Book Review: Be Good Be Real Be Crazy by Chelsey Philpot

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Be Good Be Real Be Crazy
Author: Chelsey Philpot
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genes: Contemporary | Romance
Release Date: October 11th 2016
Review Source: HarperTeen

Three teenagers. One road trip. Countless detours. From the author of Even in Paradise comes a story about love, friendship, and finding yourself that is perfect for fans of Paper Towns and Mosquitoland.

When Mia first waltzed into Homer’s small corner of Florida, she changed Homer’s entire world. It wasn’t long before he was hopelessly in love. But now Mia is moving away—and Homer and his younger brother, Einstein, are helping her drive hundreds of miles to her new home.

This might be Homer’s last chance to tell Mia how he really feels. And with so many detours in front of them, anything could happen.

 

This book is the story of a good, wholesome boy who falls in love with a mysterious whirlwind of a girl. Homer and his brother Einstein are living in South Florida with their adoptive dads who run a souvenir shop. One day, Mia walks in with all her charm and gets hired. Homer, a recent high school graduate himself, finds himself falling in love with an 18 year-old pregnant girl, whom his parents adore. Her pregnancy, however, is not a major factor of the overall story, of course it is mentioned frequently, but it doesn’t hinder her character.

The plot of the story thickens when Mia’s houseboat burns down and she decides to decline Homer’s dads’ offers to live with them and find where one of her foster sisters lives across the country and make the road trip herself. Homer and his brother offer to go with her, and the trip begins.

Along the way, these young people face plenty of detours and meet many new characters. One thing I enjoyed throughout this book that this author did, is that every chapter after a new character was introduced she would have a short “parable” about them to explain their background. Which, I felt, made the story a bit more personal.

Eventually, after many events, Mia ends up stealing the vehicle, Einstein gets a broken wrist, and a “bad boy” rock star helps the brothers and a friend made along the way get to a convention, which was one of Einstein’s conditions for joining the road trip in the first place. Mia shows up once more and conflicts are resolved.

I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t at all a bad read - it just didn’t have that umph. I felt a little complacent at times while reading it and I wasn’t rushing to pick it up every time I had put it down.

However, I did my best to not spoil any big events from the plot with too many details, so if you would like to know more, it’s worth giving the book a chance. SaveSave

Book Review: Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

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Even in Paradise
Author: Chelsey Philpot
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: October 14th 2014
Review Source: HarperCollins

When Julia Buchanan enrolls at St. Anne’s at the beginning of junior year, Charlotte Ryder already knows all about the former senator’s daughter. Most people do... or think they do.

Charlotte certainly never expects she’ll be Julia’s friend. But almost immediately, she is drawn into the larger than-life-new girl’s world—a world of midnight rendezvous, dazzling parties, palatial vacation homes, and fizzy champagne cocktails. And then Charlotte meets, and begins falling for, Julia’s handsome older brother, Sebastian.

But behind her self-assured smiles and toasts to the future, Charlotte soon realizes that Julia is still suffering from a tragedy. A tragedy that the Buchanan family has kept hidden … until now.

Even in Paradise, the new age of The Great Gatsby? Umm.. SIGN ME IN! I was all over this while at BEA ’14. After making the line, I was lucky enough to meet Chelsey Philpot and I couldn’t wait to read this… And I am glad I did.

Even in Paradise is the story of Charlotte Ryder. Told in her perspective, Charlotte tells us how her life completely changed when she befriended Julie Buchanan, daughter of the current Senate.  It begins when Charlotte cares after a drunken Julie. This is the night that changed them. The night that will turn Charlotte’s world upside down. Julie and Charlotte become inseparable. Since Julie is wealthy, she lives a life of a celebrity and she brings Charlotte into this world. After few weeks of their friendship, Julie introduces Julie to her family. As the Buchanan learns more of Charlotte, they fall in love with her. And Charlotte becomes completely compel with their lives and lifestyle. Most of all she is drawn to Julie’s older brother, Sebastian. But the Buchanan is keeping a secret from Charlotte. And this secret can shatter this illusion of this perfect world.

How I wish I were Julie… well not really. But who wouldn’t want to be rich, famous and live the ravenous life? Hello, imagine all the books you could buy with all that money! LOL. But even in this world, one is human. And all humans suffer. No matter if you are rich or poor, life is life and it will throw lemons. This is what Charlotte is trying to tell us with this story. And the best way to overcome tragedies is by facing them. Even in Paradise is fun and entertaining, but also emotional. It is a great contemporary novel that will take you to the world of the rich and famous. Fans of this genre will enjoy this read.