Lindsay's Review: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: ★★★★
Pages: 371
Published by Balzer + Bray on December 31st, 2013
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

I picked this book up on a whim, noticing the cover and how it looked like a cute, easy read, and that's exactly what I got. Boy meets girl, insta-love and all that cute, mushy stuff. If you're looking for something deep, realistic and  something for older adults, I suggest you stop right here.

Two differing perspectives make me wary, especially with romance involved. Usually I end up liking one character more than the other and dreading grueling through the other perspective. However, in The Promise of Amazing, both perspectives piked my interest and I enjoyed reading through them both, regardless of what situation the characters were in at the time.

Speaking of characters, despite my rating of four stars, the characters didn't seem real. They were easily forgettable, main characters and non alike, put themselves in situations no one in real life would and also lived lives that honestly, seemed like they were created instead of lived in.

And the title, just for clarification, lies. The book wasn't amazing. It didn't make me gush or cry or scream. It was a solid, easy read.

By now you're probably wondering, "Hey Lindsay, why the four stars?" Well, like I said at the start, the book was a cute read and that was exactly what I was looking for. Despite the holes in the writing, I found myself turning the pages, smiling and relaxing as I read. I didn't get annoyed with anything like the plot or the characters, I didn't end the book stating I would never read it again (I probably will). I knew what I was getting into, and I enjoyed what I read.