• About Us
    • Disclaimer and Policies
  • Giveaways
  • Features
    • Pre-Order Deal Incentives!
    • Author Talk Podcasts
    • Flashback Friday
    • Whadda YA Know Wednesday

Fiction Fare

  • Banners
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us

Review: Golden by Jessi Kirby

June 13, 2013 by Jaime Leave a Comment

GoldenGolden by Jessi Kirby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Normally I wait to buy hardcover books… my MO is to read the e-book decide if I’m in love with it then purchase a hardcover if it’s something I absolutely need. I didn’t follow my rules for this one because I’d been seeing so many rave reviews about it and my lovely friend Stacee was going to a signing with Jessi, and well… I sucked it up and bought it with only knowing I wanted to read it.

I’m ecstatic that I did.

In Golden, we meet Seventeen year old Parker. She’s done everything by the book, and she’s about to graduate from high school as valedictorian without ever having done the things typical teenagers do. She’s never kissed that boy she’s had a crush on for years nor has she broken any rules along the way. All of that changes when she is assisting her teacher with his end of the year project.

All students in his class are given a notebook in which to record everything over the last two weeks, with a simple prompt…

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

After they finish, they are taken back, sealed and stored for ten years at which time they are mailed out to the original author.

What Parker didn’t know was that one-half of the town golden couple of Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz were in this teacher’s class ten years ago, and when Parker happens upon Julianna’s notebook she does something impulsive and takes it. Julianna and Shane died tragically in a car accident and with that accident on graduation day, and the epic love story they had was gone, only a billboard at the edge of town as a reminder and speculation of what really happened that night a town legend remains.

As Parker reads the journal though, she reveals that things aren’t really as everyone thought they were and maybe there are clues to what really happened that night still around.

This is a story filled with love, friendship and mystery and I absolutely loved it. Kirby has written a story that we can all appreciate. At the heart of this story Parker struggles to live up to the expectations of her mother. I struggled to understand her mother and their relationship, but I could definitely appreciate it for what it was. I get that mother/daughter relationships can be tenuous and this one definitely was. Her mother’s constant pressure and inadvertent reminders that she wasn’t exactly the plan she had for herself made me hurt just as Parker did, but I also understood then why her mom applied that pressure and those high expectations.

I also really loved the progression of the relationship between Parker and Trevor. It wasn’t insta-love as so many stories do these days. Sure she had crushed on him forever, but it was a slow growth to any sort of real feelings for each other.

While all the relationships are wonderfully developed in this story, my favorite relationship was the one between Parker and Kat, Parker’s best friend. They were friends – real friends who support and love each other and don’t turn all mean girl over boys and stupid things! I absolutely loved their friendship!

Now, I know I said that it was a mystery, but in all truth, I should have said it has elements of mystery… The story within a story aspect of this was really unique and incredibly well done. Not only were we getting Parker’s story, but also Julianna’s story from ten years earlier, and I was really impressed with how they flowed together so well.

I can’t tell you how much I recommend reading this book. It is a beautifully written story with an unique and original plot that will have you running through every emotion possible. This book has a permanent spot on my favorites list… which means you should read it soon!!

View all jaime’s reviews

Related Posts

  • Related Posts
Fiction Fare
Review: The Sea of Tranquility
Fiction Fare
REVIEW: Falling for the Enemy by Samanthe Beck
Fiction Fare
Review: Deep Desires
More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer
Love, Life & The List by Kasie West

Filed Under: Book Review Tagged With: Contemporary, GoodReads, Reviewed By Jaime, Young Adult

About Jaime

Avid reader and book blogger, lover of music, writing, my kid & my cats. Master of sarcasm and snark and doing what makes me happy.

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • pinterest
  • bloglovin
  • custom1
  • goodreads
  • rss
  • custom2

Get Our Updates!

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

E-Book Deals!

E-Book Deals!


Author Talk

 photo author-talk_zpscsw6iy8a.png

Archives

What We’re Currently Reading

Jaime's bookshelf: currently-reading

The Trouble with Destiny
0 of 5 stars
The Trouble with Destiny
by Lauren Morrill
The Beginning of Everything
0 of 5 stars
The Beginning of Everything
by Robyn Schneider
Forget Tomorrow
0 of 5 stars
Forget Tomorrow
by Pintip Dunn

goodreads.com

Erin's bookshelf: currently-reading

Endure
0 of 5 stars
Endure
by Sara B. Larson
The Unquiet
0 of 5 stars
The Unquiet
by Mikaela Everett
Twist
0 of 5 stars
Twist
by Karen Akins

goodreads.com

Upcoming Reviews

None yet!

Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

Challenge Participant

Recent Comments

  • Lisa Loves Lit on Waiting on Wednesday: The Queens of Innis Lear By Tessa Gratton
  • bookbunny68 on Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Have Been On My TBR the Longest and I Still Haven’t Read
  • Kristy Petree on Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Have Been On My TBR the Longest and I Still Haven’t Read
  • MischaS_ on Cover Reveal: Beyond Pain by Kit Rocha
  • Maggie @ ReadingDiva's Blog on Blog Tour: Tempests & Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

Recent Posts

  • People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
  • Flashback Friday: Blood and Sand by C.V. Wyk
  • Our Top Ten Most Anticipated Books to Screen Podcast Episode
  • Flashback Friday: The Highwayman (Victorian Rebels #1) by Kerrigan Byrne
  • Podcast Episode 81: #FicNews–March 2021

Recent Reviews

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George
Crown of Bones (Amassia #1) by A.K. Wilder
Courting Trouble (Goode Girls Romance #2) by Kerrigan Byrne
Eventide by Sarah Goodman
All Scot and Bothered (Devil You Know #2) by Kerrigan Byrne
Deadly Curious by Cindy Anstey
Review: Rebel Spy by Veronica Rossi
The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant
A Dark and Stormy Knight (Victorian Rebels #7) by Kerrigan Byrne

Copyright ©2010-2015 Fiction Fare « All Rights Reserved « Site Design by The CreativeB « Login