my attention anymore, so extra kudos to the author for that. I liked the characters, the story was gripping and very emotional.
The reasons why the last star fell are two. Again, the book is great anyway, but I feel like I need to express these thoughts I kept having while reading. First, the story was quite complex, with many intersting secondary characters, to the point though that some “more important secondary characters” felt a little dull because they were not given enough space (Jake and Haze). And this book was so interesting, the characters so relatable that I wanted to know more about them. I felt like there could have been so much more to be said. If this book had had another couple hundred pages of backstories on them, or simply a deeper insight into their lives, I would have been over the moon. Even simple things like Aurora’s relationship, or Freddy’s past with Rachel’s mom… at the end I just felt like not all loose ends had been tied and I just wanted to know more. The other minor critique is that the ending was a bit anticlimatic. This novel is the story of Rachel Kress’ life after her mother’s death, which signals a justified starting point. However, the end was quite arbitrary and almost abrupt. Again, I am calling forth realism in justifying the author’s choice, because I understand that in life conflics and issues don't end when the word “end” is typed, but still, considering everything Rachel is put through, even though involuntarily, the final confrontation between Freddy and Rachel didn’t truly satisfy me, and her situation seemed still very uncertain.
Overall, a gripping and highly emotional YA debut for Bowen, who does not shy away from complicated relationships and human nature at its best, as well as at its lowest. I would be really interested in reading a sequl of The Accidentals in the future, as, as I said, the only real flaw this book has is that it left me wanting to know more about these characters.
Realism is definitely one of the major positive features of this book. Each character is flawed in a human and relatable way. If at first it was disconcerting for me to see how the story was not evolving in the way the books I normally read would, with serendipitous happenstances and good feelings thrown in to balance the bad, I started to appreciate the realism as it hightened the emotions conveyed in the story.
Rachel’s character was different than the usual heroine. She’s very… average, in a good way. She has her hobbies and passions, but she’s not a genius, or overly-sassy or sterotypically beautiful. Many readers will be able to relate to her insecurities and personality.
The other key character of the story, in my opinion, was not her love interest, Jake, to which I’ll get in a minute, but her father, famous musician Frederick Richards. Their relationship was very human, and the misunderstandings made sense, considering that they had never seen each other before. Still, I have to say, I saw Rachel’s non-confrontational attitude towards Freddy as quite troubling. Her hurt in reaction to his actions felt so real and so deep that I ended up wanting to slap Freddy more times than I actually supported the dude.
Now onto Jake. I loved Jake. 100% great guy. Nerdy, but also fun, and attractive and thoughful. I would have loved to read more about him. But here lies the issue. I felt like his character could have been given more space. Sometimes I felt like he was there as a pawn for the narration, rather than being a human being with his own flaws and thoughts and feelings. For example, when a question arose regarding his similarity with his brother, I would have loved to really dig into that topic and bring Jake’s insecurities to the surface a bit more. That being said, I adored the guy. He was the sunshine to Rachel’s justified glum, and I smiled every time I read his name of the page. On the other hand, I was quite confused about Haze. I started the book loving him, then pitying him, then I was just confused about his role in the book and whether it was truly that necessary.
Regarding the plot, I found it unconventional but interesting how the author took her time with Rachel and Freddy’s introduction at first and their dynamics, with her transferring to Clairborne Prep almost halfway through the narration. It gave the reader something to look forward to, but also a ground for Rachel and Freddy’s relationship, budding as it may be.
The writing style is very solid and this book kept me hooked. I literally could not put it down, and YA is also a genre I don’t usually read because it does not grab my attention anymore, so extra kudos to the author for that. I liked the characters, the story was gripping and very emotional.
The reasons why the last star fell are two. Again, the book is great anyway, but I feel like I need to express these thoughts I kept having while reading. First, the story was quite complex, with many intersting secondary characters, to the point though that some “more important secondary characters” felt a little dull because they were not given enough space (Jake and Haze). And this book was so interesting, the characters so relatable that I wanted to know more about them. I felt like there could have been so much more to be said. If this book had had another couple hundred pages of backstories on them, or simply a deeper insight into their lives, I would have been over the moon. Even simple things like Aurora’s relationship, or Freddy’s past with Rachel’s mom… at the end I just felt like not all loose ends had been tied and I just wanted to know more. The other minor critique is that the ending was a bit anticlimatic. This novel is the story of Rachel Kress’ life after her mother’s death, which signals a justified starting point. However, the end was quite arbitrary and almost abrupt. Again, I am calling forth realism in justifying the author’s choice, because I understand that in life conflics and issues don't end when the word “end” is typed, but still, considering everything Rachel is put through, even though involuntarily, the final confrontation between Freddy and Rachel didn’t truly satisfy me, and her situation seemed still very uncertain.
Overall, a gripping and highly emotional YA debut for Bowen, who does not shy away from complicated relationships and human nature at its best, as well as at its lowest. I would be really interested in reading a sequl of The Accidentals in the future, as, as I said, the only real flaw this book has is that it left me wanting to know more about these characters.
June 28, 2018
***ARC received for an honest review***
”Music has always been my drug of choice.”
We all know Sarina Bowen is my drug of choice. And that I’m a total bitch about YA books. Common sense would dictate that maybe I hesitate when I hear SB has written her first YA. What if I hate it? What if it ruins (the completely one-sided) love affair we’ve got goin on? When you put your heart out there it can get stomped.
But I’m glad I took this risk. I went in with questions. How much angst? How much steam? Was it going to be flat out stupid? How would Sarina’s characters - with their flaws and huge hearts - feel through a YA lens? Would there be a cocky hero?
Rachel’s mom has just died making Rachel a ward of the state. Her music star dad comes into the picture for the first time in her life. This part of the book is bleak. Wanders a little. I couldn’t tell the import of some of the characters (what role exactly is Rachel’s bear friend destined to play). For the first 30% I wasn’t sure where we were going or if I’d like it.
But there’s a change of scenery. Stronger, more-defined and meaningful characters fill out the picture. Rachel has a lot of questions and a lot of anger.
This book wasn’t a love story. It was growth story. A girl starts out some place shitty - some place she got through no fault of her own. And she has big adventures. And her heart hurts. And she’s mad. And people never quite do what that girl needs them to do. But she’s a good person. A good character. We root for her. We enjoy her meaningful and difficult and beautiful moments - and we’re glad she shared them with us.
”Music has always been my drug of choice.”
We all know Sarina Bowen is my drug of choice. And that I’m a total bitch about YA books. Common sense would dictate that maybe I hesitate when I hear SB has written her first YA. What if I hate it? What if it ruins (the completely one-sided) love affair we’ve got goin on? When you put your heart out there it can get stomped.
But I’m glad I took this risk. I went in with questions. How much angst? How much steam? Was it going to be flat out stupid? How would Sarina’s characters - with their flaws and huge hearts - feel through a YA lens? Would there be a cocky hero?
Rachel’s mom has just died making Rachel a ward of the state. Her music star dad comes into the picture for the first time in her life. This part of the book is bleak. Wanders a little. I couldn’t tell the import of some of the characters (what role exactly is Rachel’s bear friend destined to play). For the first 30% I wasn’t sure where we were going or if I’d like it.
But there’s a change of scenery. Stronger, more-defined and meaningful characters fill out the picture. Rachel has a lot of questions and a lot of anger.
This book wasn’t a love story. It was growth story. A girl starts out some place shitty - some place she got through no fault of her own. And she has big adventures. And her heart hurts. And she’s mad. And people never quite do what that girl needs them to do. But she’s a good person. A good character. We root for her. We enjoy her meaningful and difficult and beautiful moments - and we’re glad she shared them with us.
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