Title: The Promise of Amazing
Author: Robin Constantine
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: December 2013
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/Contemporary
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Synopsis can be found here.
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Review:
Very sweet.
Wren is a good girl, shy and quiet. In fact, that’s what she’s known for being- too quiet. Too shy. She works weekends at her parents catering hall and there, she meets Grayson. Grayson, who is not shy or quiet. Grayson who was just kicked out of his elite prep school. Grayson, handsome and strong… And CHOKING on a pig in a blanket!
Wren rescues him and what starts as a change encounter quickly gains momentum. But can Grayson leave his past behind to date a good girl. And can Wren finally admit and go after what she wants?
There’s a lot to like about this book. I’ll confess that I have a soft spot in my heart for books that take place in New Jersey, as I grew up there and still love my hometown. (It seems that the author sets this story in around the same area as my hometown too so that was pretty awesome)
I like Wren a lot and think you will too. She’s not whiny or annoying. She’s super sweet, but not too sweet that you don’t believe it. She is probably someone I would have been friends with in high school. Grayson is of course, handsome and smart and a con man. His troubled past is in the form of a band of friends, one in particular, who is a little too eager to get Grayson back in the game. I really liked reading about Grayson’s home life and his struggles with his Mom and her new family, and his love for his Dad. I think Wren and Grayson have well developed family lives that made them real people to me.
The book is easy to read and I sailed through. The point of views switch between Grayson and Wren and while each voice was different, I had a hard time with Grayson a little bit when he spoke about Wren in the beginning. I felt like maybe he was too awe struck? It wasn’t insta-love, but the attraction felt a little forced. Also, Grayson’s friends, calling him back into the gang, just didn’t seem very real. Early on, I thought Grayson should just tell them all to go to hell. I mean, it’s pretty clear to him and the reader that he’s being used and manipulated. For a smart guy, he’s doing some really dumb stuff. That extra drama took me out of the story. Especially when Wren started getting involved. It all seemed unbelievable to me.
Overall, The Promise of Amazing is a cute love story. If you want a quick popcorn story, you’re in for a treat!
Rating 7 Would Recommend
Kimberly majored in Songwriting and currently works full time in the music industry. When she's not listening to music, knitting or writing, you can find her outside reading her favorite genres: Young Adult, Adult Fiction, Mystery, and Romance.
Yea for no insta-love, but it is unfortunate that the pairing seemed forced.
Hi Pamela. Thanks for stopping by. Yes, I agree. Are you going to read it? I would love to know what you think!
I’ve been seeing a lot of reviews on this book and it sounds like its going to be a sweet read. Thanks for sharing your review. I like short and sweet 🙂
I was interested in reading another review of this book since the last I saw was a DNF. I find it so interesting that one reviewer disliked it so much she couldn’t finish it and you liked it quite well. You both described the characters about the same.