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DNF Review: Finding Mr. Brightside – Jay Clark


findingmrbrightsideFinding Mr. Brightside
Author: Jay Clark
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: March 24, 2014
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Goodreads | Amazon | TBD

Summary:

Abram and Juliette know each other. They’ve lived down the street from each other their whole lives. But they don’t really know each other — at least, not until Juliette’s mom and Abram’s dad have a torrid affair that culminates in a deadly car crash. Sharing the same subdivision is uncomfortable, to say the least. They don’t speak.
Fast-forward to the neighborhood pharmacy, a few months later. Abram decides to say hello. Then he decides to invite her to Taco Bell. To her surprise as well as his, she agrees. And the real love story begins.

 
First Sentence: She takes a cab every Saturday morning.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

My Review:

I rarely write DNF reviews, but Finding Mr. Brightside just wasn’t working for me. I’ve read through the first 101 pages, which is actually a little more than half of the book, and I just had to face it: Finding Mr. Brightside was doing nothing for me.

The thing is, I was expecting Finding Mr. Brightside to be beyond swoony and amazing. At the back of the ARC of Finding Mr. Brightside, Jerry Spinelli, the author of one of my childhood favorites Stargirl, said that “I have rarely rooted for anyone – fictional or real – more than I rooted for Abram and Juliette” and I was expecting to do so too because let’s face it, the synopsis of Finding Mr. Brightside sounds amazing, which is why I requested it in the first place. The problem is, 101 pages into the book later and I was still not rooting for Abram and Juliette to get together. In fact, I could care less about how their relationship was developing, the problems they were facing if they got together, and if they would ever get together. Their relationship held no spark for me.

I also felt absolutely no emotions throughout the book except for this one short moment where I was offended. Other people who’ll read Finding Mr. Brightside might not be offended when they get to the part I’m talking about nor would they recognize it, but for me, when I got up to that part, I was seriously debating whether or not I should finally DNF it. Awhile later, I finally chose to do so.

The only bright side to this book (did you see what I did there?) was that that the main character was addicted to prescription pills (I don’t count this as a spoiler as this was revealed in the first chapter of the book). That isn’t usually found in young adult books that aren’t considered issue books, so this fact surprised me. I wish something like this would appear more in young adult books that aren’t issue books.

Overall, Finding Mr. Brightside might be a good fit for other people, but it certainly isn’t the book for me.

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 3-26-15 · 13 Comments
Categories: 2015 book, dnf review

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Speak Your Mind

  1. Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook says

    3-26-15 at 10:18 AM

    I’ve heard mixed things about this one. I think it might be one of those books that people either love or hate. I’m actually reading it right now but I’m only 40 pages in. I do like Abram a lot, but I still don’t have a grasp on Juliette.
    Quinn @ Quinn’s Book Nook recently posted…Review: Hero by Samantha YoungMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Lia says

    3-26-15 at 10:25 AM

    Ooooh love Stargirl too! An yes, yes. I saw your title pun and laughed more than I probably should have. And yup, it would be interesting to see people with mental illness or addictions in YA books not centered around the person’s struggle with it.

    Reply
  3. bn100 says

    3-26-15 at 9:20 PM

    too bad you didn’t enjoy it; haven’t read this

    Reply
  4. Hillary R. says

    3-26-15 at 10:31 PM

    I’m super curious about what you found offensive to you in this story. And I’m surprised you DNF’ed another book when not too long ago you DNF’ed another book. Hopefully future books will be better and you won’t have to DNF any more books. I’m still debating whether I should read this book now or not, but if I decide to, I can only hope the first hundred pages don’t make me feel the same way you did. Good luck on your next book! :D

    Reply
  5. Cynthia says

    3-27-15 at 2:00 AM

    Yech, I have heard mixed reviews about this one. That is a shame because I was looking forward to reading it. I think I may just skip this one.
    Cynthia recently posted…BOOK REVIEW: Fahrenheit 451 By Ray BradburyMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Ramona says

    3-27-15 at 2:13 PM

    Lol, I do it too – always finish the review with a positive thought. Even if it’s the only one I can come up with… Sorry this turned out such a disappointment :(
    Ramona recently posted…Sarcasm in YA Books: Sarah Rees BrennanMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Laila Campos says

    3-28-15 at 10:48 AM

    too bad but this didn’t went well for you…but i haven’t taken notice of this book so it will be something i won’t care to miss in my tbr :/

    Reply
  8. Lekeisha says

    3-28-15 at 11:24 AM

    Aww, sorry you had to DNF this one. I’m actually anticipating reading it, so hopefully it’ll work for me.
    Lekeisha recently posted…ARC Review: End of Days by Susan EeMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Jacklin Updegraft says

    3-31-15 at 2:43 AM

    I’m kinda bummed about this one because it looked really good and I thought it sounded cute. I still kinda want to read this but It will be at the bottom of my list. Thanks for writing the review!
    Jacklin Updegraft recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #1My Profile

    Reply
  10. Lily (chapterspageswords.blogspot.com) says

    4-01-15 at 3:33 PM

    The synopsis made the book seem really cute! It’s a shame that you didn’t enjoy it because it sounded good :(
    Lily (chapterspageswords.blogspot.com) recently posted…W…W…W…Wednesday 1/4/15My Profile

    Reply
  11. Jaime Lester says

    4-12-15 at 9:32 PM

    As cute as this one sounds, I think it is one of those contemps that just is not for me. Even before your review, I thought that, but now that I have read your review, I am 99% sure that this one and myself… No compute! Thanks for the great review!
    Jaime Lester recently posted…Jaime Reviews ~ Shutter by Courtney AlamedaMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Kaitlyn A. says

    4-14-15 at 10:16 AM

    So sorry you didn’t like it! I have yet to read it, but I hope I enjoy it! Great review!

    Reply
  13. Cali W. says

    4-23-15 at 6:09 PM

    Too bad this was a DNF, some contemporary reads are boring and hard to get into.

    Reply

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