August 27, 2013

Review: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider


Title: The Beginning of Everything 
Author: Robyn Schneider
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Release date: August 27th 2013
Source: Edelweiss
Format: egalley

Rating: 4/5

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Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.

I really enjoy reading young adult novels from a male point of view, so that was one of the main factors that attracted me to this book, another was the name by which this book was originally handled - Severed Heads, Broken Hearts (that´s the name of my eARC), I was really intrigued by it..

When I started reading this book I had a preconceived idea about it, mainly by what is implied by the synopsis that is somewhat correct, but I had imagined a different Ezra. Ezra is a 17 year-old that has it all in life, popularity, since he´s the captain of the tennis team, class president, boyfriend of one of the most popular girls at school, prom king, besides he´s very attractive and comes from a wealthy family. And one day on his junior year, he has a car accident that leaves him unable to play tennis for the rest of his life, he also break up with his girlfriend and separate from his friends.

You and I can imagine that Ezra will become a bitter, angry with life, etc., etc.., but strangely that´s not what happens because he accepts very well the fact that he no longer can play tennis for the rest of his life, and accepts the consequences that result from the accident, because he feels that no longer fits with his friends. And on his first day of senior year he´s reunited with Toby his childhood best friend and he also meets Cassidy, he is attracted to her. Cassidy is very clever girl, full of fun, very witty and quirky. With them Ezra finds new friends and new experiences.

Overall, I really liked this book because it is fun, isn´t predictable, it has romance, friendship and self-discovery because Ezra had to redefine his entire future, now that playing tennis no longer defines his life. The ending is a little bittersweet but I liked it. This is a coming of age novel.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review.

7 comments:

  1. Woah why did they change the title? Severed Heads, Broken Hearts sounds so much more intriguing... I guess maybe it sounds a bit too serious or something haha.
    I like the sound of the novel being unpredictable- that's quite rare in a contemporary!

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  2. I like the name: Ezra <3
    if it's really unpredictable and not to common (though it's a contem YA), i'd like to read it.
    nice review.

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  3. I am reading this right now. I have an ARC. I love the cover sooo much! This is actually the first book from a male perspective that I'm not having trouble reading. I am glad you liked it!

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  4. I like the original title better! The new one sounds a bit drool. Glad you liked it.

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  5. I love Male POV's. I like the different perspective. This sounds good. I already like the fact that Ezra doesn't become dark and broody and depressed. Such a nice change of pace. This sounds like a stry that I would enjoy. Thank you for your review!

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  6. I read the first few chapters of this in an ebook sampler and really enjoyed it, I'm looking forward to reading the rest. And I am actually one of those who prefers the new title, but I don't know why! I guess it sounds more like a contemporary book to me. Great review!

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