Review: The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia

The Lovely Reckless

By: Kami Garcia

Release Date: October 4, 2016

Description:

I’ve become an expert at avoiding things that could hurt me—which means I will figure out how to stay away from Marco Leone.

Seventeen-year-old Frankie Devereux would do anything to forget the past. Haunted by the memory of her boyfriend’s death, she lives her life by one dangerous rule: Nothing matters. At least, that’s what Frankie tells herself after a reckless mistake forces her to leave her privileged life in the Heights to move in with her dad—an undercover cop. She transfers to a public high school in the Downs, where fistfights don’t faze anyone and illegal street racing is more popular than football.

Marco Leone is the fastest street racer in the Downs. Tough, sexy, and hypnotic, he makes it impossible for Frankie to ignore him—and how he makes her feel. But the risks Marco takes for his family could have devastating consequences for them both. When Frankie discovers his secret, she has to make a choice. Will she let the pain of the past determine her future? Or will she risk what little she has left to follow her heart?

Review:

Now I have never been shy about expressing how much I love reading stories with multicultural backgrounds, so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it.  This is definitely one of those books that explore being from the right and wrong side of the tracks, but really no matter where you are from it’s up to you how you will turn out.  I loved it from beginning to end!

We meet Frankie who is trying to remember and get over her boyfriend’s murder, which is a tough situation to be in and she is definitely in the whole avoiding phase of everything.  She moves in with her father and this is where she finally starts to find herself again, even with some old friends around she makes new friends and starts living her life even if it is recklessly at first.  These new people in her life give her meaning again, something she lost when she lost Noah. 

Marco is a great character someone who is doing the wrong things but for all the right reasons, sometimes that’s okay and sometimes it’s not and it takes meeting Frankie to realize what are the right things he should be doing again.  His reaction to her is very intense and even though there was a slight insta-love atmosphere about their relationship it didn’t bother me so much, because once you stopped thinking about it you could see how good they were for one another.  They bought out the best in each other, they really were like opposites attracting in a way.

Overall I really enjoyed the story because it had action, teen angst, real life addictions, the good and the bad all rolled up into a great story that kept me interested throughout the whole book.  This is definitely the type of book I enjoy reading.  Adding the Spanish aspect of everything just made me love it even more, we really do need more Spanish characters in young adult/new adult books.  Well really probably in all books in general.  This was a great story, the setting was interesting, the difference in the good side and the bad side of town was also intriguing.  This is a great book to sit down and read and enjoy.  I know I couldn’t put it down because I had to know who was going to do what and if they were going to do the logical right thing. 

I really liked all the characters too, some of them showed real dimensions and even though I wouldn’t have minded finding out more about the secondary characters I got just enough of a look into their lives that I really felt for them and their situations.  Great story.

Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Imprint, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Advance Praise

“Sexy, fast-paced, and action-packed—this is Kami Garcia like you’ve never seen her before.” —Tahereh Mafi, New York Times–bestselling author of Shatter Me

“The Lovely Reckless has everything I hope for in a book. Packed with the perfect blend of suspense, drama, romance, and heart, Kami Garcia has truly topped herself.” —Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Hopeless

“With a feisty heroine, an irresistible bad boy, and an attraction so sizzling the words practically burn up the page, The Lovely Reckless is an insanely addictive, sexy, rush of a read you’ll return to again and again!” —Alyson Noël, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Immortals series

“A perfect blend of electrifying romance, pulse-pounding street racing, and page-turning suspense.” —Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Problem With Forever

“Rip-roaring and hyper-real, Kami outdoes herself.” —Holly Black, New York Times–bestselling author of The Darkest Part of the Forest

“Kami Garcia turns up the heat with The Lovely Reckless! The Fast and the Furious meets Romeo and Juliet, with a romance guaranteed to get your pulse racing.”—Carrie Ryan, New York Times–bestselling author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth

“The Lovely Reckless is a thrilling ride full of twists and turns and a love story that will melt your heart!” —Katie McGarry, award-winning author of Nowhere but Here